Secret lives of Gold Coast’s biggest athletes revealed

What is life really like for our Olympians? Alyce Wood takes you behind the scenes.

AFTER I retire from sport I will unlikely be able to afford a million dollar mansion on Hedges Ave nor will I be jetting off to the Maldives in my private plane.

My reality is quite the opposite.

When the day comes to hang up the paddle, I’ll be happily on the hunt for a full time job, ready to properly pursue my career out of the kayak.

Sure, there’s some athletes that earn an amount of money that is incomprehensible to you and I but they’re the exception to the rule.

Gold Coast kayaker Cat McArthur. Picture: SUPPLIED

In Australia, most Olympic athletes earn less than the average wage so have to balance their sport with work in order to make ends meet.

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Before you jump to conclusions, this isn’t me complaining about the amount of money I’m paid: in fact it’s quite the opposite.

I believe the need to generate an income outside of sport has helped build a group of well-balanced athletes who are better positioned to achieve world-class results.

There’s two reasons why.

Firstly, athletes tend to overthink everything.

So rather than let that happen after every session, I am able to switch off from athlete life and put my work hat on which helps my mental recovery. The positive impact this has on your overall ability to perform shouldn’t be underestimated.

Gold Coast kayaker Alyssa Bull. Picture: SUPPLIED

Secondly, no-one can be an elite athlete forever so we all need something to fall back on when it’s time to retire.

Athletes are often celebrated for their competitive wins, so with National Careers Week kicking off in a few days, I thought this is a great excuse to celebrate my amazing teammates and their off-water professions.

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Cat McArthur is a physiotherapist, working at the Living Well Studio in Burleigh (she’s also a guru pilates instructor for anyone wanting to work on their ghetto booty), and Alyssa Bull is a firefighter working in the southern Brisbane region which means she throws in commuting to her juggling act as well. Amazing.

We also almost have a full suite of tradies in our team.

On the building side of things, Loccy Tame is a qualified carpenter, and a very creative one at that, and Riley Fitzsimmons has almost finished his apprenticeship.

Jean Van Der Westhuyzen. Picture: CAVAN FLYNN

Joel McKitterick is an electrician and retired Olympic gold medallist Jacob Clear juggled his training while working as a plumber.

Add in a few lifeguards, uni students and teachers and we cover a broad range of industries out of our small training facility in Miami.

This juggling act is a reality for most Australian athletes and with the support of the Australian Institute of Sport through their Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement team, so many athletes are achieving extraordinary things in both their sport and working lives.

For more information on National Careers Week (May 18-24) head to careersweek.com.au.