😲 “100% sport was never for me” [Risto Mätas, 🇬🇧 London & 🇧🇷 Rio Olympian]
In a way, this statement touches on the paradox of being an elite athlete explored in season 1 of The Sporting Transition Podcast.
As an unfunded double Olympian, work has always been a necessary part of his identity. So in many ways, Risto Mätas didn’t have a particularly difficult transition – he was eagerly awaiting his chance to commit fully to his career.
But when asked:
🗣 “could you have performed better at the Olympics had you been full time?” the answer was unequivocally “yes” – but there were no regrets on the balance he had to strike between work & athletics. Crucially, he wouldn’t change anything.
And Risto Mätas is a class act, I was luckily enough to spend time with him whilst recruiting internationally. His commitment to work alongside his sport really stood out in the process & something I personally admired, even if it meant he didn’t fulfil all of his sporting ambitions. Ultimately, he did what was right for him, and 10 years on – there is clearly no regret, even if his medal cabinet is not quite as shiny as funded athletes 🏆 .
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Genevieve shares her journey from elite rowing to a new career in motorsport marketing, reflecting on pressure, resilience, and the transition beyond competition.