Olympic Champion Roesch Opens Up About Depression: Was Mentally Dead - Olympic Champion Michael Rösch Opens Up About His Battle with Depression

Olympic biathlon champion Michael Rösch has shared his long struggle with depression. The gold medallist from the 2006 Turin Games spoke openly about the mental health battles he faced during and after his career. His story highlights the pressures of elite sport and the stigma once tied to seeking help.

Rösch's troubles began after his Olympic triumph, as expectations soared and financial strain grew. By 2009, he reached a breaking point during a competition in Pokljuka. The pressure mounted further when he missed the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, yet he never sought psychological support—fearing the stigma around mental health in sports.

In 2011, despite qualifying, he was left off the World Championships roster in Ruhpolding. Two years later, panic attacks and suicidal thoughts overwhelmed him. Then, in 2015, a double blow—glandular fever and a ruptured Achilles tendon—pushed him to another crisis.

After retiring in 2019, Rösch finally sought professional help and received a depression diagnosis. Now, he urges others struggling to reach out, saying simply: 'Get help.'

German elite sports have slowly changed since Rösch's early career. Once a taboo, mental health is now discussed more openly. Athletes like Clara Klug retired due to depression in 2022, while clubs like FC Bayern now employ sport psychologists. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DBS) expanded support with programmes like athlete-in-mind. Still, challenges remain—post-Olympic depression affects 25% of top athletes, and while figures like Sven Hannawald speak out, the topic lingers as partially taboo.

Rösch's story reflects a shift in how mental health awareness is viewed in elite sports. More athletes now seek therapy, and organisations provide greater support. Yet his experience also shows how far there is to go in breaking down lingering barriers.