Thank you.
Thank you for the send-off. Thank you for the applause during each round of my final competition. Thank you for the standing ovation after my final triple jump. Thank you for each personal message. It warms me to know that you were able to enjoy my journey with me.
I’m immensely proud and honoured to have represented my country for 22 years.
At 7 years old, I fell in love with my sport after my first athletics training session. I excitedly returned home to tell my Nan I wanted to be an Olympian. Little did that scrawny and small kid know that dream would come true.
A career as a professional athlete is inevitably full of highs and lows, and I can say I enjoyed my journey. Even the tough times, and man, were they tough! Yet those were the moments that taught me lessons, taught the power of self-belief, and the moments where I grew stronger.
For teammates and young athletes, our sport can be a rollercoaster. Never lose sight of why you started and why you love the sport. Everything else is noise. Enjoy it!
Creating an athlete is far from a solo project - there is an old African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”. It is the same to raise an athlete.
So many good people have helped me on my journey, so many that I cannot name them all. I thank you, each person who has impacted my career - no matter how small you feel that deed was, you helped me along my journey.
Sue Barrett. My trusted and loyal manager. From the start of my athletics career to my last jump, you were ever-present by my side. In an athletics world with many fickle agents, that is a testament to your character and friendship.
Sarah Connors, my physiotherapist of 10 years, has kept my body together and enabled my body to stand the rigours of triple jumping. I thank you for your commitment to my ambitions and for your care.
Steve Hill, my first athletics coach at Oxford City Athletics Club. What a man! You guided and pushed me when I needed it. You gave a young boy who lacked confidence, self-belief to achieve.
Ted King, no matter what I say, it will not do you justice. You took my career to a different stratosphere. Your training, attention to detail, and technical know-how were before your time. I feel blessed that our paths managed to merge. You valued me as a person. You believed in me. Without a glimmer of doubt, I knew you always had my back. Always! Our friendship flourished. That was the foundation which allowed us to go out and perform on the world stage.
Intuitively you knew high performance was more than about the sport. You knew it was about human development and connection. You gave me the mindset and taught me the tools to perform in life, not just in sport. You guided me from a boy to a man. I cannot thank you enough.
Man, most importantly, we had some fun travelling around the world! Thank you.
Arun Singh, aka Tea boy! Never change. Keep up the mischief. Thank you for guiding my S&C programme from the start of my career.
Aston Moore, thank you for your time, guidance, and patience. For your help through some of the tough times when fighting injury. Those times were challenging to navigate, yet we always found a way to perform.
To the supporters, you are the sport. I always felt and appreciated your support. Thank you.
Oxford, what a community you are! I feel proud to be an Oxford boy from New Hinksey and Blackbird Leys. Your support has been relentless. Returning to Oxford always re-energises me. Oxford is forever home.
Friends and family, your love has provided the solid foundation for me to go out and perform in the athletics world. To my Mum who has travelled to all the corners of the planet. To support and cheer me on, even though you hate flying…that’s love.
Here’s to more fun, laughter, and life adventures.
Nan. My rock, my number one fan, my strength. Your love conquers all. You knew me better than anyone.
I have been able to achieve this due to you and your love. At 7 years old I told you I wanted to be an Olympian. Your response provided the mantra for my life “you can achieve anything, as long as you work hard and believe in yourself”.
When I was down, you picked me up. When I thought I could no longer endure, you gave me your strength. When I needed to laugh, you made me. When I needed your love, it was ready and waiting in abundance.
Your loss left a gaping hole in my life, a journey I am still figuring out. In all honesty, competing without you by my side was never the same. You were my secret weapon. I love you, and I hope I made you and Gramp proud. Thank you.
Competing was never about me and just winning medals. It was bigger than me. It was about inspiring and motivating others. To put a smile on faces, if only for a fleeting moment. In return, that inspired me.
Athletics has brought much to my life, and I will forever be grateful.
As one chapter closes, I am excited to start a new chapter.
Thank you,
Nathan
Photo credit: Simon Derviller - www.SimonDerviller.com