Overview
- He told Germany’s dpa he felt “mentally dead at times,” contrasting his 2006 Olympic gold with a hidden struggle.
- He recalls a first “approach of suicidal thoughts” in January 2013 during a protracted nationality switch to Belgium after giving up his Bundespolizei status.
- Illness and injury compounded the crisis in 2015 with glandular fever and an Achilles rupture that he described as life‑threatening, followed by months of deterioration.
- Following an emotional collapse after retiring in 2019, he went to an emergency psychiatric unit in May 2019, received medication, and completed more than 50 therapy sessions.
- He now discusses his experience on the podcast “Nacksch – vom Olympiasieg in die Depression” and as a commentator, saying recovery is ongoing and urging, “Seek help.”