Historically, mental health in professional sports has not been widely discussed and is not taken as seriously as physical health. For many sports, success is associated with strength, which can lead to stigma about being vulnerable. Additionally, women in professional sports often have to achieve more to gain the same recognition and, in many sports, the same pay as men. However, actions by 4-time tennis Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka and 4-time Olympic gold-medalist Simone Biles in the past year have contributed to an increase of recognition about the pressures that women in sports face and the importance of mental health awareness.
On May 21st, 2021, Naomi Osaka announced that she withdrew from the French Open and would be taking a break from competitions. According to NBC News, this announcement came after Osaka was fined for not participating in a news conference following one of the French Open matches, and after she announced that she did not want to be involved in any press during the tournament. In a tweet from the day she withdrew, Osaka stated that she had been experiencing “long bouts of depression” since 2018, and talked about her experience with social anxiety, and feeling anxiety around talking to the press and media. Osaka’s openness about the challenges and pressures of maintaining mental health in professional tennis is just one example of many athletes who have recently brought this topic to public attention.
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were held in the summer of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Simone Biles withdrew from five of her six events. According to an article in The Guardian, Biles had been experiencing anxiety and stress, which affected her spatial awareness. This made the risk of injury greater if she were to complete her events. Additionally, Biles discussed feeling overwhelmed by the publicization of the Larry Nassar case in the past few years, especially after she talked to the media about her experiences with abuse related to the case. This, and a variety of other factors, shows the pressure and difficulties with mental health that Simone Biles was facing during the Tokyo Olympics. Following Biles’ withdrawal, USA Gymnastics released a statement saying, “We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her wellbeing. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”
Both Osaka and Biles have also discussed their experiences with microaggressions and racism in their respective sports. According to the Chicago Tribune, Osaka, who is Japanese and Haitian, experienced racist comments online for representing Japan, where she was born, in tennis matches, and for advocating for the Black Lives Matter Movement. Biles has discussed the need for Black women to “be greater” in an environment that can be hostile, Insider reports. Other Black female athletes, including Serena Williams and Alyson Felix, have similarly discussed the pressures of being Black women in sports, and both supported Osaka and Biles in their recent decisions and to care for their mental health.
Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles’ public prioritization of their mental wellbeing has contributed to the growing recognition of the importance of mental health. In a tweet responding to the support, Biles stated that “the outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments.” Their influence has extended beyond the sphere of professional sports and given hope for societal change that will allow for more respect and space for recovery for those struggling with mental health.