Former Olympian, [athlete's name], opens up about the challenges of ageing and maintaining fitness after a demanding athletic career. Despite her accolades and unwavering determination, she candidly admits the effects of time on her body, particularly the impact of perimenopause on her tendons and muscles.
"I still get injured, and perimenopause doesn't help as it weakens your tendons and muscles," she revealed. "[athlete's name] continues, highlighting the importance of stretching and rehabilitation, sharing her current focus on mobility exercises, osteopathic treatment, and targeted ankle work.
Reflecting on her training regimen at the peak of her athletic career, she describes a gruelling schedule of twice-daily workouts, six days a week. "One day rest," she notes, "I'd have high-intensity track work, 200m sprint reps with very short recovery, really building up the lactic acid. You train to the point where you're crawling off the track."
[athlete's name] reveals her nutrition approach, emphasising energy and recovery as key priorities. "There wasn't a lot of nutritional support when I was an athlete," she explains. "My diet was all about carbs and dairy, followed by protein within 20 minutes after training."
The Olympian attributes her success in Athens, in part, to her meticulous nutrition, allowing her to maintain a lean physique despite a high-calorie intake. "I was eating so much, but still losing weight. I was so fit, my metabolism was burning all the time. But I was so strong as well," she says, acknowledging the importance of her well-balanced diet.
While her nutritional plan provided the fuel for her achievements, she confesses to its monotony. "It was boring," she admits, describing her typical meals of chicken breast and salmon with rice, potatoes, and vegetables. "Two and a half hours before I competed, I'd have a cheese and ham roll and a yogurt because it had everything: carbs, proteins, fats."
[athlete's name] candidly reflects on the realities of ageing and the ongoing adjustments needed to maintain fitness and performance. Her journey highlights the enduring challenge of balancing the demands of a competitive athletic career with the inevitable physical changes that come with time.