Israeli Olympic medalist Inbar Lanir reveals mental crisis after Paris silver: ‘I had no strength to shower’
At the height of her career, the Israeli judoka was overwhelmed by emptiness, then suffered a serious shoulder injury; now she speaks about vulnerability in professional sports, lessons from Yarden Gerbi and why a true champion needs a life beyond the mat
German rival warned Inbar Lanir about the difficulties that await after winning an Olympic medal, telling her that a serious drop in performance and mental health was inevitable. The Israeli judoka, who took home silver at the Paris Olympics, was unprepared for the emotional and physical toll that would follow her victory. Lanir documented her struggles for a week after the Games, feeling exhausted and unmotivated, and experiencing a significant downturn in her personal life.
She sought counsel from her coach, Shany Hershko, who compared the decline in her performance to the end of a fourth-grade crush – a metaphor that helped Lanir understand the mental toll of winning and losing an Olympic medal. Lanir credits her self-imposed routines and guided imagery as crucial factors in her journey to the Olympics, but she also recognized the need for a new source of motivation beyond the medal.
She sought to explore what she wanted to achieve beyond her athletic career, a process that required her to confront her own vulnerabilities and seek guidance from role models like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps.
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