Athlete by occupation

One of ideas for posts on the September Blogging challenge is to write about athletes we saw in the Olympics.  I watched quite a bit of the Summer games this year and I especially enjoyed the Gymnastics.  In order to ensure their well-being and make sure their performance is Olympic-standard they have to eat a healthy diet, keep a good fitness routine, and try to keep their overall health balanced and ready to perform.  Having the job of being an athlete is not only physically demanding, but mentally demanding as well.  Especially when it comes to preparing for an event like the Olympics, being an athlete can be very stressful.  But the rewards of their work can be seen when they are up on the podium representing their country and earning a medal.
There are consequences to being an athlete however, often you are on a strict diet and can't enjoy the sweets that some people look forward to.  Also with the long practices and tiring workouts you often don't have much time or energy to focus on anything else.  But most athletes wouldn't trade their job for any other job and that's what makes watching them work or perform so much fun!