Naomi
@afrochicks
i won’t competing this year i have dedicated the past 10 years of my life to athletics, sacrificed alot, moved countries and cities, struggled with injury for the past two years and had multiple surgeries and have missed out on the past 2 olympics by small margin TWICE this lead to burn out and a decline in my mental health which is why i moved away from the national training centre last year when i went to south africa in jan i had a pretty awful time i was having daily panic attacks and my training was a mess, partly because of my grandad being in hospital and also because i just wasn’t feeling right i spoke to my coach and head of british athletics and we all agreed it’s best for my mental and physical health to finally…for the first time take a year off i’m still aiming for LA 2028 and i have many championships next year which i look forward to but for now i am going to experience LIVING and HEALING physically and mentally to make sure i can make my olympic dream a reality
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Sara Phillips
@saraphillips
as a former competitive athlete and current human- I can only begin to imagine how upsetting/emotional this must feel. sending you lots of love and I know that this ‘rest’ will only lead to greater reward later on! rooting for you always.
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Naomi
@afrochicks
thanks so much sara, yeah i have felt so much guilt but i have also felt so much more free and its really nice exploring who i am away from sport, i appreciate you so much. ❤️
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Sara Phillips
@saraphillips
i don’t know if you feel this but- it’s kind of like a whole new world haha. that’s how i felt after college basketball. I was like wow there are so many other things I love about life?!! haha ❤️🩹
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Naomi
@afrochicks
yesss! im so glad im not alone, when youre fully in it sport is your WHOLE world the transition is so weird,actually having time to do things, wearing normal clothes instead of training gear, discovering my sense of style ,trying new hairstyles that i couldn't do because of training hahaha its like silly things but then also bigger things like being able to travel whenever i want and spend quality time with family so YES i feel that so much ❤️
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Sara Phillips
@saraphillips
exactly!!! I felt so overwhelmed at first like who I am?? but then discovering the rest of myself was the best experience. I know lots of good things are coming your way!!!! ❤️
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