Life After College ... "Pick up a Golf Club"

Last week I stumbled across an interview that my old roomate, Toby Stevenson, gave to Flotrack after a practice session at Stanford University (were he currently coaches.)

This interview is probably one of the greatest perspectives of life after college, by one of the greatest pole vaulters to ever live. And this is from an Olympic medalist, a guy who has reached the pinnacle of the sport. His advice to an aspiring NCAA "up and coming" athlete...someone who has the "potential" to make it in the professional ranks..."pick up a golf club and learn to play golf". This is the funniest, yet truest advice I have ever heard.

In Toby's interview, he talks about sacrifices and support. We all know "sacrifices sound cliche" but in professional track and field, especially the technical events where athletes don't reach the international level until their late 20's and 30's... sacrifice is an understatement.

I was speaking to the Olympic Training Centers sports psychologist last week about life after track, and what I can take away from my career when it is over. My opinion seems to be echoed by most retired and older athletes, most of whom are Olympians and even some Olympic medalists. I...we... believe that we have put in more than we will ever be able to get out of track and field. Even if I where to win an Olympic Gold medal, I believe that I will still feel as if I have dedicated half my life to an ideal that did not give back. I have had a pretty blessed career thus far, made an Olympic Team, World Championship Team, World Cup Team, won an International Medal, traveled the world 10 times over...but yet I feel that the sport has made me more cynical and bitter than thankful. I admit, that the majority of my animosity comes from the lack of support from our National Governing body, who ironically should be the number one place of support. Maybe one shinning light in hindsight was the support that I received from my family and a few close friends and organizations that put faith in my talent and ambition...amazing people and friends such as Amory Rowe and In the Arena, Jack Wickens and the USATF Foundation. Let me make that statement clear, that would be the USATF FOUNDATION, not our national governing body USATF...there is a BIG difference! Help from the United States Olympic Committee and guys like Tracy Lamb, for taking a gamble on me back in 2006. Support from amazing friends like these help ease the burden of trying to fight the sometimes impossible fight and for that I am forever thankful.

In a side note, how fun would professional sports in the USA be if they followed the track and field, golf and tennis model. What if... NFL/NHL/MLB/NBA players didn't get paid, unless they won their game? How hard would these guys fight every game to secure their multi-million dollar salaries, some of who receive millions of dollars and dont even play? How fun would that be? Maybe we would see a little "extra effort" or a few ground balls?

Here is Toby's interview, watch it, save it, hopefully you get an idea of what life is all about in the life of a professional track athlete and maybe get a laugh as well.

The interview can be seen here:

http://www.flotrack.org/speaker/7406-Toby-Stevenson/video/482077-Toby-Stevenson-Life-After-Track?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook