Beyond the comments: How athletes navigate social media

Beyond the comments: How athletes navigate social mediaImage source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Hannah Cain spoke out about the 'ugly' abuse athletes receiveByLuke HemmingsBBC Sport WalesPublished1 minute agoOnline abuse in sport is not new. A standout performance, a national call up or a medal-winning moment can instantly reach thousands.But that exposure can just as easily turn hostile. A mistake or an underwhelming performance can be met with criticism that feels personal, anonymous and unfiltered.When Wales football international Hannah Cain spoke about the "really ugly" abuse she faced online, she was articulating something many athletes experience but do not always publicly address.Her message resonated far beyond women's football where visibility, particularly for young athletes, has never been greater, but neither has their vulnerability."There is no room for any kind of abuse, hiding behind a keyboard every single week and targeting the same player regardless of underperforming, performing or over performing isn't acceptable on any platform," she posted on social media."You never know what a person is going through. Enough is enough."But it's not just football.Tennis player Heather Watson said she receives abuse "daily" and even recieved a death threat - the first of many - aged just 18.The cost and power of visibility"You can't just ignore it because it's everywhere."Sports psychologist Dr Mikel Mellick summed up the inevitability of the scrutiny that comes with social media.Social media has removed many barriers that once existed between players and fans, where now criticism is not confined to the pitch but appears beyond through a screen – sometimes relentlessly."As an athlete, you're constantly under judgement. Judgement from your peers because you're in competition for selection and by coaches and managers," he said."Then you introd...