Former Australia cricket captain Meg Lanning revealed on Thursday that her abrupt retirement from international cricket at the age of 31 was triggered by an unhealthy fixation on food and exercise.
Despite leading Australia's dominant women's team for nearly ten years and clinching numerous titles, including four Twenty20 World Cups, a 50-over World Cup, and a Commonwealth Games gold, Lanning confessed to battling personal struggles behind her composed façade.
In a candid conversation on an Australian cricket podcast, the usually private Lanning disclosed that she turned to excessive running, covering up to 90 kilometres (56 miles) per week, without consuming sufficient food to sustain her intense training regimen.
As a result, she experienced significant weight loss, sleep disturbances, and mood swings, and withdrew from her close relationships. Despite being nicknamed "Megastar" for her stellar performances on the field, Lanning found herself caught in a downward spiral of denial.
Recognising her overemphasis on exercise and inadequate nutrition, Lanning admitted she was ill-prepared mentally and physically to compete in the Ashes series in 2023.
Although hesitant to categorise her struggles as an eating disorder, Lanning eventually sought assistance as her personal life began to suffer. She described feeling disconnected from friends and family, unaware of her own emotional detachment until it became her new normal.
Now liberated from the pressures of captaincy and international tours, Lanning expressed gratitude for finding solace through open communication and support from others. She emphasised the importance of seeking help and the transformative power of sharing one's burdens.
