Athlete

As an athlete, you could:

• take part in indoor and outdoor training sessions and exercise routines
• practise running, throwing or jumping drills
• build up your strength and conditioning in the gym
• identify and work on areas for improvement with your coach
• take part in trials and competitions
• travel to athletics events, including overseas for international championships
• do promotional and media activities for your club or country

• ambition and a desire to succeed
• physical fitness and endurance
• persistence and determination
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this career through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• a sports development programme

You could move into coaching with athletics clubs, colleges and universities. Your skills and experience would also be useful for a career in community sports development or sports management.

You might wish to take further training to become a:

• sport and exercise psychologist
• nutritionist
• performance sports scientist

You may also have opportunities for sports media work.