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Long jumper Nicholas Hum has called time on his athletics career to turn his attention to his young family and business, bowing out of the sport as a Paralympic bronze medallist and three-time Paralympian.
A friendly face on the domestic and international circuits for well over a decade, Hum’s career is defined by more than just his accolades.
“I’m very happy with what I have achieved, but I’m also very happy that I’m done,” Hum said.
“I am ready to move on, I have a young family which I was missing out on a lot. I felt like I had reached the pinnacle of everything in my athletic career when I weighed up my family and my work.”
Hum’s career spanned three Paralympic Games and five World Para Athletics Championships. He made his international debut at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch and competed for the final time at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Competing in the T20 class for athletes with an intellectual impairment, Hum has set up a smooth transition into retirement with the skills learned during his career, including discipline and perseverance.
“My career helped me grow as a person,” he said. “Obviously getting a medal is what you want to do, but I grew from just being in the sport which I am very grateful for.”
“I realised in Paris that my competitors were training full-time. I was really proud of being able to manage all the things like work and family and still come sixth.
“I beat guys on the day because of my mindset. Having a strong mindset is really important for people that have an intellectual disability because it can be really tricky.”
The Australian record holder in the long jump T20 at 7.39m, Hum has enjoyed a long-lasting partnership with coach John Boas, saying he “couldn’t have done it without him” when also thanking his broader support network at the Victorian Institute of Sport.
The father of two and business owner at Peninsula Joinery Specialists is proud to have “branched out” during his career, with the 31-year-old ready to take the leap into life after athletics having notched up over eight appearances on the world stage.
“I just missed my family; it was really big just getting to Paris. I didn’t get to see the kids as much and my wife, even though she was so supportive,” Hum said.
“They are very proud of me and when they see me, I think they see perseverance, which is really great for little kids.”
Hum retires content with his career on the track.
“You never want to give up and feel like you could have done more. I’m at peace with the decision.”
By: Athletics Australia
Published: 31 October 2024
