Finding happiness as a multi-sport athlete

From: Hana Hoffman, Peak contributor

I started out in the sport like everyone else: I signed up for a handful of sports hoping to find something The one. Not until I was 10 years old and saw speed skating on TV that I knew I had found my dream sport. I joined the nearest club and confirmed my suspicions, immediately fell in love with speed skating minutes after entering the ice.

Shortly after I started speed skating, I noticed an overall improvement in my athleticism. Seeing this change inspired me to try more sports, especially those that would lead to better results on the ice. I started with Cross Country. My work building my endurance on the ice meant I could run faster and longer off the ice. I then added cycling to increase my leg strength for speed skating.

When I entered high school, I competed in a variety of sports throughout the school year, including cross country. While the additional sports were something I enjoyed, not everyone in the skate community thought it was a good thing. Some people frowned at my decision to split my time across multiple sports instead of devoting all my time to speed skating. Although I loved speed skating the most, I enjoyed having the skills to practice the sports I did and enjoyed my time doing it.

Despite my indecisiveness about which sports to continue or quit, I managed to thrive as a multi-sport athlete. I went to western and nationals in speed skating and provincials in swimming, cross country, ultimate, curling and track biking. I also played basketball, netball and track and field just for fun. This has led to me winning my high school’s Athlete of the Year award four times and receiving various athletic scholarships.

I didn’t want to stop competing after high school. But after the fight shin edges — a name for the pain along the shinbone — and getting used to the workload of my freshman year at university, I didn’t have time to practice. When I look back now After years of struggling to choose a sport, I’m happy with the choices I’ve made. Despite the pressure I was under, I stayed true to myself. I’ve enjoyed too many sports to be the type of person to devote their entire life to one sport. After all, what has brought me the most happiness and satisfaction is having the most diverse experiences.

There comes a time for all athletes when you have to decide what you want out of your sport. No matter what people tell you, there is no right way. If competing in multiple sports and getting to a less competitive level is what you enjoy most, then do it. If you’re passionate about giving your all in just one sport, then so be it. Just make sure you make the most of the time you have with the sport because that time is coming to an end. What do you want to remember when you go away?