David Gillick, Irish international track and field star (and Hell Week contestant), is used to intense training, but on this week’s episode of The Her Sport Show the Athletics commentator admits that “The hardest part is getting off the couch and getting out…if you can put the trainers on, you’re halfway there.”
In the episode, Gillick shares the impact of sport and the challenges of continuing it through parenthood and life, as well as the spectacular Athletics we’ve seen this year from Irish athletes and his hopes that they will encourage everyone to get out and move.
As an ambassador for the European Week of Sport, Gillick shares how the event encourages everyone to be active by showcasing the variety of sports: “There’s so many smaller sports, minority sports, olympic sports that maybe don’t get the coverage, and yet they’re taking place right on your doorstep… It’s a call to action to get people out and active, all ages, all different levels, just participating.”
Gillick also shares his own experience being a parent, and the challenges of continuing training while raising three children: “When I was competing, I was priority one, but when you have a family and kids and a wife you realise, maybe ‘me’ has to drop down a little bit, because there are other people to factor in.”
He emphasises his partnership with his wife Charlotte, also an athlete, and how they prioritise communication, creating time for each other to train by setting a routine splitting work and childcare, and motivating each other through setting shared goals. He also talks about the joy of watching his own kids be active and playing dodgeball with them: “For me that’s the basis of all sport, if they have a smile on their face.”
No stranger to Athletics, Gillick was in flying form giving his verdict on the hugely impressive and successful year in athletics for Ireland, including the inspiration of Ciara Mageean, who won silver at both the European Athletics Championship and the Commonwealth Games this year in the 1500 metres. Gillick shared his delight at Mageean’s skill, praising her tactics and confidence, and how he hopes her success will encourage more participation in the sport: “I’m probably slightly biassed but…I think all kids should do athletics.”
But Gillick emphasises that the important thing is to get moving, whether in Athletics, any sport, or just getting out of the house and walking. In the stress of life, he shares how exercise has physical, mental, and social benefits, and especially how it has helped him: “I retired from Athletics once and then I did a comeback — I’m not going to retire again. I’ll be running for the rest of my life because it’s in my DNA, it’s part of me. It makes me feel good,” but still, “the hardest part is getting out the door.”
Gillick also shares about his experience as a contestant on Hell Week—and what it was he asked the DS who told him to go to sleep! To find out and hear the rest of our conversation with Gillick, watch the episode here or on YouTube.
Sport Ireland, are calling on you, to get out and #BeActive for European Week of Sport 2022 which runs from the 23rd – 30th of September. There will be events all over Ireland giving people of all ages and abilities the chance to #BeActive and try out a range of different sports.
