What does it really take to go from treating clients in a suburban clinic to supporting athletes on the world stage?
Recorded live at the 2026 Massage & Myotherapy Australia National Conference in Geelong, David sits down with Lily Chiu, an experienced myotherapist and remedial massage therapist whose career has spanned more than three decades across private practice, education, professional sport, and international competition.
In this episode, Lily shares the story of how a chance introduction to massage led to a career working with elite athletes, including Olympic and Paralympic campaigns, professional football clubs, the Australian Open, and international athletics teams. Along the way, she discusses the role of networking, mentorship, volunteering, professionalism, and reputation in opening doors to high-performance sport.
Together, David and Lily explore what life is really like behind the scenes at major sporting events, the realities of travelling with teams, and the lessons everyday therapists can learn from elite sport.
Whether your goal is to work at the Olympics or simply become a better therapist on Monday morning, this conversation offers a practical and honest look at what it takes to build a long and respected career in our profession.
Support the Podcast
If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast and consider buying us a coffee via the link in the show notes.
👉 Got thoughts on this topic? Let us know on Facebook and on Instagram
👉 Support the podcast: [buymeacoffee.com/foldingtowelspodcast]
👉 More episodes & resources: [foldingtowelspodcast.com.au]
Theme Music: Simon Pettersson "All Alone" (2020), Licensed use through Audio Hero Inc
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.