Lesson 10 - The Olympics

Athletes can train their whole life and never get there. Coaches can coach for a lifetime and never experience its uniqueness.

The privilege of an Olympic Games as an athlete or coach should never be taken for granted.

In 2008 I qualified for my first Olympic Games in the 100m, an achievement I had never thought possible when I started in the sport as a 10-year old (and probably still didn’t think possible till I got into my 20’s).

My performance at the Games reflected the work it had taken for me to get there, I was exhausted.

In the moment I was devastated, not appreciating this amazing achievement.

Fast forward to 2024, I was back at an Olympic Games this time as a coach for Team GB.

It was full circle moment.

The morning of the first session of athletics I received messages from family and friends who recognized what it had taken for me to get here. That morning I was reflective and grateful.

As an athlete, I did not appreciate what it meant to compete at an Olympics Games. Now, back at the Games as I coach, I was able to appreciate what it meant to the athletes.

An Olympics Games is a four year build up, sometimes a lifelong build up, so the post Games slump hits HARD. Physically, mentally and emotionally draining; athletes and coaches will experience this in different ways and in varying magnitudes. Decompression is the key to recovery here and everyone will have their own process for this.

Reflecting back on my experience as an athlete and then as a coach at an Olympic Games; it is an experience so unique that it’s hard to explain, challenging to prepare for and truly life changing.