Japanese judo star Uta Abe’s emotional outburst after her unexpected second-round went viral in the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlighting the intense mental strain athletes face.

As the defending Olympic champion in the women’s under-52kg competition, her defeat was a significant blow, outlining the pressure of the high-stakes competition.

The Wire spoke with professor of psychology at Melbourne University Dr Courtney Walton about the changes for athletics mental health since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Image: Image from Cloudfront

Produced By: Moemina Shukur

Featured In Story: Dr Courtney Walton – Melbourne University

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 30 July 2024