Last year, Olly Murs astonished his fans by unveiling a dramatic physical transformation following a complete overhaul of his diet and fitness regime. Now, the 41-year-old singer is preparing to push his limits with the Into The Unknown challenge for UNICEF, marking the 20th anniversary of Soccer Aid.
Intense Training Regimen
Olly has been training rigorously behind the scenes, with early morning starts, late night finishes, and three-hour workouts each day. The singer opened up to the Daily Mail about balancing fatherhood with his relentless work commitments and demanding training schedule.
The challenge, which kicks off on May 11, will see Olly travel from Old Trafford in Manchester as he runs, cycles, and rows a total of 400km across the UK, finishing at London Stadium in Stratford. He shares a son Albert, seven months, and daughter Madison, two, with his wife Amelia, whom he married in 2023.
Speaking about his preparation, Olly said: "I've been doing a lot of training, but I love keeping fit anyway. I've just kind of enjoyed going out and running and cycling and getting out in the open and just keeping myself fit." He added that he has adjusted his usual weight training, boxing, and CrossFit routines to focus on endurance.
Balancing Fatherhood and Fitness
Olly explained how he structures his days around his children: "I'm a morning person, so everything that I do, I try and arrange it around the kids. I try and help Amelia with getting the kids out of bed, getting them downstairs, getting their nappy changed and getting their breakfast ready." He then eats around seven or eight o'clock, guided by nutritionist Greg Marriott, who helps him fuel his body properly.
Describing a typical heavy day, Olly shared: "Today's a heavy day for me. I've been up since six, working all morning and all day. And then I'm still working tonight. Once the film crew finish around 6pm, I've got to put my kids to bed, and then I've got to cycle for an hour and then get on the treadmill and do 5K straight after."
Despite the gruelling schedule, Olly feels the training has positively impacted his mental and physical health. "Even though some of the days I'm doing two or three hours of training, it has put me in a really good place mentally and physically," he said. "I feel like I've had more energy. I'm having a really good time with my kids, and you know, some days I'm struggling to walk but I've really enjoyed it."
Career Hiatus for Family
Earlier this year, Olly announced he would take a step back from touring and performing for a year to prioritise being a present father and husband. Reflecting on this decision, he said: "The last two or three years or so, it's been a really difficult but an amazing time for me and work wise, touring. But I'm very aware that Amelia isn't just a mum. She has her own life and I wanted to feel like she's got a life balance... even if it means me taking a break."
He emphasised his desire to be there for his children: "I want to be a present dad. I want to be there for my kids. I want to watch them walk for the first time, I want to see them talk for the first time, I want to do all them things." However, he clarified that he is not retiring, but rather picking and choosing his commitments.
Inspiration from Refugee Families
Becoming a parent has given Olly a new perspective, inspiring him to complete the challenge and raise funds for refugee families. After returning from Romania, he told Heart Breakfast: "To hear the stories of the Ukrainian people who had to flee the war to get to Romania and seek refuge and the incredible work that UNICEF do... As a parent myself now it just really hit home to me that everyday we want to keep our kids safe but we're not in a war zone."
Olly will also play in this year's Soccer Aid for UNICEF match, a veteran of the game since his first appearance in 2010. The match will air live on ITV1, ITVX, STV, and STV Player on Sunday, May 31. To follow along, find out more, and donate, visit www.socceraid.org.uk/challenge.
