Mental health in swimming: two different views

Abstract

Since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and thanks to the American athlete Simone Biles, the issue of mental health is becoming a topical one, without knowing that this issue has been resonating in the world of sport since before the Olympics. However, if it had not been on television and, in particular, during the development of the Olympic Games of that edition, this issue would not have been known worldwide and athletes will continue doing what they do best "train and compete" as machines that do not feel or suffer, as popular wisdom believes and affirms. Even so, let's remember how in 2016 and after the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the former American swimmer Michael Phelps was also in the news after confirming his retirement from top competition and how, in addition, he was dragging problems related to his mental health, making it known years later and participating in a documentary in 2020: "The Weight of Gold", in which he tells the dark side of the life behind the brilliant gold medals...