Hayden Wilde Live

In episode 372 of the Physical Performance Show, Brad Beer and Huw Darnell host a live event featuring dual Olympic triathlon medallist Hayden Wilde. Hayden shares his athletic journey, from his early days in multi-sport and the influence of family and personal adversity, through his path to Olympic success. He details the highs and lows of elite sport, including the physical and mental challenges of coming back from a significant injury sustained in a cycling accident, with unique insights into his rehabilitation, mindset, and the role of his multi-disciplinary support team. Hayden discusses his training philosophies, coaching changes, and the importance of maintaining humility amid professional success. The episode explores balancing ambition with self-care, adapting to setbacks, and the power of community in sport. 

Listen in as we delve into the following

• Hayden explains his reasons for coming to Australia and his rehab after a cycling accident.
• Hayden’s early years: entry into endurance sports and transition from team sports to triathlon.
• Family influence and impact on his career direction.
• How humble beginnings shaped Hayden’s work ethic and values.
• Earning Olympic medals in Tokyo and Paris.
• In-depth breakdown of the Paris Olympic race, including strategy and emotions afterward.
• High-performance camps, coaching changes, and assembling a support team.
• Details of Hayden’s cycling accident in Tokyo, injury, emergency medical care, and surgery.
• Rehabilitation journey: overcoming physical and mental challenges, and lessons learned.
• Road to competitive return: milestones in rehab and first race back after injury.
• Recap of Hayden’s undefeated T1 100 streak and upcoming racing goals.
• Audience Q&A: Science of training, VO2 max, and training thresholds.
• Training breakdown: balancing weekly volume and intensity.
• Managing multiple coaches and personalising training structure.
• Coaching transition and the philosophy behind making major career changes.
• Reflections on learning from setbacks and advice for young athletes.
• Motivation, passion for triathlon, and what keeps Hayden engaged.
• Handling post-Olympic blues and rebuilding motivation.
• Reflections on legacy: the values and reputation Hayden wishes to leave.

Quotes

“Consistency Is Key”
“Know Yourself and Listen to Your Body”
“Stay Humble and Enjoy the Process.”
“I think the most important part, personally, was to never change as a person.”
“You always want to hunt and get that gold.”

To Follow Hayden Wilde

Instagram: @hayden_wilde
Facebook: @HaydenWi1de
LinkedIn: Hayden Wilde

Timeline

00:00 Start
02:30 Hayden discusses his reasons for coming to Australia and recovering from his cycling accident.
03:30 Early years: Hayden’s entry into endurance sports and transition from team to individual sports.
08:50 Family background, loss of his father, and impact on personal drive and career direction.
13:55 The role of humble beginnings, work ethic, and personal values in athletic success.
16:11 Olympic medals: Tokyo and Paris, and reflections on major international achievements.
17:40 Paris Olympic race breakdown, including strategy and emotional aftermath.
31:12 Notable moments of sportsmanship and perspective on racing rivals.
35:03 High-performance training camps, coaching changes, and building an effective support team.
53:10 Cycling accident in Tokyo: injury details, medical logistics, and operation.
1:03:31 Rehabilitation journey, physical and mental challenges, and valuable recovery lessons.
1:07:30 First race back after injury; mindset, milestones in rehab, and the road to competitive return.
1:13:12 Undefeated T1 100 streak and upcoming racing goals.
1:18:18 Navigating social media scrutiny and maintaining integrity as a professional athlete.
1:25:23 Q&A session: Science of training, VO2 max, and lactate threshold.
1:27:53 Weekly training breakdown and approaches to balancing volume/intensity.
1:32:24 Managing multiple coaches and individualised training planning.
1:41:51 Coaching transition: philosophy behind making major career changes.
1:43:40 Reflections on growth, learning from setbacks, and advice for young athletes.
1:46:01 Motivation and enduring passion for triathlon.
1:47:54 Managing “post-Olympic blues” and regaining competitive motivation.
1:56:54 Finish

People Mentioned

Tom Jesson – Researcher
Annina (Nina) Schmid – Researcher
Dr Neil Cochrane – Neurosurgeon & Spinal surgeon

For questions and comments about this Episode Send to the Show Host @Brad_Beer (Twitter) and Huw Darnell @huwdarnell(Instagram)