We are human, too.

Athletes are human too.

Each and every day, we wake up, and we put on a jersey that represents the program that we have dedicated ourselves to. What the world sees is only what happens in those lines on game day. Society monitors our wins and losses, they get to see how each player performs, they choose their favorite teams, they idolize their favorite players, and they stand on their loyalty to both.

When teams play well or their favorite player performs outstanding, the die hard fans rave. We have tailgates and super bowl parties, face paint and the really dedicated ones sometimes take it as far as getting tattoos (crazy right?). With there being one extreme, that always means there is another. When that favorite team loses, fans take to social media to express how they feel. Society has made it acceptable to be shielded by a screen having access to saying whatever they want. What about the athlete reading them?

More often than not, this world forgets that when that uniform comes off, athletes are humans too. We have good days and bad, we mess up and we succeed, but most importantly of all, we have feelings and emotions. As an athlete, you are under this light every day of your life. Every action you take, from what you put in your body, to the social life you have outside of your sport is policed. The countless hours a week we put in for practice, extra work, film, weights or even media stuff, is never seen by the public. Do you know what else isn’t seen?

The emotional and mental effects this all has.

Every day our bodies hurt. We fight through injuries and pain because of the end goal. We suppress our emotions because showing emotion is soft, it’s a sign of weakness. Majority of athletes face anxiety, depression, bipolar, and many other struggles that are often swept under the rug. It is never a big deal until an athlete takes their life. All of a sudden everyones a mental health advocate.

You are not alone. From one athlete to another, you are not alone. I see you. I struggled with the acceptance of failure. I was crumbling under the expectations of everyone around me, I put my sport before myself. Slowly, I lost who I was. When those thoughts crept in, when my attempt at taking my own life grabbed me by the shoulder, you are alone in that very moment. My support system saved me and I will forever be grateful for that.

Let’s tackle the world, one story at a time, one vulnerable athlete at a time. It’s time we are seen as real people and not touch down machine or point generators, we are more than the name across our chest. You matter.

Athletes are human too.