Swimmer Mollie O’Callaghan reveals mental health battle and says she suffered ‘anxiety attack’ before record breaking run at Paris Olympics: ‘I couldn’t breathe’
Mollie O’Callaghan had a dream career at the Olympic Games in Paris.
But her incredible winning streak left the Australian swimmer suffering from panic attacks.
The 20-year-old won a whopping five medals, beating teammate Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 200m freestyle to win gold. She also won gold in the 100m and 200m freestyle, silver in the 100m medley and bronze in the 100m mixed medley.
Despite being one of Australia’s most decorated Olympians, Mollie tells this week’s issue Stellar Magazine that she had moments when she was in a crisis of faith.
“The night before the 200m freestyle at the trials I was the most nervous I’ve ever been. I had a bit of an anxiety attack. I couldn’t breathe,” she said.
‘I felt like there was so much pressure and expectation to perform, especially as a world record holder.
“I know somewhere in the back of my mind that no matter what happens, everyone will be proud of me. But there are times when it gets a little too much.”
Mollie admits that she thinks a lot and has to force herself to resist her negative thoughts.
Mollie O’Callaghan (pictured in Stellar) had a dream run at the Paris Olympics. But her incredible winning streak left the Australian swimmer suffering from panic attacks
“I think about things too much and it’s hard to try to switch off. But I really love swimming; I do it because I really enjoy it,” she said.
“And I just have to think about the positive things and use the tactics that my psychologist helps me with. All those little things help me get to that point.”
The golden girl previously gave an emotional interview following her success at the Paris Olympics, in which she expressed her disappointment with some of her results.
The Australian swimming team won seven gold, eight silver and three bronze at the pool in Paris.
The national swimming team won a total of 21 medals in Tokyo, 20 at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and 18 at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
O’Callaghan was the country’s most successful swimmer in Paris
Still, Mollie felt like she had let the country down and she had to hold back tears when asked if she was proud of her achievement in Paris.
“Part of me yes, and part of me no,” she said News Corp.
‘It’s all good, but I think it’s hard because there’s so much good stuff, and also so much shit.
‘Ultimately you just have to stay positive because a lot of people don’t get the chance to be on stage.’
O’Callaghan was the country’s most successful swimmer in Paris, winning three golds, one silver and one bronze.
Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine