Olympic medallist Hilbert aims for race walk return from depression

Olympic race walk medallist Jonathan Hilbert of Germany has said he plans another attempt to return to competition in the wake of another major depressive episode.

Hilbert, who won silver over 50 kilometres at the Tokyo Games in 2021, had opened up about the illness last year and he said in May that he was withdrawing from the sport after it returned.

He has now said in an Instagram post that he is feeling better with the help of therapy and medication and will give it one more try next year, after a first training camp in November.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve regained my strength and am feeling happy again,” Hilbert wrote.

“Should I ever experience another depressive episode of this severity, I will withdraw completely from competitive sport and bring my career to an end.”

Hilbert said he was feeling better "after three months of standing still and taking a break".

He spoke of a "rollercoaster" period after being diagnosed with a severe depressive episode and that a first medication had not brought any results, which prompted a switch to another one which he said brought noticable improvement.

“My motivation returned, and my thoughts became brighter again,” he said, adding that he has resumed structured training and his university studies.

Hilbert said that he is still undergoing therapy with the aim of regaining “stability, health and simply enjoying life again.

"So the first step has been taken. But this illness is not a 100 metres sprint. More like a marathon," he said.