Sport and business are close relatives, says ex-Olympian Sarah Lindsay. The former British speed skater, 44, spoke to MADAME Arabia about how her sporting equips her to run ROAR Fitness, a luxury personal training club in Downtown Dubai. She also explains how physical fitness leads to mental strength, and the positivity of pain, and reveals the anguish of Dubai female clients who approach her for help.

How rewarding is it to boost the mental health of your clients?

When you completely change someone’s lifestyle and make them feel amazing, that’s the most rewarding thing about my job, not carving a six-pack. Training here has been a part of their lives, it’s made them think differently, and they’ll remember it forever because of the changes they made – what’s better than that?

What changes do you see in your clients?

When you give someone confidence you see a change in their posture and the way they communicate, then people start reacting differently to them and everything around them changes. And it’s not because you got thin, it comes from gaining physical strength, that’s the key. As soon as you can lift your own body weight, you feel badass. Physical confidence gives you mental confidence. 

Are they grateful for your help? 

Yeah, but I put it back onto them. I tell them they did it. I just showed them how it was their work and their effort. I remind people that they should feel proud of what they’ve achieved. People are capable of way more than they think.

What kind of things do people say to you when they come in for a consultation? 

We talk a lot. Some people have never said these things out loud and they can get really upset during the consultation. Often they’ll say they don’t feel good and it’s affecting all areas of their lives. They get up in the morning, look in the mirror and they don’t like it – what a terrible way to start the day. They’ve tried lots of things and they haven’t got anywhere and they worry there’s something wrong with them. first thing in the morning.

What’s your approach when you hear things like that? 

I try to find out why someone’s really here. Sometimes people don’t want to talk about it but I have to understand the real reasons. When people trust you and they know you’re trying to help, then they open up and reveal their real goal and I can tap into that.

Did you use a sports psychologist when you were a speed skater?

I had a full-time sports psychologist for 10 years when I was competing and it was a huge help. I’ve also trained thousands of clients so I think I have a good insight into people. Sports psychology is not just about performance, it’s about who you are, how you react and respond in different ways, it’s about addressing yourself on a much deeper level than just thinking, ‘How can I win this race?’.

Did you learn things from the psychologist that you carry with you today?

I’ve always struggled with sleep, even as a baby. The stress of competing, running things over and over in my head, I was wired all the time and I’d go days without sleeping. I had a programme to help me switch off and go to sleep which was vital and today I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow – that has served me my entire life. 

Reading people must be a crucial skill in your job?

Absolutely. You get to know people quickly in this environment. How many people do you see one-on-one for one hour three times a week? Sport exposes your personality, you can become emotional when you’re exhausted. I can get intense with people and try to override their thoughts when they’re getting tired. I talk quicker and I tell them they can do it. 

Do men and women require a different approach in your training methods? 

I’d say women respond to positive encouragement a little more than men but it depends on their personality, everyone is different. You have to read people, perhaps they’re having a bad time in their personal life so you need to ease off. People come with their goals and we facilitate whatever it is they want but we have to really listen to people. 

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What issues do women in Dubai bring to ROAR Fitness?

I think there’s a lot of pressure for women in Dubai to look a certain way. We go to the beach, we wear bikinis, and women feel pressure to keep up with the lifestyle of eating out and entertaining.

Plus, a lot of people in Dubai look good which is why the fitness culture is so huge here. We also have a lot of women come in around menopause. Their bodies are changing and they can’t do what they used to do, maybe they used to gain a couple of kilos and lose it but they can’t do that anymore. It’s an emotional time for them so we help them. They think there’s something wrong with them, but actually, it just gets a bit harder and you can’t do what you could do in your 20s. People remember what they looked like when they were 18, but their bodies probably won’t look like that again and we have to accept that we’re ageing. So what’s the best we can do with your situation now? Let’s get you fit and strong. 

Are people still afraid of going to the gym?

Yeah, people are nervous about the gym, that’s huge. They don’t know what to do, they feel everyone else is an expert, it’s intimidating, and I totally understand that. At ROAR we thought really hard about making people feel positive and welcome. The thing I’m most proud of is the friendly atmosphere and the community we have built. 

What character traits are you looking for in the personal trainers you recruit?

I want trainers who are passionate, interested, friendly, and who really care about people. Everyone I hire has the right technical qualifications of course, but after that, it all comes down to attitude and personality. I ask them personal questions about their friends and family. Our trainers live – and love – their job which inspires their clients. 

What do you enjoy about training yourself? 

I’m not one of these weirdos who like the feeling of pain, muscles hurting, being out of breath and sweating when I’m training. I enjoy the feeling of strength. So what I do is when it starts to hurt, I think, ‘Okay, now I’m training’. Everything else before that is irrelevant. Turning the pain into a positive thing – that’s where you make a change. 

Do you train every day? 

No, I served my time and trained for 20 years! I move every day, but that can be just be walking. It helps me clear my head and focus. Now I train for longevity. 

Why is that?

I see people deteriorate as they age and I want to be as young as possible for as long as possible. With medicine progressing, we’re going to live for a long time so I want to look after myself and not live a limited life. I see when people’s physical capabilities deteriorate, so does their confidence.

How has your body changed over the years?

My body is very different to what it used to be. I was an Olympic athlete in incredible shape but I didn’t like my body or what I looked like when I was competing. I look back and my body was a by-product of my sport. I was really shy, I didn’t go on holiday for 10 years because of the idea of putting on a bikini… no way. My legs had no fat so it was just skin on muscle, everybody looked and pointed and asked me about it. I just wanted to blend in, I didn’t want attention, I was very conscious of it. But what’s funny is that when I retired from skating and went into personal training and bodybuilding gyms, people said, ‘Oh wow, amazing glutes!’. Suddenly, my body was celebrated.

How has sport helped you in business?

In my sport, you lose more than you win. Often it’s not even down to you, someone else falls in front of you and you fall all the time, but you have to race again in 20 minutes so you can’t dwell on it and be emotional. I think that resilience is something I got from sport and it has definitely helped me in business. Even if things are dreadful and falling apart I can deal with it. However, sport can stop you from having emotions which can be difficult in your personal life because you can’t feel those lows and highs – it’s hard. 

How proud of you of your sporting achievements?

I’m really proud of my Olympic history and how it has shaped me as a person, it’s a big part of who I am. It gives me credibility and an experience that nobody understands unless you’re there. When you’re an Olympian you’re part of a club, there’s a connection because you know what they’ve been through. There’s nothing like the Olympic Village, stepping out on the ice for a moment that only comes every four years. You have one chance, anything can happen.