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As an Olympic hopeful, I was trained to seek out no insurance for my career. I committed to trying hard at all costs, believing in the impossible, and never giving up. This mindset took me all the way to the Olympics, where I ran a Greek national record and personal best in the 10,000 meters in 2016. It was and still is a dream come true. I love my Olympic family. I don’t regret my pursuit. But I do regret applying the same tactics I used to get to the Olympics to other parts of my life. This approach gave me everything when it came to athletics, but it nearly cost me my life outside of sports.
Shortly after the Olympics, when I should have slowed down and let myself decompress from the years-long chase of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I ignored my unease and pushed through the natural sense of loss anyone might feel after achieving a lifelong dream. I tried to grit through my…
