For Canadians, there’s little that’s more exciting than coming together every two years to witness the incredible feats showcased by our athletes at the Olympics. As a Team Canada curler and two-time Olympic gold medalist, I can attest to how that feeling is magnified by years of training, culminating in an intense 17-day quest for gold.

As a country, we fix our focus on the moment an athlete crosses the finish line or ascends the podium. What comes afterward is seldom discussed or thought about. Athletes nearing the end of their careers in sport and looking to post-Olympic life, like me, often wonder what the next chapter will entail and the challenges it will present. While many might not relate to this turning point in an athletic career, the feeling of uncertainty that comes with it is universal to anyone dealing with professional change ­– and so too are the feelings of exhilaration and discouragement that come with competition.