The case of footballer Edoardo Bove, who collapsed on the field due to a cardiac arrest, should make us reflect on human fragility, even when young and well-trained, when subjected to constant psychophysical stress. This remains true even when such challenges are freely chosen, as they are inherent to an athlete’s profession. Alongside these thankfully rare cases, there are others less severe but equally significant for the individuals involved, as they can keep athletes away from activity for up to a year and often predispose them to frequent relapses over time. Take Juventus as an example: since the beginning of this season, they have had at least 7-8 players continuously injured, to the extent that five youth team players were called to the bench.
This isn’t limited to football; the issues differ but are also prevalent in tennis, where injuries during the sports season frequently cause players to miss several tournaments. Kobe Bryant once said that while his mind wanted to keep playing, his body refused, leading him to retire. Nadal and Federer would have liked to continue, but their bodies rejected this through repeated and severe injuries. The lengths to which athletes go to win are extraordinary: Gianmarco Tamberi severely damaged his health in his attempt to win gold in Paris, resulting in hospitalization during the Olympic Games. Noah Lyles competed in the 200m final in Paris, finishing third, despite having COVID.
The Causes
Too many competitions, too much social visibility, and the financial pressures to always perform at one’s best are the underlying causes. The system is structured this way, and slowing down seems impossible. Athletes first struggle to reach the top, and then fight to remain there and achieve ultimate excellence.
There is nothing inherently negative in pursuing a career this way. I have participated in the Olympics since Atlanta 1996, collaborating with many medal-winning athletes at both the Olympic Games and World Championships. I am actively involved in this process of performance enhancement. However, I am equally convinced that more should be done to safeguard athletes’ physical and mental health. High-level sports are physically taxing and have a significant emotional impact. Humans were not designed for such extreme and repeated trials over time, and it is evident that training alone is not sufficient to ensure an athlete’s health and well-being. However, we can offer athletes much more than what is typically done, beyond preventive training, which should already be part of their daily routine.
Fostering Psychophysical Recovery
Promoting recovery processes is crucial but not always practiced by athletes. This includes managing sleep, nutrition, and hydration, engaging in well-being activities (such as yoga, relaxation, and meditation), and maintaining meaningful relationships. Focusing solely on the number of competitions would be a missed opportunity, as there is no single solution to this issue. Instead, we need to implement all the opportunities that depend on individual choices. This requires experts working with athletes to adopt this mindset and propose solutions. Otherwise, the status quo will persist, where prevention and lifestyle choices are left to individual discretion. Greater care and respect for one’s body are essential.