Tokyo Olympics 2021: Zac Incerti joins Simone Biles, Caeleb Dressel in mental health advocacy

Aussie star Zac Incerti was rocked “to the core” by depression bouts leading up to the Olympics. He joins the likes of Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka in detailing his mental health battle.

Two-time swimming bronze medallist Zac Incerti says anxiety attacks leading up to the Olympic Games rocked him “to the core” and led to bouts of severe depression.

Incerti, 25, revealed that he suffered from crippling anxiety attacks for the past three years and said he never thought he would become an Australian Olympian.

The Broome-born swimmer scooped two bronze medals in Tokyo, in the men’s 100m and 200m freestyle relays.

“Like a lot of people it very much rocked me to my core,” he said about his first anxiety attack in 2018.

“I think of everything that followed that attack to the lowest of depression, to more and more attacks and thinking I shouldn’t tell people about it.”

Incerti said he posted a video on his Instagram account writing to his anxiety and depression and was overwhelmed by support after it.

Zac Incerti is advocating for honesty about mental health. Picture: Delly Carr

“Being able to tell people I’m an Australian Olympian is honestly unbelievable and it’s something I don’t take lightly and something that will stay with me forever,” he said on Instagram.

“To anyone going through a tough time, I promise it gets better.”

Incerti is with the Australian Dolphins team currently quarantine in Howard Springs after their incredible performance in Tokyo.

His admissions about anxiety and depression follow a host of other high-profile athletes competing in Tokyo who have also spoken out about mental health.

SIMONE BILES

US gymanast Simone Biles made global headlines when she withdrew from multiple events last week.

The 24-year-old came to Tokyo seeking five gold medals to equal the Olympic all-time gymnastics career record of nine but dramatically withdrew during her first event, the women’s team competition.

She has documented her struggles with mental health during the Games in regular posts on her social media accounts.

Simone Biles in her final event at the Tokyo Games. Picture: Getty Images

Biles returned to Olympic competition this week to claim bronze in the balance beam, the only event she completed.

“It wasn’t easy pulling out of all the competitions. People just thought it was easy but I physically and mentally was not in the right headspace and I didn’t want to jeopardise my health and my safety,” Biles said after winning her bronze medal.

“Because at the end of the day it’s not worth it. My mental and physical health is above all medals that I could ever win. It just meant the world to be back out there and I wasn’t expecting to walk away with the medal.

NAOMI OSAKA

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka was the host country’s golden hope for the Tokyo Olympics but it was her brave withdrawal from the French Open earlier this year that won widespread applause.

The grand slam champion quit the tournament following the bitter fallout from her decision to boycott all media activity at the event, revealing she has “suffered long bouts of depression” and will “take some time away from the court”.

In a long statement released through her social media channels, Osaka pinpointed her maiden grand slam title win at the 2018 US Open as the moment things started to get tough.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka has battled depression for years. Picture: AFP

The date will forever be remembered as the night Serena Williams launched an explosive tirade at chair umpire Carlos Ramos during which she accused him of sexism.

While Osaka won the match, she was reduced to tears during the presentation. It should have been one of her happiest memories. Her moment was stolen.

“The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that,” she said after quitting the Paris-based slam.

“The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my wellbeing is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.”

ADAM PEATY

English swimmer Adam Peaty announced this week he would take some time away from the pool to focus on his mental health.

Peaty, who returned to the UK on Monday following the Tokyo Games, will miss upcoming professional events in his bid to find balance.

“It’s been hard for everyone, for every sport out there,” Peaty told the UK Telegraph.

Adam Peaty is not afraid of giving up some swimming events to find balance in his life. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s been very very tiring. I think what’s next is celebrating and having what Mel (Marshall, his coach) and me call a forced rest, where we’re not allowed to touch the water for a month now.

“You’re seeing it in all sports now. You’re seeing it with Simone Biles. You’re seeing it with Ben Stokes. Mental health matters and it is about getting the balance right at that elite level.”

CAELEB DRESSEL

You would think US swim sensation Caeleb Dressel would be on top of the world after a record-tying five gold medals in Tokyo.

But the 24-year-old opened up about his own mental demons following his successful Olympics campaign.

Caeleb Dressel won five gold medals but that doesn’t mean he enjoyed the Olympics. Picture: Getty Images

“This is not easy, not an easy week at all,” Dressel told the New York Post.

“Some parts were extremely enjoyable. I would say the majority of them were not. You can’t sleep right, you can’t nap, shaking all the time. I probably lost 10 pounds.

“I am pretty good at putting a face on. I knew that weight was on my shoulders. (But) pressure is fine. It is when you turn it into stress, that is when it becomes a problem.”