When Identity Feels Shaken
The struggle of tying your worth to performance
For this first entry, I wanted to share something personal I've been working on: finding balance between training and life. Being an athlete is a full-time commitment—especially when your dream is to make the Olympics. It can consume everything, becoming not just what you do but who you are. What people rarely talk about, though, is what happens when that identity feels shaken or even lost.
This summer, I've felt that struggle more than usual. I haven't been entirely happy with my training performance or progress, and while I know not every season brings the same growth—each one with its own setbacks and challenges—it's tough. When the one thing you've built your identity around feels like it's slipping, you start to feel like you're slipping.
It's a frustrating, exhausting hole, and climbing out isn't easy. Burnout creeps in, and suddenly you're searching for something—anything—outside of luge to hold on to. I often tell people, "When things are good, they're really good. But when they're bad, they can be really bad."
Finding Balance Through Music
Most days in the off-season feel like a constant cycle: wake up, train, work, sleep, and repeat. Time and energy are incredibly limited. Usually, I get just one—or at most two—hours to myself between training and work. That doesn't leave much room for personal time or hobbies outside of the daily grind. It's tough, but it's all fueled by a dream.
In those rare pockets of downtime these past few months, my roommate and teammate, Matt Greiner, and I started playing music together. What began as casual messing around quickly became a shared passion. We formed a band—Matt on lead vocals and guitar, and me on drums and piano. Despite the small space we had, we began practicing daily, and what started as fun soon turned into the highlight of some days.
Our hope is to perform at a hotel or restaurant before the season kicks off, but more than anything, we're just having a good time.
The Journey Continues
Balance between sport and life is an ongoing challenge—and the journey is far from over. Some days, weeks, or even months feel tougher than others, but I'm committed to pushing through. My goal is to be just as mentally prepared for the season as I am physically.
As always, thank you so much for your support—I'm truly grateful to have you as part of Team Barnes.
-Logan