"That's the hard part about sport: as men we haven't started to be in our prime, but as athletes we are old people. I needed support. I lost trust and did stupid things"

In this quote, Boris Becker, a former expert tennis player, touches upon the typically paradoxical nature of an athlete's career compared to normal life development, as well as the individual challenges he dealt with. His reflection clarifies a number of elements of an athlete's life and mental state, revealing the distinct pressures and internal conflicts experienced in top-level sports.

Firstly, Becker highlights the dichotomy between physical and personal development. As men, individuals in their late twenties and early thirties are typically thought about to be just entering their prime years in terms of maturity, career development, and self-development. Nevertheless, in the context of sports, those exact same ages frequently signal the tail-end of an athlete's career. This phase can produce a sense of incongruity and loss, as athletes face their evolving identities and the truth of their decreasing athletic performance, regardless of having much to provide in other locations. The remark "as athletes we are old individuals" underscores this paradox, drawing attention to how the timeline of athleticism compresses and speeds up one's life story in distinct ways.

Becker also alludes to the individual battles he faced, notably the requirement for support and the negative effect of loss of trust. The demanding nature of expert sports typically positions enormous emotional and psychological pressures on athletes. Without sufficient support systems, this can result in feelings of seclusion and vulnerability. The reference of doing "stupid things" suggests lapses in judgment possibly arising from stress, absence of guidance, or the search for coping systems. These actions could come from the desperation to restore control or find solace amidst the chaos of transitioning far from the spotlight and the structured life that sports provide.

Ultimately, Becker's reflection is a candid acknowledgment of the tough duality dealt with by professional athletes. His words function as a pointer of the importance of psychological health assistance, both throughout a professional athlete's profession and in their subsequent reinvention in life beyond sports.