Can an Athlete Be Noticed Without Results?
Should athletes focus primarily on achieving results? Is it worth it—professionally, personally, and socially?
Results must always be a priority. They bring both pleasant and less pleasant consequences. Without results, it’s nearly impossible to be noticed. On the other hand, with success come additional responsibilities—representation, sponsorships, and social engagements. You receive more proposals, invitations, and opportunities.
It’s crucial to maintain balance during these peaks of attention and admiration. Getting carried away by the momentary hype can be risky because, without consistent results, the interest will eventually fade.
What Is a Dual Career in Sports?
A dual career refers to an athlete's professional journey. According to this philosophy, alongside their primary sports career, athletes should simultaneously develop a parallel path through education and preparation for a professional life after retiring from sports.
Athletes often focus intensely on achieving sports success, sometimes neglecting education and skills that could help them smoothly transition into the "next chapter" of their lives. Recognizing this challenge, preventive measures and support for dual careers have been introduced worldwide.
When, How, and Where to Start Building the "Second Leg" of Your Career?
In my case, this transition came naturally with age and experience. However, it’s crucial that an athlete’s entire team recognizes that even the most talented individual will eventually end their sports career. Everyone around the athlete should work to prepare them for a smooth transition into the next phase. It’s important not to focus solely on "extracting" everything possible from their athletic career.
Training is paramount, but personal development is equally significant—it can greatly contribute to achieving even better sports results. On the other hand, in the era of social media, which provides an excellent opportunity to build an athlete’s visibility, it’s essential to guide them toward maintaining balance and harmony in their presence. This includes ensuring the right form and message in how they communicate with their audience.
The Perfect Job for an Athlete Is...?
What qualities of athletes help them in their second career?
There’s no such thing as a perfect job for an athlete. When I began my professional career after retiring from sports, I never imagined myself as a radio presenter—but here I am. What’s more important is that in this job, I was told I learned in three years what others might take six or more to master.This highlights the key competencies athletes have without even realizing it or knowing how to define them. We treat every job like a sports goal, and we know that if we don’t give 100%, we won’t achieve it.
Our primary talent—our work ethic—and resilience, the ability to adapt to changing conditions and environments, enable us to learn skills much faster. Of course, athletes tend to gravitate back to sports, as I did, so perhaps the ideal job is one that allows you to remain connected to your passion for sports. And there are plenty of opportunities in that space.
How Do Coaches, Sponsors, and Officials View an Athlete’s Dual Career?
I think perspectives are evolving on this. Coaches are as close to athletes as family, so they care about their development and future beyond sports. Sponsors choose ambassadors not solely based on athletic performance, though it remains the most important factor. They also look at the athlete’s presence, communication skills, and the quality of their content on social media.
As for officials, it’s perhaps the most challenging area, but progress is being made. Many sports federations now have programs supporting dual careers for athletes, and hopefully, every federation will follow this trend.
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Interview by: Maciej Mazerant / Editor-in-Chief of AQUA SPEED magazine
Photos courtesy of Monika Pyrek | Monika Pyrek Foundation
