The concept of being ‘mentally fit’ particularly resonates with racewalker Rebecca Henderson who experienced her own mental health battles last year when a fractured spine left her unable to train.

“I spent twelve weeks on the couch barely allowed to move. Not being able to train as I normally would two times a day, every single day, was a real challenge for my mental health,” Henderson said.

“During that time, I just tried to take a step back from racewalking and focus on all the other areas of my life such as finishing my university degree and hanging out with friends.

“I believe having mental fitness strategies in place is so important to not only perform well in elite sports but in all aspects of life.”

Amid preparing for the Olympics in Paris, Henderson has signed on to be an Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) Mental Fitness Ambassador, drawing on her experiences to help young teens stay mentally fit throughout life.

She joins 20 other athletes in delivering presentations across high schools and youth sporting organisations as part of the AIS partnership with the Black Dog Institute.

Black Dog Institute Engagement Manager (Schools), Lachlan Steuart, said: “The Mental Fitness Program is a free interactive program for high-school-aged people, delivered by elite athletes who provide their unique lived experience to educate and inform on strategies to build social connections, how to help a friend that may be struggling and how to access available resources.”