Affiliation:
1. Iowa State University, Ames, USA
Abstract
There is a conversation in American athletics over the mental health experiences of athletes. Elite athletes encounter consequences ranging from mental well-being to mental illness. Some experts are concerned health of Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes. The proliferation of research on elite athletes’ mental health culminated in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Expert Consensus Statement. Given the importance of athletes’ mental health, this case study reviews the literature and the relevance of athletic identity to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of poor mental health and fills the gap in theory/research and practice in elite sport.