Olympic Gold Medalist Discusses Mental Health at RVC

Olympic Gold Medalist Discusses Mental Health at RVC

• Community
• 08/21/2026

Olympic gold medalist and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Chamique Holdsclaw shared a deeply personal story of mental health, resilience and recovery with the Rock Valley College community during "Beyond the Game: A Conversation on Mental Health & Breaking the Stigma" on Thursday, August 20.

Hosted by RVC Personal & Success Counseling, the event brought students, employees and community members together to hear Holdsclaw discuss the challenges she faced both on and off the basketball court and the importance of seeking help.

Although Holdsclaw reached the highest levels of basketball, including three NCAA championships at the University of Tennessee, a No. 1 overall WNBA draft selection and an Olympic gold medal, she said her accomplishments often masked what she was experiencing internally.

"For me, basketball saved my soul," Holdsclaw told the audience, describing the sport as an outlet that helped her cope with a difficult childhood.

Growing up, Holdsclaw experienced instability at home and watched family members struggle with addiction and mental health challenges. Her grandmother encouraged her to become involved in something positive, and basketball became that outlet.

As her athletic success grew, however, Holdsclaw said she continued to push difficult emotions aside.

"No one ever wanted to deal with the human side of things," she said. "Because back then we didn't talk about the things that was going on."

Holdsclaw described how becoming a successful athlete sometimes made it even more difficult to acknowledge when she needed help. Coaches, teammates and others focused on her potential and accomplishments, while she learned to present herself as someone who was doing fine.

"I learned the power of people pleasing," she said. "If I said I was okay, I could fly under the radar."

During college, Holdsclaw eventually began working with a sports psychologist, but she said she was not yet ready to fully open up about what she was experiencing. Her mental health challenges continued as she transitioned into professional basketball.

After the death of her grandmother, whom Holdsclaw described as one of the most important people in her life, she said she buried her emotions and continued to perform at a high level.

"I buried my emotions," Holdsclaw said. "It was like I was on autopilot."

Eventually, the emotions and experiences she had pushed aside became overwhelming. Holdsclaw experienced a severe mental health crisis and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe anxiety.

Her journey toward recovery included professional treatment, medication, therapy and learning to communicate openly about her needs.

Holdsclaw emphasized that seeking help is not a sign of weakness and encouraged students to use the resources available to them.

"You have to understand that you matter," she said. "Your families love you."

She also urged students to support friends who may be struggling, while recognizing that they should not try to handle serious mental health challenges on their own.

"If your friend is struggling, talk to somebody that's able to support them on staff," Holdsclaw said. "You cannot take on that burden."

For RVC student Emma Hawkins, a business student and member of the college's softball team, Holdsclaw's story resonated with the audience.

"I thought it was really good," Hawkins said. "I think a lot of people can relate to it and really get moved by that."

Hawkins said Holdsclaw's openness demonstrated the importance of having people who are willing to listen and provide support.

"I think that people care, and that everybody deserves to have someone to talk to," Hawkins said.

Holdsclaw also reflected on how her understanding of mental health and self-care has evolved over time. Today, she said, she has learned to recognize when she needs space, communicate her needs and prioritize her well-being rather than simply pushing through difficult moments.

"I had to figure out what works for me," she said.

Now a mental health advocate, Holdsclaw uses her platform to share her experiences with audiences around the country. She said that being open about her struggles has helped others recognize that they are not alone.

After publicly sharing her story, Holdsclaw received thousands of letters from people who identified with her experiences.

"I realized that I couldn't be the only one," she said.

Holdsclaw encouraged the RVC community to look beyond accomplishments and appearances and to take the time to understand the experiences of the people around them.

"We all want to have joy. We want to feel connected to somebody," she said. "I think it's understanding the importance of learning other people's journeys and their stories."

Through her message, Holdsclaw challenged the audience to redefine strength, not as silently enduring hardship, but as having the courage to acknowledge when help is needed and taking steps toward healing.

"Take ownership of your own life," she said. "And understand that you're valuable."

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