Admired Vulnerability or Shattered Heroism? Media Framing of Elite Athletes’ Mental Illnesses in German Print Media

This study examines the media’s framing of mental illness among elite athletes in German print media from 2013 to 2023. Traditionally, elite sport culture has glorified invulnerability, marginalized mental health challenges, and stigmatized perceived weakness. Through a reflexive thematic analysis of 200 articles from three major German newspapers, we constructed four dominant frames: mental illness (a) as a bug in the performance-oriented sport system, (b) as a magnifying glass on its dark sides, (c) as a necessary respite, and (d) as a starting point for empowerment. Our findings highlight, on one hand, the persistence of traditional narratives that prioritize performance over well-being while, on the other hand, acknowledging a growing recognition of systemic failures and athletes’ holistic health in the print media. By exploring media constructions, this work advances the discourse on mental illness, stigma, and the evolving cultural transformation of elite sport.