Written by Since the beginning of sport, international competitions such as the Olympic Games have represented so much more than the athletes competing. A handful of contestants bear the weight of a country on their shoulders during these events. This can often lead to high-performance athletes destroying not only their bodies pushing the physical limits, but also their mental health. These athletes are tasked to represent a nation’s power, health, and even political standing through their performance. Having to function defining these merits can often lead to toxicity occurring in teams’ environments.
In the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the world witnessed the toxicity of the Russian Olympic Committee’s team after the Women’s Free Skate event. The 15-year-old Kamila Valieva tested positive for a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency prior to the event. There was already controversy surrounding the idea of letting Valieva compete. Many worried it would be detrimental to the integrity of the games and Kamila Valieva’s mental health. The 15-year-old skated regardless and there was obvious stress put on her mental health. She was the favorite for the gold medal prior to the event but did not end up on the podium after her performance.
Despite winning the Gold and Silver in the event, the ROC Team erupts and the competition ended with a toxic disaster.
This occurrence is just one example of the toxic environments high-performance athletes must reside in. Many competitors end their career retiring after such events due to mental health motivations.
It has been normalized to put results before method in not only international competition but lower-level divisions as well. As athletes, supporting staff, coaches, and even fans, we must have a voice and support ethical training and competition. Perhaps teams such as the ROC can begin changing their training methods by educating athletes and coaches on sustainable practices, the importance of mental health in performance, and healthy relationships in sports.