Olympian and Strictly star Iwan Thomas has opened up about his mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts as he revealed Prince Harry's pivotal role in his recovery. The Welsh sprinter who won silver at the Atlanta games in 1996 has spoken out as he releases a brutally honest account of his depression, which left him considering taking his life. Iwan, now aged 50, is renowned for taking gold at the 1997 World Championships and beating world records.
But the athlete also suffered from a serious bout of depression, speaking about how he struggled to get out of bed and felt "numb". Now an advocate for mental health, he wants to help others. He said: "Breaking that record, everything happened really quickly for me but also everything was taken away quickly.
"All sorts were coming my way, a Madame Tussauds' waxwork, MBE, accolades left right and centre. I thought, 'This is cool, I'll have years left in me yet'. The reality was that that was as good as it was ever going to get.
"It then started to unravel and injuries set in. I was at a low place, it was horrible. I felt if I suddenly spoke out that I was struggling it would be, 'Your rivals are now going to think you are not as tough as you say you are and won't fear you on the track'.
I couldn't really show that side of me, the soft side. I always had to try to be the alpha male and the brash one who takes life in his stride." Iwan continued to push his body, hoping to regain his form.
"Athletics was a lot of my identity," he .