Story By Athlete - Neva Jansen
The Question That Changed My Mindset: A few years ago, someone asked me: "You're good at many things, but what will you be great at?" That question stayed with me. For many young athletes, the same dilemma exists.
Athletics has always been my primary sport, but I dabbled in others, like netball. Even within athletics, it took me a few years to figure out my discipline. I experimented with sprints, jumps, and long distance, eventually finding my home in the throws.
It's not unheard of for a professional athlete to do multiple athletic events; decathletes and heptathletes train across many areas. But how often do you see a professional athlete, such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, competing at the highest level in any other sport? The answer is rarely.
Why Focusing on One Sport Matters
Like many other sports, athletics demands far more than raw talent; it requires dedication, consistency, and an enormous time commitment. From the age of 15 onwards, those chasing national success often train multiple times a day, every day.
Athletics is a sport that rewards you in direct proportion to the effort you put in. It's a solo pursuit; your results reflect your preparation. But balancing sport with school and a social life is challenging enough without adding more sports. If you split your limited time between two or three sports, giving any single one your best effort is almost impossible.
That's why deciding to focus on one sport can be a turning point. By committing to one discipline, you can train with purpose, recover properly, and progress faster. It's not about giving up other sports because you don't enjoy them; it's about choosing where you want to excel.
Lessons from the Top Level of Sport
Look at any elite-level athlete, a 400m sprinter, a pole vaulter, or a discus thrower. Once they reach the top, you won't see them splitting their focus between multiple sports. At the highest levels, sport becomes more than just training; it's your lifestyle, your priority, and, in many cases, your career.
That doesn't mean you can't try different sports when you're younger. It can help you develop coordination, agility, and all-around fitness. But at some point, especially if you want to progress to county, national, or even international competition, you have to make a choice.
Making the Choice for Your Sport
When the time comes, ask yourself, How much am I willing to commit and sacrifice for my sport? For me, the answer meant focusing on throws within athletics and letting other sports take a back seat.
It wasn't about closing doors; it was about opening one fully. That decision allowed me to train harder, recover better, and measure my progress in a way that wouldn't have been possible if I'd kept dividing my time.
In the end, focusing on one sport gave me the clarity, structure, and commitment needed to improve, and I'll carry that with me in athletics and life.
