This conversation with Cam Wurf is a deep dive into the mindset, curiosity, and longevity of one of the most relentlessly adaptable athletes on the planet. Instead of simply talking results, Cam opens the door to the many evolutions of his career,  from Olympic rowing to WorldTour cycling to Ironman racing,  and the mindset that’s allowed him to thrive for decades. What emerges is a portrait of someone who never stops learning, never stops playing, and never stops believing there’s always another layer to uncover.

We explore how setbacks nudged him toward new paths, why versatility keeps him alive in sport, and what it really takes to keep showing up at the highest level in your 40s with joy, grit, and childlike enthusiasm. It’s a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and refusing to stay in any lane someone else draws for you.

In this episode, Rebecca and Cam explore:

1. Growing up in Tasmania and the importance of showing younger athletes what’s possible when you come from a small place
2. The mentorship moments that shaped his Olympic debut — including the mindset shift that changed everything
3. How injuries became directional markers rather than derailments
4. The surprising twists from rowing → pro cycling → finance → back to cycling → Ironman
5. Why variety has been the secret weapon behind his longevity
6. The psychology of coming back stronger after disappointment
7. What it takes to recover from one World Championship and qualify for Kona two weeks later
8. His love of training, playfulness, and why he still feels lucky every day he gets to move

1. Longevity isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about changing stimulus. Cam attributes his decades of elite performance to switching disciplines before burnout ever set in.
2. Your physiology stays; your ability to use it evolves. Cam’s VO₂ max hasn’t changed in 20+ years, but how he optimizes it has.
3. Belief is a skill. Cam shares how early wins cemented a lifelong ability to trust his capacity to come back from anything.
4. Transitions often follow hard moments. But instead of retreating, Cam uses setbacks as invitations to grow.
5. Curiosity is a performance multiplier. Training with boxers, triathletes, and cyclists expands what he thinks is possible.

1. Reflecting on not being fully present before the World Championship in Nice, and how family stress impacted performance
2. Opening up about the emotional weight of disappointing results and the phone calls that follow
3. Discussing fatherhood, the shift in priorities, and what “winning” looks like at home
4. His young son’s broken collarbone — and how watching his resilience mirrored Cam’s own approach to setbacks

1. “If you’re going to beat me, you’re going to work for it.” The mantra that carried him through a brutal qualification race
2. Why technique, mobility, and efficiency now matter more than simply training harder
3. How to recover fast enough to race again within 14 days
4. The importance of believing in your coach and your process — otherwise the work doesn’t matter
5. A reminder that positivity costs nothing, but negativity costs everything

1. The shift from doing three sports to mastering the details within each
2. Learning to chip away the unnecessary — using Michelangelo’s “David” as a metaphor for athletic evolution
3. Building a life outside of endurance identity: partnership, fatherhood, stability
4. Finding joy again through play, humor, community, and mentorship
5. Seeing possibility in every next chapter — including future Olympic dreams

Cam Wurf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjwurf/

Iron Man Series

YT - Cam Wurf Ep. 2 | Balancing Cycling, Triathlon & Family

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