Life after Olympic triumph nike free run

Life after Olympic triumph

After the toil and the sweat and the years of practise and painful preparation, Olympic athletes meet their moment of glorious competition. But whether they win or lose, they all are equal in one last respect: they must all, at the end of their run, leave the sporting spotlight to face the prospect of life after the Games.

For some, this can mean a smooth transition into high end corporate worlds, leveraging their profile to land sponsorship, coaching or commentary jobs or p Men Nike Free 5.0 V5 lum positions on international boards or companies. For others, things can be a little tougher they can struggle to maintain their identity and lose direction as they seek to build a life outside of the sporting spotlight.

One Aussie star to go on to lead a rich life post Games was Murray Rose. Rose won a total of six swimming medals, including four gold medals at the Melbourne and Rome Games. And with matinee idol looks and a warm demeanour, he was a promoter's dream. Post Olympics he landed roles in a number of Hollywood films and TV shows, plus became a sought after figure for corporate fundraising activities and a keen advocate for disabled children, as the patron of The Rainbow Club charity, which teaches disabled children to swim. When Murray passed away this year, a massive congregation attended his Sydney funeral service.

Fellow Australian swimming legend Shane Gould has dealt with life post Olympics in a different way. Gould was only 15 when she stunned the world at the 1972 Munich Olympics, winning three gold medals in freestyle swimming events. At such a tender age, it was considered a given that she would go on to compete at several more Olympics. But, always one to run her own race, when she returned to Australia she felt the pressure of being "Shane Gould the swimmer" and promptly retired from competitive swimming at age 16.

Her life since has been a tapestry of charity work, personal discovery and a striving to find meaning in the world, which has included a battle through depression and a desire to lead a holistic and alternative lifestyle. Officially designated as a "Living National Treasure", Gould's warm and enigmatic persona continues to inspire all who deal with her.

When Cathy Freeman clinched a famous victory in the 400m race at the Sydney 2000 Games, it was the culmination of both an athlete's dreams and the dreams of a nation. The Aboriginal girl who had lit the Games' Olympic cauldron had warmed the hearts of the nation despite the weight of expectation on her shoulders. And proving that the pressure of the spotlight was something she was comfortable with, Freeman has gone on to become a popular figure in theWhilst a strong supporter of indigenous youth and health initiatives, her own personal life has seen some ups and downs, with the break up of her relationship with former coach Nic Bideau ending in acrimony and her later marriage to Nike executive Sandy Bodecker dissolving in 2003. After subsequently dating Aussie actor Joel Edgerton, she went on to marry Melbourne stockbroker James Murch in 2009, and gave birth to daughter Ruby Anne Susie Murch in July 2011.

But the impact of the Games on the lives of athletes isn't necessarily all about ongoing success or life changing experiences. The lives of some Olympians can basically go right back to where they were before the Games.

An example of such would be Aussie weightlifter Dean Lukin. A tuna fisherman from the South Australian town of Port Lincoln, Lukin eschewed the big opportunities that no doubt came his way after winning gold. Instead, the knockabout South Australian, who won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, took his medal and promptly returned home to the family's tuna fishing business.

Another ex Olympian to maintain a high profile is US decathlon champion Bruce Jenner. A Superman of his day with square jawed, all American good looks and a way with words, Jenner was a '70s media darling and sponsor's dream. After winning gold in the 1976 Montreal Games, he became a popular sports commentator, motivational speaker and actor, scoring roles in such TV shows as The Love Boat and Murder She Wrote.

And while his sporting peak was reached more than 30 years ago, some would say his career highlight has been more recent becoming stepfather to the Kardashian siblings and appearing in reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Then t nike here are stories such as that of the legendary Jesse Owens. The iconic black American sprinter thumbed his nose at Hitler at the 1936 Berlin Games and snatched four gold medals in the face of deep racial prejudice. But when he went back to the States he found racism remained deeply entrenched there too.

Despite his success, he claimed he was never invited to the meet the President at the White House and was reduced to eking a living as a sort of "athletics entertainer". He would race at local carnivals, taking on all comers and beating them for bets. At one stage he even became a novelty act, running against racehorses to earn a buck.

As his star faded, the one time "fastest man on earth" got a job in a gas station and eventually filed for bankruptcy. However, in 1966, the US Government came to his aid and appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador and he subsequently travelled the world, his legend status rightly recognised.