Olympic athlete Clara Hughes, known for her intense physical training, faced unexpected challenges when menopause arrived, causing significant disruptions. Hughes, a retired cyclist and speed skater at 54, struggled with perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings for years. A knee injury in 2021 exacerbated her turmoil, leaving her feeling like a failure.
In her memoir titled “Learning to Breathe,” Hughes reveals her lifelong struggle with body image issues that intensified during her athletic career but culminated in a healthier self-relationship during menopause. She also delves into her exploration of psychedelics to confront deep-seated emotional disconnects.
Hughes criticized the medical system for treating her menopausal symptoms as a mental health condition rather than prescribing effective hormonal replacement therapy. She emphasized the lack of specialized menopause care, which forces many women to search for suitable treatment independently. Eventually, she found relief through hormone replacement therapy under the guidance of a women’s health specialist.
Her psychedelic experiences, though illegal in Canada, provided profound emotional breakthroughs, leading to self-discovery and healing. While acknowledging the legal risks, Hughes believes these sessions were pivotal for her personal growth. She hopes her journey through menopause and self-acceptance will inspire others, especially women, to embrace and love themselves.
Clara Hughes now celebrates a newfound appreciation for her body and self, expressing love and acceptance for the first time.
