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Alex Pantling/Getty Damian Warner
Olympian Damian Warner says he feels the stress to be function mannequin “on a regular basis” as an athlete, however the three-time world medalist embraces the chance.
“I perceive that the folks in my life have sacrificed a lot time and vitality to permit me to do what I like,” Warner, 32, tells PEOPLE. “It is close to unattainable to pay all of them again, so I attempt to lead by instance and pay it ahead the easiest way I can. To be the very best function mannequin I might be, to indicate them their efforts haven’t gone to waste.”
The observe and subject star, who took house the decathlon gold medal on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has partnered with Lululemon in an effort to encourage psychological well being consciousness via sport.
BEN STANSALL/AFP by way of Getty Damian Warner
Warner explains that he and the model hope to “use the superb energy of sport to uplift and encourage our communities and to assist folks understand their full potential.”
Now, the decathlon star is inspiring a brand new technology of athletes to pursue their athletic goals. “It means all the pieces,” he says of being an envoy for the athletics model.
“As I become older, I understand the significance of working with firms I consider in,” says Warner. “An organization that cares about furthering the probabilities in sport, that stands for equality and inclusion, and an organization that results change all over the world and at house in our communities.”
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Regardless of being an athlete who competes solo, Warner says he believes “that nothing nice might be achieved alone.” Earlier than his gold medal victory in 2020, he grew to become the second Canadian athlete to win a medal in decathlon in 2016, and is a three-time Olympic medalist in his profession.
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“With out the group that has been there for me since day one, none of my accomplishments would have been potential,” says Warner. “I feel it is essential to uplift the folks round us so we are able to all have an equal alternative to chase our goals and objectives and in the end reside a cheerful and wholesome life.”
Essential to Warner as an athlete and a job mannequin is sustaining his psychological well being, by being “open and trustworthy” with the folks round him and his sports activities psychologist. The Olympian says, “The thought of disappointing or letting them down might be burdensome, however being somebody folks can look as much as is essential to me.”
“I feel it is crucial that you’ve got folks in your life you could discuss to,” he provides.
Sam Barnes/Sportsfile by way of Getty Damian Warner
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Subsequent, Warner will take pleasure in a while off from competing. “Exterior of athletics, I’m trying ahead to spending time with my household and possibly take the journey to Barbados that we’ve got been speaking about for a short while now.”
Warner joins a number of athletes speaking out about mental health in sports. In a January 2021 interview with TIME, Olympian Chloe Kim detailed her expertise returning house and embarking on a media tour after taking the gold medal within the halfpipe on the 2018 Winter Olympics. Kim stated she dumped the medal in a trash bin at her dad and mom’ home after the Video games.
“I hated life,” she stated, explaining that she struggled together with her new-found fame. Kim has since discovered sources to assist her work via the challenges of life as an elite athlete, together with remedy, and has discovered it liberating. “Simply with the ability to let these issues out that you just simply tuck in your little secret a part of your coronary heart helps rather a lot … I really feel rather more at peace now.”
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