Live and Work Like an Olympic Gold-Medalist

By Sabrina Broderick (MSM ’25), Assistant Director, Mentoring and Alumni Personal & Career Development, Wake Forest University

If you followed the 2026 Winter Olympics, you have likely heard the name Alysa Liu. Even before she won gold, she stood out among the most talented athletes in the world. Besides having the coolest hair of any Olympian, she radiated a positive energy that I could feel all the way from Milan. I won’t get into her full story — including her early retirement and her confident, joyful return — you can read more details about that here and here. What I do want to talk about is what we can all learn from her time away from the ice.

While I would seriously hesitate to compare most people’s relationship to their jobs with the dedication of a professional athlete, I think it is safe to say that the current culture can encourage an almost manic obsession with work. I feel this preoccupation trickling down into my everyday life: in conversation, I often catch myself asking a new acquaintance, “what do you do for work?” when I really want to know “who are you as a person?”

I have also noticed that many people, myself included, have a habit of getting so focused in on their work that they neglect to cultivate themselves as a human. Wake Forest folks especially have always been high achievers, and learn early to “lock in” to produce the best work possible. Sometimes, though, we get so good at the work part that we forget the life part.

Our work experiences might not be as high-intensity and dramatic as having to retire from the world stage due to burnout. However, smaller scale signs of an erosion of self-identity, like being unable to confidently answer the question “what do you do for fun,” are just as impactful on us as both employees and people.

Liu’s story and presence in the 2026 Olympics provided a wake-up call for me. As someone who is still negotiating her work-life balance and found herself worrying about work in her free time, I was struck by the energy I felt from Alysa. Though I have found an enjoyable career, I know there is room to get even better as a person and an employee. I want to show up to do my work AND live my life with the same level of self-assurance and joy that Alysa has shown.

Liu took the time to create the space to figure out who she is as Alysa; that is, a concert-lover and outdoor enthusiast. Building on these facets of her life clearly have allowed her to show up even better as Alysa Liu, world champion and Olympic gold-medalist. I want to challenge everyone, no matter your role or career stage, to find that energy. Even if you find yourself in a job that you are passionate about, take some time to reflect on your life outside of work.

To get you started on working and living like a gold-metal athlete, here are some prompts for your reflection:

• When was the last time you did something entirely for yourself that sparked joy?
• If you were at a party and were strictly forbidden from mentioning your job title or company, how would you describe who you are to a stranger?
• If you showed up to your life tomorrow with the goal of being joyful rather than just productive, what is the first thing you would change about your routine?
• Is there a hobby or passion you’ve ‘retired’ from because it didn’t feel productive? What would happen if you brought it back just for the sake of play?

Once you’ve thought about your answers, set a goal for yourself this week in response to this reflection. Maybe that looks like setting aside 20 minutes after work to go birding like you did as a child. Perhaps it could be to try writing a “business card” for yourself without ever mentioning your job. Whatever you do, accomplish it for yourself, with joy.

Ultimately, I believe that if we all spend even a little more of our time intentionally cultivating our human selves, we will find that we can all shine like Alysa when we show up to work.