Goodwin completed a teaching degree at university and became a physical education teacher at Varsity College.

[2] Goodwin began playing soccer at the local level for Burleigh Heads in 2005 and regularly switched clubs, including stints with Merrimac, Mudgeeraba and Surfers Paradise.

At his highest level, Goodwin played semi-professional soccer in 2010 for the Gold Coast Stars in the Queensland State League, one step below the professional A-League.

[4] Goodwin grew up competing in athletics events on the Gold Coast and set several city records in the process.

He began training with Currumbin Vikings beach sprint coach Brett Robinson who led fellow Gold Coaster Mitchell Williams to a 2011 Stawell Gift victory.