Madrid – Beyond the glamour of the Olympic stage, many world-class athletes work around-the-clock to fund their Olympic dream. Day Jobs presented by Bridgestone, invites viewers beyond the field of play and into the personal lives of 15 athletes as they balance work, home and sport in pursuit of their Olympic dream. The new original series premieres Monday, 27 November on the Olympic Channel global digital platform, and is available on its mobile apps.
Day Jobs focuses on the varied and unexpected ways athletes work in order to fulfil their passion for sport, and was produced exclusively for the Olympic Channel by leading sports marketing agency Lagardère Sports.
Told in the first person, the athletes featured in Day Jobs share how they spend their day while reflecting on their Olympic experiences, failures and successes, and how they manage it all.
In the premiere episode, Olympic Bronze Medallist and U.S. Army officer Chris Fogt uses his skills learned on the battlefield to train for the U.S. Bobsleigh Team all while overseeing a battalion of 100 and a growing family.
“One thing I think I’ve learned since I was a kid is that if you put the time in and you’re consistent, then you’ll be successful,” said Fogt, who is looking to qualify for his third Olympic Games at PyeongChang 2018 and is supported by the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Progam (WCAP). “I don’t think you ever go into a competition, a fight, a battle, a war, expecting to do ‘well’. You want to win.”
Featured athletes who also have their sights set on PyeongChang 2018 include Japan’s Ami Nakamura who spends two hours each day commuting to her job in retail before heading to the rink for ice hockey practice; brothers Thomas and Glen Muirhead who must balance a demanding life on the family sheep farm with training for Great Britain’s curling team; and Team USA teen figure skater Polina Edmunds who balances long hours on the ice with a hectic university schedule.
“Day Jobs” highlights the incredible efforts and sacrifices that athletes, who may not be the most well-known in the world, are willing to make to achieve their dreams,” said Mark Parkman, General Manager of the IOC’s global Olympic Channel. “Viewers are sure to be inspired by the incredible dedication, commitment and passion that Olympians have, and how they apply these values to their daily lives.”
The Olympic Channel is a ground-breaking global platform where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round, and is available worldwide via mobile apps for Android and iOS devices and at olympicchannel.com.
