Dec
29
2008
After the gold rush of Beijing 2008
Posted by: richard in China 2008 Olympic Rhetoric, London Olympic NewsGold doesnt always make you rich but it does impress Hollywood stars our Olympic heroes reveal what they have learnt since Beijing
AT THE end of a year in which their lives seemed sure to be transformed by success in Beijing, Britains gold medallists reflect on their new-found celebrity status, the struggle to convert that into income and what the future holds...
How have you coped with the demands of being an Olympic star?
Ben Ainslie (sailing): I won gold at Sydney and Athens and the hype has been much bigger this time around.
Chris Hoy (cycling): I had planned to take a couple of months off after Beijing. Two weeks in, I realised I couldnt agree to every request. Its been non-stop. I feel like I havent slept in the same room for the past three months. Im exhausted. I know that sounds pathetic.
Zac Purchase (rowing): I hired a PA and Ive given presentations to schools and companies. I was back in training last month without having had a holiday. However, I would encourage any medallist at London 2012 to say yes to as much as you can. You never know when the opportunity will come round again.
Andy Hodge (rowing): Its been chaotic. If Im not in training or attending dinners, Im often fulfilling duties as captain of my boat club. If I could give one bit of advice to a gold medallist after 2012 it would be: Dont feel obliged to say yes to everything. Do the stuff you enjoy.
Becky Adlington (swimming): I was advised by a GB Swimming press officer to get an agent and Im glad I did. The first couple of weeks after Beijing, Mum and Dad were trying to do all the work and it was too much. I dont get as many people coming up to me in the street now, except when Im leaving after training. They make the connection.
Tim Brabants (canoeing): I quit my job as a doctor two years before Beijing. The plan was to look for a job when I got back from the Olympics. But I havent had time, with all my speaking commitments. Not that Im famous. The day after the BBC Sports Personality awards, Becky Adlington and I were coming out of our hotel and she was mobbed. I dont think anyone cared who I was!
Paul Manning (cycling): I made it into the Manchester Evening News Spotted In Manchester column. Id been to the city dozens of times before to compete and nobody noticed me then! When I tell people that I won gold, theyll say, Oh yes, I saw that on telly, but I can see they cant quite remember my face.
Bradley Wiggins (cycling): I was disappointed after winning gold in Athens that I didnt have a higher profile. Winning two golds this summer and the whole cycling team doing well has meant my Olympic fame has lasted longer. But, as I learnt in 2004, you have to move on.
Have your earnings been boosted by Olympic glory?
Paul Goodison (sailing): No. The economic climate is not helping.
Peter Reed (rowing): Although the rowers are well supported by our main sponsor, Camelot, I am surprised that more hasnt come my way. I got a free TV from Panasonic and a set of golf clubs from Taylor Made thats about it. But there are people out there right now who are desperately worried about their jobs. Whats the worst that could happen to me that Ill have to stop shopping at Waitrose and downsize to Aldi or the Co-op?
Zac Purchase: I got a pair of gold, limited-edition wellies from a firm called Hunters because I won gold with Mark Hunter. Does that count?
Tom James (rowing): I did get an agent but that hasnt made much difference. Barely any of the British medallists at Beijing whom Ive spoken to have found much interest from new sponsors.
Sarah Ayton (sailing): Weve all been brought down to earth a bit. Its a little frustrating that after driving yourself so hard for four years, you now have to do it all over again just to make a living.
Chris Hoy: Ive read some articles about how much I was going to earn and they were wildly exaggerated. Of course Im in a better position now. Before, if I was looking for potential sponsors, I would have to contact them, send them my CV. Now theyre coming to me.
Andy Hodge: Offers have been thin on the ground. The problem is, compared with previous Olympic Games, there are a lot more people with gold medals and not so much work to go round.
Iain Percy (sailing): Ive been lucky enough to have Skandia as a sponsor for the past 10 years and theyve always been very good. There seems to be a buzz around sailing now.
Bradley Wiggins: I learnt from Athens that you cant live off Olympic success for the rest of your life.
Whats been your best experience as a gold medallist?
Paul Goodison: Getting to do a lap of honour at Bramall Lane in front of 30,000 fans was pretty amazing.
Andy Hodge: Walking out in front of a packed-out Wembley at the Challenge Cup final.
Peter Reed: The GQ Men of the Year awards, where celebrities wanted to meet us. I had a good chat with Tess Daly and met Elton John, Lily Allen, Thandie Newton and some Scottish guy, who rides bikes.
Becky Adlington: Just being in the same room as Take That, never mind talking to them, was pretty overwhelming. Ive also met Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre, two of my favourite comedians.
Chris Hoy: I was at the National Film Awards to present an award, and Samuel L Jackson was there backstage. I had my medals and he came over to say hello and then asked if I wouldnt mind having my picture taken with him. Then there was being introduced at Murrayfield just before the All Blacks performed the haka against Scotland in November. Winning the BBC Sports Personality award was obviously a special way to end the year.
Victoria Pendleton (cycling): Getting to wear a dress designed by Stella McCartney was pretty cool, as was going to the GQ Men of the Year awards where I met Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
Rebecca Romero (cycling): Getting tickets to Strictly Come Dancing and being invited to the Pride Of Britain awards.
James DeGale (boxing): Ive done the usual stuff like A Question Of Sport, which was fun. But the best bit has been getting to know some of the boxing greats Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Sarah Ayton: Hanging out with Naomi Campbell at London Fashion Week. Then there was the time we went to see Elton John in concert. My mum wrote to his fan club and they arranged for us to go backstage and meet him.
Bradley Wiggins: I dont know about the best but the weirdest was being asked to design a shoe.
Retirement or London 2012 Olympics?
Mark Hunter (rowing): No matter how I did, I had made up my mind I was going to take time out after Beijing. In July I landed a position at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) as a rowing coach. I start in the new year and plan to take in Vegas before then. But coming back for London 2012 is a huge attraction. Im an East End boy, so it would be in my own back yard.
Tim Brabants: Winning gold was not only great for my CV but good for publicising my credentials. Ive had lots of emails and calls for consultants, who found out that I was looking to get back into medicine, offering me advice and introductions.
Sarah Ayton: The Yngling class has been dropped from future Olympics, so thats the end of the Three Blondes in a Boat. Ill be using the new year to consider where I go from here. But Ive definitely got the Olympic rings in my sights.
Peter Reed: Beijing is old news now, the 30th Olympiad has just started. Im probably luckier than many Olympians because Im a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy and they have always been good about giving me as much time as I need to pursue my rowing career.
Paul Manning: I was always going to retire after Beijing. Through cycling I get to know the people who resurfaced the track at the Manchester Velodrome, where I set a world record in March. Theyre building a velodrome in London and I start a management job in the new year.
Becky Adlington: Defending my golds in London 2012 is on the agenda but Ive got to concentrate on qualifying for the British team for the world championships. Only two in my event can make the team and the trials are in Sheffield in March. If I make it through, then its on to Rome in July.
Tom James: I decided before Beijing that I was going to take a sabbatical until after the next world championships. Ive spent all of my adult life training and competing. You need to take time out to renew your hunger and avoid becoming stagnant. Its important that I have a career lined up after London 2012, so I was going to spend my time getting some work experience. I had a position lined up in the City that was going to take me through from November to March. Unfortunately, thats fallen through because of the credit crunch.
James DeGale: I left it a while before making a decision about turning pro because I didnt want to rush into anything and because I wanted to enjoy the feeling of being Olympic champion. I talked it over with my parents first, who were very supportive, then with Amir Khan, who was in a similar situation four years ago. Im obviously not going to be at London 2012 but Id give anything to have a world title fight in the city just before then.
To win one of the 32-inch televisions with built-in HD Freesat that Team GB sponsor Panasonic is giving to each 2008 gold medal-winning Olympian and Paralympian, visit timesonline.co.uk/goldmedal
THE GOLDEN BRITS
SARAH AYTON, SARAH WEBB, PIPPA WILSON
The Three Blondes in a Boat have disbanded
BECKY ADLINGTON
The 400m and 800m freestyle champion is back in training
BEN AINSLIE
Preparing for Americas Cup
TIM BRABANTS
The doctor-turned-canoeist is returning to medicine
ED CLANCY, PAUL MANNING, GERAINT THOMAS, BRADLEY WIGGINS
Manning has retired but the rest of the cycling pursuit team will be racing in 2009
NICOLE COOKE
Olympic then world road race title. She lives in Switzerland
JAMES DEGALE
Turned pro with Frank Warren
PAUL GOODISON
Sailings Laser champion is all set for London 2012
ANDY HODGE, TOM JAMES, PETER REED, STEVE WILLIAMS
Williams may retire but the rest of the rowing four hope to be at London 2012
CHRIS HOY, JASON KENNY, ED CLANCY
Team sprint champions. All are back in training
CHRISTINE OHURUOGU
The 400m Olympic champion is eyeing second world title
VICTORIA PENDLETON
The cyclist is competing again
IAIN PERCY, ANDREW SIMPSON
Sailing champions are joining Ainslie in Americas Cup bid
ZAC PURCHASE, MARK HUNTER
Purchase is still rowing, Hunter is on sabbatical in the US
REBECCA ROMERO
The rower-turned-cyclist is back in training
Source
www.timesonline.co.uk
AT THE end of a year in which their lives seemed sure to be transformed by success in Beijing, Britains gold medallists reflect on their new-found celebrity status, the struggle to convert that into income and what the future holds...
How have you coped with the demands of being an Olympic star?
Ben Ainslie (sailing): I won gold at Sydney and Athens and the hype has been much bigger this time around.
Chris Hoy (cycling): I had planned to take a couple of months off after Beijing. Two weeks in, I realised I couldnt agree to every request. Its been non-stop. I feel like I havent slept in the same room for the past three months. Im exhausted. I know that sounds pathetic.
Zac Purchase (rowing): I hired a PA and Ive given presentations to schools and companies. I was back in training last month without having had a holiday. However, I would encourage any medallist at London 2012 to say yes to as much as you can. You never know when the opportunity will come round again.
Andy Hodge (rowing): Its been chaotic. If Im not in training or attending dinners, Im often fulfilling duties as captain of my boat club. If I could give one bit of advice to a gold medallist after 2012 it would be: Dont feel obliged to say yes to everything. Do the stuff you enjoy.
Becky Adlington (swimming): I was advised by a GB Swimming press officer to get an agent and Im glad I did. The first couple of weeks after Beijing, Mum and Dad were trying to do all the work and it was too much. I dont get as many people coming up to me in the street now, except when Im leaving after training. They make the connection.
Tim Brabants (canoeing): I quit my job as a doctor two years before Beijing. The plan was to look for a job when I got back from the Olympics. But I havent had time, with all my speaking commitments. Not that Im famous. The day after the BBC Sports Personality awards, Becky Adlington and I were coming out of our hotel and she was mobbed. I dont think anyone cared who I was!
Paul Manning (cycling): I made it into the Manchester Evening News Spotted In Manchester column. Id been to the city dozens of times before to compete and nobody noticed me then! When I tell people that I won gold, theyll say, Oh yes, I saw that on telly, but I can see they cant quite remember my face.
Bradley Wiggins (cycling): I was disappointed after winning gold in Athens that I didnt have a higher profile. Winning two golds this summer and the whole cycling team doing well has meant my Olympic fame has lasted longer. But, as I learnt in 2004, you have to move on.
Have your earnings been boosted by Olympic glory?
Paul Goodison (sailing): No. The economic climate is not helping.
Peter Reed (rowing): Although the rowers are well supported by our main sponsor, Camelot, I am surprised that more hasnt come my way. I got a free TV from Panasonic and a set of golf clubs from Taylor Made thats about it. But there are people out there right now who are desperately worried about their jobs. Whats the worst that could happen to me that Ill have to stop shopping at Waitrose and downsize to Aldi or the Co-op?
Zac Purchase: I got a pair of gold, limited-edition wellies from a firm called Hunters because I won gold with Mark Hunter. Does that count?
Tom James (rowing): I did get an agent but that hasnt made much difference. Barely any of the British medallists at Beijing whom Ive spoken to have found much interest from new sponsors.
Sarah Ayton (sailing): Weve all been brought down to earth a bit. Its a little frustrating that after driving yourself so hard for four years, you now have to do it all over again just to make a living.
Chris Hoy: Ive read some articles about how much I was going to earn and they were wildly exaggerated. Of course Im in a better position now. Before, if I was looking for potential sponsors, I would have to contact them, send them my CV. Now theyre coming to me.
Andy Hodge: Offers have been thin on the ground. The problem is, compared with previous Olympic Games, there are a lot more people with gold medals and not so much work to go round.
Iain Percy (sailing): Ive been lucky enough to have Skandia as a sponsor for the past 10 years and theyve always been very good. There seems to be a buzz around sailing now.
Bradley Wiggins: I learnt from Athens that you cant live off Olympic success for the rest of your life.
Whats been your best experience as a gold medallist?
Paul Goodison: Getting to do a lap of honour at Bramall Lane in front of 30,000 fans was pretty amazing.
Andy Hodge: Walking out in front of a packed-out Wembley at the Challenge Cup final.
Peter Reed: The GQ Men of the Year awards, where celebrities wanted to meet us. I had a good chat with Tess Daly and met Elton John, Lily Allen, Thandie Newton and some Scottish guy, who rides bikes.
Becky Adlington: Just being in the same room as Take That, never mind talking to them, was pretty overwhelming. Ive also met Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre, two of my favourite comedians.
Chris Hoy: I was at the National Film Awards to present an award, and Samuel L Jackson was there backstage. I had my medals and he came over to say hello and then asked if I wouldnt mind having my picture taken with him. Then there was being introduced at Murrayfield just before the All Blacks performed the haka against Scotland in November. Winning the BBC Sports Personality award was obviously a special way to end the year.
Victoria Pendleton (cycling): Getting to wear a dress designed by Stella McCartney was pretty cool, as was going to the GQ Men of the Year awards where I met Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.
Rebecca Romero (cycling): Getting tickets to Strictly Come Dancing and being invited to the Pride Of Britain awards.
James DeGale (boxing): Ive done the usual stuff like A Question Of Sport, which was fun. But the best bit has been getting to know some of the boxing greats Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Sarah Ayton: Hanging out with Naomi Campbell at London Fashion Week. Then there was the time we went to see Elton John in concert. My mum wrote to his fan club and they arranged for us to go backstage and meet him.
Bradley Wiggins: I dont know about the best but the weirdest was being asked to design a shoe.
Retirement or London 2012 Olympics?
Mark Hunter (rowing): No matter how I did, I had made up my mind I was going to take time out after Beijing. In July I landed a position at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) as a rowing coach. I start in the new year and plan to take in Vegas before then. But coming back for London 2012 is a huge attraction. Im an East End boy, so it would be in my own back yard.
Tim Brabants: Winning gold was not only great for my CV but good for publicising my credentials. Ive had lots of emails and calls for consultants, who found out that I was looking to get back into medicine, offering me advice and introductions.
Sarah Ayton: The Yngling class has been dropped from future Olympics, so thats the end of the Three Blondes in a Boat. Ill be using the new year to consider where I go from here. But Ive definitely got the Olympic rings in my sights.
Peter Reed: Beijing is old news now, the 30th Olympiad has just started. Im probably luckier than many Olympians because Im a commissioned officer in the Royal Navy and they have always been good about giving me as much time as I need to pursue my rowing career.
Paul Manning: I was always going to retire after Beijing. Through cycling I get to know the people who resurfaced the track at the Manchester Velodrome, where I set a world record in March. Theyre building a velodrome in London and I start a management job in the new year.
Becky Adlington: Defending my golds in London 2012 is on the agenda but Ive got to concentrate on qualifying for the British team for the world championships. Only two in my event can make the team and the trials are in Sheffield in March. If I make it through, then its on to Rome in July.
Tom James: I decided before Beijing that I was going to take a sabbatical until after the next world championships. Ive spent all of my adult life training and competing. You need to take time out to renew your hunger and avoid becoming stagnant. Its important that I have a career lined up after London 2012, so I was going to spend my time getting some work experience. I had a position lined up in the City that was going to take me through from November to March. Unfortunately, thats fallen through because of the credit crunch.
James DeGale: I left it a while before making a decision about turning pro because I didnt want to rush into anything and because I wanted to enjoy the feeling of being Olympic champion. I talked it over with my parents first, who were very supportive, then with Amir Khan, who was in a similar situation four years ago. Im obviously not going to be at London 2012 but Id give anything to have a world title fight in the city just before then.
To win one of the 32-inch televisions with built-in HD Freesat that Team GB sponsor Panasonic is giving to each 2008 gold medal-winning Olympian and Paralympian, visit timesonline.co.uk/goldmedal
THE GOLDEN BRITS
SARAH AYTON, SARAH WEBB, PIPPA WILSON
The Three Blondes in a Boat have disbanded
BECKY ADLINGTON
The 400m and 800m freestyle champion is back in training
BEN AINSLIE
Preparing for Americas Cup
TIM BRABANTS
The doctor-turned-canoeist is returning to medicine
ED CLANCY, PAUL MANNING, GERAINT THOMAS, BRADLEY WIGGINS
Manning has retired but the rest of the cycling pursuit team will be racing in 2009
NICOLE COOKE
Olympic then world road race title. She lives in Switzerland
JAMES DEGALE
Turned pro with Frank Warren
PAUL GOODISON
Sailings Laser champion is all set for London 2012
ANDY HODGE, TOM JAMES, PETER REED, STEVE WILLIAMS
Williams may retire but the rest of the rowing four hope to be at London 2012
CHRIS HOY, JASON KENNY, ED CLANCY
Team sprint champions. All are back in training
CHRISTINE OHURUOGU
The 400m Olympic champion is eyeing second world title
VICTORIA PENDLETON
The cyclist is competing again
IAIN PERCY, ANDREW SIMPSON
Sailing champions are joining Ainslie in Americas Cup bid
ZAC PURCHASE, MARK HUNTER
Purchase is still rowing, Hunter is on sabbatical in the US
REBECCA ROMERO
The rower-turned-cyclist is back in training
Source
www.timesonline.co.uk
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