What 8 Shows a Week in the Circus Taught Me About True Discipline.
Throughout my competitive and stage career, people often described me as consistent. In a technical Olympic sport, and later performing week after week on stage, that isn’t something that happens by accident. Looking back, it came down to something much simpler. I focused on small, repeatable behaviours not only when I felt motivated, but especially whenI didn’t. Over time, those ordinary repetitions built something people labelled as consistency.
Make Your Habits Fit You
For years, I thought discipline meant forcing myself into systems that didn’t suit me. I struggled with keeping a traditional training diary because I believed that was what committed athletes were supposed to do. I tried writing reflections and structured journal entries. It never lasted. What finally worked was much simpler: ticking off full routines, timing combinations, and tracking progress. That was enough. It gave me visible proof that the work was being done.
Over time, this approach did more than keep me consistent it gave me confidence. I trusted my preparation. I trusted the long-term plan. I knew where I needed to be weeks, even months, before a major performance. The process itself also became more rewarding. I could see improvements stacking up and feel the momentum building. Consistency only works when the system fits the person and when the process still feels enjoyable. When something isn’t sticking, the issue isn’t always effort. Often, it’s the design and whether the habit gives you evidence that it’s working.
Do the Fundamentals Well
In the build-up to the Olympic Games, the pressure felt intense largely because of the expectations I placed on myself. Nerves were unavoidable. Rather than trying to eliminate pressure, I simplified everything. Technically, I trained in different environments so nothing would feel unfamiliar. Physically, I committed to regular strength work nothing elaborate, just fundamentals performed properly
and consistently. Psychologically, I worked weekly with a sports psychologist to understand my nerves rather than fight them.
Small habits, repeated often, build stability under pressure. When the moment arrives, you fall back on what you have rehearsed most.
A New Kind of Consistency
When I moved into circus, the entire rhythm of performance changed. Instead of preparing for one peak moment, I had to deliver at a high level eight to ten times a week. That demanded a different kind of discipline. Sleep became non-negotiable. Recovery became part of the job. Pilates became maintenance. Time alone helped protect my energy. The real challenge wasn’t pushing hard once it was sustaining effort without burning out.
Find a Way
My coach guided me for 25 years. One sentence he repeated has stayed with me: “If you want anything, you’re going to have to find a way.”
Not wait for perfect conditions. Not rely on motivation to appear. Find a way. Sometimes that meant adjusting my schedule. Sometimes it meant asking for support. Sometimes it meant stepping back and reconnecting with what I enjoyed about the process in
the first place.
You Don’t Do It Alone
Although consistency is often viewed as an individual trait, I never built it alone. Early on, my parents created structure around me, lifts to training, steady routines, quiet encouragement. Later, coaches, teammates and fellow performers reinforced standards and noticed when something was slightly off. Environment shapes behaviour more than we like to admit. Standards rise when they are shared. Habits strengthen when they are supported. And enjoyment is easier to sustain when it is shared. This is also where the next part of the story begins because consistency doesn’t just come from what you do, but from who stands around you. That support team, formal or informal,
becomes part of your foundation. I’ll explore that more in the next article.
What Keeping It Simple Taught Me
Consistency is rarely loud. It is built in ordinary days through ordinary actions. It is how you sleep. How you prepare. How you recover. How you respond when things do not go to plan. Clarity provides direction. Simple, repeatable habits provide momentum. Enjoyment sustains effort. The right people reinforce standards. Across sport and stage, the lesson has remained uncomplicated: keep it simple. Do the fundamentals well. Find ways to enjoy the process. Repeat what works. And when circumstances shift or motivation fades, find a way.
Extraordinary performances are usually the visible result of very ordinary days done well.
If you’d like to learn more about my journey or connect, feel free to reach out via LinkedIn.
A former Olympic gymnast for Team GB and later an Olympic National Coach, Gary has guided athletes through the intensity, discipline, and joy of elite sport. His career then expanded into the creative world of Cirque du Soleil, where he performed and coached internationally, blending athletic precision with artistry, teamwork, and world-class showmanship.
Today, Gary brings that rare combination of high-performance insight, creative leadership, and community-focused development into his work across sport, education, and local partnerships. As a Sports Development Strategist, he designs inclusive programmes that help young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging — from large-scale events to grassroots club initiatives.
Whether he’s coaching performers, supporting emerging leaders, or shaping community sport experiences, Gary’s approach is rooted in three principles learned over a lifetime in high-performance environments:
Clarity of Vision - Define your goals with clear precision.
Consistency- Build habits and routines that compound into extraordinary results.
The team around you - Cultivate deep trust and collaboration that amplifies individual and collective performance.
Driven by a passion for helping people grow whether on stage, on the field, or in their community, Gary continues to champion environments where everyone feels supported to step forward, try something new, and discover what they love.
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