At the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Australian weightlifter Kiana Rose Elliott narrowly missed a medal, finishing fourth for the second consecutive Games. Over the Birmingham and Glasgow events, a combined 11 kilograms on the bar kept Elliott from back-to-back bronze medals. After faltering on a 118-kilogram clean and jerk that could have secured her third place, Elliott sat on the Armadillo stage, visibly distraught but composed as she spoke quietly to the media.

"It's just a moment in time, and you're just hoping that everything will be there," Elliott said. She described the "really tough decision" to attempt higher weights requiring bigger lifts, a choice she made prioritizing her mental health. "In Australia we do sport and we do life, and I needed my brain and my mind for the rest of my life," she added.

Elliott acknowledged that pushing her body fat down to previous competitive levels was unsustainable, leading her to choose a different competitive strategy. "This isn't the end of my story. I'm not done yet," she affirmed.

While massage therapists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and dietitians have been supporting Australia's 255 athletes physically over the 10 days of intense competition, Dr. Deacon, the team's psychiatrist, is focusing on their mental well-being. This marks the first time Team Australia has included a psychiatrist in their delegation, reflecting growing recognition of mental health's importance in elite sports.

The inclusion of mental health support comes as athletes face immense pressure to perform after years of training and planning, underscoring the holistic approach Australia is taking at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Sources

ABC Australia News: It's easy to see why Australia brought a psychiatrist to Glasgow