Olympic Champ Amanda Beard Now Coaches Mental Health Too

Amanda Beard was breaking world records and winning Olympic gold, but nobody knew she was quietly struggling just to feel okay in her own skin.

The seven-time Olympic medalist shattered the 200-meter breaststroke world record at the 2004 Athens Olympics. But away from the pool deck, she was dealing with body dysmorphia, eating disorders, clinical depression, and self-harm.

The struggles started in high school during photo shoots where people pointed out "every little flaw" on her body. Despite being an elite athlete, she was constantly pressured to lose weight even though it hurt her swimming performance.

"I'm at the top of my athletic life. That was the best Olympics I ever had," Beard said. "Do people even want to know, or even care, that I'm struggling off of the pool deck?"

It took finding a therapist and psychiatrist, plus building a strong support system, before Beard started healing. She knows these challenges will be with her for life, but she's learned how to manage them.

Now Beard is paying it forward as a swim coach at the University of Arizona, her alma mater. She's talking openly about her journey at a free event Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Lincoln, held in partnership with Bryan Health.

Why This Inspires

What lights Beard up most is how much has changed for young athletes. Her 60-athlete roster comes to her regularly with their problems, and mental health conversations carry far less stigma than when she competed.

While it took a decade for someone to reach out to Beard during her swimming career, today's athletes have people ready to embrace them from day one. She loves being that person for her swimmers.

"You have a conversation with someone where they're trusting you with who they are and what their soul is," she said. "And you're like, 'Ah, this is why I'm doing this.'"

Her goal goes beyond creating better athletes. Beard wants to help these young people become "happy young individuals" who can embrace life after they leave campus.

The relationship goes both ways too. When Beard's longtime coach Frank Busch died in September, her team wrapped her in "a big old hug," showing they're there for her just like she is for them.