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Taking care of one’s mental health is crucial, regardless of your profession—whether you’re a director, manager, representative, or athlete. Recognizing personal limits and understanding how far you can be pushed mentally is an invaluable form of self-care.
As the basketball playoffs intensify and the French Open unfolds, female athletes are making headlines with their courageous decisions, exemplified by tennis star Naomi Osaka. She prioritized her mental health by choosing not to attend press conferences after her first-round victory at the French Open, openly addressing her battles with depression.
Recently, Osaka announced her withdrawal from the Berlin tournament, raising concerns about her participation in upcoming events like Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. Regardless of her decisions, it’s clear that she has support from numerous figures, including tennis legend Serena Williams and organizations like the Calm App. Calm has stepped up to cover the $15,000 fine Osaka incurred for skipping post-match press conferences, matching that amount with a donation to Laureus, a charity focused on youth sports in France.
In addition to Calm, other major sponsors such as Mastercard, Nike, Nissan, and Nissin Foods have publicly expressed their solidarity with Osaka. Health organizations worldwide have also praised her for advocating for her own well-being.
Osaka’s decision to step away from a sport she loves to focus on her mental health underscores the necessity of making such choices. While we often celebrate female athletes for their achievements, as seen when Serena took time off after having her daughter, it should not be viewed as an act of bravery but rather as a standard practice. We must allow athletes, particularly women, the space to prioritize their well-being, as they frequently invest so much of themselves into their sport.
As fans, it’s worth reflecting on our expectations of athletes. Post-game press conferences are meant to bridge the gap between fans and players, offering insights into their thoughts and experiences. However, sports journalist Sean Braswell highlights the pressure on reporters to conform to a cycle of access journalism, which can lead to repetitive, uninspired questioning. This raises the question: do athletes owe us more than what they already provide on the field? The answer is no. Their responsibility is to deliver their best performance, not to grant us unlimited access to their personal lives.
I cannot pretend to fully understand the pressures Naomi faces, but I admire her for prioritizing her health. It’s unjust to penalize her for making that choice; it would be akin to an employer fining an employee for taking a necessary day off.
Osaka’s stance, along with that of other athletes, serves as an important reminder that they have the right to safeguard their mental health. While they may be compensated to excel in their sports, they are not obligated to give more than that—especially when it compromises their well-being.
For more insights on related topics, check out this post on vitamin-rich foods. If you’re interested in exploring options for pregnancy and home insemination, this guide from Make a Mom is a great resource, as well as Resolve, which offers excellent information on family-building options.
Summary
Major companies, including Calm, Mastercard, and Nike, are publicly supporting Naomi Osaka’s decision to prioritize her mental health by skipping press conferences. This highlights the ongoing conversation about mental health in sports and the importance of allowing athletes to take care of themselves.
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