More than Sport: Curlers Reflect on Mental Health, Balance, and Support
October marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a global initiative dedicated to empathy, understanding, and collective action. Beyond the intense competitions, long seasons, and national expectations, curlers share stories of resilience, connection, and courage.
Finding Strength Through Conversation
For Canada’s Brett Gallant, working with a sports psychologist has become a key part of maintaining his mental well-being and performance.
“When you’re in these kinds of high-pressure events all the time, it’s nice to have some training on how to deal with it,”
He explained that having professional guidance helps him manage the emotions that come with elite-level sport.
“It’s also good to have someone to reach out to if you’re struggling.”
Gallant credits his wife, fellow curler Jocelyn Peterman, for helping him find balance.
“She knows the pressures and feelings that come with sport. It’s nice to have people to lean on, to talk to, that’s important.”
Speaking about his team, Gallant emphasized that everyone experiences stress and anxiety, and that learning to face them together matters.
“Everyone’s dealing with stresses and anxieties, and we’re learning how to deal with them better. It’s OK to not be perfectly OK.”
Resilience After Setbacks
Following the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Canada’s Rachel Homan went through one of the hardest moments in her curling career, narrowly missing medal contention by mere millimetres in a mixed doubles match. Her story reflects how athletes continue learning to overcome disappointment while maintaining their mental health.
Author’s Summary
Through reflections from curlers like Brett Gallant and Rachel Homan, this piece highlights how open dialogue, teamwork, and psychological support sustain mental strength in competitive sport.