Greg O’Shea: ‘I didn’t want to retire, but €18,000 a year is not sustainable’
Greg O’Shea has launched his own fitness app - Bettr with Greg
To the disappointment of many (his beau Amber Gill surely top of that list), he chose to come home. That decision paid off when he represented Ireland in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics playing with the Rugby Sevens.
But a few weeks later, the 26-year-old announced his retirement from the sport.
“I actually didn’t want to retire,” he says. “But with the Sevens you only get paid €18,000 a year. It’s just not sustainable.”
Worrying about money is not something you might expect of a winner, but Greg says financial worries have kept him up at night.
“I’ve always worried about money,” he admits, “And I could have made loads of money off the back of , but I had to come home and start training for the Olympics.”
“I am definitely not rich. I’m not stuck for cash but the future isn’t sorted just yet.”
Part of that future is Greg’s new fitness app Bettr with Greg — a HIIT and Pilates subscription programme designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing.
“I’ve always been passionate about fitness,” he says. “My mother is a yoga teacher, my dad and grandad played rugby, my parents both ran for Ireland... it’s always been part of my life.”
Greg, who is a qualified Pilates and weight-loss coach, will lead multiple live workout classes per week as part of the service, which will offer a mix of bodyweight, dumbbell and kettlebell exercises plus Pilates and yoga classes.
“It’s a big responsibility for me because it’s live. That part of it has me nervous, but it’ll be fun.”
Since I’ve retired, about six months ago, I’ve lost about 10kg. I’m probably the skinniest I’ve been since I was a teenager, just because I’m not training as much or on a full-time rugby programme.
I don’t eat sweets or snack. I don’t have sweets or chocolate or anything like that in the house.
Pizza. I’d say I have two pizzas a week. I can’t get away from Dominoes. Forge Pizza in Dundrum is also really good.
I love going to the sauna. I’m a member of Eden One spa and health club in Ballsbridge. I like to go there and just sit by myself in the sauna. That helps me relax.
Kobe Bryant and Katie Taylor — she’s probably the best Irish athlete ever.
A bakery in the morning.
Early December.
Rudeness and ill manners. I despise them.
I am an overthinker and a perfectionist. It drives me crazy. The positive side of things is I get a lot done, but I am always stressed.
I don’t. I am more into manifestation.
Dogs. I don’t have one myself but any dog makes me instantly happy. And my little nephew and godson Tommy. He’s only one year old and he’s a bottle of joy.
If I can walk, run or cycle somewhere instead of driving I try to do that. I do my little bit like everyone else.
I have a tattoo on my ribs I got in fifth year that reads: ‘You want something, go get it’. Basically, it means if you want something bad enough, you have to go after it and work for it. In fairness, it’s worked for me so far.
As a holiday destination, Whistler in Canada for skiing but my favourite place to be in the world is with my family.
