A former Olympic field hockey player has opened up about the upspoken depression and physical exhaustion that many competitors struggle with after the Olympics, leaving her fellow athletes who have faced the same feelings of emptiness in tears.
Brooke Neal, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics as a member of the New Zealand women’s national field hockey team, penned an open letter in the wake of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and shared it on Instagram on Sunday.
‘A letter I wish I got after the Olympics,’ she captioned the post, which detailed how it can be difficult for athletes to adjust and move on after competing in the Games — a goal that many had been working toward their entire lives.
Important: Former Olympic field hockey player Brooke Neal penned an open letter to Olympic athletes on Sunday in the wake of the Tokyo Games
Candid: In the post shared on Instagram, the well-being coach explained that this was the message she wishes she got after the Olympics
Feelings: Neal stressed that it’s normal to feel like your family and friends don’t know what you are going through after the Olympic Games
‘I just wanted to pop in and check on you,’ she wrote. ‘So you might be a little confused right about now. You’ve just competed in the world’s biggest sporting event and yet, this is one of the lowest times you’ve ever felt.
‘You have been in this bubble, your own little world, with 10,000 athletes who are at the top of their game. You have poured blood, sweat, and tears to get there, but you weren’t really prepared for the day after. For the week after. For the months after this huge spectacle. You weren’t prepared for life to continue as if nothing happened.’
Neal explained that while ‘you still look the same,’ no one can see that ‘your insides are still processing all that you’ve been through.’ She noted that it’s common for Olympic athletes to feel like their friends and family don’t understand.
‘This is the hardest part — because unless they have experienced the Olympics before, how can possibly understand?’ she asked. ‘Yet somehow, you get frustrated at them and you’re unsure what they even did that was wrong. It’s ok, it’s part of the process. Continue to connect with them and walk them through your feelings.’
Keeping it real: Neal, whose team came in fourth in the 2016 Rio Olympics, just missing a medal, said that fielding an onslaught questions from people can be difficult
Words of wisdom: Neal advised those who are having a hard time to reach out to seasoned Olympians as well as their teammates, who are ‘no doubt experiencing these feelings too’
The athlete went on to say that it’s normal to dread writing polite responses to the messages that are received after the Olympics.
‘You are surrounded with so much love and support, but somehow, you still feel alone,’ she explained. ‘Scrolling through your phone mindlessly to fill the gap that you have that hurts.’
Neal, whose team came in fourth in the Rio Olympics, just missing a medal, said that fielding an onslaught questions from people can be difficult.
‘You cringe at the messages that ask, “How was it?” “Unlucky, you fought so hard.” “How does it feel to be an Olympian?” You don’t know how to answer because you have mixed feelings,’ she recalled.
‘On one hand, you think, “Yeah, that was frickin epic. What an experience,” but on the other hand, your heart has been ripped to shreds from the rollercoaster you’ve been on and you’re on the verge of tears over the smallest things. Like you’re a tree that hasn’t put its roots down and the smallest gust of wind could knock you over.’
Aimlessness: In her letter, she also touched upon the physical exhaustion that Olympians face after the Games and the lack of motivation to work out
‘You are exactly where you are meant to be’: The athlete reminded readers that everything they are ‘feeling will pass’ at the end of the letter
Important message: The former athlete’s open letter struck a chord with many athletes, including Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who shared the post on her Instagram Stories
Neal shared that while struggling with these emotions, athletes may ‘feel a little selfish’ because their ‘relationships have been pretty once sided lately.’
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‘Just remember that in relationships, there is always give and take,’ she noted. ‘You will have your chance to give back to them in time. Perhaps you can focus on planning an exciting adventure together with a loved one, and create some conversations that don’t involve what you’ve just been through.’
Neal, who is now a mindset and well-being coach for female athletes, advised those who are having a hard time to reach out to seasoned Olympians as well as their teammates, who are ‘no doubt experiencing these feelings too.’
In her letter, she also touched upon the physical exhaustion that Olympians face after the Games and the lack of motivation to work out when there is no longer anything to train for.
‘Your body is limping, aching, bruise, and begging for your attention. Pleading with you to rest. So you’ve been sleeping all day, but you’re still exhausted. That’s normal, don’t worry,’ she wrote. ‘I want you to know that guilt you’ve been carrying — you can let go of that. The guilt that you feel for not wanting to make breakfast, let alone exercise — it’s a normal emotion to feel, but we can let that go.
Spreading the word: Olympians Matty Denny (left) and Alev Kelter (right) were also moved by Neal’s message and shared linked to it on their Instagram Stories
Praise: A number of athletes took to the comments of Neal’s post to thank her for sharing her letter at a time when many Olympians are feeling lost
‘You have just spent 100% of your energy, focus, time, and heart to be at the top of your game. You deserve to rest, without the guilt,’ she explained. ‘What’s the point of exercising anyway, you might ask? We have had this huge goal to get out of bed for the last four years, and now you have some time to yourself, you’re thinking — what’s the point?
‘Remember how good it feels to walk in the sand. To stretch your muscles. Start small, and take that stopwatch off your wrist, ok? Just give it a try! You don’t need to be hitting targets, you need to be connecting back in with your body.
Neal concluded: ‘What I know for sure is that everything you’re feeling will pass. You will start to feel better, I promise. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time, and remember that you are exactly where you are meant to be.’
The former field hockey player’s open letter struck a chord with many athletes, including Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, who shared the post on her Instagram Stories.
Biles, 24, stunned the world last month when she withdrew from the all-around competition to focus on her mental health. She later dropped out of the individual all-around, uneven bars, vault, and floor exercise finals after undergoing evaluation.
Professional: Neal played 176 games for the New Zealand Black Sticks over nine years, including the 2016 Olympics
Moving on: Neal, pictured with her teammates Megan Hull (left) and Frances Davies (right), retired from professional field hockey in 2020
Using her platform: Neal is now a mindset and well-being coach for female athletes
She returned to competition in time for the balance beam final and ended up winning a bronze medal — the same podium position she found herself on in Rio.
Matty Denny, an Australian Olympic athlete specializing in the discus throw, shared on Instagram that he has gone through ‘exactly’ what Neal described in her posts during the past eight years he has spent competing at major championships.
‘No matter how much I try to beat it, it’s just a process and you come out of it, but it’s important to communicate with those you love and give yourself time to be able to just be,’ said the athlete, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
‘It’s not easy, but if you can compete at the Olympics, you can find the mental fortitude to give yourself some breathing space.’
Alev Kelter, who competed in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics as a member of the U.S. women’s national rugby sevens team, also commented on Neal’s post, saying she has ‘never felt so seen.’
‘Thank you @brookeneal1,’ she wrote. ‘You have me crying my eyes out at the airport recommitting to love myself fully and let go and start.’
Source: Daily Mail
