Olympian Morgan Mitchell: ‘It’s important to enjoy the present’
When it comes to achieving personal goals, dual Olympian Morgan Mitchell trains her body — and her mind — to stay in shape throughout the journey.
Morgan Mitchell isn’t one to dwell on the negatives.
So when an Achilles injury threatened her Olympics prospects last year, the 800m runner not only competed, but did so with just eight weeks training under her belt.
“The way I saw it, I could have wasted my energy questioning why things unfolded the way they did, or I could be grateful to be in the position I’m in as a professional athlete and move forward,” Morgan says.
The power of exercise
Ever the optimist, the 27-year-old uses the same outlook when she finds herself in a seasonal rut.
“I find one of the easiest ways to get out of a winter fitness slump is by getting yourself an exercise buddy,” she says.
“During last year’s lockdowns, I relied on walks and runs with friends to keep me in a healthy headspace and because you’re catching up with one another at the same time, it doesn’t feel like exercise.”
For Morgan, who is also a global face of F45 Training, exercise is important to both her professional and personal wellbeing.
“When I was recovering from my injury, I had to adjust to low-impact exercises like cycling or going for a swim, but now that my Achilles has recovered, I’m back into training mode as well as other high intensity activities, such as boxing.”
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Getting behind our athletes
Chemist Warehouse has teamed up with Athletics Australia this year to support athletes from amateur level to elite competitors.
Morgan welcomes all support for fellow athletes, including the shift in dialogue about mental illness in sport.
“I think it’s great that a wider range of sports professionals are actively talking about their mental health experiences and making it more of an open conversation that others can relate to,” the mental health advocate says.
“Personally speaking, seeing a psychologist once a week has been really beneficial for me and more recently I’ve followed my friend’s recommendation and started journaling, which I find can really shift your mindset.”
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Off-track goals
While much of her time is spent trackside, she also has another passion far removed from the world of running.
“I’m currently studying fashion and business management, and a long-term goal of mine is to create a label with my partner,” says Morgan, who this year left her home in Melbourne to live with Sydney-based boyfriend, NRL player Angus Crichton.
She also recently partnered with luxury watch brand Tissot to launch its Seastar 1000 Quartz timepiece.
“I’m an accessories kind of girl, especially when it comes to watches and jewellery, so it’s been an incredible experience teaming up with Tissot,” she says.
“Sprinting is my passion first and foremost, but I’ve always had an interest in the fashion industry and a friend of mine who works in Paris has inspired me to intern there one day.
“That’s one of my future aspirations for sure.”
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The lure of Paris
Morgan has elected to pass on this year’s Commonwealth Games to focus on training ahead of the track star’s next major challenge, the 800m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
“Right now the goal is to get as fit as I possibly can,” Morgan says.
“I think after all the challenges we’ve faced in recent years, it’s important to enjoy the present.”
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Written by Charlotte Brundrett.
