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Athletes & Mental Health

Episode 31

Our all-star panel discusses athletics and the physical and mental stresses of performing during COVID and beyond. High school, college, and olympic athletes all deal with the challenges that sports training and intense athletic competition brings. The varying perspectives of the panelists give us a deeper understanding of how mental heath has begun to bubble up in the world of sports.


Featuring Colby ‘25 - Mules #81 Brendan Sawyer and #82 Jack Sawyer, plus Team USA 2018 Laura Jacobson.


Panelists

  • Brendan – ME
  • Jack – ME
  • Laura – NJ


Show Notes

by Peggy S. Bud, Community Outreach Director

The panelists on this week’s show shared their experiences as athletes impacted their mental, social and emotional wellbeing. They all agreed that mental health is something everyone deals with daily, which is why it is something you must talk about. Training for any sport is both a mental and physical activity. It is important to understand that results are not immediate. “The results of what you do today, come in the future.”




Brendan and Jake were involved in sports as young boys, but didn’t start to play football until middle school. Laura on the other hand started skating at 4 ½. The role sports and training had on her life was significant. It impacted making friends, attending school, going to birthday parties. By 8 years of age. Laura needed to attend school on-line in order to keep up with her demanding training schedule. (This was long before COVID.)




All athletes want to win. Loosing is difficult and can feel like the world is coming to an end. Since it is important to maintain your mental health, learning how to ‘push the re-set button’ is crucial. It is important to get rid of the stigma that an athlete is weak if they need help related to mental health. The panelists all stressed the importance of asking for help. The twins noted that at Colby there is a psychologist in the locker room. They all agreed that athletes should feel they can talk to their coach, which is why the sports scandals were so devastating. The athletes felt betrayed by their coaches.




Laura, who was a member of Team US 2018, noted that injuries can create limitations, physically and emotionally. As a skater, even when injured, she still had to maintain a strict training schedule. When COVID hit, the ice rinks were closed, but she was still expected to train for 8 hours a day. She had a virtual coach, and a rigorous training schedule. She felt like she never had a break, not even on Sunday. This was difficult mentally. In 2021, she decided to take a break from skating and attend her local high school. She is using this opportunity to pursue other areas of interest; theatre, writing, music.




The twins shared their role in Weston High School being the 2019 State Football Champions. They were then recruited to play football for Colby College. Because of COVID the 2020 season was canceled. They deferred college and took a gap year. They said it helped them avoid burnout and gave them a chance to reflect and explore other sports. In addition to their passion for football, they discovered a love of skiing. They are playing football at Colby, balancing their daily training from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M with their classes and college life outside of sports. This means leaning on each other to ensure they maintain a balance.




As an athlete, everyone wants something from you. It is important to put your life ahead of how you do athletically. They also discussed the relationship between the team and the fans. Of course, all players want to win. Yet, the athletes feel like everyone is putting pressure on them. The panelists called out to teachers and coaches to be sensitive. They also noted the importance of supportive parents.




The conversation highlighted the difference between being a member of a team and competing in a sport as an individual. Team sports teach players the value of camaraderie; individual sports build independence and self-reliance. They agreed that athletes put pressure on themselves to be the best and to win! That means, if you are having difficulty, it is crucial that you ask for help.


Related Resources

Laura Jacobson Figure Skating

Brendan Sawyer's Highlight Reel

Jack Sawyer's Highlight Reel

Notable Quotes:

  • ‘It is important to speak up. Do it at the moment, as it gets worse if you wait. Just ask for help.’
  • “Don’t kill the athletes when they lose! They want to win more than anything.”
  • “Perspective is important. Over-stressing can be your downfall. Play sports because you love it!”
  • How can you make things better? Learn to lose!
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