"Full-time" athletic efforts vs. part-time jobs

[Sciurus-Rex]

How many hours can an elite athlete afford to work during a week at a professional job (not his sport) and still make maintain his ability or improve?

[Goofy]

Of course, the main example of success in this situation would be Keeth Smart. He graduated from St John's in 2001, and then while working full-time for Verizon (40-45 hours per week) he managed to become #1 in the world rankings for Mens Sabre in 2003 and make the 2004 Olympic Team.

[rcmatthews]

Wow, that makes it even more impressive. I didn;t know he held down a full time job at the same time.

[Peach]

I believe Keeth was given a leave of absence to train before the Olympics.

[jrgunn]

How many hours can an elite athlete afford to work during a week at a professional job (not his sport) and still make maintain his ability or improve?

The problem with answering this question is that there is no baseline for comparing different athletes. As there is no professional fencing allowing for a focused, full time training and performance career over a period of years, there is no way to answer this with any authority.
As things are now, the only answer for top athletes is to devote as much time and energy possible while making a living doing something else. Which generally means no life outside of fencing and work. It kind of blows, but there it is.

[Mo]

As things are now, the only answer for top athletes is to devote as much time and energy possible while making a living doing something else. Which generally means no life outside of fencing and work. It kind of blows, but there it is.

Actually most European countries train their senior athletes full time and pay them.
China does too. The Chinese have housing and salaries and they get a bunch of money if they will. Tan Xue probably got 100,000 for winning her silver in the Olympics.
Fencing in the US is not considered a job.
Athletes in Europe get their education paid for, their training and are given a salary starting as young as 16. Most of the Senior Italian fencers are police.
Traditionally in the US sports are for amateurs except for football or basketball. Things seem to be changing though but not anywhere close to the way it is in other parts of the world.

[dknj]

Actually some US fencers are getting salaries directly from the USOC, because of their individual/team results at the Olympics. However, don't get too excited, it's not that much money, but it's almost enough to live on.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Actually most European countries train their senior athletes full time and pay them.
China does too. The Chinese have housing and salaries and they get a bunch of money if they will. Tan Xue probably got 100,000 for winning her silver in the Olympics.
Fencing in the US is not considered a job.
Athletes in Europe get their education paid for, their training and are given a salary starting as young as 16. Most of the Senior Italian fencers are police.
Traditionally in the US sports are for amateurs except for football or basketball. Things seem to be changing though but not anywhere close to the way it is in other parts of the world.

100k isnt nearly enough. I could earn 100k doing slave labor at a minimum wage and still not do the same amount of work that these great fencers do to get where they are. You've gotta do it for the love, cause the money aint worth it.

[Army Fencer]

As there is no professional fencing allowing for a focused, full time training and performance career over a period of years, there is no way to answer this with any authority.

What are you talking about? We have a number of fencers here at the Olympic Training Center who do nothing but fence. Right now, it's me and Niul Manske, but soon we'll have Seth and Cody, too.

[glowstix]

What are you talking about? We have a number of fencers here at the Olympic Training Center who do nothing but fence. Right now, it's me and Niul Manske, but soon we'll have Seth and Cody, too.

dude, you really do nothing but fence??? what the heck is that?? heaven on earth?? lucky punk!! what about med school??

[Army Fencer]

Med school's on hold until after the Olympic Games, but I'm working on getting into a clinic here in the area once a week.

[glowstix]

Med school's on hold until after the Olympic Games, but I'm working on getting into a clinic here in the area once a week.

how much med school do you have left anyway??

[Army Fencer]

Technically, 2 years. But they may want me to take one more year, depending on how stupid I get out here as an athlete.

[jrgunn]

Technically, 2 years. But they may want me to take one more year, depending on how stupid I get out here as an athlete.

O.k: Then your the man to ask about this question of full time training v.s. holding a job at the same time. What is the balance IYO? Care to share your experience?

[JEC]

Technically, 2 years. But they may want me to take one more year, depending on how stupid I get out here as an athlete.

Don't worry all third years are reaaaallly green when the start their clinical rotations. The best improve over the first two or three weeks, and the worst stay that way.... clueless. I think that getting older (being more mature) will help you more than an extra year.
Best regards,
A med school attending

[Sciurus-Rex]

dude, you really do nothing but fence??? what the heck is that?? heaven on earth?? lucky punk!! what about med school??

that, and troll the Internet message boards for fencing chat.

[Army Fencer]

O.k: Then your the man to ask about this question of full time training v.s. holding a job at the same time. What is the balance IYO? Care to share your experience?

I thought I was pretty clear. I don't hold down a regular job. Fencing is my job in the Army.

I left (took a break from) medical school because I knew that I couldn't do both at the same time. I tried and I was successful (top 8 back in April), but I knew that I couldn't keep it up.

[Army Fencer]

that, and troll the Internet message boards for fencing chat.

I prefer the term "peruse."

Seriously though, my fencing.net consumption has decreased steadily since I've been here. I think it's because I don't have anything to procrastinate from other than the few books I'm reading.

[Army Fencer]

Don't worry all third years are reaaaallly green when the start their clinical rotations. The best improve over the first two or three weeks, and the worst stay that way.... clueless. I think that getting older (being more mature) will help you more than an extra year.
Best regards,
A med school attending

I think I will be much better prepared for medicine after this experience for precisely the reasons you suggest. That's one of the reasons I didn't feel too terrible about leaving, despite the inherent risk involved with the decision and the fact that I was leaving my friends.

I'm doing my best to prevent cluelessness, but I know it goes with the territory.

[whtouche]

I thought I was pretty clear. I don't hold down a regular job. Fencing is my job in the Army.

I left (took a break from) medical school because I knew that I couldn't do both at the same time. I tried and I was successful (top 8 back in April), but I knew that I couldn't keep it up.

It was very clear, to me at least. But you can still offer some insight, infact more so than most people. The question now becomes, given your training schedule right now and your performance / rate of improvement (given that such things are generally hard to quantify except in retrospect) do you think you would have any time to train as much as you do, and also hold down a part time job, and if so how often would you be able to work.
Conversely, do you think it would be viable for you to sacrifice some/any of your training time in order to hold down a part time job, and still maintain an approximate level of conditioning and ability? This question is important to people who want to train as much as possible but aren't free to do so professionally.