What happens when your entire identity is built on being the best in the world? For Jana Pittman, one of Australia's most famous athletes, the singular goal of Olympic gold was repeatedly torn away by devastating injuries and gut-wrenching losses.

You might think her biggest pivot was swapping the running track for the bobsled, becoming one of the very few athletes in history to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

But that wasn't it. Her real pivot was walking away entirely from being an elite athlete to become a doctor - all while raising six children.

In this episode of Pivot Club, Sarah Davidson speaks with Jana about this massive career change. They unpack how you cope with failure when your mindset is "silver is the first loser", and how you go from being one of the best in the world to a complete beginner back at the bottom of the ladder, surrounded by people half your age.

Jana shares the unfiltered story about how this profound pivot emerged from a period of intense personal and professional struggle - through divorce, miscarriages, failed exams and the financial lows of moving back into her own garage to make ends meet.

Join us for a raw lesson in resilience, a look into the unseen "messy middle," and a powerful reminder that your lowest moments can be the fuel for your greatest chapter yet.

 

THE END BITS:

Want more from Sarah Davidson? Check out her podcast Seize The Yay.

Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au 

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.

CREDITS:

Guest: Jana Pittman

Host: Sarah Davidson

Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser

Senior Producer: Sally BestThis show was brought to you in partnership with Charles Sturt University. Australia's largest and most experienced online uni. Take the next step. Search Charles Sturt University online. 

Complete our short survey about education for for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8467038/Ch

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. 

What happens when your entire identity is built on being the best in the world? For Jana Pittman, one of Australia's most famous athletes, the singular goal of Olympic gold was repeatedly torn away by devastating injuries and gut-wrenching losses.
You might think her biggest pivot was swapping the running track for the bobsled, becoming one of the very few athletes in history to compete in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
But that wasn't it. Her&nbsp;real pivot was walking away entirely from being an elite athlete to become a doctor - all while raising six children.
In this episode of Pivot Club, Sarah Davidson speaks with Jana about this massive career change. They unpack how you cope with failure when your mindset is "silver is the first loser", and how you go from being one of the best in the world to a complete beginner back at the bottom of the ladder, surrounded by people half your age.
Jana shares the unfiltered story about how this profound pivot emerged from a period of intense personal and professional struggle - through divorce, miscarriages, failed exams and the financial lows of moving back into her own garage to make ends meet.
Join us for a raw lesson in resilience, a look into the unseen "messy middle," and a powerful reminder that your lowest moments can be the fuel for your greatest chapter yet.
&nbsp;
THE END BITS:
Want more from Sarah Davidson? Check out her podcast <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/seize-the-yay/">Seize The Yay.</a>
Discover more Mamamia podcasts <a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/">here</a>.
Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au&nbsp;
Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP.
Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.
CREDITS:
Guest: Jana Pittman
Host: Sarah Davidson
Executive Producer: Courtney Ammenhauser
Senior Producer: Sally BestThis show was brought to you in partnership with <a href="https://www.csu.edu.au/">Charles Sturt University</a>. Australia's largest and most experienced online uni. Take the next step. Search Charles Sturt University online.&nbsp; Complete our short survey about education for for a chance to win a $1,000 gift voucher in our quarterly draw!&nbsp;<a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8467038/Ch" data-stringify-link="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8467038/Ch" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8467038/Ch</a>
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.&nbsp;

Two years ago, Madeleine West hit restart on her life. She packed up her life in Melbourne and moved to Byron Bay, split up with her partner of 15 years and the father of her six kids and she started life again. And now she wants to find out why and how women from across the country are restarting their lives. For 10 weeks, Restart will look into why more and more women are pressing refresh on their lives, and how the hell they’ve done it. From divorce to health, to appearance, to career, to sex. Restart, it’s never too late to change everything.

Two years ago, Madeleine West hit restart on her life. She packed up her life in Melbourne and moved to Byron Bay, split up with her partner of 15 years and the father of her six kids and she started life again. And now she wants to find out why and how women from across the country are restarting their lives. For 10 weeks, Restart will look into why more and more women are pressing refresh on their lives, and how the hell they&rsquo;ve done it. From divorce to health, to appearance, to career, to sex. Restart, it&rsquo;s never too late to change everything.

Restart

Pivot Club: All Life’s Hurdles With Jana Pittman

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/bcd7ceaa-0386-46e3-8c41-b3d80165915d/transcript