Ciara MICHEL (GBR)

Olympian Artist – Photography: Tokyo 2020

Volleyball player Ciara Michel represented Team GB at the Olympic Games London 2012, and then continued to play professional volleyball for 10 years in Europe.

After completing her master’s degree in communications at the University of Miami, she was the first British female player to compete in the Champions League, winning a silver medal.

She also has a degree in psychology. Ciara Michel currently uses photography and videography to showcase the value of female athletes who are “more than athletes” in her YouTube channel series “The Volley Bubble”.

ARTISTIC PROJECT

MORE THAN AN ATHLETE

Jordan Larson, Sheilla Castro and Tayyiba Haneef-Park are two-time Olympic medallists. While they are exceptional athletes, they also have many other strings to their bow. Each story begins with talent and a dream; each protagonist is tested by failure, strengthened through hard work, supported by family and challenged by competition. Every Olympian has a story that begins long before the Games and will continue long after. And every Olympian is so much more than an athlete. © Ciara Michel

Kelly Salchow MacArthur participated in the Paris edition of the Olympian Artists programme by leading creative workshops to create collages inspired by the Olympic values and photographs taken in their local neighborhood with at-risk children living in foster homes in the 10th and 19th districts of Paris in October 2023.

"We talked about Olympic values, which can truly provide life lessons and guidance in terms of the choices we make when faced with decisions. The values of self-confidence, resilience, determination, teamwork, self-actualization, fair play, and setting long-term goals can guide us in pursuing our strengths to the point of reaching our potential."

Questions and answers

What does being an Olympian or Paralympian mean to you personally? How does it define your approach to life and how you view yourself and the world?

To me, being an Olympian means always carrying myself with pride. No matter the situation I find myself in, be that on court, in a social setting or in a creative setting as an artist, I approach obstacles with fresh eyes. Knowing that I started out as a complete amateur and over the years climbed to the pinnacle of my sport gives me confidence that anything is possible and that, with determination, I can find a way to make the best of any situation.

When we talk about “Olympic culture”, what does that mean to you? How do you explain to people that the Olympic Games are more than just a sports competition?

Olympic culture to me means mutual respect among athletes for their sacrifice, discipline and determination. Just as the competitors are more than just athletes, the Olympic Games are more than just a sports competition; they are a celebration of strong values, hard work and international cooperation.

If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

If I could go back in time and give one piece of advice to my younger self, I would tell her she’s capable of anything she puts her mind to, so she should just be bold and go for it!

Are there parallels in your approach to your art and your approach to your sport? Or do you find that the two dimensions bring/brought out totally different sides of your personality?

I always felt blessed to build a career out of the sport I love. Now, as I am approaching the end of my athletic career, I hope to build a new career based on passion, combining volleyball and photography/videography. If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life!