PARIS, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The pursuit of Olympic glory does not necessarily require athletes to put life on hold, as a number of competitors at the Paris 2024 Games are showing. Here are some of the individuals who have combined their Olympic preparations with day jobs, demonstrating their resilience and dedication:
Johanita Scholtz (South Africa): Badminton and fashion designing
South African badminton player Johanita Scholtz, has shown her versatility and adaptability by mixing her sports career with fashion designing.
"Designing is like solving a puzzle, it helps me relax," says the 24-year-old, who specializes in wedding dresses.
Africa's second-ranked badminton player began playing at the age of four, inspired by watching her parents play squash. She hopes her trajectory can inspire children to pursue their dreams.
Kurtis Imrie (New Zealand): Canoeing and electrician apprenticeship
New Zealand canoeist Kurtis Imrie is also a qualified electrician, having completed a six-year apprenticeship while training daily.
"Because of training and competition commitments I could only work two to three days a week which is why the apprenticeship took me six years to complete," he says.
"I had to be straight up with my employers and let them know that my sporting goal was to make the Tokyo Olympics but that I also wanted to complete my apprenticeship."
Gabby Thomas (United States): Sprinting and healthcare
United States track and field star Gabby Thomas also works at a volunteer healthcare clinic in Austin, Texas, providing care for uninsured patients.
Thomas attributes her ability to manage both careers to her mother, who studied at university and worked as a waitress while raising her children.
"She showed me what it's like to go after your dreams and to achieve them, and to become successful," Thomas says.
Zachary Schubert (Australia): Volleyball and entrepreneurship
Australian volleyballer Zachary Schubert has ventured into entrepreneurship by running a cricket farm for human consumption. With an eye on his financial future, Schubert launched Schubugs Cricket Farm as a retirement plan while pursuing his Olympic dream.
"I was in a bit of a weird place with sport," he says. "I wasn't earning a lot of money from it, and you see all your friends, they've got careers, they start to buy houses. You're sitting there chasing a dream."
Aly Bull (Australia): Canoeing and firefighting
Australian canoeist Aly Bull is also a firefighter and rescue worker, showcasing courage both on the water and in her community.
Her long work shifts require her to train either early in the morning or late at night.
"I love what I do and everyone there is very supportive of what I do outside work," says Bull. "They love watching me race; they tell me that they are tuning in on the weekend and my first thought is, 'Please don't'."
Georgia Bell (Britain): Running and cyber security
Bell almost gave up on her Olympic dream because of her career as a cyber security professional. She gave up athletics in 2017 but returned to competition in 2023 and has not looked back.
"It's easy to have big dreams when you're a kid," she says. "It's way harder when you become an adult. Most people give up their passions for responsibilities, bills, work etc. I was the same. I gave up on my track dreams when I graduated from college. It seemed foolish to keep trying given my performances and mentality to the sport. But somewhere in adulthood, I found my way back." ■
