Beyond the Finish Line: What Happens When the Endorphins Fade
by Krista Guloien
About the Book
Are you an athlete transitioning from a career in sport and silently struggling along the way? Or perhaps you didn’t realize how you would feel when your athletic career ended and how difficult transitioning to life beyond would be.
You are not alone. Krista’s forthright tell-all of her journey to the 2012 Summer Olympic rowing podium, as well as what came after, will help you find closure and peace, as well as a safe place to relate, laugh, and reflect on the “what next?” after sport.
In sport, as in many other high-pressure niches, strength is an asset and discussion about weakness is not openly publicized. In telling her story, Krista is unmasking the face of retirement from sport. You will find relief in realizing that representing something strongly doesn’t mean you always feel strong inside. Not only are admitting weakness and showing vulnerability encouraged by Krista, she will show you that sharing and uniting in struggle is actually part of the healing process.
Breaking the silence and candidly sharing her struggles, you will hear a relatable account of what happens emotionally and physically after your athletic career ends and be better prepared when it is your time. You will gain insight into the journey of chasing a dream and, more notably, perspective on the journey that commences when you retire and begin to navigate the world beyond full-time sports.
About the Author
Krista Guloien is a world-class athlete who achieved the pinnacle of athletic achievement by winning a silver medal for Canada in women’s rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.
Her rowing career began as a student in 2001 when she joined a learn-to-row program at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Falling in love with the sport during her first practice, and inspired by other great Canadian rowers like Silken Laumann and Marnie McBean, Krista began working and dreaming toward the goal of rowing in the Olympics one day. Her quick rise through the ranks was nothing short of meteoric. After graduating from SFU, she moved to Ontario to train with Rowing Canada’s National Team and competed in her first Olympics in 2008.
Known for her hard work, consistency, and boat feel—the innate sense of when the boat is in balance and going fast—Krista became a team leader who was valued and respected for her ability to push herself and encourage her team members at the same time. Her resilience and commitment paid off in August 2012, when she and her teammates competed in the women’s eight and won a silver medal for Canada.
Krista stands out as a role model for young athletes and has volunteered countless hours to educate, coach, and mentor young athletes. She contributes her time to numerous community events and charitable causes, including Fast and Female, 60 Minute Kids’ Club, Game Ready Fitness, viaSport, and KidSport. All are either provincial or national organizations dedicated to encouraging youth to lead more active and healthy lives by getting involved in sport.
Her achievements in rowing at the national level in World Rowing Cup Regattas, World Rowing Championships, and the Olympic Games rank Krista among the top female rowers in the history of Canadian rowing.
After the London Olympics, Krista settled back at her home in Vancouver. Through writing about her transition from high-level athlete to the next chapter in her life, she hopes to help others prepare and manage the transition from sport successfully. Since her time in sport, she has taken a one-year fashion merchandising program at Blanche Macdonald Centre, and worked at Lululemon in store and on the website. She now coaches youth, leads indoor cycling classes, and coordinates events for Fast and Female in British Columbia. Writing and speaking to share her journey, as well as motivate and help others in their journey, have become her full-time commitment.
She is passionate about helping people to feel empowered, confident, motivated, and worthy. She is also passionate about her family and her two dogs Charlie and Arthur.
