Ana Marcela Cunha discusses Olympic gold and burnout

Olympic open water swimming champion Ana Marcela Cunha has opened up about the emotional challenges and severe burnout she experienced following her gold medal win at the Tokyo 2020 Games.

Cunha revealed that her relationship with her former coach, Fernando Possenti, became problematic after her victory. She noted that instead of celebrating her achievement, the coach immediately pressured her to win the 10km World Championship, which diminished the joy of her Olympic success. The athlete described experiencing a period of intense emotional exhaustion and isolation, noting that at one point during a World Cup stage in Portugal, she felt physically and mentally unable to continue. She has since used her platform to discuss mental health and the pressures faced by elite athletes.