Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan reveals mental health battle and says she suffered ‘anxiety attack’ before record breaking run at Paris Olympics: ‘I couldn’t breathe’
As a fervent admirer of athletic feats and resilience, I find Mollie O’Callaghan‘s journey to be nothing short of inspiring. Her gold-laden Paris Olympics performance is a testament to her dedication and love for swimming, yet it seems her triumphs have come with their share of challenges.
Mollie O’Callaghan had a dream run at the Paris Olympics.
But her incredible winning streak left the Australian swimmer suffering from panic attacks.
The young woman aged 20 years took home five medals, outpacing her teammate Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 200m freestyle to claim gold, and also winning gold in both the 100m and 200m freestyle events. She earned silver in the 100m medley and bronze in the 100m mixed medley races.
In an interview with this week’s Stellar Magazine, Mollie – one of Australia’s top Olympic medalists – reveals periods in her life when she grappled with a lack of confidence or belief in herself.
On the eve of the 200m freestyle trial, I felt more anxious than I ever had before. It got to the point where I experienced a bout of intense worry, bordering on a panic attack. I just couldn’t catch my breath. That’s what she shared.
I found myself under immense stress and high expectations due to my status as a world-record holder, making it feel as if I needed to excel significantly.
Deep within me, I’m aware that regardless of the circumstances, people will always be proud of me. However, there are times when this expectation feels overwhelmingly intense.
Mollie acknowledges that she tends to dwell excessively on things, and she must motivate herself to overcome her pessimistic thoughts.
She mentioned that she often ponders too much, finding it challenging to unwind, but she truly adores swimming, and it’s the passion for it that keeps her going.
“I need to focus on the good aspects and apply the strategies my therapist suggests. Small steps, you know, are what ultimately lead me towards my goal.
Earlier, the golden girl shared a heartfelt interview after triumphing at the Paris Olympics, expressing her dissatisfaction about certain outcomes.
Australia’s swim team bagged seven gold, eight silver and three bronze in the Paris pool.
The nation’s swim team won 21 medals overall in Tokyo, 20 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and also 18 at the Sydney 2000 Games.
Nevertheless, Mollie seemed as though she’d disappointed the nation, and her eyes filled with unshed tears when questioned about whether she felt proud of her Parisian performance.
‘Part of me yes, and part of me no,’ she told News Corp.
It seems fine overall, but I find it challenging due to the abundance of both positive and negative aspects.
In conclusion, it’s essential to maintain a positive outlook as there are numerous individuals who do not have the chance to take their place on the podium.
In Paris, O’Callaghan emerged as the country’s top swimmer, capturing three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze.
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2024-09-07 15:33