Elite athletes are often viewed as independent, resilient, and mentally tough. Yet one message emerged repeatedly at the Sporting Chance Summit 2026: nobody succeeds alone. From injury and retirement to training abroad and navigating personal challenges, this blog explores the vital role that social support plays in wellbeing, resilience, and sustainable performance, and invites readers to reflect on who is in their own corner.

More than 300 people gathered at the Sporting Chance Summit 2026 to discuss mental health, wellbeing, and support in sport. This blog reflects on key themes from the event, including resilience, help-seeking, prevention, and the importance of creating environments where people can thrive.

When does dance stop being good for us? What elite dance teaches us about health-promoting environments. Dance is widely recognised as a powerful contributor to health and wellbeing. Yet the picture becomes more complicated when we turn our attention to pre-professional and professional dancers. This post explores five ways high-performance environments can undermine health and outlines the SHAPE framework for creating mentally healthier dance cultures.

Despite increasing recognition of mental health as a critical component of athlete wellbeing, help-seeking remains a complex and underutilised behaviour within sport contexts. A recently published scoping review in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine synthesises findings from 104 peer-reviewed studies to examine the multifaceted factors influencing athletes’ decisions to seek psychological support. The review highlights a persistent tension between the cultural norms of high-p