The Australian Fitness Industry in 2022

Getting back to normal while taking on lessons learned during Covid

The Australian fitness industry has undergone significant changes over the past two years in response to COVID-19 and ensuring compliance with new health regulations. As a result, all gyms across Australia were forced to close in 2020, and many have experienced repeated closures due to government-mandated lockdowns throughout 2021, especially those in Sydney and Melbourne.

Extensive government funding has kept many small businesses alive during this time, but the repeated lockdowns and general uncertainty have brought many gyms to a close. Some owners were stretched to the brink by repeated lockdowns, while others with unviable businesses or coming to the end of their careers used the pandemic to fast track their shutdown.

2022 will be the actual test of the Australian fitness industry. Government grants are gone, vaccination rates are high, and a concerted commitment to keep things open. While many were feeling similarly optimistic at this time last year, the big difference heading into 2022 is the high vaccination rates, which should negate the need for extensive lockdowns in the future.

Talking to my friends in the fitness industry, the feeling is generally optimistic. Many have…