As part of this commitment, World Aquatics are rolling out a full suite of athlete development activities and workshops over the seventeen days of competition, with the first of these kicking off on day three with Athlete Committee Chair Alia Atkinson and former open water world champion Chad Ho.

With a focus on career development and planning for life outside the pool, Atkinson shared insights into her racing career and the challenges she faced after retiring.

“Do not underestimate the next chapter,” Atkinson told the athletes in attendance.

“For me the transition was very hard. For the next three months at 3pm in the afternoon I felt like I should be doing something, and after I got this out of my system, I had to redefine myself.”

Atkinson and Ho explored the importance of looking after your physical, mental & emotional health, and different methods to work through when things might become overwhelming.

“Identify what your triggers are,” she told the athletes.

“Mine was social media. The public’s narrative of my life, became my narrative of my life, and I couldn’t handle it. Make sure you are doing those physical, mental & emotional checks. Remember it is your experience, your story, and that you have a voice. Make sure everything you do, you are doing it for yourself.”

As the first athlete-elected chair of the World Aquatics Athlete Committee, Atkinson is now using her experiences as an athlete over a glittering seventeen-year career in the pool to provide guidance to current day athletes.

Atkinson and Ho workshopped the athletes’ plans after their time in the pool, and recounted the frustrating repetitiveness of being asked ‘are you still swimming?’ and ‘what are you doing now?’.

“Don’t put yourself in that position. You are never too young to start thinking about your future or putting in the effort to get there,” Ho told the athletes.

“Your whole career everyone is telling you what to do,” Atkinson added.

“And then when you finish no one tells you what to do and the anxiety sets in. Don’t be like me and wait until you finish before you working out what you want to do.”

For the athletes in attendance the presence of both dual world record holder Atkinson and former world champion Ho was a ‘surreal’ experience.

Pool and open water swimmer Adnan Kabuye from Uganda told World Aquatics that he was honoured to be part of a workshop with two former world champions.

“I’m so glad they have come to speak to us today and give us an insight into their lives,” said Kabuye.

“I’ve learnt a lot from what they have given us today and I certainly encourage more athletes to come in and listen to what they have to say.”

His teammate Hayyan Kisitu, who will compete in the Men’s 5km Open Water event early next week, shared Kabuye’s sentiments.

“One thing I really learned from this session was to tell your story and to make connections with the people around you because you never know who is going to help you in the future and who is going to have your back,” said Kisitu.

Fellow Ugandan open water swimmer Swagiah Mubiru added she was grateful to Atkinson and Ho for investing their time in current athletes.

“I’m blessed to be here to talk to these world champions because I’ve looked up to them so it is great they are giving back.”

Twelve-time World Aquatics Championships medallist Atkinson wrapped up the session by reminding the athletes that it was their story and to use their voice to control that story.

“Your voice matters. You have to realise your voice matters,” Atkinson told the athletes.

“The Athletes Committee are now also your voice as well. Meet them. Use them.”

Want to know more about development activities at World Aquatics?

The World Aquatics Athlete & Coach Development Workshops are open to all athletes, coaches & support staff attending the World Aquatics Championships and will be held from the 16-28th July. Topics include Injury Prevention, Public Speaking & Media Training, Mental Health, and Nutrition, as well as Practical Workshops and presentations from former Scholarship Holders.

Here is the schedule of workshops tailored for athletes and coaches alike that will take place in Fukuoka during the World Aquatics Championships: