Crafting excellence on and off the athletics track

Nicholas Hum, a three-time Paralympian and Peninsula business owner, speaks to Sarah Halfpenny about his recent experience at the Paris Paralympic Games and balancing his career as a cabinetmaker with his athletic pursuits and family commitments.

Congratulations on competing in your third Paralympic Games. How did this experience compare with your previous Games in Rio and Tokyo? And what was a memorable moment from Paris?

For me, this Games was a special one because it represented such a long time in the sport, and to be able to do that while also raising a family was a dream come true. Seeing my wife on the sidelines was very special, and to reflect on the achievement because it has been such a team effort. She was holding a sign the kids made, and honestly I think we both had to hold back tears.

What was going through your mind as you competed in the men's long jump T20 event?

There wasn’t really anything going through my mind other than my cues for jumping, and doing what I have trained to do. I took in the atmosphere and used the energy of the crowd to hype me up and direct that energy into charging down the runway.

As an owner of Peninsula Joinery Specialists, how do you balance your career as a cabinetmaker with your training schedule?

The balance has been hard. Work for me is easy because I have been doing it for about 14 years as a trade and four years as a business owner. I love my sport too, so I feel when I get the balance right, one supports the other. Routine and scheduling has been my biggest asset, and staying focused on what I want to achieve in both areas without getting exhausted. I pride myself on focusing on trying my best, and the results take care of themselves. My cabinetry and my training sessions both have the same level of care.

You've been competing at an international level since 2011. How have you seen the world of Paralympic sports evolve over the past decade?

It honestly hasn’t changed as much as you would think. Even now, at a high level, funding for athletes in Australia is not enough to live off, despite the training and recovery taking about six hours most days. The scholarships available are a huge help and I am so privileged and grateful and proud to have been given the opportunity to compete and represent Australia. It’s a shame there isn’t more government funding for sport because it brings a lot of people together. It’s so inspiring to witness a peaceful event in a world marked by a lot of conflict. There are advocates trying to secure more funding but it’s certainly not an easy task. I don’t know what the answer is, but I know that if there had been more funding available it would have made the juggle and training so much less stressful on me and the family.

As someone with an intellectual disability, what advice would you give to young athletes with similar challenges who aspire to compete at the Paralympic level? Always put yourself out there and just try your best. It’s mostly mindset: if you would like to achieve it, you align every part of your life with that.