When victories seem to come almost naturally – as has been the case for Marten van Riel in recent years – professional athletes are often placed on a pedestal. Or, as the Belgian star himself puts it, “you get rewarded so strongly.” But the reverse is equally true. “In the lows you feel lonely very quickly.”
That’s what Van Riel admits in a strikingly candid video he shared on social media, where he talks openly about battling both physical and mental challenges in the run-up to the Ironman World Championship in Nice. Whether he will even make it to that World Championship – where he has long been seen as one of the favorites – is still uncertain. Just a month ago, Van Riel rolled his ankle badly during training in Girona. At first, he kept pushing through, but a medical check revealed bone edema and torn ligaments. The result: he hasn’t been able to run for a month.
The injury has not only created physical setbacks but also taken a toll mentally. Earlier this year, during a high-altitude training camp in Sierra, Van Riel fell ill and says he completely withdrew from those around him – even ignoring friends’ messages. “What I do then is isolate myself, which only makes the hole I’m digging deeper. When you don’t reply to your friends three or four times, it becomes even harder afterward to admit that you’re actually not doing well.”
These ups and downs, Van Riel explains, have followed him throughout his entire career. “When I feel good physically, my mental health is strong too. But when my body isn’t right, I can also feel really low. Those swings are something I’ve dealt with my whole career. As an athlete, the highs are celebrated so strongly, but in the lows you can feel very alone. I’ve been struggling with that for a while and I know I need to work on it, but it remains difficult.”
You can watch his full video below: