Price You Pay Podcast | Season 4 Episode 7

Lexie Feeney Proving You're Never too Old for the Dream

A teenage Olympian, a decade-long detour, and a national record on the way back. We’re joined by Sydney-born recurve archer Lexi Feeney, who competed at the Beijing Olympics at 19, stepped away with chronic injury, and now returns with her sights locked on LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Alongside Lexi, we also hear from her dad Peter, her first coach and longest-running supporter, for a rare look at what it takes behind the curtain to build an Olympic athlete in Australia.

We talk through the unglamorous reality of high performance training while working full-time: pre-5am sessions, long days at a desk, second workouts, and the discipline it takes to train six days a week without burning out. Lexi shares how her relationship with sport has matured, why archery supports her mental health through community and connection, and how intentional goal setting and periodised training help her stay motivated, even when she’s training alone.

Then we get specific about the money. Equipment, tournament fees, domestic travel, international tours, paying to represent your country, mindset coaching, strength coaching, and the biggest hidden cost: lost wages when time away from work is unpaid. Lexi explains how the Aussie Athlete Fund helps with both financial support and the skill of asking, shifting her mindset from “What can I afford?” to “What do I need to give myself the best chance?” If you care about athlete funding, Olympic pathways, and what it truly costs to chase green and gold, this conversation is for you.