--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be an elite athlete is really hard…" description: "\"To be an elite athlete is really hard when you're depressed.\" — Liz Cambage" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg" --- # To be an elite athlete is really hard when you're depressed. ![“To be an elite athlete is really hard when you're depressed.” quote by Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg) > “To be an elite athlete is really hard when you're depressed.” [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Depression makes elite athletic performance extremely challenging, highlighting mental health’s impact on success. **In simple terms:** Depression hinders elite sport performance. Key Takeaway Prioritize mental health alongside training. Themes mental health athletics resilience performance Mood empathetic encouraging Type motivational health When to use this quote - sports training - coaching - rehabilitation - career planning Key Concepts psychological barriers wellbeing strategies support systems Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes support mental health? - What resources aid recovery while maintaining performance? A Different Perspective Stigma may prevent seeking help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Athlete Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete-really-254521/) [Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressed/) [Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) [Elite Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite-athlete-1192519/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-depressed-1816511/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Really Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-hard/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [It's hard to be depressed around a ukulele. You just pick it up and you're halfway home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/it-s-hard-to-be-depressed-around-a-ukulele-you-just-pick-it-up-and/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [By being an elite athlete a lot of people think that you can go away or go places and get away with things. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-johnson/by-being-an-elite-athlete-a-lot-of-people-think-that-you-can-go-away/) [Andre Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-johnson/) > [As an elite athlete, I trained to win. Training was at times brutal - it has to be when you want to represent your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hoy/as-an-elite-athlete-i-trained-to-win-training-was-at-times-brutal-it/) [Chris Hoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hoy/) > [There is one thing on which most athletes and experts seem to agree. If you want to be an elite athlete, good nutrition at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/there-is-one-thing-on-which-most-athletes-and-experts-seem-to-agree/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [When you're an elite athlete, it's a very special moment in time and you don't want it to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/when-you-re-an-elite-athlete-it-s-a-very-special-moment-in-time-and/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [For an elite athlete the fans are everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/for-an-elite-athlete-the-fans-are-everything/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) > [It's hard not to get depressed when you pay attention to the world and how strangely and corrupt the people in it sometimes behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/it-s-hard-not-to-get-depressed-when-you-pay-attention-to-the-world/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [To chase an athlete that really doesn't want to speak with you and when you finally get him, gives you three words and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-seau/to-chase-an-athlete-that-really-doesn-t-want-to-speak-with-you-and/) [Junior Seau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-seau/) > [Miesha is a great athlete, really tough. I know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-nunes/miesha-is-a-great-athlete-really-tough-i-know-that/) [Amanda Nunes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-nunes/) > [I always wanted to be a professional athlete and really did not necessarily care which sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-professional-athlete-and-really-did-not/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [Before even Court Grip, I just wanted to be a part of a brand that I felt that listened to the athlete and really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/before-even-court-grip-i-just-wanted-to-be-a-part-of-a-brand-that-i/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [I think I've gotten more attention after the Olympics than any other U.S. athlete, and it's really great that people are recognizing who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-weir/i-think-i-ve-gotten-more-attention-after-the-olympics-than-any-other/) [Johnny Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-weir/) > [I most certainly believe that when you're an athlete, that really translates to all sports. You just understand it, your body understands it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-most-certainly-believe-that-when-you-re-an-athlete-that-really/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I've won five races as a pro and become European champion in time-trial. I'm growing stronger as a person and as an athlete. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/remco-evenepoel/i-ve-won-five-races-as-a-pro-and-become-european-champion-in-time/) [Remco Evenepoel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/remco-evenepoel/) > [Here I am just trying to fund myself to play a sport, but the greater picture is that I'm a female athlete really pushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-knight/here-i-am-just-trying-to-fund-myself-to-play-a-sport-but-the-greater/) [Hilary Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-knight/) ## More by Liz Cambage > [I was bullied since primary school, for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-was-bullied-since-primary-school-for-everything/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I always pack too much, but I'm just nervous I'll forget something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-always-pack-too-much-but-i-m-just-nervous-i-ll-forget-something/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I'm not one to get a big ego - I think it's an Aussie thing, I just laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-m-not-one-to-get-a-big-ego-i-think-it-s-an-aussie-thing-i-just-laugh/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [We sign $1 million contracts in Asia and Russia and get treated like royalty but when we are here in America we are flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/we-sign-1-million-contracts-in-asia-and-russia-and-get-treated-like/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [When I joined the Australia team, I was 17 or 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/when-i-joined-the-australia-team-i-was-17-or-18/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [People don't realize how fast fire can move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/people-don-t-realize-how-fast-fire-can-move/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [We are so scared of failure. We are so scared of going after what we want and falling short. There's so many things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/we-are-so-scared-of-failure-we-are-so-scared-of-going-after-what-we/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [Dreaming is my way to be in touch with myself. It's my connection to God. And when I go too long without it, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/dreaming-is-my-way-to-be-in-touch-with-myself-it-s-my-connection-to/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I would straighten and dye my hair. I'd wear blue contacts to school. I got to a point when I was 16 and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-would-straighten-and-dye-my-hair-i-d-wear-blue-contacts-to-school-i/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I'm a pretty athletic big, pretty versatile for how big I am. And I can dribble down the court when I want to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-m-a-pretty-athletic-big-pretty-versatile-for-how-big-i-am-and-i-can/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [I felt like I had to be honest for the people who look after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/i-felt-like-i-had-to-be-honest-for-the-people-who-look-after-me/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [My mom used to call me Bliv - as in oblivious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/my-mom-used-to-call-me-bliv-as-in-oblivious/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [Even playing in China and with the Opals, basketball got really negative for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/even-playing-in-china-and-with-the-opals-basketball-got-really/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [All society wants from me is to sit down, shut up, go to training and play my sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/all-society-wants-from-me-is-to-sit-down-shut-up-go-to-training-and/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [We play like fierce women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/we-play-like-fierce-women/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) [Explore all 100 Liz Cambage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To be an elite athlete is really hard when you're depressed.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Liz Cambage" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-when-you-re-depressed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-when-you-re-depressed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aae/liz-cambage-5789_athlete_to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-wh_2959778.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To be an elite athlete is really hard when you're depressed.” — Liz Cambage", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Liz Cambage", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To be an elite athlete is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-when-you-re-depressed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/to-be-an-elite-athlete-is-really-hard-when-you-re-depressed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```