The research is clear: There\u2019s a positive association between physical activity and the prevention and treatment of mental health issues. But as tennis star Naomi Osaka, swimmer Michael Phelps and US gymnast Simone Biles have shown in recent years, the pressure can be overwhelming for sportspeople at the top of their game\u2026 And it\u2019s especially hard on younger athletes, for whom competitive pressures can lead to psychological distress.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why it\u2019s critical to ensure that younger athletes don\u2019t just do physical training, but also get psychological support as well, to ensure that they stay mentally healthy, says 8-time SA Superbike Champion Clint Seller.<\/p>\n
\u2018Let\u2019s face it: Top sport is all about results. Athletes are constantly pushing themselves to new limits. But the pressure can have a massive effect on the mental health of a young athlete,\u2019 says Seller, who leads the King Price Xtreme racing team.<\/p>\n
\u2018You can be the hero in 1 race, and then the next you end up in a gravel trap and you\u2019re injured for weeks on end. It\u2019s tough. In racing (as in most sports) you lose a lot more than you ever win. I have 8 SA titles, but I\u2019ve been racing since I was 16. You can never link your mental health and your motivation to your results.\u2019<\/p>\n
For Seller, staying mentally healthy starts with fitness and being active. It also helps that he has a normal 9-to-5 job, which keeps him balanced and allows him to keep perspective across all aspects of his life: Family, work, and being a sportsman.<\/p>\n
The importance of physical activity in the prevention of diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease is widely recognised, but a growing body of research suggests that staying active has positive effects on mental health by increasing self-esteem and lowering stress and anxiety levels.<\/p>\n
\u2018You don\u2019t have to be an elite sportsperson to know that training, and keeping healthy and fit and strong, helps you stay mentally healthy too. If you’re getting beaten on the racetrack, or in life, you work harder in the gym to put the smile back on your face, and then you come back stronger,\u2019 says Seller.<\/p>\n
Seller\u2019s King Price Xtreme team is 1 of the most youthful on the circuit, and he says the team spends a lot of time keeping the young racers grounded and humble, and ensuring that they have a wide range of interests and activities beyond the track.<\/p>\n
\u2018When I was making my way in racing, it was a case of \u2018cowboys don\u2019t cry\u2019. Now we\u2019re making sure that our young athletes are taught coping mechanisms to deal with stress, and feel confident and comfortable to ask for help when the pressure is on,\u2019 says Seller.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"