A number of factors, and more importantly, individuals play a part in the rise of any sportsperson. While success often sees these athletes occupy a great deal of limelight, their support staff plays an undeniable role in ensuring that they continue to compete at the pinnacle of their sport.
In the case of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton — who has 7 world championships to his credit — Angela Cullen is one of the most important pieces in his jigsaw.
Who is Angela Cullen?
Lewis Hamilton finds his name in the back pages of a newspaper with tremendous regularity. While his skill behind the wheel is undeniable, his greatest asset is a lesser-known name.
Angela Cullen serves as Lewis Hamilton’s trainer, performance coach, physiotherapist and personal assistant.
Cullen arguably has the most sought-after job in the motorsport industry at the moment.
So, how exactly did Cullen manage to land this job and how has she now become an indispensable part of Hamilton’s arsenal?
Where does Cullen come from and what does she do professionally?
Cullen was born in the city of Davenport, which sits off the coast in Aukland, New Zealand. She was born on August 5, 1974 and is currently 47 years old.
She has always been a sports enthusiast. As a youngster, Cullen played hockey, cricket, athletics and volleyball.
Regarding her interest in the sport since a young age, she said, “I have always had a passion for all sports – I was hugely competitive and got involved in everything from netball, soccer, cricket, volleyball, basketball, to swimming athletics. If there was a sports team, I wanted to be part of it.
“But it was field hockey that I represented New Zealand in from the ages of 15 to 21. This was my first introduction to high-performance sports and human performance.”
On the academics front, she has a graduation degree in Health Science with a specialisation in physiotherapy from the Auckland University.
After completing her studies, she reportedly moved to the UK where she worked at the English Institute of Sport in London.
There, she played an important and pivotal role in strengthening the British Olympic Team as a senior physiotherapist. She had a contract that saw her work there from 2000-2006.
Following this, she went back to her home country and worked with SPARC High Performance as a senior advisor until 2010.
Professional relationship with Hamilton
Cullen was hired by Hamilton in 2016. As of now, Cullen literally takes care of everything for Hamilton. She is not only a trainer for the British F1 driver, but much more than that.
Cullen also manages Hamilton’s diet, sleeping patterns and mental health. Hence, it’s no surprise that Hamilton dedicates a lot of his success to her.
Regarding Cullen, Hamilton once said, “We pretty much live together, and we’re close as friends also. I am very, very lucky to have found Angela because she’s a very special human being.”
In an interview last year, he said, “Angela is generally with me until 10/11pm every day and with me from 6/7am every morning. It’s a very, very important role. A very important relationship.
“I don’t think that this year has brought us any closer than any other year because we’re incredibly close as it is but we love our job. We love doing what we do, we love doing it together.
“I am incredibly grateful to be able to have her on the road with me. I don’t think I could do it without her.”
Cullen’s family members
Cullen is married to a pro cyclist, Silas Cullen. He currently serves as a Director at Smart Coaching. She has three children – a girl and two boys. When not touring with Hamilton, she lives at Menthon-Saint-Bernard in France with her family.
Future prospects for Cullen when Hamilton retires
Cullen has been working with Hamilton for close to 6 years now, it’s no surprise, therefore, that Hamilton treats and respects her immensely.
But, there would come a time when Hamilton finally decides to retire.
With her experience and success as Hamilton’s close aid, she would surely be in huge demand across sports.
The pandemic has taken its toll on the athletes in different sports, and therefore, Angela Cullen’s value is even higher than before. She is, after all, now one of the leading physiotherapists in sport.
How much does Cullen earn and what is she worth in 2022?
Cullen works with one of the most successful athletes in sporting history. Lewis Hamilton is arguably the best in his profession. Working with such a highly successful athlete would officially come with its own perks and benefits.
Her job is demanding and it needs an immense amount of energy and emotional strength to continue working with an athlete of Hamilton’s calibre.
Cullen’s estimated net worth is $16 million. This offers a $1 million increase since 2021. It should not be a surprise to anyone considering the nature of her work. Most of this value comes from her role as a trainer for Hamilton.
As far as her salary is concerned, she makes roughly around $115,000 annually.
Can Cullen’s net worth grow in the future?
One question which can pop in anyone’s mind is if her net worth can increase in the future.
A big part of that question might be answered by Hamilton’s performance in the upcoming 2022 season.
Even without Hamilton, though, one can expect her net worth to increase as she would be highly sought after by other athletes around the world.
Do you think she will take a brief hiatus after hamilton calls time on his career or will she continue to ply her trade for another distinguished sportsperson? Let us know in the comments below!
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