That is something Goepper has slowly learned over the course of four straight Winter Olympics. At his first Games, the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014, his winning silver medal brought him fame that the 19-year-old was not prepared for. He faced a mental health crisis that forced him to reevaluate everything.
“When I wanted to die,” he says candidly, “that was when I realized something wasn’t right.”
From that moment, the path forward involved not just professional support but a deliberate effort to re-engage with the world around him. Today, he prioritizes relationships and routines that keep him grounded — weekly dinners with family, time with his fiancée, moments of connection that anchor him beyond the slopes.
That separation — between athlete and individual — is something both Goepper and Ellis emphasize as essential. For Ellis, it is a conscious practice.
“I have a very distinct awareness of who I am outside of my sport,” she says. “This is my career, but it’s not the end-all, be-all.”
That mindset allows her to navigate difficult days with perspective, to step back and assess performance without letting it define her identity. It is a balance she learned early, reinforced by a childhood that prioritized being well-rounded.
“I was raised to have other interests and activities outside of my sport,” she says. “So I didn’t rely solely on it.”
Roberts describes a similar grounding, rooted in the people who know her beyond competition.
“They make me feel like me … a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a best friend,” she says. “I can’t thank the people closest to me enough for simply making me feel like me at my core.”
Still, even with that foundation, asking for help does not come easily. Ellis describes herself as someone who internalizes, who struggles to vocalize when she is in need. And yet, her story underscores another critical aspect of support systems: sometimes, others step in first.
“My parents and my high school coach sat me down,” she recalls. “They saw the anxiety, and they hated seeing me go through it. They were the ones who pushed me to see a sports therapist.”
It was a pivotal moment for Ellis — one that reshaped her relationship with mental health care and set her on a path that continues today. She now works with a sports psychiatrist, viewing mental health not as a destination, but an ongoing process.
“There are ups and downs,” she says. “It’s a continuous journey.”
Roberts believes that willingness to reach out is itself a form of strength, a mindset she has carried since childhood.
“Being mentally strong means having the strength to speak up and reach out when you need help,” she says. “My mental health shifts alongside my life experiences,” she says. “There is no fixed endpoint … it’s a continuous journey of self-care and growth.”
That journey is increasingly supported by structural resources within Team USA. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee has expanded its investment in athlete well-being, providing access to mental health professionals and initiatives like the Mental Health Assistance Fund, which helps bridge gaps in coverage and ensures athletes can access the care they need.