Source: Fortune.com
Summary
Freestyle skier and Olympic champion Eileen Gu discusses her experience with burnout and anxiety after the 2022 Winter Olympics, where she won two gold medals and one silver for China at age 18. She joins a growing list of elite athletes who have spoken out about post-Olympic depression, a phenomenon that is not correlated with results. Gu, now 22, has continued to excel in her career, attending Stanford University and becoming a founding member of Victoria’s Secret’s VS Collective. She earns $23 million per year, but only a fraction of it comes from her skiing career.
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Eileen Gu, a freestyle skier and Olympic champion, has spoken out about her experience with burnout and anxiety after the 2022 Winter Olympics. She is not alone; many elite athletes have grappled with post-Olympic depression, a phenomenon that is not correlated with results. Gu’s accomplishments are impressive, including being the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing and earning $23 million per year. However, her story highlights the struggle many athletes face in adjusting to life after the Olympics.
Burnout and anxiety are common among athletes, and Gu’s experience is a reminder that even those who achieve great success can struggle. Her story also underscores the importance of seeking support and mentorship, as well as taking time off to recharge. As Gu said, “Seeking mentorship in a holistic sense is sometimes challenging, because a lot of the things I do kind of are the first time someone’s doing it in the way that I’m doing it.”
This is a story about the pressure to perform, the struggle to adapt, and the importance of self-care. As Gu navigates her career, she will likely continue to face challenges, but her openness about her struggles is a reminder that even the most successful athletes need support and understanding.</p
