Why Olympian and Paralympian Natalie du Toit has such a passion and interest in a crypto currency such as ‘SportsPodium’

sportspodium (67)in #sports • 7 years ago (edited)

Let me deal with the elephant in the room first.

I’ve asked for advice on the subject of Crypto Currencies and most answers I receive are … We do not know everything about this topic, there is an unknown space and therefore a risk – we need to know more.” Being successful at a sport is a risk – a risk that can span many years and never be reached – a risk for giving up everything to achieve. A risk that was worth taking for myself and my team.

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Success in sport comes with the association and the instant expectation of being a millionaire if not a billionaire and an assumption that one is better than everyone else. There is a something that no one else has, as they fictionally live on a cloud and cannot be presumed to live amongst the general public.

This is where the ‘being placed in a fictional box’ is challenging to the athlete who has succeeded and placed everything they have and own emotionally, physically and materialistically in trying to achieve a sports dream. The notion of ‘they have earned everything’ is the exact hindrance to moving on and one that a successful athlete has to face on a daily, hourly, minutely and secondly basis.

Emails, messages and social media correspondence from parents and children explaining how a young child has broken a record that I had held at the age of 6 or age of 11 are periodically received and our response being – that is truly amazing. I have always been taught that to share knowledge and expertise to grow people is important – similarly in sport, it is phenomenal to hear of someone breaking records – it shows growth and talent – something we should all be proud of.

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To give up everything to achieve is a sacrifice and to walk away with nothing is even more of a challenge and the ultimate sacrifice. By nothing, we mean money, friends, education and a possibility of not knowing what one could be good at that one could carry on with.

I was fortunate to have been created as a brand and through this, I was able to earn money through sponsors and speaking engagements (which was spent traveling, racing and gaining the experience needed to succeed Internationally). It was not easy to bring in enough to support life at home and traveling, so many a sacrifice was made.

Life was tough, but somehow we made it, I had a team that made sure we were able to do what was needed to be the best when it mattered most. We always hear of there being no money in sport or that funds have been cut or we are changing company strategy and are not able to sponsor you anymore or we have a new CEO. These are challenges sponsored athletes face on a daily basis.

My top 6 reasons as to why I am passionate about SportsPodium are:

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It is an online library of sports information. Something I have very little history of. The odd times and medals won was recorded in pictures or in the newspaper or saved as records, but ultimately very little has been recorded.
One can get to know their competitors and gain as much knowledge and experience as possible to prepare.
One can be open to different manners in which to earn and save money, not only for one’s sporting career, but once one has retired as well – allowing you the opportunity to find your next path in life.
The opportunity to buy special training gear that is only available overseas
Be part of an opportunity that presents ‘only opportunities’ and stamps out corruption and favoritism in sport.
Last and most importantly, My ultimate passion and wish – bringing together sport and business, removing favoritism and giving everyone equal opportunities – no matter what your race, culture or where you come from.