"It got worse and worse and worse and worse till it all boiled over ... With the prospect of her second Olympics looming, she wants to "destigmatize mental health" and help others who, like her, can get caught up in cycles of depression and anxiety. While she continues to experience depressive episodes, Saunders' prior experiences have equipped her with tools to try to keep on top of her mental health. Aged 20 when she arrived at her first Olympics, Saunders used the experience to soak up as much knowledge as possible and learn from her more senior teammates. "I always felt like in life, trying to reach people -- to help people -- is really my purpose."

Source: CNN May 27, 2021 08:03 UTC