“Its sometimes difficult to know where to go for expert, independent, confidential advice. Especially when the culture within your own sport makes you too frightened to speak up.
As a Rio podium athlete I had struggled on alone- not really knowing who to turn to or what to do. My mental health had suffered. So much so that I didn’t even know whether the culture I was facing within my sport was normal or not. I was advised by someone in a different sport to talk to Ian Braid who they said could help me. From the start Ian was really approachable and professional and by the end of our 1st meeting he had confirmed that the problem wasn’t in my imagination. He also said he could help me. As promised he came back to me the next day with a clear plan working towards a solution. I felt that the weight of the world had lifted from my shoulders. Ian was amazing. He genuinely made me feel like I was his only project as he conscientiously liased with my sport on my behalf while also supporting me. Thanks to Ian I’m now a happy athlete and my sport has made many governance changes ensuring that the next generation will benefit from excellent duty of care. “