After a six-month break to take care of his head, the surfer returns to the sport and dreams of a gold medal
After a six-month break in his career, Philip Toledo returned to the world of to surf to compete Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, those who believe that the break was caused by an injury or some kind of physical injury are wrong. The Brazilian surfer took a break to take care of something that is not usually appreciated in the world of sports: mental health.
He, who started his surfing journey at the age of 15, is now 29. And, in addition to two World Cup titles, WSLwas a huge mental drain. “After 11 years, I decided to take a year off, give myself a break, reset, recharge, stay home, be a father to my children, a husband to my wife, and do something for my family,” he said in an interview with the official website of the Olympics on the afternoon of this Monday, July 22.
“(Surfing) has changed my family’s life and I don’t regret it. But with all this, as the sport grows, there is more attention, there is more pressure,” Filipinho reflected. The surfer revealed that, due to competitions, in recent years he hasn’t even had the chance to celebrate his birthday at home.
“I felt like I had to take care of myself so I could come back stronger and continue competing for another five, six years,” he said, adding that he didn’t want to go through the same burnout he faced in 2023. The surfer, who announced his hiatus in early 2024, said mental health is a concern for many athletes, but the topic remains taboo.
“Why is no one talking about this? What’s the reason? Is it because you want to show that you’re weak or what? People need to know that we are human. We are not machines. We have a lot to sacrifice,” the athlete said. “I needed to talk about it and show the world how difficult it is.”
As champion in 2023, Filipinho was already qualified for the Paris Olympic Games. The surfer did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, but he dreams of doing well in Tahiti and conquering another Brazilian podium.
“It’s every athlete’s dream to be at the Olympic Games and win a medal. And for our sport, surfing, I feel like this is the highest point we can reach,” he said in the interview. The first heats of men’s surfing will take place this Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m. (Brasilia time).
First phase men’s heats
- Ethan Ewing (AUS), Tim Elter (ALE) and Jordy Smith (AFS)
- Joan Duru (FRA), Jack Robinson (AUS) and Matthew McGillivray (AFS)
- Alonso Correa (PER), Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Kanoa Igarashi (JAP)
- Gabriel Medina (BRA), Connor O’Leary (JAP) and Bryan Perez (ELS)
- Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Billy Stairmand (NZL) and João Chianca (BRA)
- Andy Criere (ESP), John John Florence (USA) and Alan Cleland (MEX)
- Kauli Vaast (FRA), Lucca Messinas (PER) and Griffin Colapinto (USA)
- Rio Waida (IND), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) and Reo Inaba (JAP)
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
