College athlete, graduate student, national team member, and sometimes overlooked, a normal 24-year-old, Cayla Barnes discusses the balancing act of her life.
College athlete, graduate student, national team member, and sometimes overlooked, a normal 24-year-old, Cayla Barnes discusses the balancing act of her life.
My name is Cayla Barnes. In a nutshell, I’m an Olympic Champion with Team USA, two-time Olympic medalist (gold and silver), four-time World Championship medalist, and a college hockey player, but I’m also just a regular 24-year-old navigating the world! If you're reading this, you likely know there’s a LOT going on in the women’s hockey world right now, so I’m excited to take you on a behind the scenes tour and share what my journey has been like- past, present and future - over the next few months!
Living in the now (US National Team, being a student and also playing college hockey at the top NCAA program in the country) and preparing for the future (pro hockey) is a giant balancing act with high expectations from not only myself, but from others, and none of my responsibilities can waiver. I have to do well at all of them at the same time, which isn’t always easy, but the sacrifice has always been worth it. However, the rigorous balancing act doesn’t come without its challenges. Being diligent about how and where I spend my time and focus, being organized, setting goals and mental preparation are a crucial part of success, but I’ll talk about those next month. Like I said, it’s a big balancing act- one where your passion, dedication, focus, commitment, mental and physical toughness have to be so strong that you’re able to somehow try to be (and are expected to be) your best at all of your responsibilities all at once.
From the outside, being a student-athlete and an elite athlete seems like it’s all glory. On my journey I’ve been blessed to have received all the greatest things and opportunities being an athlete has to offer. I have traveled the world, received a full-scholarship for a top-notch education, won two Olympic medals, had access to apparel, equipment, the best training, resources and amazing people along the way. These things are some of the best moments of my journey but many people are unaware of the challenges I have gone through to get there. People often misjudge the intense realities that student-athletes face and what it takes to live this lifestyle, perform at this level and feel like you always have to be “on” at 100%. Among all the benefits comes a lot of hard work and struggle that most athletes walk with silently.
Currently, I’m a student-athlete at Ohio State University pursuing my Master’s Degree in Sports Management. At the same time, I’m a member of the US Women’s National Team and compete regularly with them throughout the year. As a collegiate athlete, I have to manage a multitude of responsibilities. To put things into perspective, my responsibilities of time at the rink, gym and school alone take up a solid 10 hours of my day. With three classes, lift, video, and practice, my day starts at 6am and doesn’t end until at least 6pm. On top of these things, I have to fit in homework, recovery, being a dog mom (I have a 3-year-old chocolate lab named Hulk!), doing community service (which is really important to me), National Team meetings, and often NIL meetings into my day. This doesn’t even include travel days, leaving on a Thursday and not returning home until Saturday night. So when do I eat, sleep, relax, decompress, connect with my family and if I have any extra time, connect with friends and be an average 24-year-old? That’s a good question. With only one day off a week, time is stretched thin and your mind and body can begin to break down as the cycle starts to wear on you.
All my life I have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to reach the bright lights that every young athlete dreams of. With every sacrifice comes consequences you must be willing to accept. I left home at 15 years old to embark on a path that has led me to where I am today. I’ve been blessed to have the unwavering support of my family since the day I committed to this life. Without them, none of this would have been possible and for that I owe them everything. They have been there for me through not just the accomplishments, but for every difficult step I have had to take. I’ve learned more through the struggles than I ever could have from winning. Like I said, being an athlete is hard and the parts that the world gets to see aren’t even a fraction of it.
This year has been one that has really tested my limits. As hockey is a year round, 24/7 job for me, I have struggled to find time and space to relax and exist outside the four walls of the rink. Being on the go since summer, I’ve pushed my body to its limits and toed the line of being burnt out, but it’s my passion that gets me through it. I love this game and the commitment I’ve made to it so much but as I have gotten older, the value I get from down time and how desperately I need it sometimes is something that I’ve become more attuned to. I believe all student-athletes can relate to that; we’re all human. This holiday season was the first time I’ve been with my family since I graduated from Boston College in May 2023. Between college hockey, transferring from BC to Ohio State, National Team games, etc., it was the first time I got to go home in a long time and the first chance I got this year to detach from hockey and the fast-paced, non-stop life it requires for just a few days. It was an opportunity to step back to let my body and mind rest in ways that I have neglected for a while and I didn’t always realize the importance of that. I hope everyone got a little bit of that peace this holiday break. As a student-athlete, time is precious and although we don’t have a lot of it, it’s important to take it when you do.
I love the life that I live and all the amazing things it has allowed me to do; it’s important to note that I wouldn’t change it for the world! I’m also really proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. However, it’s also important to note that being an athlete is not always as glamorous as it’s made out to be. It’s okay to be run down and tired and it’s okay to need a break. It’s okay to step away and enjoy the “normal” things. Even during times of great highlights, I hope everyone’s support systems check in on their student-athletes often because some of them may need it. Behind all the media and lights and cool opportunities, athletes are just normal people that want the same things as everyone else and that can often be overlooked- no matter how successful an athlete is, no matter what they’ve accomplished.
With all of that said, these are definitely really exciting times! I’m heading back to school ready to finish my 5th and final NCAA season strong with my Ohio State teammates (go Bucks!) and we’re hunting down a National Championship title… while I’m also finishing graduate school! In March, hopefully we’ll be heading to NCAA National Championships, IIHF World Championships with Team USA are in April and I’ll graduate in August. Then, I’ll look forward to a career in professional hockey, which is a dream come true as well! But for now, I’ll try to take it one day at a time. Check back next month for more!