Triathlon

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Olympic Heartbreak Turns into Life-Changing Blessing

Hey, Michael, really great question mate. I wouldn't say that. I have a career failure, so much as a career disappointment that turned into one of the best things that happened to me. And that was that the in 2004, the Sydney Olympic Games. I'd won on the course that you previous. I had been on the podium. The three years before that, I grew up a mile from the Sydney Olympic site, where it was going to be at the opera house. And anyway, was left off the Australian team ended up, being a bit of a court battle. It wasn't a joyous time the court battle didn't go my way. And I was pretty lost and bewildered. Anyway, young friend of mine. Simon. Whitfield said, Greg. Why don't you come over Canada? Help me get ready for the games and I did, and we trained relentlessly together for five, six months. And as it turned out, Simon went off to win the Olympic Games. He then stood on top of the die has got his gold medal and after he got his gold medal and was walking off. He ran up to the stadium and put the medal around my neck and said, this is yours. And when I Look back at my career highlights. That was a very, very special moment. And I love re telling that story because it was just such a special time. And you know, that was pre 9/11. So, you know, it was a bit looser and we could do those things. But on top of all of that, when I went to Canada help Simon train. I also met the woman of my dreams Laura and we were married. We were together right away and married after the 04 Olympics. And I always wonder if I'd been put on that Australian Olympic team, What would have happened both for my career and my relationships and everything going forward? So it was a really when I look back it was one of the the turning points in my life to be able to have that massive disappointment in that moment. But when you look back and big picture, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Cheers.

In 2004, I was not selected for the Australian Olympic team, which was a disappointment at the time. However, looking back it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I moved to Canada to help my friend Simon train for the Olympics, where he eventually won a gold medal and put it around my neck. Additionally, I met the love of my life, Laura, and we later married.

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I wouldn't necessarily call it a career failure, but rather a career disappointment that turned into one of the best things that happened to me. It was during the 2004 Sydney Olympic Games. I had been performing well in previous races and had grown up near the Olympic site. However, I was left off the Australian team, and it turned into a court battle that didn't go my way. I felt lost and bewildered.

But then, a young friend of mine, Simon Whitfield, invited me to Canada to help him prepare for the games. We trained together relentlessly for several months. In the end, Simon went on to win the Olympic Games. After receiving his gold medal, he ran up to me, put the medal around my neck, and said, This is yours.

Looking back, that moment stands out as one of the highlights of my career. It was a truly special time. What makes it even more significant is that during my time in Canada, I met the woman of my dreams, Laura. We started our relationship right away and got married after the 2004 Olympics.

Reflecting on that experience, I often wonder what would have happened if I had been selected for the Australian Olympic team. Would my career and relationships have taken a different path? It was a turning point in my life, and despite the initial disappointment, it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me.

So, while it may not be a favorite career failure, it was a significant moment that shaped my life in the most positive way.

How has your pursuit of greatness in sport influenced your approach to parenting? 

The Influence of Sporting Greatness on Parenting: Lessons Learned from an Athlete

Hey Josh, love this question mate. How is your pursuit of greatness and Sport influence your approach to Parenting? And I'm not gonna lie. I've gone to answer this one, a couple of times because it actually made me really have to stop and think about myself when I was an athlete and now focused on myself as a parent, and I've had to write down some notes. So, first off as an athlete, we understood that we were either. Tired or hungry, really affected our moods. And so when we look at our kids, when they having temper tantrums or they're not in good spirits. It's usually they're either hungry or they're tired that correlates directly to what being an athlete was. We're very moody if we're not well fed, or if we're not, well rested. So I brought that over to Parenting a couple of other things. Expectations. One thing as an athlete. I got very good at is managing those expectations of What the outcome will be and that definitely is correlated over to being probably a better parent is that I reduce and lower the expectations on my kids. And generally I'm a bit happier than that. I wasn't expecting so much from them managing your own ego. One thing I talk about on my podcast, a lot is the ability to have an ego because it can really drive you but learning how to manage that. So you're a better person to actually be around and I think I That with the parenting side of things with the kids is understanding my ego. And what I'm trying to achieve and their egos and what they're hoping to achieve and when we have the disputes quite often, it just comes down to who wants it more and they usually went out and letting go of my own ego. Another really big one is understanding that it's about the journey and the process far more than the outcome or the destination in sport. That was huge. You know, you Often have whether it's Olympics or World Championships or major events that you're looking at their major goals, but often it's the journey is the day-to-day process. That's where the real Joy comes from. And with parenting. That's the same thing. It's understanding. There's the day-to-day things. It's the little things where the joy is, it's sitting down to have breakfast is putting a little basketball hoop. Amo two-year-olds room and just shooting ball with him for a little bit. It's running on the beach with them every evening after dinner. It's it's not a Massive one off thing that you're trying to be, but just the little moments consistently and on that consistent basis. That said another keyword in sport and every major guest I've had on the podcast will share that. Probably the number one thing to success is just staying consistent. And for parenting, that's even when times are getting tough. The kids are pushing back on. You pretty hard. Just keep turning up. Just stay consistent. Keep turning up and Joy or Whatever you want to look at it, will come from that. And a bit on that consistency. One is embracing the grind. That the life is not meant to be easy. We went life is not meant to be easy. That to embrace the struggle embrace, the grind know that you've got it within you to be able to overcome any hurdles that you have. I think they're powerful tools that we can really think about. And finally, the last one, I'll That is grounding yourself in recovery. So with our athletes were very good at being able to focus on our recovery and rebuild to get going again. And as a parent, make sure you can find some downtime or go to the beach with them and ground yourself or walking or Forest whatever it is, but maybe even a little bit of time away from the kids will really help big answer mate, but it was a that's a quite a big question and I love it. Thanks. Cheers.

As a parent, I use my experience as an athlete to help me approach parenting. This includes understanding that when kids have temper tantrums they are usually either tired or hungry. I also lower expectations on my kids and manage my own ego. Additionally, it is important to remember that the journey matters more than the destination or outcome, so appreciating the little moments with your kids is important. Embrace the grind and make sure to take time for recovery in order to be a better parent.

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The pursuit of greatness in sport has greatly influenced my approach to parenting. Here are some key ways it has shaped my perspective:

1. Understanding the impact of hunger and fatigue: As an athlete, I learned that my mood was greatly affected by being tired or hungry. I apply this knowledge to parenting, recognizing that when my kids are having temper tantrums or feeling down, it's often because they are hungry or tired. Addressing these basic needs can make a significant difference.

2. Managing expectations: As an athlete, I became skilled at managing expectations regarding outcomes. I have carried this over to parenting by lowering my expectations and being more content. By reducing pressure on my kids, I find that I am happier and more present.

3. Ego management: In sports, managing my ego was crucial for personal growth and being a better teammate. I apply this to parenting by understanding my own ego and the egos of my children. By letting go of my ego and focusing on their needs and desires, conflicts are often resolved more smoothly.

4. Embracing the journey: In sports, I learned that the joy comes from the day-to-day process, not just the end result. Similarly, in parenting, I have come to appreciate the little moments and the daily routines. Finding joy in the journey and being present in the small moments brings fulfillment.

5. Consistency: Consistency is a key factor in sports success, and it applies to parenting as well. Even when faced with challenges or resistance from my children, I strive to stay consistent and show up for them. Joy and progress often come from this commitment.

6. Embracing the grind: Sports taught me to embrace the struggle and understand that life is not meant to be easy. I apply this mindset to parenting, knowing that challenges will arise, but I have the resilience to overcome them. Embracing the grind helps me navigate the ups and downs of parenting.

7. Grounding in recovery: In sports, recovery is essential for performance. As a parent, I prioritize finding downtime and engaging in activities that ground me, whether it's spending time at the beach, walking in nature, or taking a break from parenting responsibilities. Taking care of myself allows me to be a better parent.

These lessons from my pursuit of greatness in sport have shaped my approach to parenting, helping me navigate challenges, find joy in the journey, and prioritize the well-being of my children and myself.

The Power of Many: Surrounding Yourself with Role Models

Hi, Jamie, I'm not sure. I really have one role model. In fact, I think I have numerous numerous people that in my life that have modeled me to be the man. I am today. And I like surrounding myself with people that are doing remarkable things. Part of the reason. I have the Greg Bennett Show podcast is every week. I get to have a conversation with just an extraordinary person and I get to learn so much from them. And I hope I hitting the record button in these conversations. We all get to sort of Get a little bit from from these people that I get to have these conversations with. I also surround myself with mentors. I have, you know, Finance Mentor that's really helped me. Understand that I have actually Ed Baker, who's the founder and CEO of any question. He's really been a great mentor for me in the sense of understanding Tech and the business and helping me grow into this business and it's just been absolutely fantastic. If I look at my sporting career. I've surrounded by some of the greatest coaches, the greatest athletes body work. People all great role models that helped shape me, but then if I really want to rewind the clock a bit, it's really have to look at my family. Obviously, my brother's remarkable men and then my parents, my mom and dad the ultimate Role Models. What it's like, you know, my dad. If I think about being a great father a good man, no one better my brother's like I said and my mum in terms of just a great spirit. It's they definitely have shaped me into what I am today, chess.

My role models are my family, mentors, financial advisors, tech and business professionals, coaches, athletes, and the people I interview on my podcast.

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I don't have just one role model in my life. I believe I have been influenced by numerous people who have shaped me into the person I am today. I enjoy surrounding myself with individuals who are doing remarkable things. Through my podcast, The Greg Bennett Show, I have the opportunity to have conversations with extraordinary people and learn from them. I also have mentors who have guided me in different areas of my life, such as finance and technology.

In my sporting career, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by great coaches, athletes, and individuals who have served as role models. However, if I were to go back and reflect on the most significant influences, I would have to look at my family. My parents, my brother, and even my extended family have played a crucial role in shaping me. They have shown me what it means to be a good person, a great father, and have a positive spirit.

Overall, I believe that I have been influenced by a diverse group of people who have all contributed to my growth and development.

What are your fears and how do you handle them?

Conquering Fears: Overcoming Anxiety and Taking Control

My fears, well, I feel like most people. I have plenty of fears. That create anxiety that anxiety. Really, just gets me out of bed. I'm not gonna lie, things, like just being a better dad, better husband better family, man, my health, you know, making sure I consider monitor that and then just, you know, being good at my job. And so, all of those things, I guess you could say, create a bit of anxiety and I kind of overcome that fear by. Either getting up and doing something about it. So if it's my work get up early and start working. If my health go for a jog or go do some blood work and eat right or all of those things that I can do for my overall Wellness. If it's being a better dad or husband, it's like put the phone down and be present and you know, if it's reconnecting with family around the world, take the time, you know, a couple of times a week to reach out and have conversations with them. But I also then would say I find grounding Myself, you know, if that's just going for an early morning, jog up to the beach and or maybe jumping in the ocean walking through the forest and just trying to breathe deeply, you know, whether that's meditation or prayer, whatever it takes to. Ground yourself and remove yourself from whatever has paralyzed you perhaps with fear. I also try to be very conscious of my fear being around things that I can control, you know, if it's a war pandemic or anything that I actually don't have any control over. I really just let that water off a duck's back. I guess. Let it slide away. If I don't have control of it. I don't need to know about it because I can't do anything about it. So it just stay Within. What I can control chess.

My fears create anxiety, so I try to do something proactive about it. I also ground myself by going for jogs or meditating, and I stay away from things I can't control so that I don't get overwhelmed.

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Like most people, I have my fair share of fears that can create anxiety. Some of my fears revolve around being a better father, husband, and family member, as well as maintaining good health and excelling in my job. To handle these fears, I take action. If it's work-related, I wake up early and start working. For my health, I go for a jog, get blood work done, and prioritize a healthy diet. To be a better family member, I make a conscious effort to be present and engage without distractions. I also take the time to reconnect with family members around the world through regular conversations.

In addition, I find grounding myself to be helpful. This could involve activities like going for an early morning jog by the beach, immersing myself in nature, or practicing deep breathing through meditation or prayer. These practices help me remove myself from the paralyzing effects of fear.

I also make a conscious effort to focus on things within my control. If there are global issues or events that I have no control over, such as wars or pandemics, I let them slide off and don't dwell on them. Instead, I prioritize my energy and attention on what I can control.

Overall, I strive to take action, find grounding, and focus on what I can control to handle my fears and anxieties.

Did your athletic successes always correlate to periods of happiness in your life? When did they not? 

Olympic athlete reflects on the connection between success and happiness

Is it wrong that I say? Yes. I'm kind of disappointed in myself that my happiness was. So much about my success in my performances, but I think there's a little bit of I was happy. Anyway, I was happy in my journey and I think there was a little bit of when you actually reached a Target or a goal that you'd maybe been pursuing for weeks months years and you actually got there there really was a tremendous sense of accomplishment and joy of finally reaching the destination, so Yes, there was sort of a tremendous amount of Happiness, when I, when I had success. I'm not sure. I can remember a time where I had success that I wasn't happy about it. Cheers.

Yes, it is ok to be happy when you achieve success. There is a sense of accomplishment and joy that comes from reaching the goals you have been working hard for.

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I must admit, there was a time when my happiness was heavily tied to my athletic successes, and I'm a bit disappointed in myself for that. However, I also found joy and fulfillment in the journey itself. When I finally achieved a goal or reached a target that I had been working towards for weeks, months, or even years, there was an incredible sense of accomplishment and happiness. I can't recall a specific instance where I had success but wasn't happy about it. Cheers!

How long did you talk about retiring before you actually did it?

Long-awaited retirement: A pro athlete's decisive moment at age 44

How long did I talk about retiring until I actually did? Well, if you ask my wife, Laura it was probably every couple of months for most of my career. It was always fairly brutal. I got pretty tired or injured or overtrained and I always follow retiring. But for me, it really came down to doing One race in 2016. After 27 years of racing professionally, where I got, I did the swim and got on the start of the bike and I just didn't have it. I was like the buckets empty and I rode to the hotel called Laura and said, I'm retired. Called the race director and said, okay, I'm done and I apologize. And that was it. It was a real Forrest Gump. Moment where I had done everything I wanted to do in the sport. The bucket of energy was empty. My passion was done. I mean I still love the sport, but I knew it was time. I was 44 and the results weren't quite coming. So it was an easy decision in the end. Cheers.

It took me 27 years of racing professionally until I finally retired after One race in 2016, when I realized my bucket of energy was empty and my passion was gone.

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How long did I talk about retiring before actually doing it? Well, according to my wife, Laura, it was a topic that came up every couple of months throughout my career. I often felt tired, injured, or overtrained, which led me to consider retiring. However, the moment that truly solidified my decision was during a race in 2016. After 27 years of racing professionally, I completed the swim portion and started the bike, but I just didn't have it in me. I felt completely drained. I called Laura from the hotel and told her I was retiring. I also reached out to the race director to inform them of my decision. It was a moment reminiscent of Forrest Gump, where I had accomplished everything I wanted to in the sport and my passion had run its course. While I still love the sport, I knew it was time to move on. At 44 years old, the desired results weren't materializing, making the decision to retire an easy one in the end. Cheers.

Greg Bennett answers your Triathlon questions. See all the advice Greg Bennett has and get answers to your own Triathlon questions.

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Greg Bennett is the Co-founder and Chief of Staff at AnyQuestion. He is also the podcast host of, “One Moment Longer with Greg Bennett” which dives into what makes a world-class athlete and High Performer. Greg is a retired professional triathlete. Greg grew up in Sydney, Australia and found a passion for triathlon at a young age. He competed for Australia at the 2004 Olympics and has raced over 500 international races and won over 100. Greg has won multiple World titles, the worlds largest prize purse wins, and been awarded the International Triathlon Unions President trophy. He has been named one of the “Top 15 Triathletes of all time” (Inside Triathlon, 2011) and “Triathlete of the year” on multiple occasions (Triathlete magazine). Greg had a strong desire to become better and set goals, which helped him reach the highest level in sport and sustain it for almost three decades.