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Meg Lanning, the captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, sent shockwaves through the cricketing world when she announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket in November 2023. Despite her stellar career, which included securing two ICC Women’s Cricket ODI World Cup and five ICC Women’s T20 World Cup titles, Lanning decided to step away from the game at the young age of 31. At the time, she didn’t disclose the reason behind her sudden retirement.
The hidden reason behind Meg Lanning’s retirement
However, recently, Lanning opened up about her decision, revealing that her unhealthy obsession with exercise and inadequate food intake played a significant role. In a candid conversation on the ‘Howie Games podcast’ with Mark Harvard, Lanning shared her private health battle for the first time. She disclosed that her fixation on exercise and imbalanced diet resulted in significant weight loss, ultimately leading her to withdraw from the Ashes 2023 series.
“I was over exercising and under fuelling. I got to the point where I was doing about 85-90km a week. I was in denial. It became a bit of ‘I am going to show you’ sort of thing. It sort of just spiralled. I was not in a place to be able to go on tour and play cricket and give the commitment levels required for that (2023) Ashes series mentally and physically,” Lanning said.
“I am naturally fine spending time with myself but there were very few people who I would want to engage with. I would get really snappy – real moody – if anyone asked anything. I got down to 57kg from 64kg. It wasn’t ridiculous (but it was) significant. The ratios were out of whack. I did not realise (it affected) my ability to concentrate. I didn’t really want to see other people. I disengaged a lot from friends and family,” the 32-year-old added.
“It (running) became a bit of an obsession. I could escape mentally. I would throw the headphones in but would not take my phone with me. I would have my Apple watch with me and listen to music. Nobody could contact me,” the Singapore-born cricketer stated.
#TheHowieGames x Meg Lanning.
As insightful, open & honest as they get. ❤️
🎧📲 Full pod ep here: https://t.co/EE6n40CFsm
@CricketAus pic.twitter.com/yXqNMEAEc9
— Mark Howard (@MarkHoward03) April 18, 2024
Also READ: Cricket Australia reveals Women’s central contract list for 2024-25 season
Prioritizing well-being in high-performance sports
Lanning admitted that her physical appearance and behavior were visibly affected by her health struggles, making it evident to her teammates that something was amiss. Her revelation sheds light on the pressures and challenges faced by athletes, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing mental and physical well-being in a high-performance environment.
“I think they knew something was up. I couldn’t see anything in my appearance but (others) could see it. And everything that comes with it. You become grumpy. Not talking to many people. Not being able to concentrate. Not sleeping. Your head just goes round and round and it’s not a nice place to be,” Lanning admitted.
“I dreaded night-time because I knew I would go to bed and not be able to sleep. That would make me so mad. I would just get more angry with myself. If you can’t sleep you can’t do anything. I’ve learnt that regardless of who you are there is always something happening. I guess I have realised how much telling to people and letting them know can actually help even if they don’t have an answer,” the former Aussie skipper concluded.
