More Than Sport: Curlers Reflect on Mental Health, Balance, and Support
October marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a worldwide initiative promoting empathy, understanding, and collective action. Behind the intense competitions, long seasons, and national expectations are stories of curlers’ resilience, connection, and courage.
Finding Strength Through Conversation
For Canada’s Brett Gallant, working with a sports psychologist is essential to maintaining his mental well-being.
“When you’re in these kinds of high-pressure events all the time, it’s nice to have some training on how to deal with it,”
he said.
“It’s also good to have someone to reach out to if you’re struggling.”
Gallant credits his wife, fellow curler Jocelyn Peterman, with helping him stay balanced.
“She knows the pressures and feelings that come with sport. It’s nice to have people to lean on, to talk to, that’s important.”
About his team, he added,
“Everyone’s dealing with stresses and anxieties, and we’re learning how to deal with them better. It’s OK to not be perfectly OK.”
Challenges After Olympics
After the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Canada’s Rachel Homan experienced one of the hardest moments of her career, missing a medal by mere millimetres during the mixed doubles competition.
These stories highlight the importance of mental health support in high-performance sports, emphasizing openness and connection.
Author's summary: Curlers emphasize mental health awareness, sharing how professional support and personal connections help them manage pressure and find balance in their demanding sport.