This episode is about the multifaceted experiences of Judo athletes, focusing on the financial and psychological challenges of a professional career. Danny Williams, a British Olympian, outlines the financial realities of being a funded versus self-funded athlete, detailing the costs of travel and personal awards. Phillip Awitti Alcaraz shares his personal journey of struggling with injuries, mental health issues, and inadequate support during his transition out of full-time Judo, including an addiction to painkillers. Sam Sampson explains his personal decision to forgo an Olympic career due to the significant financial burden and lack of transferable skills. Finally, a research paper by Hong and Hong (2023) provides an academic overview of Olympian judokas’ experiences, highlighting the loss of identity and goals post-retirement and the critical need for comprehensive organisational and psychological support for athletes transitioning out of their sport.
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Sources used in this podcast:
– Williams, D. (2021) A numbers game: Being a funded vs unfunded British judo player, Life After Professional Sport. Available at: https://www.laps.careers/a-numbers-game-being-a-funded-vs-unfunded-british-judo-player (Accessed: 23 March 2025).
– Reed, T., Awiti Alcaraz, P. and Turner, A. (2020) Episode 3 – Philip Awiti Alcaraz, More Than A Fighter. Available at: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1365037/episodes/5604118-episode-3-philip-awiti-alcaraz (Accessed: 23 March 2025).
– Williams, D. (2021b) What full time judo looks like: Part 2- training day to day, Danny Williams. Available at: https://dannywilliamsgbr.com/what-full-time-judo-looks-like-part-2-training-day-to-day (Accessed: 23 March 2025).
– Sampson, S. (2023) A path not followed: Why I chose not to become a full-time athlete., Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@sam.sampson/a-path-not-followed-why-i-chose-not-to-become-a-full-time-athlete-5960ec3a3d3b (Accessed: 23 March 2025).
– Hong, Heejung & Hong, Seung. (2023). Fighting for Olympic dreams and life beyond: Olympian judokas on striving for glory and tackling post-athletic challenges. Frontiers in Psychology. 14. 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1269174.
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