After the podium, an Olympian from Pointe-Claire struggles to return to normal life
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it comes to ending a relationship that lasted for more than two decades. For Thomas Hall, that long-term relationship was with a sport, sprint canoe.
Hall had a decorated career that saw him win a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He initially intended to compete again at the 2012 London Games, but something changed.
"The mental stress of racing is a heavy burden you have to carry, and I was tired of that," Hall said in a recent interview at the Pointe-Claire canoe club.
"I was tired of competing and I wanted to slow life down a little bit."
But the Pointe-Claire native didn't realize how difficult it would be to transition to life at a slower pace.
Hall spent years as an elite athlete, knowing exactly who he was and what he was doing. Now he suddenly felt lost and struggled to find a new purpose in life.
He moved to Ottawa to pursue a degree in journalism. There he began living with a group of friends who were about ten years younger than him, and adopted their party lifestyle.
"At 32 I was living like a 22-year-old," said Hall, now 35. "For someone who lived a large part of their life following a very healthy and regimented routine, it was a huge difference from what I knew."
Maturing, the hard way
The lack of direction soon began to weigh heavily on Hall.
He had trouble sleeping, and so would occasionally mix cough syrup, Advil and alcohol to help him turn off his brain.
His breaking point came while attending a friend's wedding in Prince Edward Island, when he cried for hours.
Hall no longer wanted to be living a life that consisted of binge drinking and hangovers. He wanted to start living a healthier, happier, more mature life.
It was finding his competitive spirit again that allowed him to get back on track.
"When you're competing as an athlete you always want to be the best and the same thing goes for your job," Hall said. "You want to be the best at it."
Sharing his story with others
He is also sharing his story with others. In August 2016, Hall published a personal essay on the website of The Walrus magazine.
The idea of having strangers read the not so glamorous details of his life was daunting, but publishing the essay also came with an upside.
"I felt it was important to get my story out," he said. "Getting lost in transition is a common thing. It was cathartic for me and I know it has helped a number of friends."
Hall has since graduated with a master's degree in journalism and is now the executive director of AthletesCan, an organization focused on supporting athletes.
So what's his advice for anyone going through a difficult transition period? Stay busy.
"Looking back, something I wish I had done right after retirement was get a job. Even if it was working part-time in a coffee shop.
"Nothing good comes from idle hands," Hall said with a laugh.
