Free Agent Technologies
Mar 12, 2025
Caeli McKay, two-time Olympic diver, embraces resilience and growth while transitioning to life beyond sport.
Caeli McKay is no stranger to the highs and lows of competitive sport. A two-time Olympic diver for Team Canada, Caeli has dedicated her life to diving, with a particular focus on the 10-meter platform, and has even competed in synchronized diving. With a career that has taken her to the grand stages of the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, Caeli has consistently placed just shy of a medal, finishing fourth in both games—an achievement in its own right but also a reminder of how elusive Olympic medals can be.
But Caeli’s story isn’t just about her accomplishments in the water. It’s about resilience, the personal lessons learned through years of training, and how athletes like her are uniquely equipped for life beyond sport.
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Caeli’s path to the Olympics wasn’t always clear. At just 16, she moved to Montreal to train with the Canadian Olympic team, a pivotal moment that required immense commitment and sacrifice. “It was tough,” she reflects. “I pursued high school online through Alberta, and I didn’t graduate until I was 20 because of how much time I had to dedicate to diving.”
For Caeli, moving to Montreal was about more than just training—it was about becoming part of a team, honing the mental and physical strength needed to compete at the highest level. While she’d come close to winning medals in both Tokyo and Paris, those fourth-place finishes have only fueled her desire to push for her third Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
When asked how her journey as an athlete has shaped her as a person, Caeli’s response is simple but powerful: “I’ve learned to be resilient, autonomous, and strong.” Through the rigors of elite sport, Caeli has learned to push through her own boundaries, navigate setbacks, and embrace failure as an opportunity for growth.
“Being an Olympic athlete is about being part of the 1% who make it to the Games,” she says. “It shows what we’re capable of, and the resilience it takes to keep going, even when things don’t go your way.”
That resilience and strength have not only helped Caeli thrive in her sport but have also prepared her for the challenges ahead—especially the transition from elite sport into the “real world.”
Athletes bring a unique skill set to the table when it comes to the workforce. Caeli believes that athletes make exceptional candidates for job opportunities because of their adaptability, resilience, and ability to learn quickly.
“We’re coachable and teachable,” Caeli explains. “In sport, we learn to fail and get back up, which means when faced with a job opportunity, we aren’t afraid to take risks or fail. We’ve been there before.”
This mindset is invaluable in any field, where challenges and setbacks are inevitable. For athletes like Caeli, this ability to pivot, adapt, and persevere is ingrained in their character, making them highly valuable candidates for any job, even beyond the world of sport.
Like many elite athletes, Caeli is grappling with the transition from sport to what’s next. While she remains fully committed to her training for LA 2028, she’s also looking at ways to balance her sporting career with professional development. “I’m getting into sports administration,” she shares. “I don’t want to be full-time anymore. I want to have something to keep me busy and earn some extra money while I train.”
Caeli is exploring opportunities to get involved in the administrative side of sports, helping to run the very facilities where she trains. By taking a more flexible, part-time approach, she’s able to stay connected to the sport she loves while gaining valuable work experience outside of diving.
For many athletes, the fear of life after sport can feel overwhelming. “Leaving sport is really scary,” Caeli admits. “It feels like your identity is gone, and that’s a huge challenge. Free Agent is helping athletes transition with a support system behind them.”
For athletes transitioning out of sport, having access to an elite network is invaluable. “Elite athletes are diverse, but we have a lot in common,” Caeli says. “We all have grit, mental strength, and adaptability. These qualities make us capable of handling new challenges, both in and out of sport.”
Being part of a network of like-minded athletes can help provide support, guidance, and new opportunities during this transition. Caeli believes that initiatives like Free Agent—designed to connect athletes with job opportunities and professional networks—are essential for athletes looking to redefine themselves after their careers in sport.
Caeli is particularly passionate about Free Agent, an organization that supports athletes during their transition into post-sport careers. “Free Agent is a great resource for athletes,” she explains. “It’s really powerful to be valued for more than just what you’ve done in sport. It’s about recognizing the strengths we bring to the table, like resilience, adaptability, and teamwork.”
For Caeli, Free Agent is more than just a career platform—it’s a lifeline for athletes who might feel lost or uncertain when their athletic career comes to an end. “Leaving sport feels like an identity crisis,” she says. “Free Agent helps athletes navigate that shift and feel confident about what comes next.”
Caeli’s story is a powerful reminder of the mental and physical strength it takes to succeed as an elite athlete. But it’s also a reminder that athletes are not defined solely by their sport. They are multifaceted individuals with incredible qualities that can contribute to success in any field.
As Caeli continues to train for her third Olympics and explore new career opportunities, one thing is clear: she’s not just diving for the medals. She’s diving into the next chapter of her life, armed with resilience, strength, and a vision for what’s to come.
