Welcome to Harry's Gym Chat.

We're in my gym and we're gonna chat.

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We're gonna be talking about everything health and wealth and fitness, but also all things positive, because I'm a positive guy, I'm a big guy.

We're keeping it fun and friendly.

So, look, jump in, turn the volume up, let's do this.

What's happening?

People?

Harry double A here with some husky tones, believe it or not, my voice is going through it, typical in a podcast.

But I couldn't not do this because I've got a very, very special guest.

We are talking about the one and only Perishake Straighten, olympian World Med List.

We're talking European champion, all sorts of accolades, as well as super mom, celebrity.

What I'm just gonna keep going?

Do you know what I mean?

But, perish, look, here we are.

We're in my gym and we're chatting.

Yes.

How are we feeling?

We're here, I'm good.

Finally, I'm in this famous gym that I always see on your Instagram.

I mean, how many years has it been, Harry, since I've seen you?

It's like I'm sure it's been like over three years.

I mean, only today I'm meeting your daughter.

Like what is going on.

You know what?

life just comes at you so fast, and I mean this is the point.

So, for everyone listening and watching, what you've got to understand is me and Perish go so far back.

We're talking what?

World Juniors in 2006.

In China yes, Gosh that's what I see, Perish, and I'm telling you for all fact.

Back in those days, you don't realize how young and innocent you are.

Yeah, but we thought we was grown and we knew everything.

Staying up past our bedtime.

Trust me, you're doing the worst.

You know what, harry?

I would call you the gadget man.

You put me on cameras laptop.

I think it was like a small laptop miniature one.

You had one, I got one in white.

Harry is the gadget man and he continues to be the gadget man.

Before.

This is when certain people obviously we're going to touch on social media and transitions into different planes of work.

Now, I've always had some form of enjoyment with cameras, with photos, with technology, right.

So when things like social media came up to the upfront, it did come naturally to me.

So you are someone that has a large social media following.

How has that helped you, and would you say that you wish that sort of stuff, in a certain sense, came in earlier in your career of athletics?

Do?

I think it should have come earlier.

Well, to be quite a view.

It may have been a detriment to performance.

I like the fact that we were kind of on.

We had the early stage of it.

When I look back, my photos quality was dead.

Videos weren't a thing at the time.

It was all about photos and very much a lot of editing and you're not looking like yourself In terms of training.

I wasn't very insightful, you wouldn't know, but nowadays I know.

He said oh, athletes are sharing their journey.

I feel like there's this pressure and I like the fact that I was training in the background.

You wouldn't see much.

Maybe you see me in a newspaper after a while.

Ninja, huh, and when it comes to performance when it came to performance, that done the talking.

So I like the fact that I've had life where there wasn't much social media and then now I'm in that bubble is, yes, I love it how we like you, we love the camera.

I feel like when the camera's on, we switch on.

Yeah, Definitely very similar in that sense.

You know background athletics, but we have personality and we like to show off.

People have always said that about us.

So when we reflect upon our early days of athletics and let's talk about that, because some people don't realize what we went through, we actually went through it we're talking me and Perry.

We're talking 2006 World Juniors.

Where did you finish in those World Juniors?

Because you were doing.

I came eighth, four hurdles then and you were one of the younger ones as well, competing against the oldest.

So what people don't understand in these categories is the World Juniors was like under 20s, but I was 17.

You would have been 17, 16.

Yes, yes, so we're competing against 19 year olds.

I was fortunate enough to come away with a gold medal Great, obviously, that's what Harry does.

Perry was this East London girl that I was just like who is this?

Because you know and you're just like, yeah, harry, what's going on in here?

You all right what.

You were so raw, and then that's when you could see that you were turning into some fine cut diamond.

Because what Come 2009,?

European under 20s freeze.

You did a madness there.

Yes, remind me, there was Europeans, wasn't it?

Yeah, in Lithuania, lithuania, yes, you did a madness there, and then that's when I started to see the rise of Perry Shakespeare.

That's what I used to call that, yeah.

And then, obviously, it was Europeans 2010 that you got your first senior, sort of like Barcelona, yeah, yes, that's where you were like cool, I'm here.

Yes, that's where I made it.

Yeah.

Showed everyone who I was.

Exactly and so like from this, like sort of raw diamond, we're talking, like you're on the international stage having to.

You know, because it was the four hurdles, was your main love in it, and was it 2011 or 2012 that you hurt your knee?

2013.

2013 is when you hurt your knee and at this point, we knew you as this ferocious forehead like that used to put everything out on the track.

Yeah, no matter what distance, what?

No matter what distance my coach got me to do?

Listen, I'm dying at the line.

I may have done that.

800 meters.

I remember, I remember and I was like why is Perry doing four laps?

I was always surprising people at what distance and everyone would be like what is she doing today?

I was one of them.

Kind of athletes, what's she going to do?

Even I tied 60 in dogs.

But what was your mindset like around that?

If coach said, this is what we're doing, listen, would you just be like, cool, I'm doing it, I'm doing it.

Yeah, straight up.

No questions, no back chat, nothing.

Is that what I need to do to be the best, I'm going to do it?

That was kind of my mentality.

What is that mindset come from, though?

Because not every like boy.

I've been thrown into a four before, and as much as I stepped on the line, my knees were like they were shaking boy.

You know what I feel like sprinters, right, you could say well, I'm a court on my line, yeah.

Yeah.

But sprinters, you don't like going above your distance.

You do not.

It's facts.

It's facts, my background also with a distance runner.

I first got introduced into the sport as a cross country, as a cross country.

That makes sense Because the way you run everything's compact.

You can roll.

You know, when there's a fluency of movement, you've always had that natural flowing movement which allows you especially.

You see it expressed over the 400.

So that in itself, what would you say is your favorite distance.

Then you know what I really enjoyed the 200.

Yeah.

I enjoyed the 200 because it's like oh, my tono, it's not quick, my start is crap, but I'm going to come through and we can't have the benefit.

And that's how the two have been.

The speed of a 200, helped me with the 400 meters.

And then obviously the 400 meter hurdles.

That was a new skill I had to learn.

It was hard learning a new skill when people would commentate on me.

You know I had something to say about my technique.

And I had good technique, I know.

Whenever it was raw it was just like just go for it, Get over it yeah.

Kind of things.

And then what was it?

Was it 2013, when European indoors, when you got their medals?

That was it in Sweden.

Yes, gothenburg, gothenburg, gothenburg, yes.

Ah, yes.

The 400 meters and a four by four relay.

Yeah, double gold.

On the same day, though, what was in the morning?

Laptic central Jesus.

Hey, I remember my recovery.

As soon as I finished that 400 meters, that was it.

I was in the hotel, eat ice bath, sleep.

I'm going again and I think from that success that carries you, you get confident, You're like I've done this, I've really been, I'm going to go again for another one and to bring home another gold medal with the team.

It was like ah, this is amazing.

So would you say that's one of your biggest highlights of your career?

Yes, that is Because obviously, I was doing 400 meters, I was a 400 meter hurdler, but also, I'm going to say, to call myself an Olympian is a highlight.

No, I never got a gold medal.

No, I never got a medal.

But to be an Olympic Games your home one as well not many people get to see.

They've done that.

That's a proud moment for me.

At the time, trust me, I was gutted Because I never made the final.

I was upset.

But then, when I reflect on things, I was like, no, definitely hold my head up high.

So two solid years, but that 2012 highlight and disappointment obviously, like you said in the time, spurred you on to do literally if Olympics were in August, by March of 2013.

So what we're talking nine months is that, or six months or so.

You're literally talking about how you did a madness in between that time trained and then became Queen of European Doors.

That's ridiculous and this is what I mean.

It's so amazing for me Because I've seen you.

I was there.

I was there.

Everything you're saying.

I was there.

So I remember.

When we obviously have these highs, lows do follow, and obviously 2013 is when you hurt your knee, right.

So how do you sort of deal with going from one to the other when you're?

For me, I remember it was my world juniors.

I was world junior champion.

Then the next thing, I was in a back brace the next year, so you didn't seem that you're European juniors.

What was that like for you, going from such a high to knowing that something's not right and I need to try and figure out a way to get through this.

That was definitely my darkest moment in my career, because everyone sees me as this bubbly person.

Perry's always smiling and yes, that is how I wanted to be perceived.

But I was going through it.

I didn't like watching the sports.

Don't turn on that TV, don't care what's going on, don't wanna see results, cause I was like I can run faster than that person.

I should be there.

Honestly, that's how I felt it was like.

And then going through the rehab as well, which took what?

Four years.

You'd be going.

Well, I'm walking, now, oh, I'm jogging, I'm running Then you get knocked back.

It was like, nah, this is hard and I used to celebrate every little bit of progress that I made, but then you get knocked back down again.

It's like yeah.

And then also I know of other athletes who had injuries and came back and that kept me going.

Harry, I was like, if that person can do it, I can do it too.

Yeah, I was like me myself.

I didn't want that I didn't want no negativity.

I didn't want to hear anybody tell me about this knee injury that they had and how long it took them.

Don't tell me about your story.

Me and you were different.

Yeah, so I was just like this.

It's facts, though it's facts.

I remember 2010 with myself.

I tore my semi-tendermal behind my knee world indoors.

I was winging out that year and 6.55.

So I was thinking I was ranked fifth going into the world championships that year indoors and I've done the tendon and a lot of people have told me that a lot of athletes never came back from that.

I mean, I was at the world championships the next year, I took the year out and then I came back the next year the same with the back brace and I think we hold the key.

We hold a lot of positives in around our own narrative.

So that positivity you talk about, I think that's where we're so aligned.

Have you always had that positivity in you?

Yes, I would say that, don't get me wrong.

There'll be a negative thought in my mind, or doubts, I'll have that.

But then I'm like when you fall into that trap it's not gonna be right.

I've always got a mantra.

I say like doubt kills, and I try and like I don't know if there's weird things that you might do on the start line, yeah, so for me I would shake my head.

And the reason why I shake my head like that sometimes is because I'm shaking away the doubt.

If I have a bad thought in my head, I shake my head.

Okay, I say no.

Not today.

You're being like okay, and then, like you know, sometimes you don't realize how anxious you are when you're on that start line, you're ready to go, and then you'll start to think, oh, but what if?

But if I can't?

And then you start to go actually and I go quick shake no, not today, because that's what I mean, that moment of doubt, so I call so.

The thing is, with four years of rehab, what I found can affect a lot of athletes in that perception is a perspective of knowing that not only have you got to get back, but you got to get back to where you were and potentially be better.

What was that like?

Gosh, okay.

So let's think about when I did eventually come back.

So, 2000 and 2016,.

I tried to come back.

We had the Olympic Games in Rio.

I injured myself again it was my fight had to go on to go surgery.

What a big scar that I'm forever reminded.

Yeah, and I was like, no, it's not happening.

Anyway, 2017, I came back for the World Championships in London and I was upset because I'm like I've come back, but I've come back to do relay.

I'm an individual runner, so I'm like I'm back, but I'm really not the same person.

I'm not the same athlete.

Should I say oh, so happy to see you back, by the way.

Oh, thanks, oh so happy because I got my dance partner back.

We didn't know about me and Barry, yeah, they said I want to dance, but you were dropping out, you mean?

hotel room men's room.

South Africa.

Oh yeah, we're vibing, listen everyone talks about Amapiano right now.

Listen, we were South African house lovers, yeah.

Black coffee back in the day, oh man.

Lucy, that was us.

You know what?

I mean oh wait, we knew how to switch off.

Yes, we knew how to enjoy life in those moments.

And, like you said, there'll be a few of us in a room play some music and we're just vibing Simple things.

Look at how we enjoy ourselves.

Little girl from East London, little boy from South London, you know, we're just in South Africa on a fully paid trip to train.

Come on, we're living life.

Right, right.

Often I didn't look at things that way, harry.

That's where I'll sometimes go wrong, because I was always chasing what's next, what's next, instead of being like, nah, sit back, take in, like you say, the surroundings.

And I feel like that only came in later on in my career, After I'd ended myself.

That's when I would reflect and realise, no, you've done a lot Like give yourself a round of applause, but when you're in the moment, sometimes, often you forget, pay yourself to too many people and other people's performance is like no, that's not how you meant to think, because we're all different journeys, exactly so.

That's what I'm saying.

You don't realise, but that's sort of a compliment to yourself, because you're an athlete who was achieving so much so young, and I feel like every year you were PB and you were breaking record.

You had your battles with Ailee, like you know it was who was faster, because when we get a PB, then you get a PB and you know there's a consistent progression for you.

That's why you could look forward.

And unfortunately, we do have injuries where we are part of the 1%, where we are literally doing so much where lifting, running, throwing, jumping People don't know how athletes train.

When they say to me oh what do you?

Just run around in a circle?

What do you do to train?

We're conditioning, we're doing pilates, we're doing so much.

So when these injuries occur, we need 100% of ourselves.

We can't step on a pitch unless you're using bolt and you're two temps ahead of everyone else that you might be able to come and jump and run a nine eight and win a championship.

but you don't have that allowance and we can't have a bad day.

We cannot rely on anybody.

If you're on a team sport, if you're having a bad day, someone else might have to do a bit more for you you as an individual athlete.

In athletics, we can't do that.

So then, now that we've sort of like stamped on the athletics side yeah, 2017, 2018, you started to waive through the seasons.

You were just still trying to get your groove back right.

Yeah, you were in and about everywhere that you needed to be, but when did the transition come into where we're about to go?

When did you start to think about life outside of athletics?

So I changed coach.

Towards the end of my career I said to myself I'm not going to leave the sport, not saying, should I try something else?

And I wanted to change a scenery.

So I went over to the States, tried it for a year.

And what year was this?

I'm going to say 2018.

I'm really rubbish with dates.

Everything just sinks into one and yes, I tried it out there and you know what.

I'll be honest with you.

You know what made me think I just switched things up.

I'm spending more money than I'm making.

When you get to that reality, it's like sorry, this is not worth it anymore, Sorry.

And then I thought I'm going to give it a try.

Obviously, I went to the trials, so I done a pooling, I done a pooling.

I said this isn't me and I'm not going to leave in a way that I'm just like, yeah, I'm not going to leave again, be forced out of the sport, I'm going to make this decision.

And then my husband went on a show, a reality TV show in Nigeria.

So I spent some time in Nigeria.

How did you find that?

culture.

Oh, I loved it.

I loved it and I must say it wasn't the first time I experienced that culture.

Yes, first time I've experienced Nigeria.

But I went to school with Nigerians, definitely embraced the culture.

I went to weddings.

My best friend, she's Nigerian, so from primary school I was interested in food and things like that, music, everything.

So, embracing that, going to that, I was like, oh, I love this.

And I was like, but if I'm here, I can't train and do what I need to do if I want to be the top of my game.

So I said you know what I'm enjoying life here.

You know, it's all about being happy.

I was happy there.

I said, nah, this sport thing I'm done, yeah, and I spoke to her, but I remember making a decision.

I may smile about it now, but I cried, oh, period, because athletics is what made me.

Yeah, is that your first love?

Yeah, so I'm like whoa, I'm going to have to make an announcement.

How am I going to tell the fans and everything, and I was like.

I was like what was actually a sad moment, Because I'm no longer going to be training.

It's like an end of a relationship innit.

Right.

Is that a yeah?

It's not you, it's me, that's not me, no, it's you.

That's it right.

Oh, my God, I'm walking down my lovely art.

And I was, like you know.

Mate, you know I did do that.

I had to inform her of what you need to inform to say you're going to make an announcement and stuff.

And it was just like you know, the feedback you get is lovely and stuff.

And I was like, OK, right, done with that.

Yeah, I'm done with athletics, what am I going to do next?

But I didn't put that pressure on me.

I said you know what, made so many sacrifices with the sport, I'm going to enjoy life Nice.

And I meant that in the sense that I'm going to eat what I want.

Come to food when.

I go out and people say do you want a drink?

I'll have a drink because I was that person.

No, sad, don't drink.

People wouldn't invite me out, harry, because I asked.

Yes, she's training she ain't gonna come.

You know what I mean.

But what people don't know, though, is that athletes can have a good time, even though without the alcohol.

But let me tell you something.

I was that person.

No, I can't drink, it's gonna affect my performance, I was like that, but really you can enjoy it, you can.

Maybe I did it a little bit too often Because.

I was one of them ones you know me, Harry, will.

People will think I'm drunk but I'm not.

But I don't need to drink, that's what I'm saying.

I have got energy for you.

I don't need to drink to be the thing.

I'll bring the vibes.

I'll do a dance.

Yes, I'll bring the vibes.

I'm not gonna be that stork.

If anything, stay on the dance floor.

That way you don't have to have a drink in your hand.

Innit.

No, another thing you said the way I'll dance on a dance floor.

You're like a workout.

Yes, especially growing up with these stuff Burning calories, funky houses and stuff.

You're sweating, Sweating out.

I used to bring Hankie out with me.

I used to have a little.

I used to dab my forehead what these times you'll come out, I'll be leaving lighter.

I'm telling you Leaving lighter and my back balance is fine because I ain't bought no drinks.

They're the best nights.

Oh, you know what I think?

Tell it, tell it.

Tell it like oh my God, my best night on the track, right On the circuit, was World Championships 2009 in Berlin.

Yeah.

I didn't spend a bit.

I was like getting that car booked.

We're going to the location, the D-Tribe.

I like this, mate.

This is what I'm saying, though, when you actually reflect your living life in these rounder places, but this is what I do wish.

When I asked you earlier about the inception of social media, I wish I vlogged it all genuinely, because I was snapping.

If you go on my laptop now, when I was at my laptop, I was always taking pictures, right?

I've got some pictures of us from going so far back.

I've got pictures from that Berlin 2009 World Championships.

Like, I've got images of these things.

I've got images that I won't share because some people won't be happy.

In nightclubs, you look at the background and you're like, wow, that person was acting, but we're seeing so much.

That's what I'm trying to say.

Like, if we had vlogged all that, like guys, like, genuinely, you're 19 years old, I was jumping on planes and not telling my parents that I was coming because I bought my house in Lafbara.

By that point, it was just like oh, I'm in France.

Oh, you want me to come to China?

Okay, I'm in China.

Oh, and this is all within one week.

I mean, we didn't live the luxurious life I wish I would have vlogged it.

I like to vlog now.

If I would have vlogged, you know, the traveling, the training and how surprising.

It would have been like people are like, yeah, but you fly first class Boy, I was in the back of the plane.

Yeah, easy Jet From one place.

You'll be doing three connections just to get to Germany and then from then, like some people will put you up nicely.

But the thing is with athletics, people don't recognize it as a poor man's sport.

Anyone can do it, and to be treated in a type of way you've got to be the best of the best.

We're talking about that.

We're the 1% in the world.

Like, don't get me wrong, though, I'm a European medallist, I'm a world medallist, I've got accolades, but you're still one of many.

So therefore it's only those guys that have won something that get that sort of treatment.

Now I find it so funny that people don't realize that when we travel to these random places luckily there's a lot of brits on the circuit.

But what makes me laugh is the fact that you open the door.

It's a lottery.

You don't know who you're sharing with.

You don't know who you're sharing with.

You're hoping they're British.

You're turning up for a competition.

So you've just traveled from Stansted Airport, which took you two hours to get to because it's not in London, and then next thing, you know, you fly to some random country, wherever that might be in Europe, and then you're tired, you've got to compete.

The next day you have a quick bit of food because once you've touched down you've got to wait for everyone to get everything.

And then, as you go to open the door, you're like I hope it's someone I know Right.

Trust me, you know, sometimes I've been to a room and I was like is anyone there?

Am I the first one?

I always want to be the first one because you want to bag the bed innit, the best bed.

That was one thing.

And then you're like you like say do they speak English?

Yeah.

Do they do my event?

Don't.

If you're doing my event, I don't want to share with you.

Sorry, I'm not into this small talk.

I don't want to.

You know it's funny.

Yeah, I said, is it?

Athletes, they all have a perception of me like, especially my competitors.

They're like this guy never spoke.

I don't think I was that friendly.

I don't know what I was.

No, you can switch on and off, because I appreciate this and I would quite happily sit.

I remember one time sharing with some Russian dude or Ukrainian just someone from Eastern Europe, and they obviously don't really speak English.

So in that moment I just sat there and I was like I'm cool with this because I don't have to force the small talk I don't actually have to make a point of.

We just knew like obviously this is what we don't realize, like my guy's going to go use the bathroom.

So I needed to try to figure out when I could use the bathroom, because it's competition day.

When are you going to shower?

Well, when can I go?

So I'm like I'll grab my towel and just show him and be like I'm going in and I'll show him a timer, like 30 minutes, and he'd give me a thumbs up and I'm like cool, so I'm going in.

These are the aspects of what you're doing Go shating when you can use these things, yep.

I think that sometimes I would actually go downstairs use the bathroom.

Yeah, yeah, when it was supposed to be.

Oh, if you're in the bed.

It's hot and rumby.

Do you know something that I learned to travel with?

Yeah, this is not an ad, but there was like a spray for the loot.

Yeah, I should introduce me to that.

I introduce Asher to it.

Listen, you're a peri, you don't need to embarrass yourself yeah.

Just try it.

But I'm with you, though I'd still make a point to go to the lobby and say these are the struggles, these are the real struggles, and this one's going to say as brilliant as it is, I would have logged all this and people would have been like bro, so this is how you are actually getting about.

There's a lot, Because when you go to Olympics, you're treated like Kings and Queens.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah, that's nice McDonald's in the village.

25 hours of food and someone was always like, do you need help?

Do you need help?

Anything you needed.

And this is where being British helped.

Like I remember what was it 2016,?

For example, all of our furniture.

We're talking DFS.

You know we've got the Boris bikes.

You know the Brits had everything.

We were riding around the village.

The village is a big place.

We're riding around loving life, and then there'll be this place, that place that you can go to, and the holding camps.

Oh peri, the holding camps.

Do you remember the one in 2011 in Daegu?

We got spoiled.

Oh my God.

We were in South Korea.

Yeah, South Korea.

So we were in Ulsan.

Yes, you were a bit good what.

I remember everything, peri, that holding camp, remember.

Whenever we came back from training, they would be outside, everyone would be outside, and then they'd be waving us in.

Yeah, waving, waving, waving, waving Every day, three times a day.

And here we are my favorite part in the podcast, where we get to give back.

We're talking about that exclusive offer, just for you.

It's going to be HGC, peri.

Now go fill up your baskets, pull yourself out.

Enjoy USN fueling the podcast, let's go.

And on that note, things are spicing up.

Perry had to take her jacket off.

You know what I mean.

We're getting warm in here we're getting warm.

So look everyone, sort yourself out at home.

But we're gonna continue now.

So look, athletics in itself is our first love.

Yeah, we're laughing about it because when you actually really look back, the memory job.

But now you mentioned about going to Nigeria.

When you know, mike was on a particular show and we talk about the culture, did you know how to greet people?

Yes the bow.

How low could you go?

Because the lower you go is more respectful right.

I think I was a bit like you know, I'm sure.

Because your background you're Caribbean, Jamaican.

Yes, Dwaycan Grenadon.

Yes so what's the differences in a Nigerian household and a Jamaican household, for example?

Well, I do know.

Obviously you refer to someone by their first name is not really the one you do.

That's why we've got so many aunties and uncles.

Oh, and this isn't the same.

I'm Ghanaian, so it's similar but different.

Yeah.

So you don't refer to your elder first name.

Everyone, like you say, is auntie and uncle.

Even Matthew has adopted that.

Listen, if you meet someone, everyone is hello auntie, hello uncle, and it's just a sign of respect.

And then you get some people be like is that person related to you?

No, they're not Related to me.

It's just how it goes.

You know, obviously, food is different yeah, but obviously you're eating with a hands and that with the egg, you see, and the foo, foo and yeah.

Not really, my god.

I kind of stick with the Jolli Foy S and the chicken and planting yeah, not planting.

We can have this argument all day long.

Oh, they hate, don't.

I'm going to say plantain.

Yeah, bring me the plantain.

Yeah, bring it here plantain, but I so they could understand.

Yeah, I was all doing food at a restaurant.

I would say plantain.

Yeah, did that hurt you to say?

Yeah, oh my god, it was so false that I felt so uncomfortable I still do.

Your Jamaican roots are like what are you doing?

What up on Witcher?

You better fix that, fix that Plantain.

That hurts me to say so look, but off the back of that, this is like the two of you, like something that just came beautifully, because you know he showed a lot of you on the show that spoke about you.

Your socials grew and then when was it that you were on Dancing on Ice?

Was it after that 2017.

Yeah, before that.

That's what I'm trying to say, because you were doing things.

So when you're on 2017, dancing on Ice, this is the start of a new career.

Socials, correct.

Were you not scared of your knee, by the way?

Harry, of course I was scared, but you know, I said to myself I could walk down the street and hurt myself.

Fair.

This is an opportunity yes, I'm going to take it.

I've been out of the sport for so many years, so obviously it was like I asked my coach, he was like no, I don't think you should do it.

And then obviously my agent's like saying, oh, do you want to do it?

I said you're not, perry, you're a big girl now you're going to make a decision yourself.

Yeah, I said I'm going to do it.

And I said to my partner on the show, I said to him he said don't try and do no extravagant stuff with me, just keep me safe in one piece.

Because obviously after that I went to the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.

Yeah, we were there.

So I was like you know, I feel like I do that.

So, yeah, I just played it really safe.

Love that, yeah, and I was so what, in terms of being an athlete in that situation, did it help you?

It's a TV show.

You've got a live audience.

You've got to perform.

You've got to remember a routine.

Did your training, did your background like?

Did where they're transferable skills in that moment?

I mean whenever there was a time where maybe I had to hold myself up in a position when I was dancing, being an athlete helped.

But on these shows listen, they don't want to see the phenomenal athlete, they want to actually see you struggle.

You want to see you fall.

Dancing on ice you always look forward to a fall.

Let's be real.

Dancing on ice is you can't become the best ice skater.

I think Nile one of the gymnastic.

Yes he was able to actually show out.

Yeah, he was able to do a madness, because he's got the gymnastic background come with a balanced boom.

But for everyone else.

you're not going to become the most amazing ice skater overnight.

You're going to improve.

So, as the audience, I can't lie.

When I'm watching it I'm like, oh, are they going to fall?

Yeah, oh, are they going to fall?

And if they do, it's just part of the laugh.

We're not laughing at them, we're laughing with them in it, right?

So it's entertainment, because you know it's hard.

Don't get me wrong.

As a child I used to go ice skating with my cousins on the weekends, but I would always play it safe.

Yeah, you know the one thing when you'd fall fingers.

We always got to talk that All the men so I definitely just kept with my comfort weren't even trying to do nothing.

Phenomenal.

Yeah.

And it was case of when I leave.

When I leave, I get the same paycheck.

Yeah, boy, and let's talk about that because all right, cool.

Let's talk about that because you know you've done dancing on ice.

You've, you've, you've when you got married.

Yeah, you're on an okay deal.

Yeah, I'm talking now.

You've done a few other shows, one that we might touch on the little sas.

You've been active and you've done a few paid ads.

What's the money like in comparison to athletics?

let's be real the money is definitely better.

Yeah, and in terms of.

Okay, every athlete is different.

I'm going to say like this Now, if you're doing well and you get sponsors, being a competing athlete, you're nice, but some people actually have to work a job whilst training.

Reality of it.

That's the reality of our sport.

A few of us us included, the two of us sat here.

We were able to actually just be able to concentrate on our sport.

We had the sponsors, we had the investment, we were in a good place.

You know we're able to, but when you can actually see that your training partners, who aren't far behind you, are just coming back from a job or just doing something like that.

And I think the most rewarding thing about doing some form of socials and being in a different aspect or working on some shows is it makes you realise your worth, and I don't think athletes understand their worth the fact that there's so many of you but you're all amazing, unique athletes.

Whether you're British champions or British medleists, you're being made to feel like you haven't achieved.

I've been around individuals that I remember a World Junior Champion few years ago.

She was telling me how you know when I've you know when I've achieved something.

I said you've already achieved something.

You've won a world.

If this was the equivalent in football, for example, you would be on a multi-million deal with a club right now and doing a badness, but we belittle ourselves.

So what I like about doing different types of work is.

It makes you realise the amount of effort you put in for certain paychecks.

It is not corresponding for the way that I used to put in effort and the accolades that I've got.

You could win a European medal and someone be like, okay cool, we need you to do something else.

Yeah.

To secure yourself, to what's?

yeah, what more do you want me to do?

Yeah, I've done that.

That's what I was trying to get you.

So, when you look at the workload and the relevance, did you then understand your worth?

Yes, exactly that.

Like I said, like I said to you, when I decided to retire as well, I was like I'm spending more than making this ain't right.

And obviously I already had a feel of a bit of the TV where I could earn and things like that, and it didn't require me using my body as much as now.

Like to me, I've done the work you know in terms of like I've been to Olympic Games what not?

World Champion.

But then people saw other sides of me, be that, my personality and me just being myself and I'm getting other opportunities and I haven't got put as much effort in.

But I'm really honest, it's not always as consistent as may you may want it to be.

You know it's like you get opportunities, you get your payment but then wins the next one.

That's that's.

That's something that the situation is similar to athletics.

It is as well, because if you don't perform on the track, we're not getting the money.

If you get injured, your money's getting deducted.

Some people don't know about.

These contracts are brutal 50% reduction.

If you don't see, you imagine 50% of what you're earning.

I remember having my back injury and then they try to you know conversations by talking about 50% reduction just because you, just because you're hurt for that.

Yeah, and then, equally now.

So, when we look at the front of you, have a son, wonderful Matthew, beautiful boy.

Would you've been able to envision having a child whilst being an athlete?

Because, firstly, your sponsors aren't working back in you at the time in the way that they're doing now, you know.

Obviously, now there's finally, thanks to people like Alison Felix, athletes that are allowing you know, putting themselves out there so that females can actually freeze their contracts when they do get you know.

Once they do get pregnant and then have a baby, they're given the opportunity to actually be able to have children whilst they're young, as opposed to having to make a decision if they want to do either or.

So, with that in mind, now that you're a mother, could you have?

You know, we've got a good friend between us, bianca Williams.

She's got Zuri and she's doing amazingly.

You know her bounce back has been mad, incredible, you know, incredible to see her running PBs.

Yes.

Close to PBs, doing everything that she can Do.

You feel that you could.

You would have liked to have tried to have had Matthew earlier, or you know, wet, wet.

Now that you're on this side of it, where's your head out with that?

Um, I definitely said to myself I wouldn't have wanted to be a mother whilst competing because I wanted to be there around for my son.

And I say that in a sense of listen, the training ties you out, you're exhausted and I've got to go back home to a child to look after.

I don't think I'm to do that unless you have the support.

You've got to have the community, the family, to be there to.

You know, maybe travel with your child, but still, sorry, I need to focus.

I, when I'm going on my journeys, I wouldn't want my son to be around me.

In that sense, yes, it's great that they've changed it and made it, you know, easier for mothers and stuff, not having to think, oh my god, I'm not going to have the money and stuff, that is great.

But me personally, when I was, that chapter of being an athlete was very selfish.

It was all about me Then.

Now I'm in a chapter I'm a mother now and I'm thinking about my son and you know he comes most places with me.

Um, I think to myself, you know, how is it going to benefit him?

I think about his future.

Um, when it comes to food, he's taking my food you know Do you want to be far, wouldn't want to share my food, but now I'm like son you can have it, you know, yeah, so life has definitely much changed for me.

It's like I don't worry about little minor things.

I feel like as an athlete, I would worry about the most, most silliest of things.

It's like, sorry, that is really not my right now it's not a big deal yeah.

Nice.

My family now new chapter.

I'm a wife, you know, married husband, yeah yeah, life has changed and I'm happy.

I think I've got more happier times now, even just to see my son's face, you know, even though he wakes me up at like seven in the morning, mommy, let's play.

I'm like, wow, you know, this is someone who I'm responsible for.

You know it's a rewarding thing.

It really really is.

I even turn the light that you seem like someone that's really embraced it.

Yeah, Because to me I'll be like me, a mom, me, maybe you know what?

Yeah, definitely one.

I'm surprised.

Yeah, I'm a mother and you talk about, you know, athletes doing well.

I think age is another thing.

You know what?

Mid thirties now, I don't think I would see myself still, you know, competing, or even before I've met that time, I always said to myself around 31 years, it's time I want to hang up my swags because, yeah, I feel like I want to enjoy life.

Yeah, that makes sense.

That's how I saw it.

And the thing that you said athletes being selfish is not a bad thing, because it's a selfish sport.

Yeah, you need to be selfish, you need to think about what you're doing, how you're doing it, when you're doing it.

And me, as I'm still competing now, you know, once Aubrey came along for me personally, I was just like, wow, my, my whole perception on life and, like you said, what matters changes All of a sudden.

I'm looking at this.

I used to travel for bants.

I go away for two months to a warm-up training camp, whereas now I'm like I don't really want to go anywhere and it's because you, you want to make sure they're okay, you've got to.

I didn't realise how much I would have to teach this little person and we're talking about you know me, I'm athletic, I can jump.

Obviously, I'm micro coaching, I'm having the teacher how to jump.

These little people don't know how to do anything and you have to teach them so much.

So I find it so endearing when I do see athletes able to balance both drive at both and do everything in the way they do, because you know what.

I can only salute you as a female as well, being able to, you know, actually give birth, bounce back and thrive whilst being a parent.

I said you know what that is, that is.

I salute you, man, yeah it's not.

Even though I've retired, I still like to work out.

Yeah, yeah, because I feel like it makes me feel good.

I like to look in the mirror and be like, no, I look good.

Yeah, you know, I've got the reminder, you know, in terms of my skin.

You're both like a mirror man, oh my god, I've been through all of this.

You know what I mean, so I still have that confidence about me.

You know, even though life has changed for me, I don't get to work out as much as I would like to.

Yeah.

It's just like what does that side look like then?

If you're not working out, when are you trying, what are you doing to stay fit and how?

So if anyone is in there wants to follow Perry's workout routine, let's talk about it.

So I'm very fortunate enough to have a gym in my house.

Um, if I don't want to be in the gym, which is outdoors and it's cold, I like to do hip workouts.

Nice.

Inside my living room.

Now Matthew's at 18, wants to be copying.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Do it with me.

Um, I try different classes, so I like no reforma.

Yeah, pilates boy.

Oh, you see me, I love it.

I love it.

There's that burn.

You see that burn yeah.

That machine because I used to actually part of my rehab when I was in Lafra, so I remember it from then and now I'm like hmm, I actually really like this.

I've had my bike, I still go for runs Nice.

Um five Ks.

Yeah, I've had a marathon, oh that's very.

Why was that like?

I really loved it.

No, see me, see me, I'm dead after five K.

I'm thinking what are you thinking during that time, you couldn't think and let me tell you something.

I had a playlist.

Yeah.

Who listened to the music, because the crowd are so amazing.

Listen people calling your name.

Go on, perry.

Do you have a beef or nothing?

They know who I was, but my name big written on my chest and I go on, perry, I'm like, oh, this is nice.

Now don't know who my brother, yeah.

And we built a closer relationship as well.

The fact that I've trained- for it.

Yes.

So I really loved it.

I was in my hometown, you know, running through the city, so, yeah, I liked it and I would do another one.

Yeah, yeah, alright, I look forward to your training.

You can let me know how that goes, because?

I won't be doing it me.

Not that you're asking me to, you're just letting you know.

So look, when you're talking about training and some of the hardest things you've done, you've recently appeared on a TV show, sas, who does yeah, all of that madness.

Yeah, was it really that tough?

Harry, give me a number at ten.

The thing was no ten out of ten.

It was brutal.

Let me tell you something you know when your coach gives you your own program, you know how many sets, you know how many reps.

You know that the session is not going to continue after certain hours.

They know we need to stop.

No, when we got the hikes, I'm wearing a bag they which they call a bergen which is 20 kg.

You're telling me to hike up some hill With this bag on my back and Then, when you get to the top, find your way back down.

There's no, oh, we've got a car to bring back.

You're using your legs.

You're waking me up with three hours sleep to go and do a circuit.

I feel good morning.

I'm tired.

You're, you're, you're, you're feeding me basics, harry, the thing is brutal.

I mean conditions of rain.

I'm in a jungle.

It's hot is it looked like it's just hot and wet.

Oh, I'm wet.

How can it be so like where you ever dry?

No, and I've got two pairs of clothes that I can change into.

So what was your?

Something that never comes through on the TV?

Yeah, it smells.

Yes, thank, I got told by the DS.

You, son, we all smelled.

Harry, listen, we have to brush our teeth.

They gave us a bar of soap.

I used that same soap to wash under my my actual armpits and the armpits of my top.

I had two armpits.

While you had to keep dry, there was and he wasn't keeping it dry.

You haven't got time for it to dry.

You hang it out.

You've got a wedding next morning, harry, it was stinky, smelly.

That's the thing that doesn't come through on the TV, that smells and the moisture I don't think I could do, because I'm seeing you climb through one pipe that's wet and then for me after, and I know my daughter's Taking it from me because the moment I get what I have to get after, take it off, I have to come off.

Yeah, anything, I'm wearing my socks especially.

I can't have wet socks.

Oh, you would have struggled, I struggled and I developed jungle foot.

Jungle foot?

Is that trench foot?

Wait until you see the images, obviously anyway.

So imagine that time.

Harry bad, so what?

What?

How?

How did you get through it then?

Like, are you Like I'm not a good you?

Could you answer back like was you just biting your tongue the whole time?

I don't like when people shout at me.

I don't, honestly don't.

I think I want to impress the DS's.

Yeah, to show.

I can do this, mmm.

That's what he was, that's the mentality that I had.

So at times when I'm like I need, I want to stop.

Mmm.

I'm not stopping.

You know as well.

Everybody up me stop all these other people who are not athletes.

They're not giving up.

So how can I give up?

That was a very competitive yeah but that's what makes us, so there was no way I would give up.

Do you know what?

I love that you very well, something that I'm from.

They got something that Perry has always done.

Yeah, your facial expressions.

If Perry is thinking something, it's, a face is showing it.

Yeah, there is no way that you could ever go away the way that they're cut to you and your face.

If you're feeling hurt for someone, the way your face is there going.

Ah, listen, harry, I didn't have to say much.

They said Perry, your face is says it all you know your go for it.

Listen.

Oh my god, they got me good.

My face gets me into trouble.

People won't get a wrong impression of me.

It's sometimes I'm like she, alright.

Why is she making her face up?

You're thinking the brain's ticking.

I probably think it's that way.

So you made some, some good bonds on the show, yeah, like obviously seeing some people with that having like cross pollinated, as you would say.

So obviously you're an athlete bringing the Olympian vibes who in there did you, would you say that you like sort of had more respect for in a different way of in a different world?

You know, like you wouldn't have thought that you hate, them as much.

Yes and bar from lover and always a six, yeah and bar glamorous lady, you know, came the part looking good, you know, but she was a true part, she really was and turns out she's a do cross country and she's the swim.

So she's like Perry, I was nowhere near your level but she would work hard.

Okay, she might complain, but I'm a got stuck in.

So she was one who really stood out to me.

Yeah, she surprised and I said I think one time we were doing a run and she went past me.

So, now that, now that we're um, you know, like we've touched on the jungle for we touch on the SAS, we touch on this sort of stuff what next?

What's happening, what's our plans, what we're looking forward to, what?

is next.

So I feel like I'm still still figuring it out.

But you know I love being in front of the camera.

You know I'd love to be on we like seeing.

We're funny, I love.

I'd love to have a regular spot on TV.

I've got some food TV shows that I would love to appear on.

Yeah, I mean I may have done when I was dancing on ice, but strictly, give me a shirt.

Yeah, come on come true.

Yeah, so you know, speaking to existence, but if there's um, if there's anything that you would say to your younger self, little Perry, yeah what would you say to her?

I?

Would say don't doubt yourself, perry.

Anything that you want to do, go for it.

Definitely.

Yeah, check what any idea you had.

Don't how crazy or mad it sounds, just go for it.

I love that.

I feel like the worst you're gonna get told is no.

Yeah, thanks, and I do know what.

I think I don't know what it is about.

Maybe it's just me being, you know, a bit older, but I think some people are too scared of no, people are scared to hear the word no or some form of rejection, so they prefer not to bother.

And I and I don't know whether we come from an era where, you know, when I used to step on the line and raise people, I Didn't mind losing.

It bothered me, but I just wanted to then do better, because sometimes, you know, losing a race doesn't mean that you're not gonna then get better.

You learn things Mm-hmm.

So some people don't necessarily like put themselves in situations where they can lose, so they, you know, stay in a space.

And I just feel like so many more people could sort of embrace these messages like that Understanding where they can go.

You know, and you saying no, no doesn't define you.

It's just like sometimes I think, don't be comfortable.

If you're in a row and we're uncomfortable, that's kind of a good thing.

That is a good thing, okay, all right.

This ain't usually what I'm used to, but Gotta put myself out there, you know.

Flex and flow.

Flex and flow.

Oh, I remember.

Look, I have got to say a big thank you for coming on.

Everyone, make sure you give Perry a follow, make sure you follow her journey, because it's always exciting and I mean, at the end of the day, we're always gonna have a laugh.

Yeah, so follow, subscribe, perry.

I appreciate you for coming on.

Thank you for having me.

I was gonna have one of my besties on.

And then look, there we go to summarise it enjoy, make sure you comment, I'll see you later.