Naomi Osaka: Prioritize Your Mental Health
In an ideal world, you would not have to read this article. You would not have to read articles where people feel the need to commend Naomi Osaka for putting her mental health first. But, thanks to the Roland Garros organisers and the critics who believe that athletes deserve no sympathy, here we are.
For those that are unaware, here is the story. Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka announced that she was not going to do any press conferences at the French Open. Osaka explained that she felt the need to protect her mental health. She talked about the fact that “people have no regard for athlete’s mental health, and this rings very true whenever I see a press conference or partake in one.”
She also said that she felt that they continue to ask the same questions that trigger doubt in her mind. Now, if you are the organisers of a sports tournament, it is understandable that you are a little annoyed. One of your superstars will not talk to the media.
For media member, your frustration makes sense. Media members want to ask questions of these athletes to give the public some sort of inside access to them. It must be especially frustrating in tennis, where the media do not get regular access to their stars, and also because it is Osaka, she is a superstar.
