A Journey of Healing and Resilience
Rebecca Henderson, a four-time Olympian and world champion mountain biker, has opened up about her struggles with mental health in a deeply personal interview. Her story is one of vulnerability, resilience, and the transformative power of seeking help.
“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,” she said. These words reflect the raw honesty that defined her 47-minute interview with Wide World of Sports ahead of the new World Series season.
Henderson, 34, shared her journey of overcoming depression, anxiety, self-sabotage, and feelings of worthlessness. She spoke candidly about hitting “the absolute rock bottom” in her life, a moment that nearly broke her but ultimately led to her recovery.
The Breaking Point
The 2025 World Series season marked a turning point for Henderson. She arrived at the season opener in South Korea with her right arm in a sling after a severe crash during the national championships. The injury left her in agony, but she refused to quit, chasing down the lead riders and winning despite the pain.
However, the World Series season opener was off the cards. Scans revealed the extent of her injuries, and she was forced to withdraw. “It was such a hard time,” she recalled. “The only thing that got me out of bed each day was training, and it was the only purpose that I had.”
She described the emotional toll of not being able to compete, saying, “Brazil was a really big goal, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could be good again.” But the injury took away her chance, leaving her feeling defeated.
Mental Health Struggles
Henderson’s struggles are not just physical. She has faced significant mental health challenges, including high anxiety and depression. “Depression runs in my family,” she explained. “Everything’s kind of under control and then you just explode.”
She admitted that she has always felt like she wasn’t good enough, no matter what she did. “I’ve felt my whole life, more or less, no matter what I do it’s not good enough, and I’m not good enough.”
Her mental health battles have been compounded by life events, such as a divorce in 2022 and the crash at Mount Buller. However, she believes these experiences are merely exacerbating the internal storm she has always faced.
Finding Hope Through Therapy
Henderson credits her current psychologist with changing her life. She found the therapist through the Australian Sports Commission’s mental health referral network. “I’ve managed some really dark places alone,” she said. “The 2024-25 summer was the absolute rock bottom.”
She described the moment she reached out for help as a turning point. “I think around the Paris Olympics was the beginning of things completely coming undone, but I still had it together a bit. And then that next summer was a really hard one to get through.”
Henderson admitted that she once felt like she couldn’t live anymore. “I reached out to a few friends at times saying I can’t live anymore, and the alarm bells weren’t going off even though I was very clear in what I was saying.”
A New Perspective
The psychologist Henderson is working with has made a profound difference in her life. “She wasn’t asking me about my day-to-day,” she explained. “It was so much deeper than that, and it was the first time I have ever felt understood. Ever.”
This connection has allowed Henderson to begin healing. “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.”
She also emphasized the importance of understanding herself and why she thinks and reacts the way she does. “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.”
Embracing Change
Henderson acknowledges that she is still a work in progress, but the changes in her life have been significant. “My day-to-day is so much nicer, and I’m so much more peaceful within myself,” she said. “I’m able to process my relationships differently.”
She also noted that she works harder with her psychologist than she does on her bike. “It’s been a huge undertaking,” she said.
Sharing Her Story
Henderson feels it’s important to be transparent and real. “I don’t just want to show the shiny side of being an athlete,” she said. “If sharing my story can help someone else, I’m thrilled.”
Her message is clear: “When you hit rock bottom, there’s only one way to go.”
