No one understands the post-Olympic blues quite like Holly Bradshaw.
The period immediately following the Olympic Games is often referred to as a 'crisis transition' for athletes, as they come to terms with either the fact they didn't reach their initial goals or soared so far they struggle to come back down.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Bradshaw has seen both sides of that coin, and joined forces with researcher Karen Howells in 2021 to write a paper on the matter, delving into the importance of athlete's prioritising their mental health during the post-Olympic period.
Since then, Bradshaw has seen a change in her own relationship with the blues.
Paris 2024 might have brought the pole vaulter's lowest-ever Olympic finish, with 28th place at her fourth Games, but Bradshaw noted that it was actually the first-time she has not experienced the post-Olympic blues in full affect and cited her support system as the key to easing her mind no matter the outcome.
"Paris for me was interesting because out of all four of my Olympics it was the worst performance but I had the least amount of blues or sadness out of any Games," she said.
"After London I felt lost and for Rio and Tokyo I experienced the blues really badly, even when I had won the medal.
"Along those three Olympics I've really learnt what I need to do to make myself feel better.
"In Paris, I had all of my friends and family supporting me and I knew there were there, not to watch me perform or win a medal but to support me in whatever I was going to do.
"That is the advice I give to people now. Post-Olympics you need to surround yourself with people that love you no matter whether you win or lose."
Bradshaw's support system was front and centre in Paris both off and on the field of play.
Unable to clear her second height, Bradshaw broke down in tears at the Stade de France but was quickly comforted by fellow Team GB athlete Molly Caudery who knelt beside her as a shoulder to lean on.
It was a perfect picture of support that came when it mattered most according to Bradshaw, with Caudery putting her own competition to the side to look after her close friend.
"It was a brilliant moment as it showed to people that the Olympics is more than sport," said Bradshaw.
"There's a quote from the founder of the Olympics [Pierre de Coubertain] saying that the Games should mirror life.
"In that moment when Molly was still competing, she found it important to come and make sure I was not alone.
"I really appreciated it and for people to have picked up on that and noticed how, despite being competitors, our friendship goes beyond that. That moment encapsulated what the Olympics is about."
Throughout her career, Bradshaw has often opened up about her struggles with mental health and how the post-Olympic blues are a crucial part of that.
From her experiences with online abuse to body image, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist knows the importance of speaking up and out.
It's this openness that has since led to her acquiring the role as International Olympic Committee Mental Health Ambassador, now in a position to be a spokesperson for the wider sporting community.
From Q&A's to seminars on safeguarding, Bradshaw was honoured to be considered for the role and admitted that she is ready to be the voice that can lend others pivotal advice.
"The idea of being an ambassador came about just before the Olympics when someone from the IOC got in contact with me with aims of raise awareness and helping athletes," she said.
"Because of the work I had done on post-Olympic blues, my sports psychology Masters and being vocal about mental health topics, I was offered the position.
"I'm honoured as it's something I'm really passionate about and throughout my career I've found the confidence to become more vocal on different topics."
With the support of mental health charity YoungMinds, Team GB are putting mental health first for athletes throughout the Olympic cycle.
And in a world where elite athletes are still struggling with the idea of seeing a sports psychologist, Bradshaw is now using her own experiences to help current and aspiring Olympians feel comfortable opening up about their own mental health.
"The fact that Team GB have partnered with YoungMinds sends a really important message to athletes that their mental health is always treated as an important factor," she said.
"It shows athletes that they are being helped in a humanistic way rather than a vessel to win medals.
"There's still lots of stigma around asking for help. I see it within athletics so I want to break down the barrier that it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help, it's actually a sign of strength.
"Having ambassadors speak out about it and normalising looking after your mental health is the way to make those big changes."
Sportsbeat 2024