Training and preparation helped me succeed as an Olympian — and in my life after sport
CBC
This First Person article is the experience of Neville Wright, a former Olympian based in Edmonton. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
I got the email in 2022. I was going to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Not as a spectator. And despite being a three-time Olympian, I wasn't going as an athlete either.
I would be a member of the staff, supporting the men's national team for Canada Soccer as a performance recovery therapist and sprint consultant.
Being part of such a high-performing team was everything I could have asked for.
It was motivating. It was inspiring. It was a feeling only matched by the moment, 12 years earlier, when I heard the announcement that I had been named to my first Olympic bobsleigh team. I knew it was most likely happening, but I needed that confirmation to make it real.
Born and raised in Edmonton, I got my start in track and field at a young age. I was in my element when I was competing, both as a track and field athlete and eventually a bobsleigh Olympian. I was a technician, doing the best I could to master drills and sprint mechanics.
I competed internationally in track and field for five years before transitioning to bobsleigh in 2009. While I knew how important my training was, I understood how equally important my recovery was. I can't remember how many times I mentally prepared myself for my 10-minute cold tub after a hard training session. As much as I hated it, I knew it was part of the process of recovery so I could be ready for the next day of training.
A lot of self-discovery happened in those frigid moments.
I knew how to train, prepare, recover and compete.
But I didn't know how to find my place in life after sport when, in 2019, it was time to retire after three Olympic Games and six world championships. It proved to be one of my greatest challenges.
I tried my best to prepare for this inevitable moment.
As an athlete, I was determined to learn as much as I could from coaches, trainers and therapists to help me not only be the best athlete but eventually the best coach and therapist that I could be.
Every interaction with these practitioners was a learning opportunity. I would do a sprint and come back to get feedback from my coach. After getting feedback on my biomechanics, I would stand beside him, observing other athletes and asking questions.
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