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Between sponsorship and prize money, do you think pro triathletes get paid enough?

Pro triathletes: Do top earners make a strong six to seven figures from sponsorships and prizes?

Between sponsorship and prize money, do pro triathletes make enough money? Well, I think the very, very best in the world do. I think they get looked after very well from endorsements. And I think the prize money is there. If you're winning and winning often, and you're making a strong six figure, if not, potentially, a seven figure career, if you're the very best in the world. So yes, I think the pro triathletes do make a good living, if they are towards the very top, the pointy end of the sport.

Yes, pro triathletes make enough money from sponsorship and prize money, especially if they are the very best in the world.

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Do pro triathletes make enough money between sponsorship and prize money? In my opinion, the top-tier athletes in the world do. They receive significant support through endorsements and have access to substantial prize money. If you consistently win and establish yourself as one of the best, you can have a lucrative career, earning a strong six-figure or potentially even a seven-figure income. So, yes, I believe pro triathletes can make a good living if they are at the very top of the sport.

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.

What was your most painful workout and how did you get through it?

The Painful Reality of Triathlon: Embracing the Uncomfortable

Hey, Jamie, I'm not sure. I can remember too many workouts where I wasn't in pain, if I think about swimming, I always would going to the pool Philly fatigue. The the legs were fatigued felt like they were dragging along the bottom of the pool and just trying to keep good body position and swimming. For me was always somewhat uncomfortable and painful. The bike was a little less painful in the sense. I was sitting on something and I could actually take a little break. Every now and then but biking when your time trialling, you know can be quite painful running running. I was always in pain whether it was niggling injuries or just absolute fatigue and kind of grinding yourself trying to get the miles in or do the work. I very rarely had those moments of flow where the body was responding and it felt really fantastic. In fact, I can probably remember those workouts more than I can. The painful ones because it was just so many painful workouts, and I think that's the goal of the sport is to be a bit cliche to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. That is really what the sport of triathlon is all about becoming just comfortable with being in pain and going. This is where I'm meant to be if I want to improve. I'm not sure if that helps. Cheers.

Triathlon is often a painful sport and it requires you to become comfortable with being in pain. The goal of the sport is to be able to push through the pain and get better.

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I can't recall a specific workout that stands out as the most painful, as there were many instances where I experienced discomfort and fatigue. When it comes to swimming, I often felt my legs dragging along the bottom of the pool, making it challenging to maintain good body position. Cycling provided a bit of relief since I could take occasional breaks while sitting on the bike. However, during time trials, it could still be quite painful. Running was consistently painful, whether due to minor injuries or sheer fatigue from pushing myself to complete the miles or training sessions.

In triathlon, there were few moments of flow where everything felt fantastic. The sport is about embracing discomfort and being comfortable with the uncomfortable. Enduring pain and pushing through it is essential for improvement. So, rather than recalling a specific painful workout, the goal is to become accustomed to the discomfort and recognize it as a necessary part of the journey.

I hope this provides some insight. Cheers!

Did you ever get into overtraining syndrome? If so, how did you recognize it and how did you deal with it?

Recognizing and combating overtraining syndrome: Insights from personal experience

Hey Milan. Yes, I think I was often overtrained. And actually it was often the people around me that would point out that I'm overtrained. Usually my wife who is closest and could see, usually behavioral changes to be honest. But then also I guess I would recognize it when you just day after day the fatigue was there and I was never really recovering and then finally, really when I couldn't get to sleep and I wouldn't start and I wouldn't sleep well. Those kind of things. But for me, probably the behavioral changes happen first before the physical fatigue chairs.

Overtraining was usually pointed out by my wife due to behavioral changes, followed by physical fatigue and difficulty sleeping.

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Yes, I have experienced overtraining syndrome. I often relied on the observations of those around me, particularly my wife, who noticed behavioral changes that indicated I was overtrained. Personally, I recognized it when I consistently felt fatigued day after day without proper recovery. Additionally, I struggled with insomnia and poor sleep quality. These were the signs that made me realize I was dealing with overtraining syndrome. In my case, the behavioral changes preceded the physical fatigue.

What is your go-to meal before a 60-90min high-intensity run, bike, or swim? Does it change per discipline?

Maximize Performance: Fueling for High-Intensity Workouts with Fasting and Espresso Coffee

My suggestion for a go to work out. I think I would not eat at all. I don't if I'm gonna do something really intense. I don't want my digestive system to feel full or or any I like to be hungry. And so I probably make sure I'd eat two to three hours before. If it was in the afternoon the workout, but in the mornings, otherwise, I just have an espresso coffee. Maybe something very, very light, but generally just the espresso coffee would do. And And that's it. And it doesn't matter. Whether I'm swimming biking running doing gym or whatever. I prefer to stay alert and not have anything in my digestive system. Just

Before any intense workout, I make sure to have no food in my digestive system by having my last meal two to three hours before, and only drinking an espresso coffee if necessary.

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My go-to meal before a 60-90 minute high-intensity workout is actually not eating at all. I prefer not to have my digestive system feel full or heavy during intense exercise. Instead, I like to be slightly hungry. If my workout is in the afternoon, I would make sure to eat a light meal two to three hours beforehand. However, if it's in the morning, I would simply have an espresso coffee. I prefer to stay alert and not have anything in my digestive system, regardless of whether I'm swimming, biking, running, or doing any other type of exercise.

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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.