Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 50, September 2013 | Page 17

Balancing Act

the Club
t all started as a ‘career move’ in the investment field, but soon turned into a career move in a totally different direction. “When I started at STANLIB in 2008, I was 23 and had never done a triathlon, but my boss was doing the Ironman 70.3 and I thought it would be good to spend time with the big man,” jokes Travis. Little did he know then he was about to launch a multisport career that could see him get to the 2016 Rio Olympics! “I did some more training and then came my big breakthrough, making the Gauteng Duathlon team for the SA Champs, where I finished third in the 20-24 age category and made the SA team for the World Champs. There I came seventh in my category and 33rd overall, out of 750 competitors, and when I got back, I decided this is what I want to do, because since I was a kid I wanted to represent my country, and if possible race at the Olympics. So I made the decision to resign at the beginning of 2010, so that I could follow my dream.”

Having completed his B.com Investment Management degree and joined the STANLIB investment team, Travis Johnston found himself at a major crossroads, trying to choose between his career and the sport he had just taken up and was showing terrific promise in. He chose the path that most people would actually prefer to take, but seldom do: He quit his job in order to focus on his sport. And yet he still works for STANLIB. – BY SEAN FALCONER

I

Loving the triathlon environment.

Travis with SA team mate Richard Murray.

Triathlon and Duathlon World Champs. In 2011 he was crowned SA Duathlon Champion, placed first in his category at Ironman 70.3 SA, and won the 5150 Bela Bela Triathlon, thus becoming the first SA athlete to qualify for the 5150 Hyvee Final in the USA in 2012. That year he also retained his SA title, plus added second at African Duathlon Champs, third at SA Triathlon Champs and fourth at African Triathlon Champs. Added to that, he qualified for the top level World Triathlon Series event in Madrid. Looking ahead, Travis has his sights firmly set on Rio 2016. “That Olympic dream is what it’s all about, and I resigned in the first place to give myself that chance. The qualifying period starts in June 2014, and I am feeling confident, although I need to improve my swim to compete with the best in the world,” he says. “I do miss the vibe and excitement of the financial world, but I don’t miss the pressure and stress, and I have no regrets about making the change. Being able to do what I love most in sport, while trying to build the company from a wellness perspective, is a much better balance for me.”

Opportunity Knocks
However, that was not the end of Travis’ stay at STANLIB. Having accepted his resignation as a stock and investment broker, the company then asked him to start up and manage the STANLIB Sports Club. The company’s thinking was that sport has the ability to unite a company and break down inter-departmental barriers, by building relationships and bonds amongst employees at all levels. Also, healthy employees are more productive and driven. “It was a great opportunity for me, as I wasn’t makin ?]]X?[?^H???H?X]?[?H?]???[??YYH?????^K][YH[??Z[??[H?[X\??[??H?[\?K8?'H?^\??]?\?8?'???H??[??H??X?HH?]\??[?]?HH??[?]H???????H?YHH?\??H[YK?X?[???YH????[[??H?]?Y[??[][YH?Z[?[??[??[?Z[??X?H?????[][]H^HZ[?[??^H[?H???]H????'H?]?\?^Z[??]H?X?\?X??]?X?]?HY[X?\??Z?[??\?[?????[\?[]\??]?[????\??[??[???]?\????\]][?????]H??[??]?[??[??X?[??[?H[??[?\?X???]X[?H[?H?H
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