Episode 8 - Finding Strength and Purpose Beyond the Gold

Poolside Perspectives with Ash Hartney

I am thrilled to welcome former Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Ryan to the Poolside Perspectives podcast! Sarah’s journey is nothing short of inspiring—from her early days as a determined young athlete to becoming an Olympic champion and, more recently, a dedicated Director of Development at Mater Dei School, where she supports children and young adults with intellectual disabilities.
In this episode, Sarah shares candid insights into her life both in and out of the spotlight, including the challenges of starting a rigorous athletic career so young, the lessons learned from her journey to gold, and how motherhood changed her life. We also dive into her current work with Mater Dei, the importance of recognizing and embracing individual differences, and the advice she’d give her younger self.
Tune in for more on:
• 2:30 – The early days of Sarah’s path to the Olympics and her motivation.|
• 6:30 – Challenges she faced as a young athlete.
• 11:30 – Powerful life lessons from her journey.
• 17:45 – Life after gold and motherhood’s impact.
• 29:45 – Sarah’s fulfilling work at Mater Dei.
• 35:00 – Why embracing differences matters.
• 40:15 – Words of wisdom to our younger selves.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Sarah Ryan that will leave you motivated to embrace your own unique path!
Sarah’s Links
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-ryan-aaaa17a4/?originalSubdomain=au
Mater Dei - https://www.materdei.org.au/mater-dei-organisation/our-organisation/
Let's Connect:
Website: https://www.thebathhouse.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashhartney
https://www.instagram.com/the_bathhouse_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ash-hartney-609a1911a
TIktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_bathhouse_