Triathlon

What advice could you give to a retiring professional athlete?

Retiring pro athletes: Embrace the gray and find a new purpose

Whoo. What advice would I give to a retiring professional athlete? I would have to say it's you have to Find. Find a place where you don't draw comparison to what your previous existence as being because it's a very surreal and very different world that you live in. When you're a professional athlete. It's a world that extremely not in a negative way. So I've sent it, but it's, it's all-encompassing. It's completely self-driven. And probably, the biggest thing is, It's actually very black and white sport is win or lose, and a lot of people can't handle that, but it's all, you know, getting into gray is quite difficult stepping into a world where you can't necessarily Define what good, or what bad or, or what's the fastest or, or second place? It's very tricky to come to terms with the self comparison because whether, you know, it or not every day, maybe three, four. R times a day, you're comparing, was I better than yesterday. How good was? That session was eyes fastens. The session asked me to be, did I recover as well after they eat, you know, do they sleep or and and you're asking yourself these questions, which you're somewhat have the answers to, but into the world of normality and it doesn't work like that for me. I think my greatest advice would be to find a place where that you can see maybe sport as a Opportunity to give back to your body because it's is also important but also to use it as a way to step away sometimes and have that time to yourself as a meditative reminder that actually the way the world is a little bit gray and living in that gray is not such a tricky thing, but it's something that you have to do a lot of self talk. I think you become so good at self talk when you're an athlete, you Could get them in everyday life. Actually, you just need as much self-taught but it's not about going harder or faster. It's just about completing this task, or getting to the next part, or you don't make a good decision, or did I maybe not make the best and how do I make a better decision than the next opportunity? And it's a, it's a, it's a tricky one, but my advice would definitely be to learn to deal with the gray.

My advice to a retiring professional athlete is to find a place where they don't draw comparison to their previous existence. They should learn to accept the gray and use sport as an opportunity to give back to their body, rather than going harder and faster. Self talk can be used to make better decisions, and to take time for themselves in order to meditate.

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My advice to a retiring professional athlete would be to find a place where you can separate yourself from the comparisons and pressures of your previous existence as an athlete. The world of professional sports is all-encompassing and self-driven, with a clear distinction between winning and losing. Stepping into a world where things are not as black and white can be challenging.

It's important to come to terms with the self-comparison that often occurs in the world of sports. In everyday life, it doesn't work the same way. Instead, find a place where you can see sport as an opportunity to give back to your body and use it as a meditative reminder that the world is not so black and white. Embrace the gray areas and engage in self-talk to navigate through everyday life.

As an athlete, you become skilled at self-talk, and you can apply that skill to other aspects of life. It's not about pushing harder or faster but rather about completing tasks, making good decisions, and continuously striving to improve. Learning to deal with the gray areas and embracing the uncertainties of life will be valuable in transitioning from the world of professional sports.



What was the biggest achievement of your career?

Olympics to Commonwealth Games: An Athlete's Most Emotionally Charged Achievement

Will the biggest achievement of my career in terms of I would say the Pinnacle is obviously Olympics because that's what our sport is fortunate to have in the distance that we competed in or that I competed and I should say at the time. But in terms of what? What felt the most emotionally charged for me was actually competing in Melbourne at the Commonwealth Games on home soil. I think. Yes, it obviously had the caliber of a commonwealth games and, and that Drew crowds of people, but I will never ever forget the experience of literally feeling like you had the country on the sidelines cheering for you and and, you know, obviously being a huge race as it was. I think that's something that will Give me goosebumps, you know, that will forever. Feel was just so special in my career and, and Beijing was incredible and and somewhat surreal and movie like because it was this childhood dream and and you, you project, you know, how you imagined it to be, but living in experience where you feel other people's energy and especially the country and the people was just different again, and I think that one is, is more emotionally. Charged for me in that sense. But of course an Olympics is something that never is with me for life. And something that is extremely special to me in another way.

The most emotionally charged achievement of my career was competing in the Commonwealth Games on home soil. The Olympics is also special to me in another way and something I will always remember.

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The biggest achievement of my career would have to be competing in the Olympics. It is the pinnacle of our sport and an incredible accomplishment. However, in terms of the most emotionally charged experience, it was actually competing in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on home soil. The support and cheers from the crowd made it a truly unforgettable experience. While Beijing was also incredible and felt like a childhood dream come true, the energy and connection with the country and its people made the Commonwealth Games stand out in a different way. The Olympics, on the other hand, hold a special place in my heart and will always be a cherished memory.

What is your advice on acceptance and happiness, as an athlete and human, and as someone who sat atop the world?  

Former Athlete's Evolving Journey: Acceptance and Happiness

What is my advice on acceptance, happiness as an athlete and a human? This is something that I think is an evolving process and certainly something for me. Maybe more I've had to delve into since not being a professional athlete. I think when you are really driven and committed to a goal, sometimes I feel that you hone your mindset on achieving that goal and you accept learnings by failures and success related to that goal. Whereas I feel like outside of that when you are a normal everyday person and you sometimes try to figure out what your goals are or what happiness means to you, it's not quite as black and white and it's not quite as driven towards one particular goal. But it's certainly something that I think as an athlete I've really struggled with. I think many athletes that have competed at a high level and have known what they've wanted to do their whole life probably struggle with the end of that and the end of that career and what that means. I think acceptance and happiness for me right now is sometimes a daily self-talk as to what I did with training and what do I need and what makes me happy. Right now it's outside, it's sunshine, it's nature, it's seeing my kids flourish, being able to teach them things and accepting that there's different periods of my life that are going to provide me with different things.

Acceptance and happiness for me right now is sometimes a daily self-talk as to what I did with training and what do I need and what makes me happy. It involves embracing the different periods of life and finding joy in nature, sunshine, seeing my kids flourish, and teaching them things.

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My advice on acceptance and happiness as an athlete and a human is an ongoing process that I have delved into more since no longer being a professional athlete. When you are driven and committed to a specific goal as an athlete, your mindset becomes focused on achieving that goal, and you learn through both successes and failures related to it. However, outside of the realm of sports, as a normal everyday person, figuring out your goals and what happiness means to you is not as straightforward or goal-oriented. As an athlete, I have personally struggled with the transition and the end of my athletic career, as many high-level athletes do. Acceptance and happiness for me now involve daily self-reflection on my training, needs, and what truly brings me joy.

Currently, finding acceptance and happiness means enjoying the outdoors, basking in the sunshine, connecting with nature, witnessing the growth of my children, and being able to teach them valuable lessons. It also involves accepting that different periods of my life will provide me with different experiences and fulfillments.

Emma Frodeno answers your Triathlon questions. See all the advice Emma Frodeno has and get answers to your own Triathlon questions.

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OAM : Olympic Champion : Commonwealth Games and 3 x World Triathlon Champion:
Jack of all trades, master of none: La COMUNA, FRODENO FUN(D)