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[title]Morgan Mitchell is no stranger to the intensity of the limelight that comes with competing on the world stage. She intimately understands the experience Australia’s Olympic athletes have just had – after all, she made a name for herself at the 2016 Rio Games, and was further catapulted into the public eye when she featured in buzzy Netflix documentary Game Changers soon after.
“It is daunting,” Mitchell admits. “It feels like the whole world is looking at you… the criticism can be quite difficult.
“When I see people [having a go] at athletes, no matter what sport they play, I try to get them to understand: imagine you go to your nine-to-five job and you've got 10,000 people over your shoulder commenting on not your job, but how you look, how you speak, or how you present yourself… while all you're trying to do is run fast or kick goals.”
But her one piece of advice for athletes currently experiencing the Olympic whirlwind is simple: enjoy the moment.
“Take a moment and lap it up… one thing I wish I did is really soak it in, because it does just become a memory, and it becomes a memory very quickly.”
It feels like the whole world is looking at you
The 29-year-old is a two-time Olympian and a household name in the athletics realm. On top of multiple appearances at the World Championships, she ran at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympics. She’s one of the top ten all-time fastest Australian women to run the 400 metres (a list topped by Cathy Freeman), and in the top 15 for 800 metres. Needless to say, she’s fast.
Avid Olympic watchers will remember the excitement of the Aussie girls’ 400m relay team making it to the finals in Rio, a moment that Mitchell treasures the most.
“It's something you can only dream of… that was my number one memory. I had one of my best mates there, she was the youngest in the team, and it was just so cool,” she says.
“The fact that we got to share that moment together… It was just so nice. Not too many people get to experience that.”
But in hindsight, Mitchell wishes that she did “have a little more fun” during her Olympic experiences.
It does just become a memory, and it becomes a memory very quickly
“We get so caught up in trying to prove ourselves that we forget just to actually enjoy the moment.”
These days, that’s a priority for Mitchell – finding the fun and maintaining balance.
She didn’t make it to the Paris Olympics, but she still enjoyed an idyllic Euro summer holiday – during which her fiance proposed to her in Madeira (“he's the most supportive person I've ever been with,” she says) – and has been thoroughly enjoying a break during her off-season.
Mitchell clearly loves the track, but it’s not her whole world. She’s found other passions (including studying a degree in fashion) and while travelling the world was an exciting work perk at first, it’s now one of the parts of her life that she loves the most. She says her upbringing with her single mum and two sisters in Melbourne’s outer west fostered a deep appreciation for the life she has now.
“We just didn't have money… [so] I’ve loved being given the opportunity to travel,” she says.
“I think that's one thing you don't really hear from athletes… because we're conditioned to think it's just about winning, it's just about sport… but how many people get given that opportunity because of your sport?
“[We should] be a bit more grateful and open about that.”
“There are so many places I've gotten to visit around the world. I love travelling and I love connecting with and meeting new people… I’m loving the ride at the moment.”
When she’s not on the track, Mitchell mixes up her training with swimming, boxing and gym workouts. She’s worked with fitness franchise F45 for years, and was made one of its global athletes earlier this year. She attributes training with the gym as one of the ways she manages to keep fit while she’s jet-setting during her time off.
“I am so grateful for F45… you can do it around the world. There's one in Ibiza, there's one in Malta, a few popping up around Spain, and there's pretty much an F45 on every corner in London.
“It's great that I can enjoy my off-season and still keep fit away from track and field, that’s where my longevity has come from.”
I’m loving the ride at the moment
Looking ahead, Mitchell has teamed up with a new coach and is setting her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Part of her plan is to learn to slow down, in order to stay fast. As someone who is a self-professed workaholic and loves life in the fast lane, this is a challenge. But she’s prepared to pace herself.
“I’m just taking a really patient approach to my career now,” she says.
“It's just understanding that as an athlete, if I really want it… I've just got to slow down and take it day by day. And that's a hard thing for me to learn.”
The Olympics may be wrapping up for another four years, but the discourse left in its wake is still swirling around the world. If there’s one thing that Mitchell wants spectators to have a better understanding of, it’s the mental hurdles that come with being an athlete.
“Especially in an individual sport, I wish they understood what it takes to really dig deep and bring out the self motivation for yourself,” she says.
“You've not only got to rock up, but you've got to rock up for yourself 100 per cent every single time.
“I try to stay grateful – yes it's hard – but it's also one of the best jobs in the world.”
Photographer: Carmen Zammit
Lead designer: Conor Mitchell
Design: Jack Puglielli
Hair and make up: Jade Kisnorbo
Location: F45 Docklands
Morgan Mitchell is an F45 Global Athlete. With thanks to Romano Beck PR.