As per sports medicine specialist Dr Aashish Contractor, mental health "is the bedrock upon which all athletic performance rests". "It's crucial to recognize that the strength of an athlete isn't just measured by their physical prowess, but equally by the resilience of their mind. Mental health is the bedrock upon which all athletic performance rests," said Dr Contractor, Director of the Department of Rehab, Medicine and Sports Medicine at the Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital "It enables athletes to endure the rigours of training, overcome setbacks, and push beyond perceived limits. Just as we train our bodies, we must nurture our minds with equal diligence. "To everyone, athlete or otherwise, this message holds true: Your mental health is a priority. Embrace the journey of mental fitness with the same zeal as physical, for a balanced, healthier life," added Dr Contractor. A break helped Kohli There are several examples in sports that exhibit just how crucial taking care of one's mind is for an athlete. Cricket superstar Virat Kohli, for one, had switched off from the game in 2022 at a time when his batting form had hit an all-time low and he hadn't scored a century for three years. When he returned to action in the Asia Cup that year, he ended up scoring his maiden T20I hundred. England Test captain Ben Stokes and leading Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell are some of the other leading cricketers who took breaks from the sport prioritising their mental well-being and continue to produce match-winning performances to this day. Looking beyond cricket, the most well-known example of a world-class athlete taking a step back and looking after his/her mental health is legendary American gymnast Simone Biles. Biles helps mental health take centrestage After a stellar run in the 2016 Rio Olympics where she won four gold medals along with one bronze, she withdrew from a majority of the events in the Tokyo Olympics five years later due to a mental condition known as the 'twisties', resulting in Biles collecting just one silver and one bronze in that event. "Whenever you get in a high-stress situation, you kind of freak out," Biles had. "I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being." Her decision to take some time away from the sport and only make a comeback in the Paris Olympics earlier this year resulted in the 27-year-old winning three gold medals and a silver. The way Biles dealt with the whole situation probably has a message for all of us. It's not wrong to step aside for a while when the going gets tough. For some, there's a need to prepare and look at things differently and the same helped the American gymnast make a memorable comeback.