Same Goal, New Role: From Athlete to Para Coach and a New Olympic Vision

For years, my world revolved around chasing Olympic dreams, first through Taekwondo, then through boxing. Every decision, every sacrifice, every goal was rooted in my journey. And now, for the first time, the dream still lives… but it’s not about me anymore.

I’ve stepped into a new role as a coach in Para Taekwondo. I’ve returned to the sport that shaped me, but this time with a different purpose and a different kind of fire. I’m not stepping onto the mat to win medals. I’m stepping back to help someone else get there. And it’s a transformation that has reshaped everything from how I see sport, to how I see myself.

The Shift: From Athlete to Coach

As an athlete, you’re trained, conditioned to think selfishly. Your body, your sleep, your schedule, your performance. That laser focus is necessary. But when you move into coaching, everything flips. Your job becomes holding space for someone else’s growth. It’s not about how hard you can push, but how well you can support, understand, and guide.

I won’t lie... that shift was hard. There were moments where I missed the rush, the structure, the clarity that comes with chasing your own success. But what I’ve found on this side of the mat is something just as fulfilling: the chance to build someone else’s belief in themselves. And that’s a different kind of win.

Why Para Taekwondo

Returning to Taekwondo through Para sport wasn’t something I planned. But once I stepped into this world, I saw how much talent, resilience, and potential was waiting to be supported and how many athletes could thrive if given the right tools, the right transitions, and the right coach.

My new goal is still Olympic-focused, but now it’s through a different lens: I want to help Para athletes reach their version of greatness and do it with purpose, support, and sustainability.

Helping Athletes Transition Across Sports, and Beyond Sport

I’ve lived through the shift from one sport to another. I know how disorienting it can be. How hard it is to redefine success when your old metrics no longer apply. I’ve also felt what it’s like to step back completely and try to find meaning off the mat. These transitions are rarely easy, they’re messy, emotional, and humbling.

That’s why part of my mission as a coach is to help athletes not just train ... but transition. Whether that’s moving from able-bodied to Para pathways, switching sports, or looking toward life beyond competition, I want to help them feel supported in the uncertainty. Because no athlete should have to navigate that in silence or alone.

The Takeaway: Purpose Over Ego

Being a coach has taught me that purpose is louder than ego. That impact matters more than personal recognition. And that helping someone else chase their dream doesn’t mean you’ve given up on your own, it just means your dream evolved.

I’m still in the arena. The lights are still on. But now I’m in the corner, not the centre and it’s exactly where I’m meant to be.

If you’re an athlete thinking about coaching, or just feeling that internal pull toward something different, know this: the skills you’ve built can still serve a purpose, just maybe not in the way you expected.

You’re not stepping back. You’re stepping forward into a new kind of power.