From the Podium to the Next Chapter: Olympian Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski on Life Beyond Sport

When you’re chasing Olympic gold, there’s no room for distractions.

For nearly a decade, Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski devoted herself to the pursuit of excellence in rowing. She did more than compete, she won. As a two-time Olympic medalist, Kasia represented Canada on the world’s biggest stage, pushing her limits and dedicating almost every minute to her craft.

But even while standing on the podium, one question lingered: What comes next?

The Weight of Transition

Like so many high-performance athletes, Kasia’s journey didn’t end when the cameras stopped rolling or the races were over. In fact, a new kind of race was just beginning: the transition out of elite sport.

“Sport gave me structure, discipline, and identity,” she says. “Letting go of that, even just mentally, can be scary. It’s like you’re stepping into a world where you’re not totally sure who you are anymore.”

That uncertainty is real. But for Kasia, it was also a sign that it was time to get curious, to ask new questions, and time to explore life on her own terms.

Reimagining Purpose

What happens when your whole life has revolved around peak performance, and suddenly you’re not training three times a day or chasing the next regatta?

For Kasia, the answer wasn’t to walk away from sport, it was to reframe her relationship with it.

“I’ll always be an athlete,” she says. “But now, I’m also someone building a career. I’m discovering new skills, new interests, and new ways to contribute.”

That process has included everything from mentorship and coaching, to exploring career opportunities in leadership, wellness, and advocacy. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s been worth it.

“I’ve learned to back myself outside the boat, too. That's actually the biggest gift that rowing has given me: confidence in myself."

Using What Sport Taught Her

The skills that made Kasia great in rowing didn’t disappear when she retired from the water. In fact, they’re more relevant than ever.

Resilience. Grit. Discipline. These aren’t just athletic traits, they’re career accelerators. They’re the reason employers love hiring athletes. And they’re the tools Kasia is now using to build a new chapter she’s just as proud of.

Through her journey, she’s discovered the power of leveraging her athletic experience into real-world value, whether it’s connecting with companies, collaborating with like-minded athletes, or simply learning to tell her story in new ways.

Redefining Fulfillment

There’s a quiet myth that athletes need to find something to “replace” their sport but Kasia doesn’t buy into that and she doesn’t think you should either.

“I think for me it’s not finding something that feels like rowing. That’s not the point. Sport is so special because nothing compares to it. But there are other things in life that can be just as fulfilling or rewarding in a different tone. And that’s the point.”

It’s not about finding the same feeling, it’s about finding new ones that matter just as much.

Building a Life Beyond the Game

Today, Kasia is living proof that there is life after sport.

She’s continuing to mentor young athletes, pursuing new professional opportunities, and embracing the evolving definition of success.

“Sport will always be part of my story,” she says. “But it’s not the whole story. I’m just getting started.”

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