PuraVida Sports

Everyone will tell you that being around young people — Gen Z — is one of the hardest things today. You have to match their energy. 

As a sports scientist, I’ve been lucky to work closely with them. They’re a generation that demands quick results and, more importantly, someone who can listen to them in their own unique way — even if it doesn’t always make sense.

Many of them lack proper stress coping mechanisms, and as a support personnel, you often find yourself overwhelmed, full of questions. 

It takes someone with a sharp eye — or high emotional intelligence — to truly notice what they’re going through.

Uncertainty and Ulcers

Athletics is a challenging path. In Kenya, many athletes — regardless of their academic standing — view it as an escape from poverty. 

It becomes their ticket to a better life. 

Working with fresh recruits, especially those who’ve just completed national exams and are preparing for scholarships, is no easy task. 

These athletes come from diverse backgrounds—tribes, cultures, religions. 

Each one brings unique needs, and as a coach, you’re expected to navigate all of it. What’s shocking is the number of these young athletes who suffer from stomach ulcers. 

Support staff will tell you—sometimes you end up cooking different meals just to accommodate their dietary needs. 

For instance, cabbage becomes a go-to dish: some athletes can only eat it plain, others with tomatoes. It’s not uncommon to find more than three vegetable cooking pots in a training camp kitchen.

Every school holiday, training camps open their doors to these athletes, and I have deep respect for the coaches and support staff who care for them. It’s not an easy job.

Through years of observation and countless conversations, I’ve realized many of these teenagers carry the full weight of their families’ hopes. 

Especially the firstborns — many stop being children the moment they start worrying about their parents and siblings. 

They forget they’re still kids — meant to play, study, and enjoy life. Instead, they shoulder adult responsibilities too soon. 

And without realizing it, the disease creeps in slowly. When triggered, it’s the support staff who spend sleepless nights nursing them or rushing them to hospitals in the wee hours of the morning.

Some ulcers are caused by what I call “scholarship fever.” 

For many, the dream of an American scholarship becomes a do-or-die mission. 

The pressure to match training partners who’ve already left for the U.S. can be immense. 

Every day becomes a race against time and age, especially since most scholarships have a cut-off age of 17–23. This stress can lead to burnout, doping scandals, and anxiety over delayed progress.

No matter how talented a young athlete is, if their mind and body are weighed down, progress becomes difficult. Ulcers are just one of the many consequences.

What Next?

We can’t rely on instinct alone.

That’s why mental health training for coaches and support personnel is essential. They need the tools to recognize emotional distress and respond with empathy and care. 

It’s no longer enough to train the body—we must also protect the mind. 

This is not just a physical health issue—it’s a mental health crisis that requires attention from all stakeholders in the sports world. 

I consider myself fortunate to have the ability to read emotions and connect with the athletes I mentor. 

Many have found healing and hope simply by being understood. 

I look forward to continuing this journey—helping more young athletes find not just success in athletics, but also a sense of care, growth, and belonging.

Athletics should be a beautiful sport—a source of joy, not a burden. 

Let’s make it so.