142: Rachel Lewis: "Why Can’t We Dream Bigger?" – Olympic Sacrifice, Identity, and Life After Sport
04/08/25 • 59 min
What happens when the roar of the crowd fades and the Olympic dream becomes a memory? For Rachel Lewis, the transition from elite athlete to "what’s next?" wasn’t just a career shift—it was an identity crisis, a financial struggle, and ultimately, a mission to change the game for future athletes.
In this raw and inspiring conversation, Rachel opens up about:
- Writing "Olympic volleyball player" in her yearbook at 15—before she even knew how to play the sport.
- Training with boys, living in fire stations, and riding bikes to fundraise—just to keep her Olympic dream alive.
- The brutal reality of professional sports vs. elite competition—and why she felt like a "commodity" in Europe’s leagues.
- The moment her team "ceased to exist" after London 2012—and how she grappled with losing her purpose overnight.
- Hiding behind a "cape" in her post-sport career—why she buried her Olympic past to fit into corporate life.
- Her mission today—helping athletes avoid the pitfalls she faced by building fulfilling lives beyond the podium.
This isn’t just a sports story. It’s about reinvention, resilience, and the uncomfortable truth: most athletes aren’t prepared for life after the final whistle.
🎧 Why You Should Listen:
- If you’ve ever felt lost after a major life change—Rachel’s journey from "Who am I now?" to empowerment is a masterclass in self-discovery.
- For athletes (or anyone) fearing transition—her hard-won advice on planning, curiosity, and asking for help is gold.
- Behind-the-scenes of elite sport—the untold sacrifices, the politics of funding, and what really happens when the uniforms are packed away.
- A wake-up call for the sports industry—why Rachel is fighting to fix a "broken system" that leaves athletes adrift.
Where to Find Rachel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lewis-972257162/
Ready to explore your own second act after sport? Connect with Ryan Gonsalves and the 2NDWind Academy to discover how your athletic experience can become your professional advantage here: www.2ndwind.io
What happens when the roar of the crowd fades and the Olympic dream becomes a memory? For Rachel Lewis, the transition from elite athlete to "what’s next?" wasn’t just a career shift—it was an identity crisis, a financial struggle, and ultimately, a mission to change the game for future athletes.
In this raw and inspiring conversation, Rachel opens up about:
- Writing "Olympic volleyball player" in her yearbook at 15—before she even knew how to play the sport.
- Training with boys, living in fire stations, and riding bikes to fundraise—just to keep her Olympic dream alive.
- The brutal reality of professional sports vs. elite competition—and why she felt like a "commodity" in Europe’s leagues.
- The moment her team "ceased to exist" after London 2012—and how she grappled with losing her purpose overnight.
- Hiding behind a "cape" in her post-sport career—why she buried her Olympic past to fit into corporate life.
- Her mission today—helping athletes avoid the pitfalls she faced by building fulfilling lives beyond the podium.
This isn’t just a sports story. It’s about reinvention, resilience, and the uncomfortable truth: most athletes aren’t prepared for life after the final whistle.
🎧 Why You Should Listen:
- If you’ve ever felt lost after a major life change—Rachel’s journey from "Who am I now?" to empowerment is a masterclass in self-discovery.
- For athletes (or anyone) fearing transition—her hard-won advice on planning, curiosity, and asking for help is gold.
- Behind-the-scenes of elite sport—the untold sacrifices, the politics of funding, and what really happens when the uniforms are packed away.
- A wake-up call for the sports industry—why Rachel is fighting to fix a "broken system" that leaves athletes adrift.
Where to Find Rachel:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lewis-972257162/
Ready to explore your own second act after sport? Connect with Ryan Gonsalves and the 2NDWind Academy to discover how your athletic experience can become your professional advantage here: www.2ndwind.io
Previous Episode
141: Marnie Wills: Sport, Business, and AI: You Never Lose, You Only Learn
In today's episode, Ryan sits down with Marnie—a former dual international athlete (representing England in both netball and touch rugby), mum of two, and entrepreneur who’s revolutionizing early-years sports education and AI adoption in business.
Marnie’s story is one of relentless determination, adaptability, and learning to thrive in multiple arenas—whether on the pitch, in the boardroom, or at home with her young family. From her early days as a self-described "B-team player" in Australia to captaining England teams and launching her own business, Marnie shares how she’s navigated career transitions, motherhood, and the evolving world of AI—all while keeping her love for sport alive.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Adaptability
- Marnie’s journey from a "B-team" athlete to an international competitor was fueled by her ability to play multiple roles—something she now instills in the athletes she coaches.
- "Your team is only as strong as the player in their weakest role. Versatility wins games—and careers."
- When Passion Meets Entrepreneurship
- Frustrated by the limitations of teaching PE in the UK, Marnie quit her job mid-career to launch Sporty Minis, now impacting 3,000+ kids weekly with early-years sports education.
- "I lacked purpose as a PE teacher. Starting my own business wasn’t just about freedom—it was about making real impact."
- AI: The Game-Changer for Busy Professionals
- Marnie’s top AI tools for efficiency:
- Otter.ai (meeting notes)
- Claude (copywriting)
- Custom GPTs (train AI to sound like you)
- "AI isn’t a trend—it’s the future. Adopt a growth mindset or get left behind."
- Marnie’s top AI tools for efficiency:
- Athlete Mindset in Business
- From fearing competition to empowering her team: "Now, my favorite part of leadership is watching others excel—even if they’re better than me."
- Why her businesses grow faster when she’s not micromanaging: "Sometimes, the bottleneck is you."
- The Emotional Side of Sport & Transition
- Post-motherhood, returning to elite sport was her toughest challenge—mentally, physically, and emotionally.
- Why she still plays (and coaches) at 40+: "Putting on that jersey? It’s the one time I feel purely me—not ‘Mum’ or ‘CEO.’"
- Advice for Athletes Juggling Careers
- "Reflect on your strengths. Every skill you’ve honed in sport—discipline, teamwork, resilience—translates to business. The only failure is not trying."
Ready to explore your own second act after sport? Connect with Ryan Gonsalves and the 2NDWind Academy to discover how your athletic experience can become your professional advantage here: www.2ndwind.io
Career Clarity with Athletes: A 2ndwind Podcast with Ryan Gonsalves - 142: Rachel Lewis: "Why Can’t We Dream Bigger?" – Olympic Sacrifice, Identity, and Life After Sport
Transcript
As you reflect now , do you ? You know why ? Should you say it might have been something that grew gradually . Did you have this determination ? And indeed , where did you start to think you could get to ? As you're hitting 18 , 19 , hitting Loughborough , what did you start to dream of from a sporting perspective ?
Speaker 2We were quite fortu
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