Hayley Nixon could swim before she could walk. She then discovered, and fell in love with, rowing at University and was on track to make the team to represent South Africa in rowing at the London Olympics.
But sadly just 3 months before the Games were to commence, she was informed she hadn’t been selected and missed out by one spot.
After such heartbreaking disappointment, Hayley lost her love for rowing. But fortunately, she soon found flat water ocean paddling and then canoe ocean racing (which is like a surf ski). Then only two years after taking up that sport, and only a month ago, Hayley won the World Championship.
Of course, as she rightly points out, that title has twenty years in the making.
In this conversation we discuss resilience and how you bounce back from heartbreaking disappointment, why it’s important to remember everything you’ve achieved, done or accomplished in your past and why you shouldn’t assume the race is over if you have a bad start.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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