Olympic champion Justyna Święty-Ersetic revealed that she nearly reached a psychological breaking point due to severe burnout and depression following more than two decades in professional athletics. The athlete, who won gold in the mixed 4×400-meter relay and silver in the women’s relay at the Tokyo Olympics, opened up about the mental toll of her career in a detailed interview with Artur Gac for Interia.
Confronting Depression and Burnout After Olympic Success
Święty-Ersetic first publicly shared her struggles with depression in 2023. In her recent interview with Interia, she reflected on that dark period, stating that she made a firm promise to herself never to return to such a mental state, noting Obiecałam sobie wtedy, że nigdy więcej nie znajdę się w takim miejscu
. According to the athlete, professional help from a psychologist and the support of her closest ones proved crucial in recognizing the mental health crisis early. After revealing her struggles, she felt a sense of relief, and media interest in her absence from the running track subsided.
After more than twenty years of functioning in professional sport, the physical and emotional fatigue accumulated. Święty-Ersetic admitted that she began losing her motivation and could not summon the energy during competitions that had previously been her hallmark, stating Ale mnie już na samą myśl o pójściu na trening robiło się niedobrze. Po prostu miałam tego dosyć
. This exhaustion followed a pattern of injuries, pain, and mounting psychological weariness that she had previously discussed with the magazine “Twarze depresji.” At one point she decided to interrupt her season, and consultations with specialists helped her understand the causes of her problems.
Stepping Away From the Track to Recover
To heal, Święty-Ersetic needed a complete separation from athletics. She stopped training entirely and distanced herself from watching competitions, noting that during the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, she only checked results. A multi-month rest period eventually allowed her to rediscover the joy of physical activity.
Upon returning to the sport, the runner altered her approach by changing how she plans her starts and reducing the number of events she enters. By removing the pressure to chase medals, she regained her enthusiasm. I didn’t have to chase anything, fight for a result. There was no pressure. That’s why now I’m smiling from ear to ear, ready and set for new challenges,
she told Interia.
Addressing the Impact of Online Hate on Young Athletes
Beyond her own mental health battles, Święty-Ersetic addressed the growing problem of online harassment in sports. She emphasized that anonymous abuse poses a severe challenge for young competitors who are just entering this world, noting Dla młodego sportowca, który dopiero wchodzi w ten świat i nagle spotyka się z falą hejtu, to naprawdę nie jest proste. Tym bardziej że, jak mówię, bardzo łatwo napisać anonimowy komentarz pod zdjęciem. Co to za problem założyć jakieś fejkowe konto? Zawsze powtarzam, że nie warto się tym przejmować
. Having experienced heightened sensitivity to negative comments during her own psychological crisis, she advises newcomers not to let anonymous critics affect them.
A Measured Return to Competition
With her health restored and a restructured racing calendar, Święty-Ersetic is focused on maintaining her renewed passion for running and avoiding a return to the state that once nearly robbed her of her love for sport.
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