Athlete Matt Shirvington says age is barrier to staying fit and healthy

You would never expect a champion sprinter such as Matt Shirvington to ever worry about ageing. But for the athlete who competed at seven world championships, an Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games, turning 40 was his wake-up call.

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You would never expect a champion sprinter such as Matt Shirvington to ever worry about his ageing body. But for the athlete who competed at seven world championships, an Olympic Games and two Commonwealth Games, turning 40 was his wake-up call.

Despite keeping active since his retirement from professional athletics in 2008, the father of three says he is more aware than ever that he has started to slow down.

“The funny thing is, a company contacted me with a new product they had, it was a supplement to support joints, muscles and bones and they wanted a profile photo of me exercising,” Shirvington tells BW Magazine.

Former champion sprinter Matt Shirvington works on his fitness. Picture: Supplied

“So, I dug out all these photos of me running, a whole lot of stuff of me lifting weights, fly-kicking a boxing bag with my shirt off, that kind of thing.

“And they were like ‘Do you have anything a little less intense, maybe a photo of you walking on the beach or something?’

“That’s when it struck me that they wanted me because I was older and this was a vitamin and mineral supplement to keep your body active.

“Yeah, it made me feel very old, even if the product is a perfect mix for me at this stage of my life.”

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Shirvington has built a career on activity and sports, transitioning successfully from the track to commentating and coaching.

After hanging up his spikes, he was approached to broadcast with Fox Sports and later took up coaching roles with, at different times, the NSW Waratahs rugby team, the Sydney Swans and the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL team.

He is now in his second pre-season stint with the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs as their speed and agility coach, creating for himself the perfect post-athletic career.

Matt Shirvington competing during the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.

And he hosts various NRL panel shows for Fox Sports.

“I was always passionate about NRL,” he says to explain the jump from athletics to league.

“I feel lucky to have a job where I get to be involved with something I’m so passionate about. I grew up in Frenchs Forest and so I was a big Sea Eagles supporter, I remember going down to Brooky Oval and watching them play when I was eight, cheering them on from the hill.”

Shirvington and his wife, author Jessica, hope to inspire the same sporting passion in their three children, Sienna, 12, Winter, 10, and little Lincoln, 1.

The pair believe the best way to motivate the current generation of kids to put their screens down and get active is to do it with them.

“I know there are a number of issues for parents to keep their kids active because we feel it too,” Shirvington says.

Matt Shirvington pay attention to what he eats to keep fit.

Matt Shirvington with the Olympic torch. Picture: Instagram

“But if I had any advice it would be to just jump in with them, don’t just sit on the sidelines, come down the slide with them or get on the swing beside them at the park. You’ll catch me squeezing through cubby house doors and jumping on the scooter with my kids, just having fun.

“We’re lucky our kids like being active, they really mix it up when it comes to activities from dance and tennis to swimming, netball and hockey. We’ve also really embraced snow skiing together too.

“Even little Lincoln loves to get out and be active, his first word was ball.”

Shirvington is equally passionate about the health of people at the other end of the spectrum — the over 65s — which is why he became involved with the protein supplement, Bodiology.

“Our ageing population is another part of the challenge we face,” he says.

“There are four million people aged over 65 in Australia. And as I’m getting that bit older, I’m starting to look ahead at how the health of this group can be better managed. Lets face it, that’s where we’re all headed.”

For more information, go to https://bodiology.com.au/vitamin-powder-product.html