Jamaican sprinter Junelle Bromfield has candidly shared the emotional and unconventional ways she dealt with the devastating loss of her mother, who passed away in 2021 from Stage 4 cervical cancer. The young athlete, who was still establishing herself on the international stage at the time, found herself deeply affected by the tragedy, which triggered a difficult and complicated healing journey.
Now 27, Bromfield has looked back on the period and revealed how she turned to body piercings as a means of processing her grief. Reflecting on her behavior, she admitted that the coping mechanism, while surprising even to her in hindsight, offered temporary relief from the emotional pain she was experiencing.
“Looking back and realizing that piercing was how I grieved,” she said, before revealing that she had about 12 piercings at one point, despite not being particularly fond of them. This admission underscores the depth of her sorrow and how her grief manifested in unexpected ways during that turbulent time.
Bromfield’s journey toward healing didn’t stop at piercings. A key turning point came when she began therapy an initiative encouraged by her fiancé, American sprint star and world 100m champion Noah Lyles. According to her, Lyles played a significant role in helping her seek professional help and prioritize mental health. She acknowledged that therapy helped her confront the lingering emotional weight she carried, particularly survivor’s guilt, which had taken a toll on her wellbeing.
“Therapy has helped a lot because I feel as if I’ve been suffering with survivors’ guilt. Now, I’m like, ‘You know, I’ve got to live my life and just enjoy the moment of it because life is short.’”
Despite scaling down her athletics activities in 2024, Bromfield, an Olympic and world medalist in the 4x400m relay, continues to train alongside Lyles in Florida, where the couple now resides. Her openness about grief and mental health is not only a reflection of her growth but also serves as an inspiration for others navigating similar struggles. Her journey highlights the importance of confronting pain, seeking support, and finding healing in both expected and unexpected ways.
