Siobhan Haughey: How She Made History for Hong Kong
Siobhan Haughey just won gold at the National Games — but her story started long before the headlines.In this conversation, recorded just after the Paris Olympics, Siobhan opens up about the real life behind being Hong Kong’s most decorated athlete. She talks about the mental toll of elite sport, what it feels like to carry a city’s expectations, and how she stays grounded while constantly chasing progress.We also talk about her path from the University of Michigan to Olympic medals, her views on psychology and pressure, and what life might look like after swimming.This is a rare, honest look at what it takes to perform at the highest level — and how to stay human while doing it.Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AeqJQTJVTfiOeo0tn09Aa?si=c140875205b349faFollow Abnormal on IG: / abnormalpod
--------
1:04:36
--------
1:04:36
#54 - Cheung Pakhung - The Dark Side of Being #1 in the World
In this episode, Pakhung, a world champion in rope skipping, shares his journey from a passionate athlete to a social media influencer and entrepreneur. He discusses the evolution of rope skipping as a sport, the impact of social media on its popularity, and the importance of teamwork and community in maintaining motivation. Pakhung also opens up about the pressures of competition, the significance of mental health, and his personal definition of success. He emphasizes the value of failure as a learning experience and offers advice for aspiring athletes and entrepreneurs.Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3AeqJQTJVTfiOeo0tn09Aa?si=f467cc42b56a48cfFollow Abnormal on IG: https://www.instagram.com/abnormalpod/Follow Pakhung on IG: https://www.instagram.com/pakhungjai/
--------
46:55
--------
46:55
#53 - Ant Haynes - The Dark Side of Discipline: Life as a CrossFit Games Athlete
Ant Haynes is one of Hong Kong’s most respected CrossFit athletes, a multiple-time CrossFit Games competitor, former Hong Kong rugby player, and co-owner of Coastal Fitness. But behind the medals and highlight reels lies a powerful story about sacrifice, burnout, and rediscovering balance.In this episode, Ant opens up about his journey from professional rugby to CrossFit, how he built one of Asia’s top training communities, and the moment he realised that success was costing him the relationships that mattered most.Chapters00:00 The Cost of Athletic Pursuits03:01 Navigating Life Changes: From Hong Kong to Dubai05:54 The Journey from Rugby to CrossFit09:01 Transitioning to Coaching and Business12:00 The Evolution of CrossFit and Personal Training15:00 The Challenges of Competing at a High Level17:50 Programming for Longevity in Fitness21:00 The Reality of Competition Preparation29:47 The Pain of Preparation31:55 Lessons from Competition33:29 Training Adaptations and Resilience36:52 The Evolution of CrossFit Training39:32 CrossFit vs Other Sports44:20 The Mental Game of Training49:32 Shifting Priorities55:39 Redefining Success59:30 Legacy and Impact01:01:18 Courage Over Comfort🎧 Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.👉 Subscribe for more conversations with people doing Abnormal things.Follow Ant: https://www.instagram.com/anthayneshk/
--------
1:04:53
--------
1:04:53
The Rise of Hyrox: How a Fitness Revolution Took Over the World
Re-release: A listener favourite from the Abnormal archivesHyrox has exploded across the world — but how did it reach Asia?In this conversation, Gary Wan, the man responsible for bringing Hyrox to Asia, joins us to share the story behind one of the fastest-growing fitness movements on the planet.Gary talks about how he discovered Hyrox, the early struggles of launching it in a new region, and the cultural differences that shaped its growth. From athlete psychology to building community, this episode is a blueprint for anyone who’s ever tried to take an idea global.Whether you’re a Hyrox competitor, a business founder, or just someone who loves pushing your limits, Gary’s story will fire you up.🎧 This is a special re-release of one of our most popular early episodes — because some stories deserve to be heard twice.
--------
52:03
--------
52:03
#52 - Anton Dubrov & Andrei Vasilevski — The Team Behind Aryna Sabalenka’s METEORIC Rise to World No.1
What does it really take to build a world number one?In this episode, I sit down with Andrei Vasilevski and Anton Dubrov, the coaching masterminds behind Aryna Sabalenka, to reveal the truth about what it takes to reach, and stay at, the top of the tennis world.From the emotional highs of Grand Slam victories to the unseen struggles behind the scenes, they share how trust, discipline, and daily 0.1% improvements turn potential into greatness.Whether you’re chasing excellence yourself or just curious about the mindset behind champions, this is a masterclass in discipline, teamwork, and belief.🎙️ Abnormal is the podcast for normal people doing abnormal things.Subscribe for more stories from the world’s best performers, athletes, and thinkers.
The podcast for normal people who want to do abnormal things.Hey, I am Pete Laverick, an Ex-professional athlete living a pretty normal life in Hong Kong. I talk to people who many of us view as 'abnormal', or having achieved abnormal things. I want to know if these 'abnormal' people are that much different from the rest of us, what was it that made them go from being normal people, living normal lives, to wanting to do something completely different and make that first step outside of their comfort zone.
Ireland