Olympian Karen Chen says mental health battle makes figure skating difficult to enjoy

Olympic silver medalist tells news that she used to think she would be considered "weak" if she discussed her fears in public.

Speaking to news recently, the 22-year-old Olympic figure skater spoke candidly about her efforts to deal with anxiety after her embarrassing personal mental health struggle.

"As I get older, it became something I was fighting for," he told the news. "When I was much younger, I was looking forward to racing; they excite me. However, the last few years have been much more challenging. I often struggle with nervousness and fear not only on race day but also the previous week."

Chen added, "When I feel like this, it becomes difficult to enjoy something I enjoy, like being on the ice and getting my heart pumping." It's not always "easy" for Chen to share his experiences with anxiety, and he recalls his reluctance to talk about mental health because he sees it as a "sign of weakness."

"I remember being afraid to open up about this sensitive issue because people would think I wasn't strong enough to handle the pressure," she said.

"It was difficult. I always felt that athletes were viewed as the strongest physically and mentally. It was tough for me to prioritize my mental health," Chen said, adding that social media had also "caused so much unnecessary and distracting." which could affect his sanity. Chen's demeanor did not change "until I realized how strong it takes one to be brave and open about this matter." He added: "I find it very interesting how different people deal with mental and physical health issues."