REALITY OF OUR SWIM STAR WAGS
The partners of two of the Gold Coast swim stars competing in the Commonwealth Games have their own lives, thank you very much, and say dating an elite athlete is not as difficult as you might think
SPEAKING to Gabby Epstein and Violet Grace-Atkinson, it’s obvious they don’t fit the typical WAGs (wives and girlfriends) stereotype.
Sure, they might both be dating elite swimmers James Roberts and Cameron McEvoy, but that isn’t what defines them.
Gabby is a full-time Instagram influencer who helped revolutionise the concept of making money from social media.
She bought her first apartment at the age of 23 and spends much of her year being paid to travel.
Violet is a full-time lawyer and fashion lover, most recently commissioned by Pacific Fair to record fashion podcast Two Girls and Nothing to Wear.
But it turns out, that’s exactly the reason why they work so well with James and Cam.
“I don’t think it’s as hard to date an elite athlete as people think it would be — it’s actually easier dating them than regular guys,” Gabby said.
“For me, because I travel so much he can concentrate on swimming while I’m gone. We have our own careers and goals and ambitions and it just works.
“I think (swimming) is quite a selfish sport and you have to be selfish to be the best. So you need to be with someone with their own thing going on.”
Violet agrees: “I know Cam likes how busy I am because he doesn’t have to feel guilty that he focuses so much on swimming. When you have a life that’s as busy as your partner it’s definitely easier.”
As is with all relationships though, there is always a level of understanding and compassion necessary to make it work.
There’s a saying in some circles that “an athlete will never love you like they love their sport”, but that’s not what the girls expect.
“I always make a joke that I’m the No. 1 priority, but it’s a complete joke,” Gabby says. “Swimming is his priority.” “But that’s their career,” Violet added. “I know Cam had to focus on swimming, I chose to date an athlete.
“You can never get in the way of that, especially when it’s been something they’ve been doing since they were four or five.
“That’s asking a lot of someone to start dating and then expect them to throw something like that away.”
“I’ve never been in a position where he’s had to choose though,” Gabby adds.
“I’ve never felt like I’ve missed out on anything, that’s just his job!”
Bad moods or nerves don’t come between the couples either, partly thanks to good support and partly thanks to good upbringings.
“Cam has a very analytical mind so if he doesn’t have a good race he’ll analyse it and focus on the positives rather than let it put him in a bad mood,” Violet says. “James is a very level headed person — he doesn’t really get nervous,” Gabby says.
“But he says he’s most comfortable around me because he doesn’t think about it, he’ll spend the night before a race with me. Whereas he wouldn’t want to be by himself or with his coach because he focuses too much on it.
“So I think it helps if I’m there, which I know a lot of athletes wouldn’t do, but in this case it gets his mind off it.
“And he swims best when he’s relaxed anyway.”
Even though the boys will be competing against each other, there’s no rivalry between them or between Gabby and Violet, well, not much …
“We’re contractually obligated to say our boyfriends are going to win,” Violet says.
“But there’s no rivalry, they’re so supportive of each other.”
After all is said and done, the foursome will head for a quick celebratory cocktail at the Longines Records Club before they return back to their busy lives.
Cam and James will continue their training for the Pan Pacs in Japan, while Violet continues her life of fashion and law and Gabby leaves for the US — only just catching James’ events on the 9th and 10th and his birthday on the 11th.
No matter what happens with Cam and James when they launch off the diving blocks, it is clear they’ve already won girlfriend gold.