Cover Camille Cheng (Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon)
Camille Cheng (Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon)
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Tatler+ Lululemon
Olympic swimmer and Lululemon brand ambassador Camille Cheng on why your mental health matters as much as your physical health
Camille Cheng is a two-time Olympic athlete, psychology graduate and Lululemon brand ambassador. But her path to Tokyo 2020 was not without its obstacles. “Changes and new challenges took a toll on my physical and mental health,” she says. “I struggled with self-confidence, imposter syndrome and how to develop a healthy athletic identity.”
Finding and sustaining the level of motivation required to compete at an elite level, says Cheng, is no easy feat. “It’s important to ‘know your why’,” she says, especially when your motivation and goals are likely to change as you progress. Cheng’s long-term goal was to compete at the Olympics, and once this was realised, she found a new ambition. “I wanted to use my platform as an Olympian to share my journey, in the hopes of inspiring and empowering the next generation of athletes.”
Above Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon
Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon
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Taking a well-deserved break to reflect after Tokyo, Cheng has prioritised wellbeing and a focus on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and happiness, while she plans her next steps. This time has allowed Cheng to explore several self-care rituals, ranging from journaling to spending time in nature to baking to completing jigsaw puzzles. “One of my priorities going into 2022 is to listen to my body and mind, and practise ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’,” she says.
Many people may consider the dedication required by Olympians to keep up the rigorous training they need to maintain peak physical condition as just something that goes with the territory. But “just as physical muscles need to be trained, mental muscles do, too”, explains Cheng. The swimmer’s background in sports psychology has equipped her with “tools and strategies to enhance athletic performance, boost confidence and motivation, and to help me with challenges and setbacks. I am grateful for the challenges I’ve encountered along my journey and see them as opportunities for growth and learning”.
Above Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon
Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon
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This room for development and the opportunity to reconnect with herself are values shared by Lululemon. “Their ‘sweatlife’ philosophy encourages individuals and communities to sweat, connect and grow,” she says. Cheng has worked with the athletic apparel brand, hosting digital and in-person classes and sharing sessions that provided her with a platform to share her passion for maintaining and protecting both physical and mental health. She sees this as a way of supporting not only her own athletic journey, but also the journeys of all Hong Kong athletes.
“I can’t stress how important and powerful it is to surround yourself with a support system—friends, family, coaches, teammates—that will both challenge and encourage you,” says Cheng. Whether it’s the clothes you wear, the movements you make or the time you take to care for yourself, the importance of prioritising your physical and mental health, Cheng says, can’t be emphasised enough.
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