Marina Carrier

I wanted to get involved in the AIS Mental Fitness Program because I have such a visceral memory of the moment, as a young athlete just out of school, where I wondered - do Olympic athletes ever struggle? It was something that was never spoken about, and at the time, it made me feel that if I was struggling mentally, then maybe it was because I was "weak", or "not good enough" as an athlete.  I now know that that's not the case, and it's part of being a human to struggle, stress, be anxious or down, whatever it may be - whether you're aiming to win school cross country or qualify for the Olympic Games. And more than that - it's ok to ask for help, and important to have the tools and mental fitness to navigate things when times get tough.