A conversation with Australian Taekwondo athlete and dual Olympian, Stacey Hymer
How many of us can say that we’ve met an Olympian? I’d expect not many, which makes the conversation I had with Stacey Hymer two weeks ago feel a little unreal (but also exciting and interesting).
Stacey is based in Melbourne and I’m based in Canberra, so it was inevitable that we would connect over a video call. It’s not an ideal setup, I’ll admit, but it was an unmissable opportunity for me.
If you’re interested in Taekwondo, the Olympics, or athlete life in general, read on! I prepared several questions for our chat.
To set the scene, let me introduce Stacey Hymer.
Stacey is an Australian Taekwondo athlete who was in her third year of a Bachelor of Science at RMIT University when she competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The Tokyo Olympics featured some notable firsts, such as the inclusion of skateboarding, BMX freestyle, and 3×3 basketball. But it was also held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a scaled-down event with limited or no spectators, and athletes effectively quarantined.
In this article, you’ll hear more about this as Stacey shares her Olympics experiences.
Taekwondo has been Stacey’s passion since she was four years old. In fact, she says that she found her calling in professional Taekwondo at the age of 16.
“My passion and dedication have led me to become a prominent competitor and have taken me to world levels. I’m proud to have represented Australia in the Tokyo 2020 & Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” Stacey shared.
Stacey has been competing on the Australian Taekwondo National Team for seven years.
She competed in the 2023 Senior World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. In 2023, Stacey won bronze at the Belgium Open, Silver at the Polish Open, silver in the Australia Open and bronze in the Korea Open.
She also competed in the women’s featherweight event at the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Earlier wins include a gold medal at the 2018 Oceania Championships, and bronze medals at the 2019 French Open, 2019 Korea Open, and 2020 Dutch Open.
In addition to her competitive career, Stacey is working hard to shape Australia Taekwondo’s sporting future through her involvement in the Combat Australia Athletes Advisory Committee.
You may be wondering how it came to be that I interviewed Stacey – volunteering, plain and simple. After volunteering with AusTKD at a selection event a few months ago, I was contacted by an AusTKD official and offered the opportunity to meet with an Olympian.
Naturally, I jumped at the chance!
Stacey kindly agreed to meet with me online, and we had a wonderful conversation over a video call. She was enthusiastic, generous with her time, and very open to my questions.
So let’s dive in.
Do you have any pre-competition rituals?
Stacey: For me, it’s all about planning and being organised. I need to make sure I’ve got all my gear lined up, everything is packed, and of course, I need a good night’s sleep. Visualisation is also a key element.
How do you mentally prepare yourself before a big competition? What strategies do you employ to overcome self-doubt or mental blocks?
Stacey: There are a few things I do as key habits. I remind myself that I am strong and prepared. I trust my coaches and the work we’ve put in. I also make sure I stay present and focused in my current activities, and I carry that mindset right through to competition day. It’s important to remain calm as much as possible. I believe wholeheartedly in the process and move forward in the belief that I’m going to win.
Are there any habits that have helped you raise your game?
Stacey: I am all about inspiring aspiring athletes to pursue their passion for sports. I’d love to show through my own actions that with hard work and dedication, literally anything is possible. And of course, good warm-ups are essential – mine typically last for 45 minutes.
Can you share details about your general training schedule?
Stacey: I train roughly five days a week, twice a day, focusing on strength training and bodyweight conditioning. My Taekwondo practice lasts between two and two and a half hours. Conditioning work may include sprints and full body circuits.
Has there been any major challenge or even injury you faced and how did you overcome it?
Stacey: The biggest challenge is really my mental state. I can get emotional at times (like anyone else) and certain things can trigger some emotions in me. I find that focusing on my internal state is crucial for staying on track.
I’ve had physical injuries in the past, which is to be expected, but I typically take a conservative approach. For example, I had a meniscus tear in my knee and chose to avoid surgery. I work within certain limits and try to recover naturally (and slowly). I prefer modifying my training around these issues rather than opting for drastic measures.
What advice would you give to aspiring athletes who want to reach the highest level?
Stacey: If you’re a young athlete, do extra work outside of your scheduled training. For example, if you train three days a week, use the remaining days to focus on conditioning. That’s what I do. I also teach Taekwondo on the weekends, but I keep Sundays free.
How do you handle and learn from criticism or constructive feedback?
Stacey: Well, I appreciate feedback. I’m generally okay with criticism because I want to learn and grow. I want to fix any issues I’m facing.
But you’ve got to tailor the feedback approach depending on your audience. I teach 8 – 12 year olds which can be tricky. You’ve got to keep it simple, keep them engaged, and make it fun. That said, feedback is useful if you’re looking to raise your game.
What does it mean to you to be a black belt?
Stacey: I’ve been a black belt since I was around 11 or 12. I’m proud of the fact that I earned my black belt – it’s a big accomplishment. For me, this also means that I can focus on sparring, which I thoroughly enjoy.
If you could trade places with any athlete in the world for a day, who would it be and why?
Stacey: Oooh, I’d say Novak Jokovich. I admire how true he is to himself and the way he interacts with his fans and the crowd. He comes across as genuine but also stays true to who he is. I also love soccer and play it, so my next choice would be Mary Fowler.
What was your Olympic experience like?
Stacey: I was at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. While we faced the pandemic during the Tokyo Olympics, which was a challenging time for everyone, I still got a lot out of it. It was a tough time being in a closed environment with the competitions not being individualised. This affected our sparring and training sessions. At times, I felt our voices weren’t being heard.
I made sure to focus on my training and effort, preparing for the next cycle — and that’s what Paris was for me.
I had the best time in my life! I had two great coaches by my side, an amazing team, and my family was there with me. The crowd was responsive and interactive. Everything was a bit daunting in Tokyo, but with Paris, I really put myself out there.
As you might imagine, time and distance didn’t allow for an in-depth discussion with Stacey. I would have loved to delve deeper into certain topics. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the opportunity to have met an Australian dual Olympian. This conversation has inspired me to keep going and do better in my sport.
If you’re keen to discover more about Stacey, check out her website or follow her on Instagram. Images: courtesy Stacey Hymer.