Athletes, experts, and sport leaders will explore the connection between athlete mental wellness, digital pressures, and performance ahead of LA28
When Olympic champion Jessie Diggins crosses a finish line, the race may be over, but the pressure often isn’t. And that pressure can lead to serious consequences, including anxiety disorders, body image issues, and other mental health struggles. Diggins is all too familiar, having battled with a life-threatening eating disorder that shaped her into the powerful advocate for mental health that she is now.
As digital platforms become increasingly intertwined with sport, athletes at every level are navigating new pressures that can affect mental wellness, identity, and performance. Today’s athletes compete in an environment where performances are analyzed instantly, opinions spread quickly, and expectations can follow them long after competition ends.
With the world looking ahead to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, understanding how these factors shape both personal health and athletic achievement is becoming increasingly important.
To examine how athletes, coaches, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and sport leaders can better support athlete well-being in this evolving landscape, Diggins will headline the 2026 TrueSport Talks Symposium, a free virtual event streaming live nationwide from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum on November 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MST.
“For me, the biggest lesson has been continuing to work with a sport psychologist, even, and especially, when times are good so I can build a strong foundation before challenges arise,” said Diggins. “I’ve also found it incredibly important to separate my self-worth from results and from what other people say about me, because those are things I cannot control.”
Hosted by TrueSport, the youth sport movement powered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the sixth annual symposium brings together athletes, mental health experts, healthcare professionals, coaches, media leaders, and advocates to examine the intersection of athlete mental wellness, digital pressures, and performance.
This year’s event, Athlete Mental Wellness, Digital Pressures, and Performance: A Playbook for a Hyperconnected World, will offer practical strategies for navigating the opportunities and challenges of today’s sport environment while helping athletes thrive both on and off the field of play.
“Mental wellness and performance are deeply connected, yet today’s athletes are navigating pressures that extend far beyond competition,” said Dr. Jennifer Royer, Senior Director of TrueSport and Awareness at USADA. “As we look toward LA28 and beyond, we have an opportunity to create sport environments that support athlete well-being while helping athletes perform at their best. TrueSport Talks is designed to provide tools and insights that can help make that possible.”
Diggins will open the event alongside Dr. Royer before joining fellow athletes for a conversation about the realities that often exist beyond the podium, including the challenges athletes face, the relationships that help them thrive, and the lessons sport communities can apply to create more sustainable experiences for participants at every level.
The symposium comes at a pivotal moment for sport. Conversations about athlete mental health have moved into the mainstream, prompting organizations, coaches, and families to rethink how athletes are supported. At the same time, the rise of social media and constant online engagement have transformed the athlete experience, creating new opportunities for connection while introducing pressures that can be difficult to navigate.
Throughout the event, speakers will examine how these realities shape the athlete journey. Discussions will explore what it takes to support athletes as they navigate the demands of performance, personal growth, and life in the digital age. One featured session, Media, Myths, and Mental Wellness: How Storytelling Shapes Sport Culture, will bring together media professionals for a candid conversation about the stories that define sport. Panelists will discuss how coverage and commentary can influence expectations, impact mental wellness, and contribute to healthier, more balanced conversations about achievement and personal growth.
“With the rise of the internet and the toxic nature of social media sites, the stories we tell about athletes are changing,” explains Christine Brennan, USA Today columnist, news commentator, and New York Times bestselling author of On Her Game. “I’m very aware of the pressure and attacks that athletes face. Over the past decade, I’ve written and talked more about athletes’ mental health — as well as the terrible topic of sexual abuse in sports — than I ever did before. That’s a journalist’s job: to reflect what is going on with the people and stories we cover and chronicle how things are changing.”
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of what it takes to support athletes in today’s sport landscape and create environments where performance and health can thrive together.
Virtual registration for the 2026 TrueSport Talks Symposium is free and open to the public. Visit the 2026 TrueSport Talks event page to register and explore the full agenda and speaker lineup.
