From Paralympian to the 9-to-5: planning for the world of work

Irish Paralympian, Mary Fitzgerald, shares her thoughts on a world after professional sport, and why Paralympians have so much to offer. 

A career after athletics: key insights

• For many para-athletes, one of the hardest difficulties they face when leaving high-performance competition is overcoming the label of being a ‘former-Paralympian.’ Having a range of outlets may help athletes’ future career prospects. 
• Paralympians possess many desirable attributes – from resilience to interpersonal skills – but how can they represent these to employers? 
• Why Paralympians have so much to offer to the world of work, and what organisations must do to become more accessible and harness their potential. 

Read on to discover the challenges Paralympians face transitioning into the world of work, and how they can be better supported.

Our experience supporting workplace transition for professional athletes

We’re running research with Paralympics Ireland to gain new insights into the challenges athletes face when seeking meaningful employment, and how workplaces can be become more inclusive.  

And by becoming the #LifelongPartner of Paralympics Ireland and their athletes, we’ll be supporting them on all their recruitment needs, working with their athletes on their tomorrow as they transition into the workplace. 

Paralympians have much to offer the world of work 

She made her paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games and is now fourth in the shot-put world rankings, but getting into the world of work can be a whole different challenge, says Irish Paralympian, Mary Fitzgerald. 

You might assume athletes like Mary are paid for their sporting contributions, but earning potential is limited; Paralympians have to juggle their intense training schedule with sourcing an income. Performance athletes often miss out on the careers and advisory support work that others may receive – including help with drafting CVs and arranging interviews – making the transition to the workplace less achievable.  

Many former Paralympians find themselves working in fields related to their sport, such as commentating, yet can struggle to break into the other industries and professions they may wish to pursue. 

Being a ‘former-Paralympian’ can be a real challenge 

Unexpectedly, for many Para athletes, one of the hardest difficulties they face when leaving high-performance competition is overcoming the label of being a ‘former-Paralympian.’ Being such an all-consuming profession, it can be easy to be defined – or to define yourself – narrowly, making transitioning to the arena of work a challenge. 

We took the chance to talk with Irish Paralympian, Mary Fitzgerald, who suggests that by having different channels open, you’re less likely to lose your sense of self-identity when leaving the world of sport. 

Mary’s currently preparing for winter training, with her sights are set firmly on the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships and the 2024 Paralympic Games – both to be staged in Paris. But while she’s fully committed to her athletics career – a “huge part of her life” – she comments on the value of having other outlets to explore; both in a professional and personal sense. 

“I value building a diverse skillset” 

“Although I have a passion for sport, I really want to keep developing in different areas and channelling new skills,” Mary says. 

Mary has recently completed her four-year degree in Occupational Therapy at University College Cork, and is now a qualified Occupational Therapist. She also works on a part-time basis with Enable Ireland – a charity that provides services to children and adults with disabilities – giving back to the very organisation that provided her support from a young age. 

How can athletes represent their skills to employers? 

“It’s important to be able to separate yourself from just being a Para athlete,” says Mary. “You should also remember that you can have other interests and personas in life. You also still have the core attributes that allowed you to become an elite performer in the first place, which can be taken with you on your future endeavours.” 

Performing in a sporting environment at the Paralympics is not that dissimilar to performing in a high-pressure role. Competing in tense environments requires great resilience and mental fortitude, which can be hugely beneficial in the workplace. However, Mary also accredits the interpersonal skills that Para athletes develop as being equally valuable. Whether it be communicating with coaches and fellow competitors, or the media and governmental bodies, athletes are often required to develop professional relationships and work alongside a diversity of people. 

Athletes have so much to offer to the world of work 

“Paralympians have so much to offer employers, with their different perspectives and experiences being a real asset for any organisation. Diversity shouldn’t simply be seen as a buzzword, but something that can bring real value. To help bring onboard former Para athletes, employers should do what they can to ensure that workplaces, and their recruitment processes, are made accessible for everybody.” 

Despite the progress in recent years, it’s clear that more can still be done to make workplaces more inclusive, and help Para athletes transition to the world of work. With the right networking, knowledge and guidance, Para athletes can make a positive difference in whatever field they choose to work in. 

Helping Paralympians transition to the workplace: next steps for employers

If you are looking to recruit someone who can transform your organisation, we’ll give you access to more talent in Ireland, and around the globe, than any other specialist recruitment company. 

Get in contact today.