Rising Above. The turning point
We're sharing Shawn Smith's Trizone article with Luke Willian over a series of posts as we head towards Paris. This is the second of four articles - The turning point.
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The Turning Point
Triathlon success is often measured by podium finishes and qualifying for elite competitions like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games. But for Australian athlete Luke Willian, success has been defined by his unwavering determination in the face of setbacks and disappointments.
Willian's journey has been far from a smooth ride. In 2022 , he faced a devastating blow when he missed out on selection for the Commonwealth Games. This came on the heels of another major disappointment: not being selected for the Olympics. For many athletes, such setbacks could have been career-ending. But for Willian, they only fuelled his fire to come back stronger.
"It broke me," Willian admits, reflecting on the moment he received the call about the Commonwealth Games. "I came back and raced really well initially, but as I started competing around the world again, I found myself struggling to find my rhythm and my place in the sport.
But rather than succumbing to despair, Willian channelled his energy into self-reflection and rediscovering his love for the sport. "I was chatting to my friend a lot about it," he recalls. "Do you still enjoy training?” I said, 'Yeah.' “Just focus on that."
This simple yet powerful advice became a turning point for Willian. He realised that his passion for triathlon wasn't tied to external validation or accolades, but to the pure joy he felt in the process of training and competing. "I think the big thing is I've done it before, so I just needed to do what I've done before again," he explains. "It wasn't, in my mind, in the realm of impossibility. It was I've done it before, I just need to do it again on the day."
But Willian's comeback journey hasn't been a solo endeavour. He credits his incredible support system, including his family and friends, his coach Warwick and the BREWYD team, for providing the foundation of unwavering belief and encouragement that has carried him through the toughest times.
"I think my family has been a huge support," Willian says. "It's not even just my immediate family. It's my uncles and my cousins." This unconditional love and support has given Willian the strength to keep pushing forward, even when the path ahead seemed uncertain.
Equally crucial has been Willian's partnership with his coach Warwick. More than just a technical advisor, Warwick has been a believer in Willian's potential, even when others might have written him off. "There's a faith here," Warwick explains. "It wasn't this, 'Oh, yeah, let's blindly hope.' It's, 'Okay. Some things didn't go right. Let's get after it. Let's not sit and wallow."
Warwick has been working with Luke since he was 11 years old. There is an excellent relationship, built on shared experiences, values and mutual respect.
This unwavering faith and commitment to the process have been key to Willian's mental approach. Rather than getting bogged down in past disappointments or future uncertainties, he focuses on being the best version of himself each day. "I just want to make myself proud by just doing the best you can do, not outcomes, not whatever else happens, just be the best person you can be," he says.
This mindset has been bolstered by Willian's work with his sports psychologist, who has helped him reframe his goals and motivations. "It's quite profound," Willian reflects. "It's simple, it's a very simple philosophy, but it's quite strong."
"It's definitely like when I had that realisation with him, I felt like all the pain and thing I've been through was worth it," Willian says. "Because it was at the end of the day, when I missed out, I would still put my best self forward for selection."
As Willian looks ahead to the Paris Olympics and beyond, he carries with him the hard-earned wisdom and resilience of a true comeback kid. He knows that the road ahead won't be easy but he's prepared to face whatever challenges come his way with the same grit, determination and love for the sport that have carried him this far.
Continued... The unconventional path to success
