UnderdogMindset

Legendary fighter despite mental health issues

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GSP
UFC 217
Posted: Jul 4, 2023 Updated: Sep 11, 2023
Bullied Mental Health MMA

Georges St-Pierre, or GSP, is a true legend in MMA. With a 26-2 record and having won UFC titles in two weight divisions, he is considered one of the greatest fighters ever. However, many people don't know that he struggled with anxiety before his fights and was bullied when he was younger.

When GSP was in elementary school, he had self-esteem issues, which led to bullies targeting him. That led him to the road of martial arts, specifically Karate, to teach himself self-defense and confidence. GSP met one of his bullies later in life and helped him by giving him money and advice.

GSP revealed that he often felt overwhelmed with fear and doubt before his bouts. He questioned whether he was good enough, prepared enough, or could handle the pressure. These thoughts would consume him and could prevent him from sleeping. But despite his anxiety, GSP continued to push through, fight, and win.

GSP retired from fighting in his prime at the age of 32 after winning 12 straight fights; he would reveal years later he retired due to mental health issues such as depression and OCD. He would unretire four years later for one last bout to fight Michael Bisping for the Middleweight Championship; GSP would win the fight against the bigger fighter.

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Stann: Georges St-Pierre suffers from some of the worst anxiety I’ve ever seen
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Quotes

Martial arts, of course, taught me self-defense, but it also taught me confidence, that confidence is a choice,...I changed the way I was carrying myself.

Georges St-Pierre

I was ashamed to admit it because I had a dream life. I have a lot of money, I’m healthy, and I was ashamed to admit that I was going towards depression, because I didn’t know how people would think about me. They would be like, ‘Oh, what does he have to complain for? He’s champion of the world, he’s rich, what the hell is he complaining for?’ So I was ashamed, but I was going through mental depression and on top of that I was fighting in the UFC against performance-enhancing drugs, and I had a lot of personal issues. I just needed a break.

Georges St-Pierre

Even though I'm scared and I'm afraid to fail, when I walk to the Octagon, I look like I'm, it's impossible for me to fail and I look very confident, like I'm going to kick ass for sure. But the truth is, deep down inside, I'm scared as hell.

Georges St-Pierre

The bright lights, the anxiety, the nerves — GSP, he suffers from some of the worst anxiety I’ve ever seen in this sport, which makes what he did even more special.

Brian Stann
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