More than sport: Curlers reflect on mental health, balance, and support

More Than Sport: Curlers Reflect on Mental Health, Balance, and Support

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, a global effort promoting empathy, understanding, and collective action. Behind the intense competitions, long seasons, and national pressure, curlers share stories of resilience, connection, and courage.

Finding Strength Through Conversation

For Canada’s Brett Gallant, collaborating with a sports psychologist is now essential to maintaining his mental well-being.

“When you’re in these kinds of high-pressure events all the time, it’s nice to have some training on how to deal with it. It’s also good to have someone to reach out to if you’re struggling.”

Gallant credits his wife and fellow curler, Jocelyn Peterman, with helping him stay grounded.

“She knows the pressures and feelings that come with sport. It’s nice to have people to lean on, to talk to, that’s important.”

Regarding his team, he said,

“Everyone’s dealing with stresses and anxieties, and we’re learning how to deal with them better. It’s OK to not be perfectly OK.”

Challenges After the Olympics

After the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games, Canada’s Rachel Homan experienced a difficult moment in her career when she narrowly missed medal contention during a mixed doubles defeat.

Author’s summary: Curlers reveal how mental health support and open conversations help them manage pressure and find balance amid sport’s intense demands.

World Curling Federation — 2025-11-04