Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps have made history in sport. And not just with their performances: With their openness, they have played their part in ensuring that mental health problems are no longer taboo. We show you 13 sports stars who have faced up to their problems and are committed to the topic of mental health.

Trigger warning: This article contains passages about depression, alcohol and drug abuse and bullying; even if you suffer from emetophobia, you should not read this text or should not read it alone. You can find information and help here.


The 13 athletes at a glance:

  1. Simone Biles
  2. Michael Phelps
  3. Naomi Osaka
  4. Noah Lyles
  5. Jackie Baumann
  6. Mark Cavendish
  7. Per Mertesacker
  8. Bear Grylls
  9. Felix Neureuther
  10. LeBron James
  11. Lindsey Vonn
  12. Roger Federer
  13. Serena Williams




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