These young female athletes died by suicide. They all had head injuries in common

These young female athletes died by suicide. They all had head injuries in common

In recent years, an alarming pattern has emerged among young female athletes who died by suicide. Despite differences in nationality, sport, and background, they shared a haunting commonality: a history of head injuries and brain trauma. 

From concussions to undiagnosed impacts, these injuries may have contributed to severe mental health struggles and in some cases, devastating neurological conditions like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).   

This thread tells the stories of Kelly Catlin, Ellie Soutter, Jacinda Barclay, and Heather Anderson four elite athletes whose tragic ends have fueled urgent questions about the risks female athletes face in high-impact sports.

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1️⃣ Kelly Catlin – American Cyclist & Olympic Medalist (Age 23)

Kelly was a cycling prodigy part of the U.S. Women’s Pursuit team that won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and three consecutive world titles. She was also a gifted student, pursuing a master’s degree in computational math at Stanford.

In December 2018, Kelly suffered a concussion in a cycling crash. Friends and family noticed a sharp shift in her personality afterward: she became withdrawn, irritable, and showed signs of deep depression. She complained about “not feeling like herself.” Despite her success, Kelly was struggling mentally and physically.

On March 8, 2019, Kelly died by suicide. Her family donated her brain to Boston University’s CTE Center. Though no CTE diagnosis was made public, her father confirmed that post-injury, “her mind just wasn’t working the same.”

🧠 Her story raised red flags about how even single traumatic brain injuries can unravel the lives of elite athletes.

2️⃣ Ellie Soutter – British Snowboarder & Youth Olympian (Age 18)

Ellie was one of Britain’s brightest winter sports stars. She won a bronze medal at the 2017 European Youth Winter Olympics and was preparing to compete in the 2022 Olympics.

But behind the medals, Ellie had endured seven serious concussions in just five years an extraordinarily high number for such a young athlete. Her final concussion occurred just months before her death and led to frightening symptoms: confusion, memory loss, and depression.

Ellie’s father revealed that she had been hospitalized and described "being lost in her own head." Her final concussion ended her competitive season and her dream.

On her 18th birthday, July 25, 2018, Ellie died by suicide in a remote wooded area near her home in France.

⛷️ Her story exposed how repeated concussions in adolescent athletes especially in high-speed sports like snowboarding can have catastrophic mental health effects.

3️⃣ Jacinda Barclay – Australian Multi-Sport Athlete (Age 29)

Jacinda was a remarkable athlete who competed in Australian Rules Football, American-style gridiron, and international baseball. She was considered a trailblazer for women in contact sports.

Over her career, Jacinda suffered numerous head knocks. After her death in October 2020, her brain was donated to the Australian Sports Brain Bank. Scans showed damage to her cerebral white matter a pattern of injury typically seen in male footballers with long histories of head trauma.

Her family and friends recalled behavioral changes and emotional distress in the months before her death. Although she had no formal CTE diagnosis, her brain exhibited signs of neuropathological degradation related to repetitive impacts.

🏈 Her case showed that female contact athletes are not only exposed to the same risks as men but may experience them more severely.

4️⃣ Heather Anderson – AFLW Player & Army Medic (Age 28)

Heather played for the Adelaide Crows in the AFL Women’s league and won a premiership in 2017. She also served as a medic in the Australian Army an elite dual career.

Heather suffered at least one officially documented concussion, but her family and former teammates believe she had more during her football years. Despite retiring in 2017 due to injury, Heather seemed active and healthy.

In November 2022, she died by suicide.

Her family donated her brain to researchers. What came next was historic: Heather became the first professional female athlete ever diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Scientists found clear signs of early-stage CTE the same degenerative brain disease seen in many retired NFL and rugby players.

⚠️ Her diagnosis shattered the myth that CTE is a "men's issue" and underscored that even female athletes with fewer documented concussions can still develop the disease.