Lily Tomkinson | Elite Ski Racing, Four Knee Surgeries & Finding Purpose Beyond Sport
Season 2 • Episode 5
Four knee surgeries. One new purpose.
Elite sport teaches you how to chase a dream. But what happens when that dream changes?
Former Australian alpine ski racer Lily Tomkinson joins us to share the reality behind representing Australia, recovering from four major knee surgeries, rebuilding her identity beyond racing, and discovering a new purpose through wildlife conservation.
The Story
What happens when the dream you've worked towards your entire life suddenly changes?
In this episode of Only Friends on a Pow Day, we sit down with former Australian alpine ski racer Lily Tomkinson to explore the resilience, reinvention and perspective that have shaped her journey beyond elite sport.
Representing Australia on the international stage brought incredible highs - but it also came with significant setbacks. Lily shares the physical and mental reality of recovering from four knee surgeries, the challenge of rebuilding her identity when the career she'd dedicated her life to could no longer continue, and how she found strength through uncertainty.
Today, Lily has channelled that same determination into wildlife conservation, advocacy and creating meaningful impact beyond the race course. We also chat about life after elite sport, her experience on Farmer Wants a Wife, and why purpose often comes from the challenges we never expected to face.
Whether you're passionate about skiing, snowboarding, high performance, resilience, or simply love hearing remarkable stories, this conversation is an honest reminder that our greatest opportunities don't always follow the path we planned.
In This Episode
Representing Australia in alpine ski racing
Competing on the World Cup and international circuit
Recovering from four major knee surgeries
The mental side of injury and rehabilitation
Rebuilding identity after elite sport
Wildlife conservation and finding a new purpose
Life beyond competition
Farmer Wants a Wife
Lessons in resilience and perspective
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Meet Lily Tomkinson
Lily Tomkinson is a former Australian alpine ski racer who represented Australia internationally throughout her elite racing career. four major knee surgeries brought her elite racing career to and end, she reinvented herself through wildlife conservation, continuing to inspire others with her resilience, authenticity and passion for making a difference.
Her story is one of perseverance, identity, and discovering that purpose doesn't end when one chapter closes - it simply evolves.
Connect with Lily
If Lily's story resonated with you, you can follow her journey here:
Instagram: @LILY_TOMKINSON
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