On episode 13 of The RMA Podcast we talk to Olympian Debbi Schulstad (nee’ Edwards). Debbi is an an Australian woman, mother, writer, coach and remedial & sports massage therapist. Debbi is also an Olympian and competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games in the 100m Hurdles event, after previously competing at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. 

In this podcast we talk to Debbi about life after high performance sport. Debbi has kindly offered to share her perspective, one that I have been fascinated to watch on what it is like to transition from high performance sports-person to retirement. Often, like in Debbi’s experience, this is due to injury and the immediate feelings of loss and grief are often unspoken, as is the journey to finding oneself. 

High performance sport entangles so much of an athlete’s being, and as we discuss in this episode when this is taken away from you, you can experience a deep loss and longing, and period of trying to find out who you really are. Debbi shares this experience with us, along with stories from her time in sport to the pinnacle of her career on the start line of the 2000 Olympic Games. We also discuss her transition to motherhood, and her role now in sport where she works as a Remedial & Sports Massage Therapist for her own business, and Athletics Australia at many major competitions around the globe, her role now as a coach and mentor and also what she loves to do now that she has found more of who she is out of the sporting arena. 

On Apple Podcasts

On Spotify

You can follow Debbi on instagram at:

@southwestsportsperformance (Coaching and Massage)

@debbischulstadwriter (writing musings)