The Unseen Parallels: Characteristics of Olympic Athletes and Foster Carers

When we think of Olympic athletes, images of peak physical performance, rigorous training, and the pursuit of excellence often come to mind. Conversely, foster carers are often viewed through the lens of compassion, resilience, and the ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children in need. At first glance, these two roles may seem worlds apart. However, after taking on a Non-Executive Directors role I’ve gained a much closer look which reveals a so many similarities in the core characteristics that define both Olympic athletes and foster carers. Whilst it’s easy to focus on the differences in life, I love looking for the similarities and the aspects in common, so that’s where this blog will be focussed, as we explore the fascinating parallels between these two seemingly disparate roles, shedding light on the dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment that both demand.

Dedication and Commitment

For an athlete, the road to the Olympics is paved with years of intense dedication. This involves countless hours of training, adhering to strict diets, and making personal sacrifices. The commitment to the sport is vast and if you want to make it, it’s relentless at times. I’m learning through this role that, foster carers demonstrate profound dedication and commitment. They open their homes and hearts to children who need stability and love, often without expecting anything in return. This role isn’t a short term thing, it requires a long-term commitment to the welfare of the child, ensuring that they receive the care, attention, and support needed to thrive.

I’ve heard incredible stories of personal dedication from foster carers who work behind the scenes to make the lives of young people better, so that they have a future that is brighter than what was once mapped out for them.

Resilience in the Face of Challenges

The journey to becoming an Olympian is fraught with challenges. In my career I faced injuries, setbacks, and intense competition, to the point where I questioned if I’d ever surface from them in a position to produce any kind of half decent performance. The resilience needed is tested repeatedly, with no guarantee of success or return to form, but it is in these moments that you learn ability to bounce back, to re-focus, and to keep pushing forward. This is what sets athletes apart and sorts out who’s capable and who’s not.

Foster carers encounter numerous challenges. The emotional and psychological needs of foster children can be complex and demanding. Carers must navigate these challenges with patience, resilience and care, providing consistent support even when faced with difficult situations.

A Strong Support System

If I were to cut up my medals and hand out a piece to each person who helped me get there, I’d only get a tiny piece. The support needed was vast and no athlete reaches the Olympics alone. Whilst we have to do the crucial bit by ourselves, we know that we can’t do it all alone. Behind every successful athlete is a team of coaches, support staff, administrators, trainers, medical professionals, family, friends and teammates. It can never be underestimated how important the support system role plays in the journey to a podium. The guidance, encouragement, and practical assistance is essential for anyone wanting to turn their talents into medals.

I’ve been blown away by what goes on behind the scenes to support foster carers. The amount of people who work incredibly hard to provide a robust support system is not only inspiring it’s immensely humbling. We often see the end product and forget how the chain of people involved all had a part to play in shaping the outcome. From social workers, support groups, training programs, marketing teams, business support… I could go on. The vast support system at large is driven to make a difference by providing essential resources and advice. There’s no doubt about it, it’s a family!

Adaptability and Flexibility

It goes without saying that the best athletes must be adaptable. They need to adjust their training regimens and strategies based on their performance and competition schedules. The landscape is always changing and they need to stay agile in order to meet the demands of the job. Flexibility is crucial, as they must respond to unforeseen challenges and changes with agility. I remember learning this when we had a change of leadership and the standards of what was required immediately changed over night. The swim team came back from the Sydney Olympics in the year 2000 with no medals, and something needed to change. The prospects in the team were high, we had some incredible talent but they fell short of the mark and underperformed. Upon returning back to the UK the team faced new leadership and seriously high standards.

I can’t tell you how hard this was to accept as a standard, it felt like I was just about to break on to the team at this point, then someone moved the goal posts way beyond what I even thought was possible. But… but… that was the standard set and now we needed to find a way to achieve it. 4 years later, with a bit of kicking and screaming and fair few tantrums, 47 swimmers (including myself) reached the top 10 in the world standard and now we started to pull in medals and records for the first time in years.

In the role I’m in now, I hear how difficult it can be to be a foster carer and also how highly adaptable they are. Each child is unique, with their own set of needs and circumstances. Carers must be flexible, adjusting their approaches and strategies to best support each child. This adaptability is essential in creating a stable and nurturing environment.

Goal-Oriented Mindset

It’s fair to say that the ultimate goal for an Olympic athlete is pretty clear: to compete at the highest level and win. This goal-oriented mindset drives the daily routines, decisions, and actions of every athlete. Every effort is aligned with achieving this pinnacle of success and I had to remind myself on a daily basis why I was doing what I was doing.

While the goals of foster carers may be less quantifiable, they are no less significant. The primary aim is to provide a safe, loving environment where children can heal, grow, and flourish. This long-term goal shapes their daily actions and decisions, guiding them through the ups and downs of foster care.

Passion and Purpose

If you want to make it in any arena in life, then you need to know your purpose. Every athlete knows why they are there and they work that reason every single day! The love for the sport and the pursuit of excellence give them a sense of purpose that drives every action, especially on the gloomy days …because the reality is here, we spend way more time in the process than we do receiving the outcome… you have to learn to love the process. This passion is evident when you see them cross the line at the games or touch the wall or score that point and they burst into tears and scream/shout/cry, it’s because of that relentless pursuit of the dream, despite the challenges faced.

Foster carers are driven by a deep passion for helping children. Their shared purpose is rooted in the desire to make a positive difference in a child's life. This passion sustains them through difficult times, reinforcing their commitment to providing the best possible care. I have lost count of how many people have said that they are in this industry because it is so rewarding.

Lifelong Learning and Development

Athletes are continually learning and developing their skills. Better never stops and neither does training, it doesn't stop after reaching a certain level. Once you reach one peak you look out over the view to take it all in and you catch a glimpse of the next peak that you want to go for; it's an ongoing process of improvement and adaptation. They engage and seek ways to enhance their performance, driven all from self, they don’t wait around to be told it, they just know it and make the move themselves.

The continuous learning and development involved in the fostering industry is there to make the very best out of the time the children are in care. Foster carers attend training sessions, workshops, and support groups to help better understand the needs of the children they care for, but to also share their knowledge with likeminded people in their network. This commitment to personal growth ensures they are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care. It really is a journey of growth and discovery.

A sense of belonging

I remember spending pivotal moments with my teammates. Birthdays, training camps, medal moments, Christmas’s, were all moments we spent together operating like a family, because that’s what we were. The bond between teammates, coaches, and support staff is strong, these are people I still see to this day many years on, and we just pick up where we left off, because we had a sense of unity and shared purpose, this is what bonded us for life. This familial support is crucial to the success of any athlete.

It surely goes without saying that foster carers create a family environment for the children in their care. They provide a sense of belonging and stability, fostering a nurturing atmosphere where children can thrive. This family dynamic is integral to the healing and growth of foster children. Hearing and seeing the success stories is something I’m excited to uncover in this role. I see the hours put in by the team at Team Fostering, I witness how they pull together to overcome challenges, how they face everyday changes in the landscape and still they remain. That for me is what being passionate about your craft is all about.

Conclusion

While the worlds of Olympic athletes and foster carers may appear vastly different, for me the core characteristics that define them are remarkably similar. Both roles require an extraordinary level of dedication, resilience, and commitment. They rely on strong support teams, exhibit adaptability and flexibility, maintain a goal-oriented mindset, and are driven by passion and purpose. To add to this, both groups are committed to lifelong learning and are part of a supportive family environment. Recognising these parallels not only highlights the profound impact that foster carers have on the lives of children but also celebrates the extraordinary qualities that they share with others striving for greatness and impact. Whether in the arena of sport or the realm of caregiving, these individuals exemplify the very best of human dedication and spirit.

Chris Cook, former Olympic athlete and Team Fostering Non Executive Board Member