Emily Craig spent nearly a decade inside one of the most demanding performance systems in global sport, the Great Britain Rowing Team, where everything is measured, selected, and optimised for one outcome: Olympic success.

Across her career she became:

• Olympic Champion (Paris 2024) in the Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls
• World Champion (2016, 2022, 2023)
• European Champion (2022, 2023)
• Multiple-time World Cup gold medallist
• A consistent presence at the very top of international lightweight rowing for over 9 years

Emily opens up on what it really looks like to transition out of elite sport at the highest level, after success, and why even a perfectly timed exit still comes with complexity.

She discusses:

• Why “it’s inevitable… nobody can go on forever” became a grounding truth in her approach to sport and life
• How she intentionally explored life outside rowing between Olympic cycles to better understand herself
• Why she actively built a CV beyond rowing, even when it didn’t immediately lead to opportunities
• The importance of exposure to different industries in shaping clarity over time
• What most CVs miss about elite athletes - and what actually makes employers take notice
• The reality that transition is not a single event, but an ongoing process of identity evolution
• Why parts of the athlete identity never fully disappear even after Olympic gold

Key themes for athletes listening

This episode explores the questions many current athletes avoid until it’s too late:

• What happens when the structure that defines you disappears?
• How do you build identity when performance is no longer the metric?
• What does “preparing for transition” actually look like in practice?
• How do you balance elite performance with exploring your future at the same time?

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email: support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

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