Millions of FIFA World Cup fans watch incredible displays of talent, resilience, and determination. We see the goals, the celebrations, and the unforgettable moments that unite people across the globe. What we don't always see are the challenges athletes face behind the scenes. Mental health doesn't discriminate. It doesn't matter whether you're competing in a World Cup final, balancing school and sports, starting a new job, or simply trying to get through the day. Anxiety, d

For many athletes, the end of a season, graduation, retirement, or injury is more than just the end of competition. It can feel like losing a part of yourself. For years, your schedule was built around practices, games, teammates, coaches, and constant goals. Your identity may have been closely connected to your sport. When that chapter ends, many athletes experience uncertainty, grief, loneliness, or a loss of purpose. These feelings are incredibly common, yet they are often

Navigating the Athlete Transition Hello everyone, and welcome to Life After the Jersey: Navigating the Athlete Transition blog series. My name is Bryce Trail, the owner of Trail of Potential Mental Performance Consulting (TOPMPC), and I have partnered with Resilience Rally to provide tools to navigate the challenges of being a collegiate athlete. This first series will tackle one of the biggest challenges athletes face in their careers: moving on from the sport they participa

Taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health, and one of the simplest ways to support both is through movement. Walking and running are powerful tools that can improve mood, reduce stress, increase focus, and help us feel more connected to ourselves and others. You do not need to be an athlete or run long distances to experience the benefits. Whether it is a short walk outside, a morning jog, or joining a local running group, eve

Let’s Not Wait Until Another Person Dies By Julian Bell My name is Julian Bell, and I am a medically retired student athlete at Clemson University. I played lacrosse from first grade through my sophomore year of college, until I medically retired due to chronic stress reactions and chronic shin splints in both legs. I tried every treatment imaginable, but nothing worked. Eventually, we resorted to surgery: 8 inch plates and 6 screws in each shin during my freshman year of co

By Maisie Jameson What is surf therapy? Surf therapy is a type of mental health intervention that uses surfing and the ocean environment to promote physical and psychological well-being. Through a combination of physical activity, connection to nature and trusted adult relationships, Surf Therapy builds confidence and resilience in a safe, non-clinical setting. It helps young people feel seen, supported, and empowered, often at a time when they feel most disconnected. What st

I first heard the phrase – ‘The sun will always rise, and we will try again’, from a friend when she showed me her sunflower tattoo. It...

Prioritize Your Mental Health You know that phrase: “No pain, no gain”? I used to think that was true, but later on realized that it’s such a toxic phrase because I thought that I didn’t learn or gain anything if I didn’t feel a difference. In reality, you can learn so much about yourself through the lows, troubles, or, in this case, the “pain”. Full disclosure: No one, absolutely no one, is “soft” for speaking about mental health or taking time off to put themselves first. I

Survey link: https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9HLErkR7HtNHT3E Kait Simpson, a former student-athlete and current PhD...

My name is Sophia Denison-Johnston and I’ve been rowing for the past dozen years. As a young adult post-college, navigating my sport and pursuing a rowing career without the support network that college provided has been an incredible growth experience— It’s been rewarding, devastating, and anything but easy. A few days ago USRowing made an announcement about changing the structure of high performance rowing to better support athletes. To be honest, it had me a little emotio

“There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.” -Hannah Gadsby Hi! My name is Hannah, I was a UCLA rower for 2...

Maddy Neuner, a cross country and track and field runner at Northeastern University, shares her story about battling mental illness...

The story of Mikaela Brewer, a Canadian athlete, author, and mental health advocate. Over the past two years, I’ve done everything except...

Anna has an inspiring story of resilience, both as a college athlete and as an Asian American living through racial injustice. For those...

https://www.fliqueeditorial.com/opinionpieces/the-quarter-life-crisis-of-a-college-athlete @christina_chenault wrote an incredible article called “The Quarter Life Crisis of a College Athlete” which discusses how student athletes transfer into a different time of their lives. She talks about her personal experiences as an elite Track & Field athlete and the important topics of the cyclical lifestyle of an athlete, ego depletion, and identity foreclosure during the transition

For athletes, there is the stereotype where talking about your emotions or anything related to mental health can be a sign of weakness....

To say the least, for me, being a student athlete at Duke was amazing. My four years on Duke Women’s Rowing Team (DWR) were something special. DWR got a bid to NCAAs twice, I had the honour of being captain for 2 years, and DWR got its first ever gold medal at ACCs my senior year. Accolades aside, DWR has my heart; my team means the world to me, I’ve made friends for life, I have incredible mentors, and the lessons I’ve learned and the memories I have will always be with me a

Hi everyone!! My name is Kamila and I am a beach volleyball athlete and recovery coach. I have suffered from both binge eating disorder...

Hi everybody my name is Tasha, I am currently on the UCLA rowing team. Even with all the amazing things that have occurred in my life, I...