The Hidden Battles of Athletes: Overcoming Injury and Mental Struggles
For athletes, the most challenging moments are not always in the spotlight. Sometimes, they occur in quiet, personal spaces—during recovery from injury, in the solitude of a training session, or when self-doubt creeps in. These internal struggles can be just as tough as any physical challenge. For Rwandan handball star Yves Kayijamahe, one such moment came in 2019 during a match against Uganda at the FEASSA Games in Tanzania. “I broke my chest in the match against Uganda,” he recalls. This injury forced him to step away from the game, but it was not just his body that needed healing—it was his mind as well.
According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), mental health challenges are common among elite athletes. These can include anxiety, depression, burnout, and other issues that impact both their performance and overall wellbeing. Athletes are often expected to be strong, both physically and mentally, but injuries, pressure, disappointment, and self-doubt can test even the most determined competitors.
Kayijamahe found himself questioning whether he could return to the sport at the level he had reached before the injury. “Injury can make you think you can no longer play or perform at the level you had,” he says. Even simple movements could trigger fear. “Any movement you made with your arm that hurt you, you could think the pain will come back.” At one point, he considered walking away from the sport.
For his family, watching him go through this experience was difficult. His older brother, Gratuis Rugumyamuheto, says they were worried but deliberately chose not to show it. “It was hard for us to see him experience it,” Rugumyamuheto says. “But we didn’t show him that we were worried because we wanted him to be strong and overcome it.” Their support helped Kayijamahe return to the court, where he later helped Police HC win a trophy.
Although he had considered quitting, he eventually decided to continue after returning for further medical checks. His family also reminded him that he had yet to achieve the dreams that had inspired him to take up sport. “It really made me feel like I needed to put more effort into what I was doing and make my mom proud,” he says.
Training as a Path to Recovery
Training became an important part of his recovery and mental wellbeing. “Sometimes it doesn’t make problems go away completely because we’re here in a stressful world,” Kayijamahe says. “But at least when I’m busy with practice, it keeps me away from thinking about other problems.”
For Kayijamahe, consistency has become more than a sporting principle. It is a way of dealing with difficult moments. Even during the off-season, the Police Handball Club player continues to train on his own to maintain the fitness he has worked hard to build. “Every athlete has to practice a lot, even if they are talented, to prepare themselves mentally,” he says.
The experience also taught him discipline, consistency, teamwork, and the importance of doing what is required at the right time. But Kayijamahe believes his journey is far from over. “I still have a lot to do because I haven’t reached where I want to be,” he says.
Mental Challenges and Resilience
Overcoming mental struggles is a common theme among athletes. For APR Handball Club player Elysee Muhumure, some of the toughest challenges in his sporting journey have also been mental. He says pressure and self-doubt became particularly difficult during periods when things were not going as planned. At times, he felt exhausted and questioned whether he should continue.
“Physically, training can be demanding, but I’ve learned that the mental side can sometimes be even harder,” Muhumure says. What kept him going was remembering why he started and taking difficult periods one day at a time. Training became a way for him to manage pressure, clear his mind, and release frustration.
“Motivation comes and goes, but discipline helps you continue even on days when you don’t feel motivated,” he says. Through consistency, Muhumure says he gradually became more confident and learned to confront challenges rather than run away from them.
The Importance of Mental and Physical Recovery
Sports health and mental health expert Winnie Muyumbukazi emphasizes that physical and mental recovery should not be treated separately. Athletes returning from injury may be physically ready to compete but still struggle with fear, hesitation, or a lack of confidence in the injured part of their body.
“An athlete may be medically cleared to return but still feel afraid, hesitant, or lack confidence in the injured part of the body,” Muyumbukazi says. She also warns athletes against assuming that constantly pushing through pain is always a sign of strength. “Athletes are often taught to be tough, to push through discomfort and never give up,” she says. “While resilience is important, there is also a danger when an athlete ignores the body’s warning signs.”
Insufficient recovery can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and a greater risk of injury, while concentration, motivation, and emotional wellbeing can also suffer. For Kayijamahe and Muhumure, learning to keep going did not mean pretending the struggle did not exist. It meant finding a way through it.
A Journey of Growth and Determination
Their families stood behind them, their coaches helped shape them, and training gave them structure. Slowly, they found their way back to the court. And today, they continue to chase the dreams that first drew them to handball.
