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Karen Howells

Karen Howells

Dr Karen Howells is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Cardiff Metropolitan University and a Chartered Sport Psychologist researching post-Olympic blues and athlete wellbeing.

Aug 26, 2026

AlexHOST
1:39
You mentioned a little bit, but maybe you want to extend what is the definition, what post-Olympic Blues is?
1:44
Okay, so I suppose in the context of your audience at the moment, and obviously the Commonwealth Games is really at the foreground now, the post-Olympic Blues is an expression that's been used in the media and by Olympians to describe their negative experiences after the Games.
2:04
Specifically, we're looking at...
2:06
A sense of loss, a loss of purpose, no goals, feelings that are akin to depression.
2:12
So we're not saying it is depression, but a sense of loss of motivation, not wanting to do anything sad, emotional.
2:20
Some athletes report far greater, far more intense symptoms.
2:25
Some have talked about suicidal thoughts and so on.

25 MINS LATER

AlexHOST
27:09
It's not about you.

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