The first thing Chalmers needs to know is: this is completely fine. And in swimming, unfortunately, almost a new normal. His great rival and friend Dressel has been open about his mental health concerns, talking about them before Tokyo and then withdrawing just days before the recent FINA World Championships.
The Olympics were a turning point for athletes who faced overwhelming pressure and expectations. Simone Biles, one of the faces of the US Games team, retired from competition to focus on her mental health. Swimming’s winning machine, Katie Ledecky, showed rare signs of emotion as the toll she took became apparent.
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Chalmers need look no further than the face on the other side of the Channel Seven microphone to be reminded how swimming can ruin even the brightest of souls. Birmingham broadcaster Cate Campbell revealed her own battle with depression late last year after being diagnosed four weeks before the Tokyo Games.
The whole scenario raises questions about the treatment of athletes, especially those who float in and out of the limelight and don’t have the scaffolding of support in place like those in the protective bubble of a rich football or cricket team.
Practitioners must have a degree of resilience to the occasional media firestorm or robust line of questioning. But it wasn’t just Chalmers who felt he had crossed the line when he spent his entire post-race interview talking not about a gold medal or a Games record, but allegations of petulance and division
It may be hard for him to see through the current fog, but his lowest moment also offers a golden opportunity. Having been bold enough to call out what he felt was inadequate and inaccurate coverage, Chalmers now has the opportunity to step back, reconnect with the important people in his life and reflect on what he wants to the sport, if applicable, and how to participate. with those of its wider ecosystem.
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What’s clear is that it could do with a fresh look at regaining control of its own narrative, because it’s a good one, potentially with a great legacy, and worth telling. If that means picking his battles more carefully and being more disciplined around his prolific social media output, he needs to be open to those conversations.
But first, you shouldn’t be afraid to take a step back and, if necessary, fully check it out for an extended period of time. Traveling the world, learning the drums, feeding snakes… all worthy adventures if they lead him to find his self-worth and purpose beyond a game of Speedos.
Once he does, as so many have done before, he’ll return to the pool with renewed vigor, drive and love for the water. What he comes to define as success, as a person and as an athlete, will go a long way in determining what kind of man will emerge on the other side.
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