The importance of mental health in boxing: what helps elite athletes?

There is a saying that goes, “A problem shared, is a problem halved.”

That may well be the case, but in a combat sport like boxing, where athletes are alone in the ring and could suffer a serious injury, it can feel like a very lonely place that can affect their mental health.

That was certainly the case for British boxing star Nicola Adams, who won women’s boxing’s first-ever gold medal at London 2012.

Two years before her home Games, she suffered a serious back injury that put her out of action for a year, and jeopardised her participation in the historic event.

“That was my lowest point because I couldn't do anything apart from rest," Adams told Olympics.com.

But the flyweight tapped into her mental strength to overcome the challenging times by setting small, achievable goals, which helped her feel like she was making progress.

"That helped me a lot," Adams said. "It was just telling myself, 'One step at a time, we're going to get back to where I used to be'."

Visualisation, meditation, yoga, and being organised - whether it is planning all meals or getting her kit ready the night before - were also important strategies in her success, which saw her defend that Olympic title four years later at Rio 2016.

“There's so much pressure involved, especially when you are competing as No.1, with a target on your back. How I got around that was whenever I didn't feel like going out for a run, for example, when it's raining, I'd be thinking, 'OK, there's somebody out there that wants to be the next Olympic champion and they won't mind running in the rain'. So for me, that's what got me out of bed. That's what kept me going and kept me focused.

“Going from not being able to lift my shoulders off the floor to then being No, 1 in the world, now I know that I can achieve anything in life."

Robby Gonzales' third Olympic attempt

On top of competing in a potentially dangerous individual sport, there can be pressure to perform well for your nation, family, and your ringside team, who often rely upon their fighter's results.

Robby Gonzales almost made his dream of competing at the Olympics come true in 2021, before it was snatched away in the cruellest fashion.

After falling short at the 2016 Olympic Trials, the USA boxer won the 2020 Olympic Trials but was prevented from competing in the Olympic Qualifiers due to COVID guidelines.

After failing to secure a Paris 2024 Olympic quota at the 2023 Pan American Games, the Las Vegas native is trying once again to achieve his dream in the Road to Paris 1st World Qualification Tournament.

“Trying to become an Olympian for the third time has been rough,” he told Olympics.com from the event in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

His method of coping was to accept that there are things out of his control, and to remember his ultimate goal.

“My mother and father just told me to keep going and whatever happens, happens. Right now I want to inspire the youth and the next generation who will follow my path. I’m trying to set a legacy."

How boxing helped Shera Mae Patricio's mental health

Of course, mental health issues away from the ring will often have a direct impact on a boxer’s performance.

USA's Shera Mae Patricio had to overcome two devastating experiences in the span of two years.

The first was when her coach - who was like another father to her - passed away suddenly of a heart attack. Then in 2021, Patricio had just picked her five siblings up from school when they were involved in a serious car accident that resulted in one of her sisters going to hospital with a hip fracture and had to get a skin graft.

Mentally shaken by the incident, Hawaiian-born Patricio turned to boxing in order to regain her confidence and health.

“Boxing has been so important in my life. It’s helped me get through all of my pain outside of the ring, which makes me stronger mentally,” she told Olympics.com

“Mental health is really important because you can have all the skills in the world but if you’re not mentally there, you won’t be able to perform the way you want to.

“I’ve had to push through the tough times and keep digging deep through each fight, every day.”

Aidan Walsh and the pressure of success

And what if you win? Do the problems go away? Not always. In fact, the feeling of ‘what’s next?’ after winning a gold medal can cause as many mental health problems as chasing it.

That was certainly the case for Ireland’s Aidan Walsh, who became an overnight star back home when he won Olympic bronze at Tokyo 2020.

After securing the highest accolade of his career, and following it up with a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2022, he quickly became demotivated with mental health issues, and subsequently retired.

Despite a 12-month absence from the ring, the Belfast fighter eventually returned to the sport in 2023 with the help of sport psychologists and the support of his family, and miraculously competed at the Road to Paris 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.

“I’m just happy to be here and back in boxing. To be honest even before going in the ring today I was wondering, ‘What am I doing here? How did it come to this?’ Walsh told Olympics.com after his first victory at the event.

“Five months ago I was sitting on the chair at home, drinking a can of Coke, watching TV, and looking for jobs. I didn’t know what I was going to do. Now I’m here trying to qualify for the Olympic Games. It’s amazing and just really hard to believe.

“It took a lot of work to get back to boxing and it was a real mental struggle, so to be back here is just an absolute privilege.

“My main motivation now is just to be here and enjoy sport. Whether I win, lose or draw, I just want to compete to my best.”