Vaulted to unsustainable heights: Examining media coverage of the mental health of Olympic athletes

This study examines media framing of mental health issues among Olympic athletes during the 2021 Summer Olympic Games and 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The study employs framing theory in conjunction with intersectionality to better understand changing attitudes about the impact of mental health issues. Past research suggests athletes, especially elite Olympic athletes, are framed as superhuman and beyond common human frailties. Results show that while media frames about mental health are changing for the better, there are still differences in the way women and diverse athletes are portrayed. Implications of this coverage are discussed.