Episode 3. From Podium to Purpose: High Performance, Resilience & Breath-Led Recovery

Original interview used in the creation of the book Balancing Act

In this Balancing Act conversation, Olympic silver medallist Adam Burgess reflects on a career defined by both breakthrough success and the relentless reality of elite performance. Fresh from becoming the first British man since 2008 to reach the Olympic podium in the C1 event, securing a historic silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games, Adam speaks openly about the emotional contrasts of the season: the exhilaration of team success, the sting of a single costly mistake in his individual race, and the psychological pressure of constantly performing under intense scrutiny.

Adam shares how injuries, expectations, and the business side of elite sport shaped his mindset, leading him toward a second passion: breathwork, recovery science, and physiological balance. After a career-threatening shoulder injury, breathwork became central to his rehabilitation and later formed the foundation of the Inspired Breath Academy, where he now coaches athletes, leaders and wellbeing professionals.

What emerges is a conversation about more than medals, it’s about identity, emotional regulation, resilience, and the move from competing to coaching. Adam’s reflections offer a rare look at the realities behind high performance and how he now channels his competitive experience into educating others on breathing, balance and sustainable success.

Key Topics Covered

• Achieving a historic Olympic silver medal in the C1 event
• The emotional contrast between team success and personal disappointment
• How one mistake can define an elite performance, and how to recover mentally
• The psychological load of Olympic cycles and high-stakes competition
• Overcoming a career-threatening shoulder injury
• Breathwork as a tool for performance, regulation and long-term resilience
• The creation and mission of the Inspired Breath Academy
• Training independently and building self-leadership in elite sport
• Understanding the business, pressure and uncertainty behind the athlete lifestyle
• Shifting identity from athlete to educator and coach
• Recovery, emotional regulation and high-performance habits
• Building a life that “performs under pressure” across sport, work and wellbeing

Adam Burgess is an Olympic silver medallist and one of Britain’s most accomplished canoe slalom athletes.