Sally Hunter’s story on finding community

Sally Hunter is best known as one of Australia’s elite breaststroke swimmers – a silver medallist at the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships, a two-time Olympian, and part of the gold medal-winning 4x100m medley relay team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. 

After retiring from professional swimming, Sally faced a very different kind of challenge; navigating life beyond the sport that had shaped her identity for so many years. In her video story, Sally shares openly about the emotional toll of stepping away from elite competition; a kind of grief that many athletes quietly experience when the rhythm of training, competition, and camaraderie suddenly fades. 

Leaving behind a sporting career can mean losing not just structure, but a deep sense of belonging and purpose. For many athletes, sport becomes a way of life; a source of identity, community, and meaning. When that chapter closes, the sense of loss can be profound. 

And it’s not only retirement that brings these feelings. Injury, deselection, or the loss of a teammate or coach can all trigger powerful emotions of grief and disconnection. These are the quieter, often unspoken stories behind the sporting headlines; the moments when athletes, coaches, and volunteers are reminded of their shared humanity. 

The role of community in healing 

This is where the power of connection truly matters. Sporting bodies and clubs play a vital role in supporting athletes like Sally; not only in moments of triumph, but in times of transition, change, and vulnerability. 

Grief in sport takes many forms. It might come from the end of a career, a missed opportunity, or the loss of someone within the sporting family. Whatever the cause, the key to healing lies in connection. When clubs and organisations create spaces where people can speak openly about grief and life beyond sport, they build cultures of understanding, compassion, and strength. 

Social connection is one of the most powerful predictors of recovery from grief and trauma, regardless of the type of loss. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2023) reports that people with strong community connection and trust experience significantly higher life satisfaction and lower psychological distress. In sport, that sense of belonging – teammates, coaches, supporters – can provide an anchor during times of uncertainty. 

Griefline and OTLR: Building awareness in sporting communities 

Through its collaboration with Outside The Locker Room (OTLR), Griefline is working to bring grief awareness and education into sporting communities across Australia. Together, the two organisations are helping normalise conversations around grief, transition, and wellbeing; ensuring that athletes, volunteers, and support staff have the language, tools, and resources to navigate loss when it arises. 

By building grief literacy within clubs and sporting networks, we can strengthen communities from the inside out – helping individuals feel seen, supported, and understood, both on and off the field. 

A shared responsibility 

Sally Hunter’s story reminds us that even when the lanes fall silent, connection keeps us afloat. Whether it’s a teammate facing retirement, a volunteer coping with loss, or a community grieving one of its own, we all have a role to play in showing up for each other. 

Because grief doesn’t end when the season does; but with community, compassion, and open conversation, healing can begin.