Abhinav Bindra Appointed as IOC Mental Health Ambassador to Promote Athlete Well-Being.
Appointment
In August 2025, Olympic gold-medalist and Vice-Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, Abhinav Bindra, was appointed as one of the IOC’s Mental Health Ambassadors, tasked with advocating athlete mental well-being and breaking stigma through education and support programs.
- As an IOC Mental Health Ambassador, Abhinav Bindra joins eight other Olympians to champion conversations around mental health in sport. Their mission includes building a supportive environment where athletes feel encouraged to seek help and where mental health is seen as vital as physical fitness.
- Bindra’s appointment aligns with the IOC’s broader Mental Health Action Plan, designed to integrate mental health into high-performance sporting environments. Ambassadors contribute trusted personal insights, provide feedback on IOC initiatives, and inspire open dialogue among the athlete community globally.
Main Point :- (i) The IOC emphasizes that “mental health is just as important as physical health.” Mental Health Ambassadors like Bindra are charged with breaking the stigma surrounding psychological challenges in sport, offering support through educational programs, social media outreach, and one-on-one interactions.
(ii) Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist (Beijing 2008, 10m air rifle), has long been a vocal mental health advocate. He was also a member of the IOC Mental Health Working Group prior to his ambassadorial appointment. His personal journey—marked by post-achievement challenges—adds credibility to his guidance and outreach.
(iii) Bindra joins a global roster of seven other Olympians across disciplines and continents, including Great Britain’s Holly Bradshaw, Hong Kong’s Camille Cheng, Brazil’s Bruno Fratus, USA’s Gracie Gold, Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, Papua New Guinea’s Ryan Pini, South Africa’s Akani Simbine, and Afghanistan’s Masomah Ali Zada.
About International Olympic Committee (IOC)
President: Kirsty Coventry
Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
____________________________
