Denise Lewis: No One Knew What I Was Going Through After the Olympics (E339)

The High Performance Podcast

High Performance

Sports, Self-improvement, Mindset, Growth Mindset, Health & Fitness, Non-negotiables, Education, Life Lessons, High Performance

4.8 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Denise Lewis is a former Olympic heptathlete, gold medalist, and now a respected broadcaster and mentor. Known for her resilience both on and off the track, she has continued to evolve beyond her athletic career, embracing new challenges while inspiring others to do the same.

In this episode, Denise opens up about confidence, ageing, and the power of self-investment. She shares why she feels stronger than ever in her 50s and how taking care of herself, physically and mentally, has kept her energised and ready for whatever comes next in her life.

She also reflects on overcoming difficult times, the importance of mindset, and learning how to pivot when life throws obstacles in the way. From parenting to personal growth, Denise emphasises the value of listening, adapting, and taking small steps forward, no matter the situation.

This episode is a powerful reminder to embrace change, trust the process, and surround yourself with people who will uplift and support you.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Don't forget next week's episodes are available early, exclusively on the high performance app.
0:05.2	Out now, ex-Chelsey midfieler John Obie McEl and former US Navy SEAL, Rob O'Neill.
0:12.5	I didn't stop my career on my terms, really.
0:16.0	I still thought there was a bit more to give physically, but mentally I was spent as well. You don't have to be defined
0:22.6	by perceived mistakes in your life. You can move forward and move out of those with the right tools.
0:29.4	I felt like I was the bottom of the food chain. I reached out to Baroness Sue Campbell. She offered me
0:34.5	that lifeline to just start working again. I just reverted back to
0:39.2	where do I think I could add value. That is the voice of Dame Denise Lewis, a pioneer who paved
0:46.0	the way for others when she became the first ever European athlete to be crowned Olympic
0:50.3	heptathlon champion at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Now Damien, I wasn't with you for this one.
0:56.3	Why was it so special? Well, Denise is the embodiment to me of grace and elegance. She grew up as
1:02.0	the only child of a single mum who was a windrush migrant and that shaped both her independence,
1:08.4	her desire to scale the heights and also built up her incredible
1:12.9	levels of resilience. In this episode, she's going to talk about how she lost her identity in what she
1:17.9	calls the wilderness years post-retirement. She'll explain how the Olympic gold medal has given her a
1:24.0	lifetime of confidence and she's going to show how she's taken her gold medal mindset to being a mum to four children.
1:32.1	Now, the whole point of this show is delving into the lives that others have lived so we can
1:36.0	find our own version of high performance. And I wasn't with you for this conversation.
1:39.2	So I'm actually pumped just to sit back and listen and see what I learn as we welcome Denise to the show.
1:45.5	And do stick around for the end of the interview because we've got a short but helpful chat
1:49.2	for any of you listening to this keen to grow your business overseas.
1:53.2	We've teamed up with the UK government department for business and trade and their free
	...

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