Listen to a Double Olympian who started competing late in her career, has not always worked in sport and now holds several influential positions within sport. Sara shares a real insight into the brutal nature of her sport and even describes it as a game of ‘poker’. Knowing yourself, chronic fatigue, transitioning jobs, taking opportunities, positivity, transferable skills and team dynamics are just a few of the many areas we touched on.
Sara became Performance Director at England Netball five years ago & recently led the England Roses to a historic gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Other career junctures include a six year stint as Performance Director at Archery GB, three years at UK Sport as a Performance Advisor, two years as a Business Manager in the City & three years as a police officer working in Nottingham inner city. Presently she is Vice Chair of the UK Sport Performance Director Strategic Group (PDSG) & a Non Exec Director (NED) on the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) & SkateBoarding GB Boards. Her education includes a B.Sc in Sports Science & Social Science & a M.Sc in Sport Science (physiology bias).
Most notable sporting achievements include representing GBR at both triathlon & cycling – the latter involved two Olympic Games & two Commonwealth Games in road cycling, & multiple world championships (road & track). Sara was the first female to podium at World Cup level for GBR in 1998 & continues to challenge herself outside work (when time allows!) in endurance based sports ranging from half ironman’s to adventure races & individualised coaching.
Other interests include developing herself as a mentor/executive coach with an ambition longer term to formalise her passion for developing people’. She currently works with coaches within the Premier League, ECB & UK Sport World Class program
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For show notes and past guests, please visit www.sportstories247.com
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Find out more about Dave at: www.thesummitpartnership.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/SummitDave
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davelevine3
Show Notes:
Success Quote or saying:
‘Can do….!’
‘Get the basics right’
Quick fire questions:
The books that you would recommend are?
Time to Think: Listen to Ignite the Human Mind by Nancy Kline Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji’s Olympic Dream: WINNER OF THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance By Atul Gawande
Redemption: From Iron Bars to Ironman by John McAvoyWhat is the most useful and or valuable Technology you use (apps, equipment etc…)?
Embraced teams and zoom and value my phone as it has everything in one place
How do you relax and re energise yourself to enable you to perform at your best?
Prepare!!! Also, self-talk (I can, I will, I do) to self-assure and breathing technique
If you won the lottery…
Pay off the mortgage, donate to charity and continue to work
In one sentence – What advice would you give to your teenage version of yourself?
Keep up your education and get as much work experience as you possibly can
Who has made a big impact on you?
· Nick Lee - My early school PE Teacher
· Mick Thorneywell (An inspector I worked with in the police)
· John Herrity (Cycling Team Manger)
· Peter Keen (Coached me !)
Whos’ Sport Story would you be really interested in hearing?
· Serena Williams
· Lance Armstrong
Coaching questions I would like to pose:
1
What self-talk do you have that does not help you and what can you change it to so that it becomes more helpful and effective?
2
What opportunities are you not taking and why?
Contact info:
@ssymington
sarasymington
sara symington
SS15 - Victoria Myers: PhD Student, Crossfit athlete and University lecturer
SS15 - Tom Steene: National league semi-professional rugby player
SS15 - Tom Dallmeyer: Full-time university student and cricket player
SS15 - Vicklyn Joseph: Ex Superleague and England netball player and full-time PE and netball teacher
SS15 - Floyd Steadman: Ex top flight rugby player and former head master
SS15 - John Okafor: Up and coming professional/university rugby player and Ex England Basketball player
SS15 - Rick Holland: MCCU Cricket Coach, Poet and Musician
SS15 - Tawanda Muyeye Professional Cricketer: Kent
Dave Levine - Leadership Coach, Founder and Host of Sport Stories Podcast, Director of 2 Develop Limited and The Summit Partnership
SNAP SHOT- U MATTER
SNAP SHOT - SAWUBONA (I see you)
SNAP SHOT - EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION
SNAP SHOT - LEGACY
SNAP SHOT - SELF REGARD
SNAP SHOT - GRIEF
SNAP SHOT - REFLECTION
SNAP SHOT - TRANSPARENCY
SNAP SHOT - SILENCE
SNAP SHOT - CHOICES
SNAP SHOT - GRATITUDE
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