World-class sprinter Jasmine Blocker, who competed for Team USA and won a gold medal in the mixed 4x400-meter relay at the 2019 IAAF World Relays, opened up about her younger years struggling to cope with the crushing pressure of competition to becoming a mental health advocate.
Inspired by Simone Biles’ courage, Blocker shared how she found strength in vulnerability and the importance of seeking help.
“I think Simone Biles was one of the biggest ones for me because I think that by her coming out, it very much validated all of the somatic and sensory things that I was feeling,” Blocker said.
“My coaches were amazing, but at the end of the day, they were kind of like, ‘okay, just get over it and go run. It’s one foot in front of the other. It’s not that hard.’ So I was really, really validated by her coming out and saying ‘I am unable to compete because of what’s going on with me psychologically.’ And it gave me a lot of courage to go and seek even more resources and to really, really take a step back and see what I could do for my mental health.”
The POPSUGAR fitness trainer and Lululemon Global Run Ambassador shared her practical approach to holistic wellness, which combines proper supplementation, hydration and a unique “three daily tasks” method that prioritizes joy and movement. The candid discussion highlights how a balanced routine helps Blocker maintain peak performance while nurturing physical and mental wellbeing.
The mental health advocate encourages everyone to listen to their bodies and recognize the validity of their feelings, suggesting that there are effective resources available for those struggling mentally.
“If you feel that something is off, if you feel it’s very, very difficult to get out of bed, it’s not in your head. It’s real. These things are real. If you feel super, super nervous or your stomach is in a knot before a meeting, that’s very real. And there are resources that can help you.”
