This World Mental Health Day, we are hearing directly from the athletes.
In elite sport, a healthy mind can equal a healthy body and in recent years, the support around mental health has been a constantly improving system.
From the input of sports psychologists to the help of UK Sport and national governing bodies, athlete's minds are now considered just as important to care for as their bodies.
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games just over 100 days away, we asked some of our bobsleigh and figure skating athletes what they are doing to care for their mental health, ahead of such a big milestone.
Kya Placide (Bobsleigh)
For me, it's very important that my mind is in order to perform my best. I like to speak to somebody to raise a concern whenever I'm feeling inside my head, because no one else knows how I'm feeling and so it's very important to communicate it. Speaking to your coach is also a very important one for where a rest day is needed. Your mind is the controller of your body so if your mind's not right then your body's not right. If you need a rest day for that, then you need one, that's how it has to be.
Adele Nicoll (Bobsleigh)
It's all about setting boundaries to prioritise my mental health. I make sure that I know what drains my energy and what restores my energy, and I need to set those boundaries to keep it smooth and plain sailing.
Brad Hall (Bobsleigh)
I just try to relax. The last Games I just did a lot of puzzles in the Team GB lounge! It sounds quite sad, but it was really nice.
Leon Greenwood (Bobsleigh)
I'm just focussing on what I need to do. There's no point worrying about other people. It's just that cliché term: It's me against me. I can't control the uncontrollable.
Greg Cackett (Bobsleigh)
We're very lucky as we have a lot of support from the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA). They bring in a lot of people to help support on this kind of stuff and I speak to a very good friend of mine Steve Mesler, who is an Olympic gold medallist for the Americans. He was an American bobsledder who is a mentor to me as well. And then I'm just very in with psychology and psychological literature. I love reading about it and I'm a big proponent of communication, so I will make sure the boys are all talking and communicating about how we feel, so we're as supported as we can be going forward.
Taylor Lawrence (Bobsleigh)
I try to make sure that all the stresses that I have in my life are sorted to the best of their ability to allow me to focus completely on what I need to do at the time.
Anastasia Vaipan-Law (Figure Skating, Pairs)
I always check in with myself, making sure I'm comfortable and keeping close with family. It's about really taking the time to prioritise taking time out of sport for wellness and to relax.
Luke Digby (Figure Skating, Pairs)
I always spend time with friends and family. Anything away from the ring just to take that intense pressure away.
Sportsbeat 2025