Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:Instagram/@camillelcheng

Camille Cheng, a top swimmer from Hong Kong, is doing something amazing outside the swimming pool. She has been chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be one of their first-ever mental health ambassadors.

Camille, who has gone to the Olympics three times, flew to Switzerland earlier this month. She was invited to attend an important meeting about mental health in sports and to speak as the female representative for Asia.

This new IOC program wants to make sure that athletes from all over the world are helping lead the conversation about mental health. The goal is to listen to real experiences and create better support for athletes who might be struggling.

Camille helps run a mental health charity in Hong Kong called "Mind the Waves." She says each ambassador will speak up for their region—bringing helpful ideas and resources back to their own communities in a way that fits their culture.

She spent four days in Lausanne learning from doctors and experts who talked about serious topics like anxiety, eating problems, depression, and more. She also led two special workshops where she talked with about 150 other athletes. They discussed how to know if someone needs help and what they can do.

Camille, who is 32, hasn’t been swimming lately because she had surgery on her knee. She’s won several medals at the Asian Games and also has a master’s degree in psychology. She wants to work in sports psychology one day.

She said, “It was really special to be in that room. This is something I truly care about, and I feel lucky to help other athletes.”