Chris Helwick

“ There is no achievement without perseverance. Achievement and perseverance are two-sides of the same coin, so you can’t separate them. “

Q. It’s a pleasure to interview with you can you tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. My name is Chris Helwick and I’m a 35-year-old decathlete from Fort Collins, CO. For those who don’t know what a decathlon is, it’s essentially ten track and field events rolled into one. It happens over the course of two days – five events each day – and always in the same order. It’s a ton of work to train for and compete in decathlons, but in an odd way, the joy is in the struggle. I’m also in my second career as a decathlete. My first career ended in 2012, but in 2016 I had an epiphany that changed my entire view of sports and my own career. I decided I needed to come back to the event I once walked away from to demonstrate how the whole thing could be done better. So that’s what I’m doing now, and that’s why I call myself a “born-again athlete.”

Q. You have been retired for the last 6 years what made you want to come back?

A. When I first retired from the decathlon in 2012, my relationship with athletics had gone sour. I hadn’t performed well during the several years leading up to my retirement, and the longer I stagnated, the more I obsessed over my achievements (or lack thereof). This put me in a downward mental spiral that eventually ended in a massive burnout. So, by 2012, I knew it was time to move on from athletics for my own mental well-being. Once my athletic career was over my perspective on sports, and exercise in general, began to change. I remained active in retirement, playing all kinds of sports and exercising regularly, but something was different. There were no expectations hanging over my head. I had no insecurities about what I was doing. I let go of a lot of mental and physical tension that used to plague me during my professional career. I felt light and free again, like a kid playing at recess. Thankfully, I was able to reconnect with my love of athletics during this time, and it was the very first step on my path back to the decathlon. By the fall of 2016— four years after my retirement—I was spending a lot of time thinking about the significance of this rekindled love of athletics and how it had changed me. I realized that by nurturing this love and allowing it to grow I had unlocked new levels of athletic potential. In 2016, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had become the best athlete I’d ever been, and, if I put my mind to it, I could be the best decathlete I’d ever been as well. It was imperative for me to come back to the sport I’d left six years ago to show the power and importance of what I’d learned while I was away.

Q. Tell us the why behind pursuing athletics, and expert advice on different aspects of running as a decathlete?

A. There are lots of good reasons to pursue athletics, but here’s the best one: because we are driven to be athletic. The reason sports and athletics are so valuable is that they provide an outlet for something that stirs inside many of us. We might call this stirring our innate athleticism—or that part of us that wants to move in graceful, powerful, and precise ways. People first invented sports so that those who were athletically inclined could express themselves in that way. Like a canvas on which a painter expresses herself artistically, sports are canvases on which we express ourselves athletically. And if you realize that sports are merely canvases on which we create and express ourselves, then you also understand the greatest Why of all athletic pursuits.

Q. After finishing fifth at the U.S. Olympic trails what made you retire?

A. The most difficult aspect of my career from 2009 to 2012 was my lack of improvement. I was still performing at a high level, but I wasn’t experiencing the sort of annual progress I’d become accustomed to in college. A stalling of progress— or a performance plateau—is what drives many athletes to the brink, and I was no different. The longer I stalled out, the more I got down on myself. After the 2011 season, I got so frustrated that I almost quit. I had had an especially bad year and I remember thinking to myself at the end of it, “why do I keep doing this to myself?” I was working my butt off but wasn’t

seeing much of a return for the effort. I had to question whether it was the right move to keep training and competing for another year. After having a heart-to-heart with myself, I decided I didn’t want to end my career with such a bad taste in my mouth. I knew 2012 would be my final year of competing no matter what, so I committed to improving my attitude, letting go of some of the pressure I was putting on myself to perform, and finishing my career in a way that I could be proud of. I still didn’t have a banner year, but my attitude and mindset were much healthier. I was glad my career was over at that point, but the way I approached my final season gave me some peace of mind as I moved onto that next phase of my life.

Q. With social distancing being the new normal; what’s the next big step for you?

A. Fortunately, social distancing and mask wearing haven’t disrupted my process too much. Obviously the 2020 season getting cancelled was a bit of a shock, but as of now the 2021 Olympic Trials and Olympic Games are still on. I’m in an early season training phase right now, so it’s all training and no competing for the next several months. But come February I’ll start running some indoor meets, and then the real fun will begin next April when I’ll compete in my first of three decathlons in 2021.

Q. What are some things or hobbies you picked up while you were retired?

A. When I finally retired from the decathlon, I was blown away at how many other things besides athletics I was interested in. I started exploring nature in a big way through walking, hiking and paddle boarding. These activities provided me with most of the daily activity I still craved. I found myself reading up on subjects I never knew I was interested in like philosophy and religion. I also had a new day job which quickly became a lifestyle: I started a digital advertising company called InSpot Media with a former college teammate.

Q. I know you traveled a lot of places what has been your most memorable place?

A. I’ve traveled to nearly 30 countries, but the one that has had the most lasting impact was the Dominican Republic. In 2008 I travel the DR for a regional championship meet between South, Central and North America. On the long bus ride from the airport to our hotel in the capital of Santo Domingo, we drove through miles upon miles of the most impoverished areas I’d ever seen with my own two eyes. I’m sure I’d seen greater levels of poverty in movies or photos, but it’s a much more affecting experience to see it up-close and in-person. My time in the DR continues to remind me of what a blessing and a privilege it is to live in a place like the US.

Q. What has been the biggest challenge you have had?

A. I have competed in a number of international competitions throughout my life and I can tell you that one of the biggest challenges within these multiday overseas events is getting proper sleep. When you travel to a foreign country for a track meet, you usually stay in austere accommodations, like dorm rooms. The space is often noisy and the beds uncomfortable. You

already have nerves and anxiety about the competition itself, so finding a way to relax and get proper rest in this sort of environment can be especially challenging.

Q. Can you give us something inspirational and educational about the importance of perseverance in achieving your goals?

A. Firstly, there is no achievement without perseverance. Achievement and perseverance are two-sides of the same coin, so you can’t separate them. To truly achieve something, you have to have some skin in the game. You need a struggle, an obstacle, a little push-back, so that you feel responsible for what you’ve gained. That’s what achievement fundamentally is – a sense of responsibility for a desirable outcome. So that’s #1: if you expect to accomplish anything, and I mean anything, you have to persevere through something. But then we have to ask, what does it mean to persevere in the pursuit of a goal? Perseverance is the willingness to take an indirect path to your goals. Persevering is the same as accepting you do not have the answer to your question, yet you are resolved in your quest to find your answer. It’s being willing to look behind door #1, door #2, door #3, and door #500 when looking for what you want.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. The best way to keep up with me is through my website at chrishelwick. com. I post a monthly blog that contains photos, videos, and written sentences portraying the life of an Olympic decathlete. I can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.