Watch Head Above Water

Head Above Water is a documentary series that follows the journey of three Australian Olympians, Ian Thorpe, Bronte Campbell, and Kyle Chalmers, as they navigate the challenges of mental health and identity outside of their life in the pool. Each of these athletes has achieved enormous success in the pool, but as they transition to life outside of competitive swimming, they must confront the mental and emotional toll that their years of training, competition, and expectations have taken on them. Through a series of intimate interviews, we learn about their struggles with depression, anxiety, and perfectionism, as well as their search for purpose and meaning beyond their athletic achievements.

Ian Thorpe, one of the most successful swimmers in history, shares his struggles with depression and anxiety, which he says began during his competitive years. Despite his incredible success, including five Olympic gold medals, Thorpe reveals that he often felt empty and unfulfilled outside of the pool. Now, as he works to redefine his sense of purpose, Thorpe is candid about the challenges he faces in finding a new direction for his life.

Bronte Campbell, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, confronts similar challenges in her own life. Despite her success in the pool, Campbell says she often feels pressure to live up to the expectations of others, especially when it comes to her appearance and identity. Through therapy and various self-exploration exercises, Campbell begins to confront her anxiety and find a greater sense of self-acceptance.

Finally, Kyle Chalmers, a young Olympic champion, shares his experience with panic attacks and the fear of failure that can come with the expectations of success. As he works through his own mental health challenges, Chalmers also grapples with his identity as a young man in the public eye.

Throughout the series, we see these athletes engage in a variety of different activities and therapies as they work to confront their challenges and redefine their sense of self. From group therapy sessions to surfing and hiking, each athlete finds their own path towards healing and self-discovery.

One of the most powerful aspects of Head Above Water is the way that it humanizes these athletes and portrays them as complex individuals with their own struggles and vulnerabilities. Instead of focusing solely on their athletic achievements, the show encourages viewers to empathize with the mental health challenges that these athletes face and to appreciate the incredible strength and resilience it takes to confront them.

Overall, Head Above Water is a beautiful and powerful show that offers an intimate and insightful look into the lives of three incredible athletes. Through their struggles with mental health, we see the very real toll that the pressure to achieve can take on even the most talented and successful individuals. At the same time, we see the incredible strength and resilience it takes to confront those challenges and find a path towards healing and self-discovery.

Head Above Water is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between June 4, 2021 and on Amazon Prime Video