Health
Why Personal Growth Drives Business Success
About Icebug Icebug is a Swedish footwear brand on a mission to empower people to get outside — regardless of the season. Founded in 2001, the company is best known for its innovative traction technologies, making it a go-to for runners, hikers, and outdoor lovers facing slippery or challenging terrain. As the first outdoor footwear […]
About Icebug
Icebug is a Swedish footwear brand on a mission to empower people to get outside — regardless of the season. Founded in 2001, the company is best known for its innovative traction technologies, making it a go-to for runners, hikers, and outdoor lovers facing slippery or challenging terrain. As the first outdoor footwear brand to become climate positive, Icebug leads with bold sustainability actions, transparency, and a commitment to doing business differently. Headquartered in Jonsered, just outside Gothenburg, Icebug combines nature-first values with cutting-edge design and a deep respect for the planet.
CEO David Ekelund believes this connection to nature is essential for both mental health and in-novative thinking. With mandatory “Wellness Hours” three times a week, all employees spend at least an hour outside — whether walking, running, or simply breathing fresh forest air. It’s part of a bigger shift: a commitment to inner development and new ways of working in a changing world. As Ekelund shares on a walk through the forests of Västra Götaland, breaking with business-as-usual has helped Icebug thrive — from the inside out.
It’s quite difficult to isolate where mental issues are coming from. Is it really because of work? Or can it be a parent who is ill or a child having problems at school? But it’s for sure, that you’re not one person at work and then you’re another person in your private life. We are basically one person.
The underlying assumption is, that people get more dusk worn down at work. They need the weekend or a vacation to rest. I think it’s not a really good way of having it. What if instead, we can make the workplace the place where actual health and well-being are increased? Where people can develop towards their full potential.
We know that physical activity also gives mental well-being, but that’s only one part of it. About 3 years ago, we decided that we wanted to work on inner development. This was really a departure from business as usual.
The core idea of business as usual being professional at work. But we all have strong sides and weak sides. And if we go to work, spending a lot of time trying to hide our weak side and always show our strong side, our “better side”, we lose a lot of opportunities to learn. Instead spending a lot of energy doing that, we could use it to develop together.
It happened during the spring of Covid, when me and a few others in leading positions were confronted with the weekly thrown up of the situation. It became clear to me, that I had an image for myself as a CEO, that I was trying to kind of execute to others. Like that only if I come up with the best plan and we just follow my plan, we’re going to have a good outcome.
But during this time, I felt that if I would have tried to hang on to this, it would have broken me completely. So instead, I embraced vulnerability. Saying that I don’t know what will happen, because things will likely keep changing a lot. But that I think we have the capacity to work on this together. This didn’t make me weaker, but stronger. And I also noticed that it unlocked the participating in joy at work for me and being able to express gratitude.
Yes, until then I had this kind of underlying assumption that if things would be too joyful at work or if I would say thank you that maybe people would get lazy. But the effect is the contrary: People want to contribute more, if you show gratitude and approach things in a joyful manner, even pretty heavy things.
About David Ekelund
David Ekelund is the CEO and co-founder of Icebug, the Swedish outdoor brand leading the way in climate-positive footwear. At Icebug, he’s championed a workplace culture rooted in well-being, purpose, and bold sustainability goals. A regular speaker at ISPO, David shares his insights on transforming sustainable business through supply chain management for a massive reduce of emissions on the one hand and on the other how inner development and reconnecting with nature can help companies and people thrive.
I had some coaching during this time and read a book which was very, very helpful to me. It’s called “You are your best Thing”, written by Brené Brown. It led me to the conclusion, that I couldn’t change the situation, but I could try to change myself.
We started thinking about how we can set up an environment that people get the chance to grow personally. There was this newly established framework called inner development codes, which is kind of a response to having global sustainable development goals: we basically know what to do, but in many cases, we’re moving in the wrong direction. It’s not that we lack knowledge, but we lack in the capabilities as humanity to move in the right direction and know what’s actually good for us.
We had this framework with a definition of inner development goals, grouped in different themes like being, thinking, relating, collaborating and acting. Nobody had worked with it before, but we don’t mind pioneering old trail blasting. So, we decided that we want to work through this framework with all the employees and basically kicked off in our teams for 100 days each.
We already worked with an external facilitator for team development. She helped us working through those skills and capabilities to link them to some evidence. The most successful way of using the framework was finding something at work that you want to get better at. We have this principle at Icebug that nobody should only work with things in their workflows that they already know how to do. Everybody should always have something that they need to learn and stretch to.
That’s why we often have some situation where we would like to work better or feel better. And then you can try to link that to some helpful skill and a situation where you can practice this. We’ve established a one-hour reflection group every two weeks, where people across the company meet to share what they have tried, how it worked out und what they’ve learned or what has been useful or difficult.
This development program is designed for people to find their own inner motivation. It was no surprise that there were some concerns and skepticism. But with the participation of everyone in the company, it was very helpful and good to question several parts of the program to grow together.
I struggled a little bit with changing things, because I felt we were in a good state. I needed some logical motivation and asked the opposite of a positive outcome: What if people in the organization don’t grow and develop their inner compass, their integrity and authenticity? If they get worse at perspective taking, critical thinking, and sense making and lose their optimism in action? To me it’s pretty obvious that the organization would be a worse place to work. But if we get better at these things, we will also work better and increase the capabilities of the organization. That’s why I think it’s a much bigger risk to not try it, as the world around is changing, too.
Today, almost all of our employees reached the recommended physical activity level from the World Health Organization. But my thing here is also the dare trusting in what I experienced. The trust that I feel in the organization. People are feeling much more secure at work and it became easier to address more difficult issues. We are much faster in collaborating around real problems that matter. That saves us a lot of time and energy at Icebug. And I also noticed that I became a more enjoyable partner and Dad.
Maybe, yeah. I never really framed it that way for me personally. I think the boldest talk was when I did it myself first, I started opening up. And I didn’t see that much risk in trying to do it for the company because we also were clear that, we wanted to try this.
It’s a complex program and we didn’t plan everything ahead. But we’re still finding our way and I think in that sense you decrease a lot of risk in decisions if you stay agile. If it doesn’t work, we’ll just abandon it and try to find a way forward.
Sure, maybe not exactly how we do, but I think it’s doable and beneficial. There are big companies already working with inner development goals. IKEA is working quit a lot with it on leadership levels. But you can do it in smaller departments as well.
I know that there is some skepticism and worry, that this cannot spill into performance reviews and salary discussions. Whatever I share here or in the book we recently published about our journey, I think that you need this trust that learning and development is a good thing. You will see that people get less stressed and they are fine with sharing difficulties as well.
We had our biggest problems with Cash flow issues that were kind of self-inflicted first time I think that we were we were growing. We had like 3 years when we grew an average of 35% and took for granted that we would keep growing. When that didn’t happen, we ran into real cash flow problems. We had a similar scenario when we wanted to hit it up in North America and gave too much leeway to somebody leading that operation.
But profitability and growth somehow got missed. So we just had the growth and that was also. Quite and took some restructuring. I think a lot of that is is. I think our biggest failures has been when we have been too locked into growth earlier. So you do things to grow. Broader than growth as a result of doing the right things.
I think as a company you have to stay very agile and have a high degree of resilience. You need cash reserves for not being too stretched. That’s one part.
And then the other more philosophical part we want to promote is the return of the virtue. Contribution and seeing what you can contribute, not looking at, just us getting what we could get. It’s not that if somebody else wins that I automatically lose. A lot of people can win at the same time through collaboration.
Our role models are companies that do something for the common good. We want to do so, too, because I think that we’ll also benefit. If we all do a little bit more, the world will be a better place.
We haven’t maybe been as collaborative lately as we were before. But the outdoor industry has always been a strong community. We are trying to move the same things: to increase participation in sports or outdoor activity. The future we are looking for is where people can thrive on a planet in balance.
Being physically active and doing it together with others while connecting with nature increases people’s well-being. And that is where we have a real chance to be part of the solution. Also because we’re not such a big part of the problem. Yes, our industry does pollute and we need to take care of reducing our emissions. But the real imact we have is in moving people’s awareness for a sustainable future. Which is actually what to strive for because it will lead to more flourishing lives.
It’s the wrong direction to just pick up pages from fashion playbooks and try to create trends and sell as much stuff as possible. The challenge for most CEOs is finding a plausible hypothesis and set business targets to prove that the company reaches them. But that triggers overconsumption and is not good for us. The challenge is to find a viable business model that contributes to people’s well-being. And flourishing life or nature on the planet as well.
With that in mind, how this can look in practice and how brands can implement it meaningfully is at the heart of ISPO 2025. Here, brands come together to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, and discover fresh ideas. Through focused talks, workshops, and networking events, you gain valuable tools to drive your business forward. Be part of it – 30. NOV. – 02. DEC. in Munich.
- Workplace as a Source of Health: Icebug envisions work not as a burden, but as a source of physical and mental well-being – with mandatory “Wellness Hours” outdoors.
- Fostering Inner Development: Instead of traditional performance metrics, Icebug focuses on personal growth within teams, guided by the “Inner Development Goals” framework.
- Leadership through Vulnerability: During the pandemic, Ekelund chose openness and collaborative problem-solving – a turning point in his role as CEO.
- Positive Company Culture: Trust, gratitude, and room for growth help employees feel more secure and work more effectively together.
- A Learning Organization: Regular reflection sessions and the principle of always learning something new enhance ownership and innovation.
- Sustainable Business Mindset: Icebug doesn’t chase growth for its own sake – it aims to contribute meaningfully to its team, the industry, and the planet.
- Outlook: Ekelund advocates for more collaboration and a business model that centers on human well-being and planetary health.
Health
India Tops Global Doping Violations List for 2023 with 214 Cases, Govt Moves to Amend …
India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) global doping violations list for 2023, registering 214 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from 5,606 samples a positivity rate of 3.8%, the highest among countries with over 1,000 tests. This troubling development has sparked concern among athletes, officials, and sports fans, prompting the Ministry of Youth Affairs and […]
India has topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) global doping violations list for 2023, registering 214 Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) from 5,606 samples a positivity rate of 3.8%, the highest among countries with over 1,000 tests.
This troubling development has sparked concern among athletes, officials, and sports fans, prompting the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to announce a renewed crackdown on doping. The government is set to amend the National Anti-Doping Bill and ramp up testing and awareness campaigns in a bid to restore the integrity of Indian sports.
India’s Doping Challenge: Numbers, Reactions, and Human Impact
According to WADA’s 2023 report, India surpassed nations like China, the USA, France, Germany, and Russia in doping violations, with 214 positive cases detected. Of the 5,606 samples collected, nearly half were during competitions, and the 3.8% positivity rate is significantly higher than China’s 0.2% and the USA’s 1.0%.
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has increased its testing efforts, collecting more samples than ever before. “Any amount of doping is unacceptable but we have to acknowledge that our testing is vigorous and with every year the sample size is increasing.
With our aggressive awareness campaigns, we intend to bring the numbers down in the next two years,” a Sports Ministry official told the media. Many athletes, meanwhile, have voiced frustration that the actions of a few are tarnishing the hard-earned reputations of the wider sporting community.
The news has also led to calls for better education and support for young and grassroots athletes, who are often most vulnerable to inadvertent violations.
Policy Overhaul: Legislative Changes and New Initiatives
In response to the alarming report, the Sports Ministry has revived and amended the National Anti-Doping Bill 2022. The revised legislation, soon to be tabled in Parliament, will drop the criminalisation of athlete involvement with doping syndicates, following WADA’s objections.
The proposed National Board for Anti-Doping in Sports has also been scrapped to avoid excessive government interference. Instead, the focus will shift to stricter penalties, enhanced testing, and robust education for athletes and coaches.
The Ministry is also pushing digital tools like the “Know Your Medicine” app, designed to help athletes check substances and avoid accidental violations. “We are determined to fight doping. It is not acceptable. That’s why we have increased the sample size every year. If you see the result, there is a decline in the rate over the last few years from over 5 per cent to three per cent. We have been transparent in our policy,” a senior official stated.
The government’s multi-pronged approach aims to balance deterrence with education and support, acknowledging that lasting change will require both systemic reform and cultural transformation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s repeated appearance at the top of the WADA doping list is a sobering moment for the nation’s sporting community. While stricter enforcement and legislative changes are necessary, the real solution lies in building a culture of integrity, transparency, and empathy.
It is vital to support athletes not just with testing and penalties, but with education, mental health resources, and guidance especially for those at the grassroots who may lack access to information or support. True sporting greatness is rooted in fairness, discipline, and respect for the rules. As a society, how can we collectively support our athletes to compete clean and uphold India’s sporting honour?
Health
Olympic hero Camille Cheng to bring IOC mental health mission back to Hong Kong
Hong Kong Olympic hero Camille Cheng Lily-mei’s work outside the pool was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this month, when she was named one of the body’s first mental health ambassadors. Advertisement Cheng, who has represented Hong Kong at three Olympic Games, travelled to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the IOC Consensus Meeting on […]
Hong Kong Olympic hero Camille Cheng Lily-mei’s work outside the pool was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this month, when she was named one of the body’s first mental health ambassadors.
Advertisement
Cheng, who has represented Hong Kong at three Olympic Games, travelled to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the IOC Consensus Meeting on Mental Health for Elite Athletes in early June after being invited to serve as the female representative for Asia.
The IOC’s mental health ambassador scheme is a new initiative aimed at putting athletes’ voices and lived experiences at the centre of efforts to address mental health challenges and disorders in elite sport.
Cheng is the co-founder of Hong Kong-based mental health charity Mind the Waves.
“There’ll be 12 representatives: a female representative and a male representative from the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa, and then two more,” Cheng said.
“It is up to the ambassador to be very proactive in how we bring what the IOC is doing in this space to our own region.
Advertisement
Health
Powell Selected to Participate in MLB Breakthrough Series for Second Consecutive Year
Story Links BOWIE, MD — Bowie State University head softball coach Ed Powell has been selected to participate in the MLB Breakthrough Series, held at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy from Saturday, June 21 through Thursday, June 26 in Kansas City, Mo. This marks the second consecutive year Powell has received this prestigious invitation. “I’m […]
BOWIE, MD — Bowie State University head softball coach Ed Powell has been selected to participate in the MLB Breakthrough Series, held at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy from Saturday, June 21 through Thursday, June 26 in Kansas City, Mo. This marks the second consecutive year Powell has received this prestigious invitation.
“I’m truly honored to be part of the MLB Breakthrough Series once again,” said Powell. “This program is so much more than a showcase, it’s an opportunity to empower and uplift some of the most talented and dedicated young softball players in the country. Helping these athletes grow not just on the field, but as leaders and individuals, is what makes this experience so meaningful. It’s a privilege to contribute to a platform that opens doors and leaves a lasting impact on their lives.”
Powell will be one of two head coaches from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) selected to participate in the Breakthrough Series, joining Bluefield State head coach Chelsea Holliday.
About Softball Elite Development Invitational
The Elite Development Invitational is a multi-day, 18 and under training camp that features intense on-field softball development and game play along with various off-field development sessions covering topics such as college recruiting, mental health and women in sports.
The event is coached by current and former USA Softball Women’s National Team athletes, professional softball players and college coaches. Participants represent some of the top athletes from the MLB Youth Academy and Nike RBI network.
For more information about the MLB Breakthrough Series, please click HERE.
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, visit bsubulldogs.com.
Health
Letting Transgender Kids Play Sports Can Benefit All Kids
President Donald Trump’s raft of anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders affects many aspects of the lives of LGBTQ+ people, including their sports participation, access to healthcare, and ability to serve in the military. One executive order seeking to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, is surprisingly picking up some Democratic support. Recently, Senator […]
President Donald Trump’s raft of anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders affects many aspects of the lives of LGBTQ+ people, including their sports participation, access to healthcare, and ability to serve in the military.
One executive order seeking to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, is surprisingly picking up some Democratic support. Recently, Senator Ruben Gallego, a Democrat from Arizona said banning trans students from girls’ and women’s school sports might be “legitimate” and argued that trans girls put cisgender girls at risk during sporting events. However, this is a damaging myth that fuels anti-trans stigma, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination and reinforces misogynistic stereotypes that girls are weak and need protection.
Advertisement
It’s not the first time a Democrat has capitulated to Republican anti-trans messaging. In Oct. 2024, during his long-shot attempt to unseat Senator Ted Cruz in Texas, Democrat Colin Allred released a campaign ad in which he seemed to oppose the participation of trans girls in sports. And in March 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking on the first episode of his new podcast “This Is Gavin Newsom,” said it was “deeply unfair” for trans athletes to participate in women’s sports.
We are not totally naïve—we get why a handful of Democrats are joining Republicans in wanting to ban trans kids from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identities. These democratic legislators likely think their stance will appeal to “centrist” voters; recent public polling suggests that about two-thirds of U.S. adults support such bans. But we still firmly believe that such bans are misguided, harmful, and built on falsehoods, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and inequities.
Advertisement
Democrats should not be willing to throw transgender kids under the bus just for electoral considerations. Trans kids face higher rates of multiple physical and mental health difficulties than their cis peers—largely due to how our society treats the transgender community. But when they’re allowed to play sports, these rates fall. What’s more, states with policies allowing trans girls to play sports have seen increased rates of sports participation by cis girls. In other words, letting trans girls play sports benefits all girls. Shouldn’t politicians be championing the benefits of sport for all?
To understand why such bans are damaging, let’s back up and consider the lives of trans youth. A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimates that there are about 300,100 trans kids (ages 13-17) in the U.S., making up just 1.4% of all youth in that age range. The Center for American Progress notes that trans youth face “high rates of family rejection, violence, discrimination, and suicidality.” Suicidality is shockingly common: the Centers for Disease Control conducts a national survey of high school students every two years to explore health-related behaviors, called the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and the 2023 survey found that 53.8% of trans youth had seriously considered suicide, compared to 20.4% of the general youth population. Research has shown that trans kids are also at increased risk of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and impaired quality of life.
Advertisement
The good news is that sports can be a real lifeline. The research is clear: when trans youth are allowed to participate in sports, these mental health risks fall. For example, trans students in states with fully inclusive athletics policies are less likely to have considered suicide than students in states without such policies. Megan Bartlett, founder of the Chicago-based non-profit The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, told The Guardian that sports “can be life-saving—especially for marginalized young people – because it can actually change your brain.” When kids are in sports teams, she said, the positive relationships help make them “feel safe and practice being stressed but being able to deal with that stress,” which builds lifelong resilience. Trans kids at inclusive schools are also less likely to experience harassment and victimization. For all adolescents, participating in a sports team can reduce anxiety, depression, and feelings of loneliness.
Advertisement
Letting trans kids play sports also improves their physical health. Trans kids have worse physical health than their peers—including higher rates of obesity and of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, like abnormal cholesterol levels—which are thought to be due to the stress of marginalization. But research has shown that playing sports lowers their risk of obesity and improves their cardiovascular health.
The benefits go even further. Trans kids who are allowed to play sports in accordance with their gender identity are more likely to feel like they belong at school and more accepted by their peers. Sports help all kids gain skills in team building, management skills, commitment, and leadership. And there’s even evidence that LGBTQ student athletes have higher grade point averages than those who do not play sports.
Unfortunately, several myths about trans student athletes are being promoted by supporters of school sports bans. We believe these need to be challenged.
Advertisement
The first myth, pushed by Senator Gallego, is that anti-trans sports bans are needed to protect cisgender girls. There is no evidence that trans-inclusive policies are harmful to cis girls; indeed, trans boys and girls have been openly participating in high school sports for many years now, with no documented evidence of any harm to cis kids. States that have adopted inclusive policies have seen steady or increasing rates of participation by all youth. For example, California and Connecticut, which have allowed trans kids to play sports on the team of their choice, have seen participation of all girls increase. For instance in California, participation among girls in sports has increased by almost 14% from 2014 to 2020.
The second myth, peddled by Governor Newsom, is that trans kids have an unfair advantage in sports. Trans kids vary enormously in their sporting ability, just like cis kids. Some play well and some play poorly, just like cis kids. Trans kids are all different heights, sizes, and strengths, just like cis kids. Whether any kid excels at sport is most often related to factors like how hard they train and what kind of access they have to good coaches. As the ACLU argues, when a trans kid does well at sport, they should be “celebrated for their hard work, not demonized because of who they are.”
Advertisement
Other myths abound. For instance, some conservative politicians and organizations push the fiction that massive numbers of trans kids are now “dominating” high school sports. In reality, one study using CDC data found that only 40.7% of trans kids in grades nine through 12 played on at least one sports team. If we apply this percentage to the 300,100 trans kids aged 13-17 in the U.S., only 122,000 trans kids are playing sports out of a total of about 21 million kids in this age rage. This means that trans kids make up an extremely tiny fraction of those in sport.
Another false narrative claims that inclusive policies change the nature of girls’ sports. But as the ACLU notes, that trans girls’ “participation in the girls’ category does not change the nature of the category.” Inclusive policies do not undermine Title IX protections, and girls’ sports have thrived in states that adopted such policies. This is why many women’s rights advocacy groups support inclusion of trans people in sports.
Advertisement
Trans kids just want the same opportunities as their peers. They want to be on sports teams to have fun, get exercise, and hang out with their friends. Just like any other kid. When we deny them that right, we are actively causing harm that could easily be avoided. And, in the end, this discriminatory behavior hurts us all.
Health
Tristan Thompson Named Chief Advisory Officer for DeSci Platform AxonDAO
Tristan Thompson has been keeping himself busy, as he continues to make waves in the Web3 space. Months after launching TracyAI, the Cleveland Cavaliers center was announced as the Chief Advisory Officer for AxonDAO, a decentralized science (DeSci) platform that aims to revolutionize healthcare through AI and blockchain technology. AxonDAO’s operating company, AXDT Inc., announced Thompson’s appointment in a press release […]
Tristan Thompson has been keeping himself busy, as he continues to make waves in the Web3 space.
Months after launching TracyAI, the Cleveland Cavaliers center was announced as the Chief Advisory Officer for AxonDAO, a decentralized science (DeSci) platform that aims to revolutionize healthcare through AI and blockchain technology.
AxonDAO’s operating company, AXDT Inc., announced Thompson’s appointment in a press release on Thursday (June 19), stating that Thompson was drawn to the company’s mission to “return control of health data to individuals; reward ethical research participation through blockchain-powered incentives; and accelerate innovation in wellness domains such as nutrition, recovery, cannabis and psychedelics, and music-based therapy.”
“Health is wealth. I believe in giving people ownership over their wellness journey, and AxonDAO is building the future of health, data and science in a way that includes everyone,” Thompson said in a statement.
As the Chief Advisory Officer, Thompson will help AxonDAO expand into athlete-specific health markets, helping craft campaigns and marketing strategies that focus on recovery, sleep, nutrition and mental health. He will also lead outreach to other high-profile figures, including his fellow professional athletes.
“Athletes understand the importance of recovery, focus, and self-awareness,” he said. “What we’re building with AxonDAO doesn’t just benefit professionals – it helps people live better, longer, and stronger lives.”
Health
Alessia Russo explains why she's ditched social media
Russo reflects on the mental toll of online abuse as she prepares for Euros campaign Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Alessia Russo has revealed she no longer uses social media during major tournaments after admitting she was previously “sucked into” reading abusive comments that affected her focus and wellbeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Arsenal and […]
Russo reflects on the mental toll of online abuse as she prepares for Euros campaign
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Alessia Russo has revealed she no longer uses social media during major tournaments after admitting she was previously “sucked into” reading abusive comments that affected her focus and wellbeing.
Advertisement
The Arsenal and England striker, who is preparing for next month’s UEFA Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, spoke candidly about the psychological cost of exposure to online criticism, calling it “really damaging” and urging fellow athletes to protect themselves from it.
“I think every player might have a different story about that side of the game, but it’s definitely one that can be really damaging,” Russo said. “I have faced it in the past and I think most players here have. When I was younger I probably got sucked into it more. I read it more than I should have and listened to it more than I should have. The only opinions that matter are my team-mates, my coaches and my family.”
Russo continued: “I think you have to remember that they are the people you need to lean on in tough times. As I’ve got older, I understand more what works for me. In my first Euros I was on social media and I would have a look, have a scroll, and I got caught in a trap sometimes.
Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images
“Going into the World Cup, I completely came off everything and I had people to run my Instagram. I just focused on the tournament. Staying away from it and staying focused as a team is what works for me.”
Advertisement
Her comments came a day after Katie Boulter, Britain’s top-ranked female tennis player, revealed she and her family had received death threats following tournament defeats. Russo said she could “empathise completely” with that experience, stressing the need for athletes to prioritise their mental health.
The 26-year-old heads into the summer in arguably the best form of her career, having played a decisive role in Arsenal’s UEFA Women’s Champions League triumph. She scored seven goals in 11 matches in the competition, alongside 12 goals in the Women’s Super League.
Wisconsin Files Suit Against Miami as College Athletics Continues to Try to Work Out Its Problems
WATCH: $4.1M NIL Star AJ Dybantsa Honors His Roots With Heartfelt Nike Giveaway in Utah
Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday
How to watch AVP beach volleyball: TV schedule, channel, live stream for 2025 East Hampton tournament
NFL player leads youth football camp in Triad hometown
South Carolina Moves to Ban NIL Deals for High School Athletes Amid Growing Legal Debate
New pickleball, hoops facility to open soon with ties to 2 ex-Syracuse basketball players
Alpen Bluffs Goes All In on a Full-Service Experience | Features
Sri Lanka ready to ‘make some noise’ in Asia rugby clash with Hong Kong, Ratwatte says
52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships – Orlando Sentinel
Television and radio – June 21, 2025
NASCAR driver Ryan Preece embracing process, pressure as he seeks wins, playoff spot for RFK Racing
Nice announcement for the European Championship
Wisconsin, NIL collective file joint lawsuit on Miami for tampering | News, Sports, Jobs
Miami coach J.D. Arteaga discusses NIL, House settlement impact
Parents Speak Out As Trans Pitcher Throws Shutout In MN State Quarterfinals
'I asked Anderson privately'… UFC legend retells secret sparring session between Jon Jones …
Oregon track star wages legal battle against trans athlete policy after medal ceremony protest
IU basketball recruiting
UFC 316 star storms out of Media Day when asked about bitter feud with Rampage Jackson
Scott Barker named to lead CCS basketball • SSentinel.com
2025 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Women’s College World Series bracket, schedule set
NCAA Sends Clear Message About Athlete Pay and Roster Limits
Greg Sankey: ‘I have people in my room asking, why are we still in the NCAA?’
The Arizona Daily Star's top high school athletes, coaches and moments of the 2024
Men's college basketball Top 25 reset
J.W. Craft: Investing in Community Through Sports
Notre Dame, Oregon highlight CSU volleyball opponents in 2025
Ant greets A-Rod & Barry Bonds before Game 3 ⚾
NASCAR Penalty Report: Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 2025)
has always dreamed in Mercurial. Now his initials are on the boots.
The new Kyl…
Former South Carolina center Nick Pringle commits to Arkansas basketball, John Calipari
Portal Update – Basketball and Gymnastics Take Hits
Deputies investigating incident that caused panic at Pace youth sports complex
This is poetry in motion.
-
High School Sports2 weeks agoParents Speak Out As Trans Pitcher Throws Shutout In MN State Quarterfinals
-
Professional Sports2 weeks ago'I asked Anderson privately'… UFC legend retells secret sparring session between Jon Jones …
-
Health2 weeks agoOregon track star wages legal battle against trans athlete policy after medal ceremony protest
-
Professional Sports2 weeks agoUFC 316 star storms out of Media Day when asked about bitter feud with Rampage Jackson
-
NIL3 weeks agoMen's college basketball Top 25 reset
-
Motorsports1 week agoNASCAR Weekend Preview: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
-
Rec Sports3 weeks ago2x NBA All-Star Reacts to Viral LeBron James Statement
-
College Sports3 weeks agoOKC’s Mark Daigneault knows what it takes to win championships. His wife has won a ton of them
-
Social Media3 weeks agoControversial Athletics Gender Dispute Goes Viral After Riley Gaines Lashes Over Authorities
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoCorey LaJoie to make nine NASCAR Truck Series starts with Spire Motorsports