The Moment I’d Been Working Towards
For years, my sights were set on one singular goal: reaching the South Pole. It was bold, extreme, and to some impossible. But that was the point. Every decision, every hour of training, every conversation, every sacrifice… it all revolved around getting to that one place on the map. That one moment in time.
And I did it. I became the first disabled person to reach the South Pole solo and unsupported. It was historic, I got my world record. For a while, I felt elated, emotional, relieved, grateful, and even a bit stunned. The kind of high that comes when years of effort and pain and grit finally pay off.
But then something else crept in.
When the Clapping Stops
No one really talks about what happens after a big goal is achieved. You expect to come home to applause, to feel fulfilled, to carry that high with you forever. And for a short time, I did.
But then the noise faded. The interviews slowed down. The world, quite naturally, moved on.
This is often referred to as Gold Medal Syndrome, the psychological crash that can occur after a major achievement. It’s that hollow feeling when your big moment passes and real life returns.
Reality Doesn’t Change Overnight
I came back to the same financial pressures. The same personal challenges. The same need to put on a brave face, to perform like everything was okay.
Even with the recognition, even with the record, I was still me. Still trying to navigate the complexities of being human. The expedition didn’t erase that, and I never expected it to, but what surprised me was how flat I felt without the mission driving me forward.
We pour so much of ourselves into these big goals, thinking that maybe they’ll fix something inside us.
You’re Not Immune Just Because You’ve Achieved Something
I’m not sharing this to sound ungrateful. Quite the opposite, I’m proud of what I’ve done. But I’m also aware that achievement and fulfilment aren’t the same thing. You can tick the box, make the history, win the medal, and still feel heavy inside.
Especially for men, especially for people who are seen as “high performers,” it can be difficult to admit when something feels off. We’re not supposed to feel lost after a win. But the truth is, the higher the high, the deeper the drop can feel.
So if you’ve ever reached a goal and felt strangely low afterwards, please know that you’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re just human.
Let’s Talk About It
I’m okay. I’ve got the right support in place, and I’m learning to sit with the discomfort rather than bury it. But I think it’s important to talk about this part of the journey, because if it happened to me, I know it’s happening to others.
If any of this resonates with you, my inbox is open. No pressure, no pretence, just a real conversation if you want one.
We don’t always talk about the come-downs. But maybe we should. Because the truth is, none of us are alone in this.
7 July 2025
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