A Journey of Healing and Resilience
Rebecca Henderson, a four-time Olympian and world champion mountain biker, has opened up about the deep struggles she has faced with mental health. In a 47-minute interview with Wide World of Sports ahead of the new World Series season, she spoke candidly about her journey through depression, anxiety, and self-sabotage. Her story is one of vulnerability, resilience, and transformation.
“I had totally given up. My last resort was trying one more time to find the right psychologist. The one I have now has changed my life,” Henderson shared. Her words reflect a profound shift in her life, one that began with a desperate search for help after hitting rock bottom.
The Breaking Point
Henderson’s journey took a significant turn when she suffered a severe injury during the 2024 national championships. She crashed under “horrendous conditions” at Mount Buller, breaking two bones: her right shoulder blade and left thumb. Despite the pain, she refused to quit, chasing down the lead riders and winning the race. However, this victory came at a cost.
The injury forced her to withdraw from the 2025 World Series season opener, a moment she described as “such a hard time.” She recalled feeling “not in a good place at all,” with training being the only purpose she had. “Day by day I was like, ‘I can’t go on’, but I was like, ‘I can do today’. That was as far as I could go.”
Struggles Beyond the Bike
Henderson’s challenges extend beyond physical injuries. She has dealt with personal setbacks, including a divorce in 2022. However, she credits much of her struggle to how her brain is wired. “I’ve been unpacking a lot of things about how I grew up and my way to think and my way to see myself – just a lot of factors that are all ‘me’ things,” she explained.
She has long struggled with high anxiety and depression, which runs in her family. “Everything’s kind of under control and then you just explode,” she said. This internal battle has led to feelings of worthlessness and an unrelenting sense that nothing she does is good enough.
The Power of Support
Despite these challenges, Henderson found hope through the support of a psychologist. She credits the Australian Sports Commission’s mental health referral network for connecting her with the right professional. “She wasn’t asking me about my day-to-day,” Henderson explained. “It was so much deeper than that, and it was the first time I have ever felt understood. Ever.”
This connection marked a turning point for her. “I can sleep in general, which is huge, especially as an athlete,” she said. “I’m not questioning if I can pass the day or get to tomorrow, which is big, and I don’t think so far ahead to being old and things like that.”
A New Perspective
Henderson’s relationship with herself has transformed. She has learned to be kinder and more compassionate, something she previously lacked. “I’ve always had so much compassion and empathy for others, and not for myself,” she admitted. “I’m learning now to speak differently to myself and learning that I wouldn’t speak to other young riders the way I do myself.”
Her journey has also helped her process relationships differently. “The biggest thing has just been understanding myself and why I am this way, why I think this way, and why I respond this way,” she said. This understanding has allowed her to be more at peace with herself.
The Road Ahead
While she acknowledges she is still “a work in progress,” Henderson feels the impact of her healing has been profound. “I can’t go back to how I was living and feeling, and so I work harder with a psychologist than more or less I do on a bike,” she said. “It’s been a huge undertaking.”
Henderson believes it’s important to be “transparent and real.” She hopes sharing her story can help others facing similar struggles. “When you hit rock bottom,” she said, “there’s only one way to go.”
