Most people see the medals and PBs. Almost no one sees what it costs.

By 14, Renee Fox was training in high-performance squads alongside fully developed male athletes. She was fast, talented and driven — but the workload, expectations and intensity pushed her body to breaking point.

A fractured spine.
Spinal surgery during lockdown.
A hopeful comeback.
And eventually, chronic fatigue that forced her out of the sport she loved.

In this powerful conversation, Renee opens up about the hidden pressures of performance swimming — and what it takes to rebuild your identity when you’re no longer “the swimmer.”

This episode is for athletes, former athletes, parents and coaches who want to understand the real impact of high-performance environments.

We explore:
• Early sport specialisation
• Overtraining and overlooked injuries in female athletes
• Pain being dismissed in youth sport
• The emotional and physical reality of spinal surgery
• Burnout, chronic fatigue and knowing when to step back
• Identity loss after sport
• Learning to find movement and joy again

If you’ve ever pushed your body too far, questioned your worth in sport, or struggled with transition, this episode will speak directly to you.

Featuring:
Renee Fox — former performance swimmer and host of the Perfectly Flawed Podcast
IG: @perfectly_flawed_podcast

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