Meet the Olympics superstars with very surprising day jobs from engineer to top Harvard-grad doctor and even a CLOWN
DESPITE being at the top of their game many Olympics superstars struggle to make ends meet through sport alone and work day jobs to keep themselves afloat.
From an engineer to a top Harvard graduate doctor and even a clown these are the surprising side hustles of the world’s most elite athletes.
Canyon Barry
Canyon, 30, made his debut this Paris Olympics appearing in the 3×3 US basketball team.
And, although he is a skilled sportsman, he is also not lacking in the brains department.
Armed with degrees in physics and nuclear engineering, Canyon works as a systems engineer at L3 Harris Technologies, a defence and space contractor.
The 6-foot-5 star told the Associated Press having “a career that you’re passionate about and having an identity outside of sports means a lot to me.”
He continued: “Because now, when the ball does stop bouncing, I know that I have a passion and a job that I can go back to that I find fulfilment in and can really enjoy that for the rest of my life.”
He added: “That being said, he added, “I would love nothing more than to come back to that office with a gold medal and let all of them feel it and take pictures with it.”
Ellen Geddes
Ellen was an keen equestrian before being paralyzed in a car accident in 2012 aged just 23.
Later that same year she tried her hand at wheelchair fencing for the first time and in 2013 she competed in her first Wheelchair World Championships.
And although she had found a new passion for fencing Ellen’s love for horses never faltered and she is the proud owner of two horse farms.
She is also a breeding director at Magnolia Sport Horses.
Ellen is hoping to make a podium when the Paris Paralympics kick off Aug. 28.
she told the Lexington County Chronicle: “It was absolutely incredible to qualify for my first Paralympics [in 2021], but I certainly had higher hopes and aspirations than what I achieved.”
But, her spirit remains strong as she’s “running it back again for 2024” and admitted the intensive training means “the foils have been getting more attention than the foals lately.”
Alyssa Bull
Alyssa “Aly” Bull, from Australia, is not only a badass top-level canoeist but she also fights fires during her spare time.
Having already competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Aly joined the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service in 2018.
She soon realised that balancing work and training would, as she told ABC, take “a lot of juggling.”
Aly previously explained: “When we’re down in the trenches,”
“it’s two day shifts, two night shifts and then four days off.”
But Aly finds that the importance of teamwork follows wherever she goes.
Seh said: “Whether they’re sitting in a boat in front or behind you, or whether they’re sitting in the back seat about to go to an incident you’ve got to fully trust that their skills and capabilities are really up to scratch.
She added: “Whether that’s to help someone out of a car prang using the tools and communicating, or whether it’s paddling together in complete unison to get to the finish line.”
Zachery Schubert
Aussie beach volleyball player Zachery Schubert also runs a cricket farm on his family’s property.
He reportedly munches on the insects for a tasty protein-packed snack to fuel his energy.
Zachery insisted to the Sydney Morning Herald: “it’s not like we’re pushing people to eat insects in every single meal.”
“It’s more an add-on to get extra protein in your diet. It’s not like I’m a crazy bug person,” he concluded.
Morelle McCane
From the age of 17, boxer Morelle McCane has grinned and bared the being a birthday party clown, daycare supervisor and mailroom worker.
She worked the jobs to fund her dream competing at the Olympics in the boxing and in 2024 she became the first female fighter from Cleveland to qualify for the Games.
“You just have to find what you can for the moment sometimes,” Morelle, 29, told the Houston Chronicle.
“Because the good-paying jobs, they want you around for a long time, so you just have to find something that you can get, get quick and keep that income coming in.”
Gabby Thomas
Gabby is a real-life superwoman and juggles being one of the fastest woman in the world with caring for people in need.
The sprinter – who is also a Harvard grad with a master’s in public health and epidemiology from University of Texas, volunteers at a clinic for uninsured patients.
Gabby won gold when she competed in the final of the woman’s 200 metre race in the Paris Olympics yesterday.
Though she ran while in college, she assumed her future was in health care.
“Track was not a sure thing,” Gabby, told E! News after qualifying for Paris. “There’s no guarantee that you’re going to be on the Olympic team.”
Nic Fink
Nic Fink is a talent both in and out of the pool and bagged himself not one, not two, but three medals in this Paris Olympics.
The US swimmer won gold in the mixed 4×100 medley relay, silver in the men’s 100m breaststroke and silver in the mens 4×100 medley relay.
Nic got his master’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Georgia Tech, completing the program in December 2022 and then starting work at Quanta Utility Engineering.
The expectant father told ESPN after taking silver in the 100-meter breast stroke “I was ready to move on to other stages while still trying to keep a high level in swimming.”
He added: “I think having the job really helps me compartmentalize everything.”
Many Olympic susperstars are in need of a side hustle to keep themselves aflotst under the cosh fund their training
Most surprising day jobs of Olympians
Nic Fink – Olympic swimmer and engineer
Gabby Thomas – Olympic 200m runner and also a doctor
Morelle McCane – Olympic boxer who has worked as a clown
Alyssa Bull – Olympic kayaker who is also a firefighter
Canyon Barry – Olympic basketball player who is also an engineer
Zachery Schubert – Olympic volleyball player who owns a cricket farm
Ellen Geddes – Paralympic fencer who breeds horses and owns two horse farms