Team USA surfer Griffin Colapinto is looking forward to his next event this year, his first Olympics, but he's also excited about the impact he's having on his community as an Olympian.
Colapinto was one of 20 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to receive a $24,000 grant from Athletes for Good, a joint initiative between Proctor & Gamble, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which recognizes the efforts of these athletes to improve their communities.
Colapinto knew the grant would go to the nonprofit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), which is dedicated to providing hope and finding help for people struggling with mental health issues, addictions and more.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Griffin Colapinto before surfing in heat 3 of the VIVO Rio Pro Round of 16 on June 27, 2024, in Brazil. (Thiago Diz/World Surf League via Getty Images)
“It's amazing. Super lucky,” Colapinto told Fox News Digital. “I think my mom prepared an email, because you have to apply for the grant, and she wrote it. She sent it without thinking much about it and they ended up choosing us, which is amazing.”
“To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit that we represent and put our energy into. They're basically dedicated to providing tools and support to anyone who's going through a tough time in life. Mental health seems to be a big topic these days with social media, and I feel like people have become disconnected from the source of where we come from. It's good to talk about those things, to be open, and there's counseling that you can access at To Write Love on Her Arms if you don't have the money to talk to anyone, or maybe there's no one in your life that you feel like you can talk to. You can go there and open up.”
Colapinto, along with his brother, Crosby, explained how their own mental health journey through their professional surfing careers led them to connect with TWLOHA. The “Cola Bros,” as they are affectionately known, use journaling as a technique to help clear their minds before and after events, and began selling these journals to fans who also wanted to follow their practice.
US SURFERS GRIFFIN COLAPINTO AND JOHN JOHN FLORENCE FEELING PATRIOTIC AHEAD OF OLYMPICS: 'BEING A PROUD AMERICAN'
Proceeds from the sales of these magazines were donated to TWLOHA.
“I started really getting into mental health through surfing, obviously, and being a professional surfer,” Colapinto explained. “Just chasing a dream, chasing something that’s so challenging, you’re going to face tough times along the way. From there, I started journaling, meditating, and reading books. I ended up creating my own system of tools to help me on my path, and the journal was really cool.”
“We thought, 'Yeah, okay, it would be great if we could do something with the money that's made from this.' We decided to work with To Write Love on Her Arms and donate the proceeds to the organization. From there, we started learning more about the project and what they were doing. We got really excited about it and now we have a grant. So there we go!”
Colapinto also talked about “Between the Bells,” a free, weeklong interactive program for students through TWLOHA that helps them start authentic conversations about mental health. She was able to speak with the kids during an installment of the program and loved what she saw.
Griffin Colapinto at the VIVO Rio Pro on June 27, 2024, in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Thiago Diz/World Surf League via Getty Images)
“It's great,” she said, smiling. “Each child had a booklet, and in the booklet there are all these different categories of questions that you can ask yourself, like how you're feeling. Little things in your life like, 'Did you brush your teeth this morning? Did you make your bed?' All these little things that you ask yourself that somehow contribute to having a good, clear mind every day.
“Those simple little tools, those simple steps, if you don't have the parents who taught you those, then it's organizations like this that are there to take care of that for you.”
Whether you're a professional athlete or not, mental health is paramount. For Colapinto, “the freer you are in terms of thinking, the better you'll surf.” And while that will always be a challenge for him, especially with the pressure of the Olympics looming next month, his methods for creating a clear mind are always helpful before hitting the waves.
And those tools are the ones he wants everyone, especially the next generation, to have.
Griffin Colapinto was one of 20 Olympic and Paralympic athletes to receive a $24,000 grant from Athletes for Good. (Thiago Diz/World Surf League via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I think one of the most important things to free your mind is to acknowledge the thought that's challenging you,” she said. “Sometimes, you have a thought or an emotion that just keeps going around in your head and in your body. If you journal or talk to someone, like a therapist, you can acknowledge it, and that's half the battle. Once you see it, it's easier to let it go. Then, boom, you're free.”
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to The Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
