The Hidden Pressures Of Performance Swimming.
Episode: #019.
Renee Fox.Athlete: Former Elite Swimmer.
Most people see the medals and PBs. Almost no one sees what it costs.
By 14, Renee Fox was training in high-performance squads alongside fully developed male athletes. She was fast, talented and driven — but the workload, expectations and intensity of the environment pushed her body to breaking point.
A fractured spine.
Spinal surgery during lockdown.
A hopeful comeback…
And eventually, chronic fatigue that forced her out of the sport she loved.
In this honest and powerful conversation, Renee reveals the hidden pressures of performance swimming — and what it takes to rebuild your identity when you’re no longer “the swimmer.”
This episode is for athletes, former athletes, parents and coaches who want to understand the real impact of high-performance sport.
Key Insights for Athletes & Supporters:
- Early specialisation and the pressure placed on young swimmers
- Overtraining and why injuries in female athletes are often overlooked
- How repeated pain can be dismissed in youth sport
- The mental and physical reality of spinal surgery
- Burnout, chronic fatigue and knowing when it’s time to step back
- What identity loss feels like after sport
- How to find movement and joy again without a performance goal
If you’ve ever pushed your body too far, questioned your worth in sport, or struggled with transition, this episode will speak directly to you.
Episode Highlights:
- Training with elite male swimmers at 14
- Being dismissed by multiple doctors despite severe back pain
- Returning to swimming after surgery and the challenge of trusting her body
- Chronic fatigue and the moment everything changed
- Navigating retirement and rebuilding identity
- Why listening to your body matters
Stream Episode. 43:46mins.
