Origin Story: How A Sports Injury Inspired Me

Origin Story

How a Sports Injury Led Me To Become A Small Business Owner

When I was at university, I had a sports injury that completely reshaped the direction of my life.

It led me to opportunities where I met some inspiring women in sports and business and showed me that I could do that too. Without this series of events, I probably wouldn’t be the Pilates Studio owner you know today.

Outside of lecture time at University, I enjoyed physical activity. I was a keen runner, was on the waterpolo team, and had started weightlifting. One chilly morning in October, I zipped up my jacket, laced my trainers, and headed out for a 10-mile jog. I managed to navigate the frosty paths without slipping. At least… until I was 1 meter from my front door! Like Del Boy through the bar, I crumpled to the ground in a heap.

Later, at A&E, I found out I had a radial head (elbow) fracture and had badly sprained the ligament that stabilises the nerves in that area. My arm had swollen so much that it wouldn’t fit in my sleeve, and it had turned a fruity purple. The injury would leave me unable to write for a while and feeling like I’d hit my funny bone for the next 18 months.

“I had no idea that there was a place for women in sports and business.”

Unfortunately, I was unable to complete my final teaching placement in time and had the option to defer for a year or graduate without qualified teacher status. I chose the latter, which meant I only had a few hours a week of university contact time for my final 2 semesters.

I could have spent the extra time dossing about. But with my mum’s encouragement, I set about seeking opportunities to explore my interests. Although I didn’t want to become a teacher anymore, I was daunted by the prospect of having to figure out my next steps. Then, it seemed to me like the choices for women were becoming a nurse, a teacher, or a mother. I had no idea that there was a place for women in business.

I was already working part time for a small indie business that built and repaired bicycles. I managed stock and invoices, cleaned, served customers, learned to lace wheel spokes, and even got to test-ride some high spec Italian race bikes! I was gaining valuable insight into the different aspects of running a business and I was curious.

Now, as an active girl, I was an outlier among my peers. Even at a university renowned for sporting excellence, sporty women were a minority in my social circle. The sports and fitness industry was on the cusp of the changes we are starting to see today; making more space for girls and women in sport and business. But it wasn’t until I joined SIC that I really found women to look up to.

Through the programme, I had the opportunity to attend the Women In Sport conference. I also attended workshops on business planning, marketing, and research & development. I developed my product – medical ID for people who exercise alone, inspired by my own recent accident. Of over 200 students who engaged with the first stage of the challenge, my application was shortlisted to the final 10. I couldn’t believe it!

The achievement opened many new doors for me, and behind them stood my new role models. They were proof that women could be both business owners and hold space in the sporting world.

To help develop our ideas, the other candidates and I had meeting and mentoring opportunities with inspiring, strong women in sports and business;

• Alex Feechan (CEO of Findra), who designed and manufactured a line of outdoors sports clothing for women.
• Hinda Miller, who redesigned her husband’s jockstrap to create the world’s first ever sports bra (I’m still her biggest fan!) and,
• Tennis coach and influential speaker, Judy Murray.

 Shortly after, I pitched my idea to an expert panel of judges including Bonamy Grimes (co-founder of Skyscanner), Edel Tucker (Addidas design director), and Jonny Curley (Director of Anytime Leisure).

I received positive feedback on my idea and pitch, but I didn’t make it through to the final 3. Still, the process remains the catalyst that changed my perspective. I understood that there were more options for women, and there is a space for women in sport and business.

Women can be strong, successful business owners. And now, I had a basic understanding of what being a business owner entailed. The seed was sown, and the spark was lit. From then on, I was determined to run my own business. I will be forever grateful for these experiences and the role models I met. I hope that one day I’m able to pay it forward to the next generation of female business owners.