Prioritizing one’s mental health is becoming more prevalent as high-profile athletes like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles made headlines for temporarily leaving sporting competitions to focus on their wellbeing.
In May 2021, Osaka withdrew from the French Open. While months later, Biles followed suit and exited from the All-Around finals in the Olympics in July. Both women sparked the conversation about why many should take mental health in the sports world seriously.
An article released by the American College of Sports Medicine states that “professional and elite athletes face mental health challenges.”
About 35% are likely to suffer from an eating disorder, burnout, depression, and anxiety of elite athletes. The statement also reported that limited privacy, control, and poor recovery time could contribute to the added stress the athlete may have.
Flash forward to the present-day Olympic snowboarder Chloe Kim announced on April 21 during an interview with Cheddar News that she’s planning on taking a hiatus to recuperate following a “fun but draining year.”
The 22-year-old told the outlet while explaining why she decided not to compete in the 2022-2023 season, “Just for my mental health. [I] just want to kind of reset, don’t want to get right back into it after such a fun, but draining year, at the same time, knowing that it was an Olympic year.”
Kim added, “I just want to enjoy this moment, take it all in and then get back to it when I’m feeling ready, but as of now the plan is most definitely to go after a third medal.”
This wouldn’t be the first time Kim has stepped back from the slopes. According to CNN, Kim took an entire season off from the Olympic games in 2018 to concentrate on her studies and mental health.
Despite Kim’s hiatus, the athlete plans to return for the Winter Olympics in 2026, which will take place in Italy.
Check out a past video of Kim discussing her mental health struggles after winning her second gold medal at the Olympics.
