Coping With The Pressures Of Competing | Abou Konate: The Locker Room

Writer and expert4 years ago

At Myprotein, we truly believe that looking after your mind is every bit as important as taking care of your physical fitness, and we recognise how important it is to keep the conversations around mental health going.

To celebrate Mental Health Awareness, in every week of October we are sharing an episode of The Locker Room — a series of candid interviews with our ambassadors and athletes that give their experiences with mental health a platform. Because we are #StrongerTogether.

In this second episode, pro-bodybuilder Abou Konate openly discusses how he struggled to live with the constant pressure of looking a certain way and training relentlessly even in off-season. He reflects on a time where he felt singled out during a competition for being the only black competitor and addresses the male tendency to keep emotions bottled up for the sake of appearing “tough”.

This is his story.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this video, the following organisations may be able to provide help and advice:

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation: https://headspace.org.au/

The Good Grief Trust: https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/

Samaritans: 135 247 (24/7 Anonymous Crisis Support)

For every Stronger Together shaker sold throughout October, we’ll be donating $4.50 to Mental Health Charities in Australia

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Lauren Dawes

Writer and expert

Lauren is an English Literature graduate originally from the South. She’s always loved swimming, has discovered the power of weight training over the past few years, and has lots of room for improvement in her weekly hot yoga class. On the weekends she’s usually cooking or eating some kind of brunch, and she enjoys trying out new recipes with her housemates – especially since shaking off student habits, like mainly surviving off pasta. Above all, she’s a firm believer in keeping a balance between the gym and gin. Find out more about Lauren’s experience here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-dawes-b4416aaa/