At the first-ever Olympism365 Summit, ISU President and IOC Member Jae Youl Kim took to the stage during a powerful session on “Mental Health in Sport: From Crisis Response to Psychological Safety” to highlight The Calm Zone – a new athlete well-being initiative launched at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2025 in Boston.

Set against the backdrop of the Summit’s central theme, “Building a Better World Through Sport”, The Calm Zone is part of a broader athlete-first shift within the ISU under ISU Vision 2030. At the heart of the shift is an unwavering commitment to supporting both the physical and mental well-being of athletes, on and off the ice.

ISU President Jae Youl Kim sharing the Calm Zone initiative at the Olympism365 Summit ©IOC

“At the ISU, we take mental health very seriously,” stated the ISU President. “We were deeply moved by Gracie Gold, a skater who shared that, during her struggles, she didn’t know where to go for help – and ISU had nothing to offer her at the time. That had to change. She urged us to take immediate steps to support young skaters with a more compassionate approach. And we did.”

Calm Zone from the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2025 in Boston, USA ©ISU.

“We didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. We reached out to Scott and Kirsty (IOC Safe Sport), learned from their experience with the Mind Zone in Paris, and adapted it to our needs.  At ISU, we created our own version – The Calm Zone – and launched it at our World Figure Skating Championships in Boston.”

The Calm Zone was a dedicated space for Skaters to decompress during the intense World Championships week. A variety of activities was provided, offering informal sessions with certified therapists, mindfulness activities and – by far the most popular – therapy dogs. 

Athletes enjoying the popular therapy dogs at the Calm Zone at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2025 in Boston, USA ©ISU.

The Calm Zone was welcomed by the competing athletes. Of the 190 Skaters competing in Boston, 125 made use of The Calm Zone. Word of mouth recommendations quickly spread, and usage grew steadily throughout the Championships week.

Athletes enjoying the popular therapy dogs at the Calm Zone at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2025 in Boston, USA ©ISU.

“The Calm Zone became a sanctuary – a quiet, restorative space for skaters to decompress during a once-in-a-lifetime competition,” President Kim noted during the panel. “I'd like to leave you with two key takeaways: first, even a small step can make a meaningful impact. And second, that impact grows when we collaborate. If you're organizing a major event, I strongly encourage you to consider offering a sanctuary like this – somewhere athletes can restore themselves under pressure.”

The session featured leading voices in mental health and sport, including Dr Jane Thornton OLY, Director, and Kirsty Burrows, Associate Director of the IOC’s Health, Medicine and Science Department. 

ISU President Jae Youl Kim sharing the Calm Zone initiative at the Olympism365 Summit ©IOC

Burrows had previously addressed last year’s 59^th Ordinary ISU Congress, delivering a compelling but insightful keynote on safeguarding and athlete protection. During her presentation at the Olympism365 Summit, Burrows emphasised the importance of early recognition, prevention and breaking down barriers to help-seeking in sport. 

Additional speakers included Kat Craig, CEO of Athlead; Dr Andy Massey, FIFA Medical Director, and Insherah Musa, Country Director of Free to Run. The session was moderated by Scott Sloan, the Senior Project Manager of the IOC’s Health, Medicine and Science Department, who also shared valuable insights into the IOC’s work on mental health in sport.

As mental well-being continues to gain the attention it deserves in the global sports community, initiatives like The Calm Zone show how small but thoughtful interventions can create a culture of care that truly supports athletes where they need it most.