Stephanie Rice reveals next career move after being ‘rejected’ from 130 jobs

Olympian Stephanie Rice has revealed her latest career move after being rejected from over 130 jobs and turning down a CEO role.

The swimmer, now legally Lassey, revealed on a new Instagram account she took her most recent rejection as a “sign from God” to pursue her own business idea.

“If this job offer doesn’t come through, I’m just taking it as a sign that you don’t want me pursuing a full-time job right now because it does not make sense,” she said.

The Olympic champion explained she had landed a director role in a company 18 months ago, which saw her promoted to CEO within a matter of months. However, she resigned before she started.

“During the negotiation process I just felt the lord saying to me that my time with them was finished and that he had something else for me. In obedience, I resigned and totally thought that I would land an amazing new role within such a short time.”

“I have applied to over 130 jobs. I have made it to the final stage of five different interview processes and every time they have gone to someone else.”

She continued, saying it was “frustrating” to have nothing to show for the months of job applications and interviews.

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Rice then explained that she made a realisation while she was waiting to hear back about another job a few days ago.

“I went on a prayer walk that morning and I said ’lord if this job doesn’t come through, which on paper I am perfect for, I am just taking it as a sign that you don’t want me pursuing a full time job.”

“Three hours later, I got my sign, and I was rejected from yet another role.”

Rice said the rejection made her emotional because she “felt like she was grieving the end of an eight-month journey” before saying she felt “hopeful and excited” about what “God is doing in this period.”

She explained that was now going to throw herself into her side business that God “gave her the idea for” six months ago.

“I thought this just be a side project that I’d do with a full-time job, and with all of those doors closing I am committing myself fully, wholeheartedly to bringing this business that God placed in my heart to life, at least until the end of this year.”

In a second video, she teased the business idea was some type of manifestation or prayer journal.

The update comes after Rice made the decision to “start over again” at 38.

The three-time gold medallist, packed up her life in Australia for Dubai in 2023.

She married her now husband Mark Lassey last year, and recently revealed a name change in an emotional statement that introduced her “new name” and new Instagram account.

“Feels like the perfect time to start a fresh account, in my new name, and with a new commitment to sharing the journey God is taking me on,” wrote Rice now under the name Stephanie Lassey.

“Probably part crazy to be walking away from 140,000 people,” she said.

“But honestly I’d rather start again knowing the people joining now want to be apart of the story God is [writing], not the one that’s already been written, even if that’s just a small amount.”

The 13-slide post captured the highs and lows in the retired athlete’s recent years, from Olympic success to marrying a pastor, and walking away from her career – perhaps the biggest turning point in her life.

“I’ve won Olympic gold. Made millions of dollars, lost almost everything. Found Jesus,” the Aussie captioned one image.

She spoke of having “big dreams” as a child and achieving those dream after finding “fame, money success and recognition” from her Olympic success.

“On the outside, I had it all,” she wrote. “But somewhere along the way, I started tying value to my success.”

After retiring from professional swimming in 2014, the athlete managed her own sponsorships, endorsements and motivational speaking career for years.

She, however, admitted to crumbling under the weight of “public scrutiny, hate comments, legal battles and failed businesses” that kept “breaking” her faith.

At her “lowest and completely exhausted” self, the athlete found Christianity. She left everything behind in Australia, met her future husband says she is now “a pastor’s wife”.