My Life

‘Sport brings people together’

BEAU RYAN

Unlike some professional athletes who let loose upon retirement after years of stringent diets, early nights and gruelling workout regimens, Beau says his retirement in 2014 after persistent injuries, including a neck injury, was “a little different”. “It was sort of forced upon me because of injury,” he explains. “So, I had to stay on top of my body just to do daily tasks after my neck surgery. “I did Australian Ninja Warrior’s first season after retiring, too.

Long before the rest of his family wakes — and often before the sun is even up — Beau Ryan is already getting his daily fix. The rugby league star turned TV presenter says the only way he can juggle his busy family life and unpredictable work schedule is with a good cup of coffee followed by an intense dawn workout.

“It’s probably the best time for me physically and mentally because I have about an hour and a half before everyone’s up,” he says.

“People out there with kids @THEREALBEAURYAN will understand that as soon as the kids are up, it’s all over So, I went next level with my because it’s not about you training. I was training to feel anymore. It’s all about them.” good and for what suited my

Being fit and active has been body rather than what suited an essential part of Beau’s day playing rugby league, which ever since playing for the Wests was building a lot of strength. Tigers and later the Cronulla- “I’ve had a few moments Sutherland Sharks in the NRL. where I have slowed down, but

“I had a luxury because I had generally speaking, I have never it (keeping fit) as part of my job taken my foot off the pedal.” because I played rugby league, so it was routine from a young After his 2014 age, whether it was weights, retirement, Beau fitness, cardio, mindfulness threw himself into or visualisation,” he says. his other passion:

“So, I took it for granted entertainment. when I was a player and when He now hosts The Amazing I retired I had to prioritise it Race Australia, is a regular on for me. It’s something that Studio 10 and this year spent I do for me whether I am time in the jungle on I’m a interstate, overseas or at Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! with home. With work and my former Collingwood AFL coach family though, I had to find Nathan Buckley and MasterChef a way to fit it in, so I get up Australia star Poh Ling Yeow. early and usually head to S1 As a youngster Beau training gym in Caringbah loved putting on shows in his for some circuit training.” loungeroom for his parents.

“I did like entertaining but unfortunately when I was at school, we didn’t have many drama options,” he says.

“I guess rugby league and theatre didn’t really go hand-inhand. But as soon as I did get some of those opportunities later, I grabbed them.” Whenever he’s not in the studio or on the road filming the latest season of The Amazing Race Australia, he likes to take his kids to the park or to the beach. When he’s with his family, Beau says, he’s completely present, which means putting away his phone and devoting all his time and attention to them.

“We do like to get out and about. We’re lucky where we live in Cronulla, we are near a lot of national parks, so we like to go off the grid and spend the day out there,” he says.

“My kids are completely different. My son is high energy, and my daughter does her own thing. But once we’re off the devices, the kids love it.”

Beau says he wants his kids to follow in his footsteps — not necessarily on the rugby field or on TV — rather by having an active lifestyle.

“A lot of people ask me whether or not my son’s going to play footy,” he says.

“I’m not really too fussed about that. I’d only like him to because I really like seeing kids do team sports. My daughter plays soccer. She does dancing. And then my little man’s just started jiu-jitsu. He is only four, but I would like to see

him do a team sport because it’s good for team building, bonding and accountability.

“I think it’s really important for a sense of community, especially where we live. We really love the area. We like going down and seeing everyone on the Saturday (at sport). Meeting people at jiu-jitsu. It is really important and it’s really a big part of our lifestyle.

“I do love sport. I think sport brings people together. It’s great.”

They say you don’t truly understand what it’s like to miss something until it’s gone.

And that was certainly the case for Beau when he found himself having to live on the tiny portions given to the celeb contestants on I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

Used to snacking throughout the day, Beau became a walking and talking example of what it is like to be hangry.

“My wife was worried about me going in there (to the jungle) because she knows I like to eat a lot,” he says.

“As lean as I am, I eat a lot of meals through the day. I thought there would be more basic food in there, so I struggled with it.

“Food’s always there in my life, whether it’s catering or even at the airport or on the road. We could be in Mongolia or in Russia when we are filming, and we will find food.

“So that was a big shock to the system, probably. Not missing out on the big meals. Just not being able to graze and snack affected me. The hunger pains were like nothing I’d ever really experienced before.”

Beau Ryan sports a healthy image by dedicating part of each day to exercise. OPPOSITE PAGE: With his wife Kara and young family.