My name is Joe Fuggle, former GB Junior 400m hurdler and the founder of The Athlete Place, an innovative guidance resource for young athletes and their parents across all sports.

I was an athlete with a successful junior and youth career and a few GB and England vests to my name – on paper, it looks fantastic! What you don’t get to see are the ups and downs, the issues I faced that impacted not only my training and competitions but also my life.

Every athlete's journey is a rollercoaster of highs and lows...

During the lows, athletes can feel there is nowhere to go and no one to talk to. The feeling that 'no one understands' can lead to athletes suffering in silence.

Injuries, the pressure of expectation, performance anxiety, and life balance, are all issues that can impact an athlete's performance, issues that are also difficult for someone outside of sport to fully understand.

Sport should be fun, but other pressures are inevitable... Sharing these experiences with others is a powerful way of helping fellow athletes and creating a supportive platform that will benefit aspiring athletes across all sports...

That's where we come in.

by athletes, for athletes.