The Sporting Transition Podcast

Hugo Inglis: 4 time Olympian and Commonwealth Athlete, founder at High Impact Athletes

February 12th, 2025 45 mins

About This Episode:

Our final episode of Season 1 features Hugo Inglis OLY, a four-time Olympian and former professional field hockey player, who shares his remarkable journey through elite sport and beyond.

We explored:


🏑 A 16-year international career across leagues in Germany, Holland, Belgium, and India — and how he sustained himself physically and mentally to reach four Olympic Games.


💪 Overcoming setbacks, from major injuries (including back surgery in 2020) to battling imposter syndrome — and how the Covid delay created space for a Tokyo 2021 comeback.


⏸️ Why retiring after Paris 2024 brought relief from performance pressures, and why the “life-changing” Olympic moment can leave many athletes feeling lost.


💷 The financial realities of elite sport, where many Olympians earn below minimum wage, and how studying law, finance, and business provided a path forward.


🌍 His commitment to building High Impact Athletes, a non-profit connecting athletes with world-class charities — from tackling violence against women in sport to promoting sustainable venue practices.

💡 Key takeaway: Transitioning from elite sport is never easy, but embracing new challenges, leveraging past experiences, and finding purpose beyond performance can make all the difference.