Rio 2016: Jack Green speaks about fighting depression to qualify for 400m hurdles semi-final
The Team GB athlete had contemplated quitting the sport altogether earlier this year
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Team GB athlete Jack Green has spoken about his fight with depression after making it through to the semi-final of the men's 400m hurdles.
Green spent 18 months out from athletics after London 2012 as he struggled with the mental health condition.
"I've got a lot of gratitude now, I really appreciate this journey," Green told the BBC.
"I didn't last time. I just saw it as another step up the ladder, thinking I could win this and that."
Green came third in his heat, taking advantage of a rival's late stumble to grab a qualifying spot.
“It’s hard to make an Olympics, let alone a semi-final, and hopefully a final. I just want to enjoy it," he added.
"I'm not on medication because I can't run on it, and yet I'm doing alright.
"We made a lot of steps forward in terms of my mental health and psychology, and things are in a great place."
In July, Green admitted he'd considered quitting athletics altogether ahead of Rio 2016.
"It was only a few months ago that I was going to retire and was looking for jobs and applied for jobs because things weren't in a good place," he told the Express.
"I was on anti-depressants but the problem is I can't run on them so had to come off.
"Whenever I'm on them I can't run faster than 80 per cent.
"So I'm making that sacrifice. It's a typical athlete thing of funding myself, and I'm self-coached as well.
"I coach myself and train on my own. It has been a tough journey."
Green's semi-final is scheduled for Wednesday morning at 1.25am BST. He is joined by fellow Briton Seb Rodger, after a disqualification bumped his teammate up into the faster losers list.
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