The Journey of an Athlete

Starting this blog is like opening a door into the real story of athletes. 

It’s not just about the race or the game; it’s a tale of hard work, facing challenges, and achieving success that goes beyond the sports field.

In our new blog, we’re going deep into the world of athletes, sharing the stories you might not hear about – from their training days to standing on the winner’s podium. Beyond the cheers and the excitement of winning, there’s a story filled with effort, emotion, and a strong will to succeed.

Come along as we uncover the tough parts, like the challenges athletes tackle, the things they give up, and how they keep pushing for greatness. Whether you’re an athlete looking for relatable stories or just a fan curious about what happens behind the scenes, our journey beyond the finish line will show you the human side of sports.

So, get ready for a ride with us – we’re taking you through the highs and lows that make up the incredible journey of an athlete. The finish line is just the starting point of a story that’s waiting to be told. Are you excited to go beyond? We will chat with our champion olympic swimmer Moesha Johnson and our Skeleton winner Nick Timmings, both health ambassadors on a journey for olympic glory. 

 

. Can you share a personal story or experience that goes beyond the highlights of your athletic career?

 

Moesha –  Beyond being an athlete I have also completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, a Diploma of Business and am endeavouring to learn German currently. 

 

Nick – In the 2018 Winter Olympic qualifying season, I went to a World Cup race without any coaching or support team around me. There was another Australian athlete there who was being supported by the Australian high performance division of winter sports. And although I was in the World Cup team I wasn’t given any of the same support. During my warm up my calf started to cramp and I was in trouble. Although there was a physio there for Australia, because I wasn’t getting the funding I wasn’t allowed to use this physio. My brother was the one who had to do some treatment on me to get me prepared to race. This was a real kick in the guts for me and just shows that sometimes there are going to be times you feel the world is unfair. But if you keep pushing and doing your best you can overcome these challenges just like I did.

. What does the journey beyond the finish line mean to you personally?

 

Moesha – For me this is the idea of life after sport. My whole sporting career I have been working on the sideline at either study or networking to be prepared for all journeys life will take me on. 

 

Nick – To me the journey is what creates you into the person you are today. The finish line is just a minor step in the overall journey and what you learn from every single part of your life as an athlete is what makes you into the person you are today. For me it has turned me into a very grateful person for the opportunities I have been given and also has made me an extremely resilient person for all challenges faced.

 

. How do you handle challenges and setbacks in your athletic journey?

 

Moesha – Sometimes setbacks can be overwhelming. Personally I love a challenge so I am not often phased by the idea of those. But in both circumstances I always break both down to bite size management ideals or goals I can handle. Daily goals that in the bigger picture will get me to my bigger goals. Step by step smaller processes that are easier to face than the big overwhelming goal that might in the moment of a challenge or setback seem unattainable. 

 

Nick – In my athletic journey I’ve learnt to now just focus on the things I have power over and the things I can impact. Too often we use our mental energy on things we have absolutely no control over.

 

. What sacrifices have you made to pursue your passion for sports?

Moesha – As an athlete there’s so much work and sacrifice behind the scenes no one sees. From consistent diets, regular sleep routines, mental discipline, requirements from sporting federations and governing organisations. To try to maintain family and friend connections all the while staying healthy and recovered for training. We train 5-6 hours most days, 35 or more hours a week. We train for a minimum of 2 hours in the pool in the morning followed by 1 hour of dry land exercise, go home, eat and sleep then come back for another 2 or more hours in the pool. Our free time usually is consumed with recovery focus and on Facetime with family. Every day of our life we are obligated to provide an hour of our time where we have to be accountable to a time and place in which we guarantee we will be present for random drug testing. EVERY SINGLE DAY. Most people don’t realise that we are accountable to everything we eat, supplement and are exposed to for drug testing and can be tested any day without question. It keeps sport clean and safe, but can be invasive in your personal time and home space.

 

Nick – There have been a lot of sacrifices along my athletic journey, the 2 biggest would be time away from family and friends. At times I would be overseas for 5-6 months of the year. The second is financial. A full competition season costs me around 30-40k and it is about 80-90% self funded. 

 

. What untold stories or behind-the-scenes moments do you think people might not be aware of in your athletic journey?

 

Moesha – For me my untold stories are the years of time I spent studying before I had the opportunity to pursue sport to a high performance level. In this sense I have always been an older athlete. Coming from regional Northern NSW, my mum would drive us for 30-40 mins across the QLD border to train, then we would have to get changed and eat breakfast in the car on our way back to school in NSW. I trained in a small squad, often alone for most of my development years till I was 21. I graduated high school and studied a degree locally before being able to move out of home to the centre of Gold Coast to train in a high performance squad at 21. 

Growing up I competitively pursued equestrian as a second sport along with some ballet and motocross riding and surfing as hobbies. 

 

Nick – I have an autoimmune kidney condition that I have had to manage over my journey that very few people know about. I was hospitalised in Canada for one year for it. Managing it while being competitive has been challenging.

 

. What motivates you to keep pushing for excellence even when faced with obstacles?

 

Moesha – I set myself goals short term, long term, in and out of the pool. When I have difficult periods I lock in on short term goals, focussing on what I can at that time whilst keeping my larger goal in the back of my mind. It drives me. “Don’t worry about being the best, worry about being the best at getting better.”

 

Nick – Having goals is what motivates me to keep pushing no matter what. Big goals and small goals, but having something to strive towards is what really pushes me. I’ve always had the desire to see how far I could push myself mentally and physically and this motivates me to do my best and push as hard as I can.

 

. In your opinion, what aspects of the athlete’s journey often get overlooked or misunderstood by the audience?

 

Moesha – That athletes get it “easy”. 

There’s a few famous quotes that explain an athlete’s journey.

“I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 144 days to become an overnight success.” Lionel Messi – Football

“I trained 4 years to run 9 seconds and people give up when they don’t see results in 2 months” – Usain Bolt – Athletics

“I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that’s why I succeed” Michael Jordan – Basketball.

There are many many years of unpaid time for a few moments at the peak of our careers. It’s not an easy journey being an athlete, but it’s one I am proud to be part of, hopefully inspiring others to chase dreams or face adversities. 

 

Nick – I think the mental aspects of sport and competition are what get overlooked the most. There are so many aspects of sport that need to be considered when competing and this isn’t common knowledge. So just how much mental load an athlete has on their shoulders would have to be my answer. 

 

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up our journey beyond the finish line, we hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the stories that make athletes who they are. We went beyond just winning and explored the hard work, determination, and sacrifices that often go unnoticed.

Remember, every athlete’s journey is a unique mix of highs, lows, and a lot of passion. Whether you play sports or just love watching, take a moment to appreciate the human side of the games. If you’re an athlete looking for relatable stories or a fan interested in the personal side of sports, stay connected with us! The finish line is just one part of a bigger story, and we’re here to share more tales that reveal the incredible spirit within the sports world.

Thanks for joining us on this adventure beyond the finish line! Until next time, keep celebrating the stories that make sports special. Ready to go beyond again? Stay tuned for more stories that dig deeper and go beyond the expected.