Dulcy's candid insights into overcoming competition anxiety, her strategic approach to training, and the invaluable support from figures like Simone Biles exemplify the intricate tapestry of challenges and triumphs defining an athlete's journey to excellence. Her narrative further reveals the profound bond of camaraderie among gymnasts, transcending age and experience, fostering a united front in the pursuit of their Olympic dreams. Through detailed discussions on the Olympic trials process, the significance of a supportive ecosystem, and Dulcy's personal strategies for combating nerves, listeners are offered a unique glimpse into the relentless pursuit of gold. Her insightful dialogue with Laura here today stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, mentorship, and the indomitable spirit of young athletes such as Dulcy, who navigate the complexities of elite sports with grace and steadfast ambition.

Episode Highlights:

• Ambitious beginnings to senior success
• Overcoming mental hurdles
• Customized coaching for peak performance
• Resilience through ups and downs
• Building a supportive environment
• Strategic mindset and preparation
• Aspirations beyond the mat
• Navigating the path to Olympic Trials

Quotes:

"Even the most elite athletes battle with fear, nerves, anxiety, impostor syndrome...they are overcomeable." "I am obsessed with gymnastics, but once I started getting into level nine, level eight...I really wanted to go as far as I can with this."

"Age doesn't matter in this now. It's 16 and up and you just have to compete with it."

"You can't let anything spiral...I care too much that I'm not going to care."

"It's those tiny little changes sometimes that are the hardest because you have to focus so differently."

"Keep your dream in mind every day. If you really want it, work for it every time, as much as you can."

"Work hard and work smart."

"Have fun with it every single day. It's still the sport that you loved as a kid."

"I would love to do something that helps people."

"I'm keeping my options open, but I also have my eyes on ‘28."

"If you set your mind to something, it's going to happen."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Coaching with Laura

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Dulcy:

• Dulcy's Instagram

As you will hear, Jamie's unwavering commitment to storytelling and championing women athletes has propelled her to spotlight their remarkable odysseys, from renowned icons to unsung heroines across the globe. Together, she and Laura embark on a deep dive into the realms of women's sports, entrepreneurship, and the transcendent influence of storytelling, unraveling the essence of Flame Bearers' mission and the compelling narratives driving positive change in the athletic sphere. Jamie's journey from athlete to entrepreneur uncovers the vital steps to success, from crafting robust business strategies to fostering resilient communities, all while championing authenticity, resilience, and empowerment in the pursuit of athletic excellence. Join Laura and Jamie here today for this inspiring and instructive examination into the intricate tapestry of women's sports, and the boundless potential of storytelling.

Episode Highlights:

• The story of Flame Bearers
• Representation in sports media
• The power of storytelling
• Authenticity in branding
• Resilience and adversity
• Community and support systems
• Challenges in media representation
• Future of Flame Bearers
• Building a successful business

Quotes:

"Historically, 95% of sports coverage has gone to male athletes, but we're making progress. There's a quantity and a quality issue when it comes to women's sports coverage."

"The best way to get people to care is to build an emotional connection, and I think the best way to do that is with stories."

"Share who you actually are, not just the highlight reel. Sponsors gravitate towards people who are being vulnerable because fans can relate to them."

"Flame Bearers' vision is to become the go-to storytelling platform for elite women athletes, centering their stories through podcasts, videos, and live events."

"No one person can do it all... Surround yourself with people who could have your back and who can fill those holes."

"I want to make sure that we don't forget how we got there... Acknowledging those first trailblazers and making sure they feel validated and seen."

"Literally every piece that I do, it's kind of like a love letter to that athlete... I want to tell their story how they want it told."

"One reason I started the podcast was I had just come back to diving after retirement... I started the podcast to bring people on and start asking questions."

"You can have the best story in the world, but if nobody hears it, does it make a difference?... Jamie is giving them the opportunity to connect, and that's huge."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Book Laura to Speak at Your Event!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Jamie:

• Flame Bearers Website
• Flame Bearers Podcast
• Flame Bearers Linktree

From his storied collegiate career at Stanford University, where he navigated the rigorous demands of both academics and athletics with aplomb, to his triumphant representation of the United States on the international volleyball stage, Jon's journey is a testament to unwavering determination and dedication. As he candidly shares his experiences, Jon unveils the myriad challenges athletes encounter upon bidding farewell to professional sports, emphasizing the paramount importance of self-discovery, resilience, and adaptability in charting a course through the uncharted waters of post-athletic life. Through their illuminating discourse, Laura and Jon offer invaluable insights and inspiration, urging athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts to embrace change, forge supportive networks, and leave an enduring legacy that transcends the boundaries of the sporting arena. This episode stands as yet another poignant reminder of the transformative power of sports, guiding listeners on a journey of empowerment and self-discovery as they endeavor to realize their fullest potential, both on and off the field.

Episode Highlights:

• Jon's unexpected journey from baseball to volleyball
• The challenges of California's volleyball scene
• Jon’s Stanford University choice
• His reflections on his Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame induction
• The intense training leading to the 1988 Seoul Olympics
• Winning a gold medal and post-competition challenges
• Jon's personal transformation
• Coaching impact, personal growth, seeking support, and leaving a lasting legacy

Quotes:

"Sports kind of saved me from myself."

"I was a good mess, but I was kind of a mess."

"There's more to this than just the bread and butter."

"You're allowed to have your own journey, and that's what makes it beautiful."

"I think I was just so lost in the humility and the kind of what just happened."

"If you're good at performance but you're not great at change, can you look at change in a different way? In changing, we do perform. In performing, we do change. It's inherently part of the walnut."

"You're going to have to get out there and try a couple of things. The first thing may not be the only thing, and it may not be the best thing."

"We need to let athletes know that we are more than just athletes. There's so much more involved in our stories and in who we are as people."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Book Laura to Speak at Your Event!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Episode Highlights:

• Facing career-altering decisions and overcoming devastating injuries
• Embracing gratitude amid setbacks 
• Transforming obstacles into opportunities, fostering resilience, and maintaining a positive mindset
• The pivotal role of coaches, teammates, and loved ones
• How each setback serves as a chance for growth and self-discovery
• Persevering through setbacks and challenges
• Reflecting on past challenges
• The anticipation building for the forthcoming Olympics in Paris
• Conquering uncertainty and fully committing to Olympic dreams
• How moments of reflection and gratitude provide solace and fortify determination in the face of adversity

Quotes:

"Every cloud really does have a silver lining. If you open your eyes, you'll find it." "Recognize that although you may not be happy with the competition, there is more to life than that competition." "Sometimes we will win that amazing gold medal and sometimes we'll miss it. But amazing things still happen because I didn't give up." "Every obstacle that we face, there is an opportunity inside of it, but we have to be willing to find it." "It's easy to say inspiring stuff and work really hard when things are going well and when things like you're healthy and things are just kind of normal and easy in that sense." "Find things to be grateful for. In the middle of the tough, in the middle of the painful, in the middle of the hard, there is something to be thankful for. Fill your mind with that and focus on those things."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Book Laura to Speak at Your Event!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Episode Highlights:

• The emotional journey of transitioning from athletic achievement to new beginnings
• Strategies for discovering passions and purpose beyond sports
• The importance of mental health awareness and seeking support during transitions
• Navigating financial challenges and planning for long-term stability post-retirement
• Finding strength through gratitude and guided journaling practices
• Overcoming isolation and reconnecting with community and purpose
• Self-discovery and personal growth after leaving the sports arena
• Embracing change and finding fulfillment beyond athletics

Quotes: "There are too many stories of unsuccessful retirement experiences where athletes suffer immensely with mental, emotional, physical, and financial repercussions once they hang up their jersey." "What is life about? I had no answers. And so, honestly, my mental health did start to take a major toll." "A lot of these athletes, if they had the privilege of generating a good amount of income over the course of their career, are without financial advising and the appropriate kind of financial counseling to help set them up for the long term." "I think it's really healthy to go through those emotional ups and downs afterward. That's a healthy grief process." "A lot of times people think I'm grieving... I grieve the routine I had training every day in the gym." "We're not created to be alone. We need community for sure." "We need to recognize all the value that we have intrinsically as each individual human being on top of what you can do in your sport." "Lean into the fact that you get to experience the Olympic village, the camaraderie, and the opportunity to connect with fellow athletes on a human level." "Struggling after retirement shouldn't be the norm; we're changing those metrics and creating a supportive community for athletes."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• The Confidence Journal

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Robyn:

• Robyn's Website
• Robyn's LinkedIn
• Robyn's Instagram

Episode Highlights:

• Kyle's journey from battling retinoblastoma to embracing life without sight
• The significant role of mentorship, especially from Eric Weinmayer, in shaping Kyle's life
• Triumphs and challenges faced by Kyle as a blind athlete in rock climbing and wrestling
• Transition to college life, competitive wrestling at UCF, and the transformative power of group exercise
• Overcoming unemployment and depression through rediscovering passion in running and triathlon
• The evolution of Kyle's mindset from endurance challenges to excelling in Paralympic triathlon
• Experiences of visually impaired triathlon participation, including the role of guides
• Adapting to Covid-19's impact on Kyle's journey, showcasing resilience in unforeseen circumstances

Quotes:

"I was diagnosed with a very rare form of eye cancer when I was ten months old. Essentially, I had cancer in both of my retinas, and the doctors immediately wanted to remove my eyes." "I fell in love with running, which morphed into a love and passion for triathlon.” "I strive for excellence. I like to be a high achiever.” "I hated running until I got good at it. It took me about six or seven years to really love it. But I enjoy pushing myself and putting the puzzle of swim, bike, run together." "It's about pushing yourself, finding your breaking point, and then pushing beyond it." "The pursuit of gold, whether in sport or life, drives us to be excellent." "Every time I reached my edge, I was able to push myself a little bit further." "I've had to learn how to cope with not achieving my goals." "The journey to the Paralympics is as much about resilience as it is about performance."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Coaching Sessions with Laura

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Kyle:

• Kyle's Website
• Discovering a Life Without Limits
• Kickin' It With The KTrain Podcast
• Kyle's Facebook
• Kyle's Instagram
• Kyle's LinkedIn

Episode Highlights:

• Natalia’s remarkable journey
• Balancing training, competitions, and schooling
• Natalia's shift from gymnastics to climbing
• Confronting online criticism
• Finding joy in climbing
• Natalia's triumphs amid setbacks
• Looking ahead to the Olympic Games and beyond
• Managing expectations and public scrutiny

Quotes:

"I was just training for fun, and I ended up winning. Then I thought, 'Well, now I have to keep doing them!'" "I think one of the biggest things that drew me to the sport was how the community was so close and it's a lot smaller of a sport." "It was just new to me to be going to new countries every month with my team and just getting to compete." "You never forget your first World Cup win. It was just so cool having everyone there." "Don't google your name... I think having people around you that have got your back is a big deal." "Getting it out and talking to people who, you know, love and care about you no matter what, I think that's really important." "I'm a lot more than just a climber.” "You can't control what the other person is doing, especially if it's not like a combat sport. You know what I mean? You're not really like controlling the other person necessarily." "When you go, I guess, pro, and then you have sponsors and you feel like you're supposed to perform to their wants and your income can be based on performance, that can sometimes add another layer of pressure." "What's done is done. We can't go back and change it, right. So now this is a new opportunity." "Just listen to your body and if you feel tired, take that rest day. It's okay to take rest days." "If I'm not having fun, it's not worth it. And if I'm not having fun, I'm not going to perform very well."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Natalia:

• Natalia's Instagram
• Natalia's Website

Episode Highlights:

• Ryan Murphy and his road to the highest levels of swimming
• Race prep and mindset coaching for confidence
• Managing race day anxiety and Olympic pressure
• The emotional rollercoaster from selection to Olympic gold
• The significance of the 100 backstroke for Team USA
• An in-depth look at the 100 backstroke race strategy
• The elation of winning Olympic gold
• Ryan’s dedication in the challenging 200 backstroke
• His thrilling world record relay experience with Michael Phelps
• Preparing for the 2024 Olympics

Quotes: "I just wanted to be the best at everything." "If I perform the way that I'm capable of, I'll make the team." "You can't just show up to the meet and expect to be able to focus. You have to practice that focus leading up to it and know what you're going to focus on." "In the ready room, you might be nervous, but that's just the baseline of the room." "I'm a product of some of the people I've been around and the people that have helped me." "That's the Olympics; when you're five years old, you see that. Being able to achieve something you had very loose dreams of when you're young, that's a really cool thing to fulfill." "I've never gotten out and been like, 'I shouldn't have pushed myself so hard.'" "That was special for everyone. We knew that was Michael's last race. To have the icon of your sport swimming with you in his last race, that's really special." "I think there's just really quality people in the sport. I really do appreciate that." "The goal for me is always very simple: I like to win. At the same time, if I'm second in the world or third in the world, that's something to be really proud of." "You have to do what's best for you." "Maintaining a healthy perspective is crucial."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Ryan:

• Ryan's Website
• Ryan on X
• Ryan's Instagram

Episode Highlight:

• Jessica's aquatic family background
• Her bold choice to leave home at 14 for National Training
• Jessica’s Olympic journey
• Her discovery of a passion for synchronized diving
• The role of mental strength in her career
• The importance of setting boundaries for focus and success
• Navigating the challenges of Olympic trials, embracing the Olympic experience, and dealing with unexpected situations
• Insights into Jessica’s Rio Olympics experience and post-Rio career plans
• Adapting to the pandemic's impact on the Tokyo Olympics and making a comeback
• Demonstrating determination and resilience
• Synchronized diving intricacies
• The value of Olympic dreams

Quotes:

"I did a lot of sports growing up. I did swimming, I did diving, gymnastics, soccer, dance. I mean, I did it all." "My parents made me and my sister feel so comfortable in just wanting to do whatever we wanted to do in life." "I just remember Drew being like, 'Do you think that you can make an Olympic team right now?' And I was just like, 'No.' And he was like, 'Well, I do.'" "I think crazy things can happen in a small amount of time, so don't ever count yourself out.” "It literally changes everything when you think differently, right? And you're like evidence of that right here." "It's so important. It is definitely a difference-maker. And even if you have to preface it like, 'Hey, I don't want to hurt your feelings, I love you guys, but this is just what I need right now. And I just really would love and appreciate that support.’" "It's never just yourself, it's always this army that you have behind you. And so that's what makes it really special."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Jessica:

• Jessica's Linktree

Laura and Katrina embark upon this remarkable voyage of ambition, self-discovery, and the relentless pursuit of Olympic gold by delving into Katrina's gymnastics-to-diving transition, her familial inspiration from her Olympian grandmother, her transformative mindset shift, and her candid discussion on handling performance anxiety. This inspiring conversation provides invaluable insights into the trials of Olympic competition, the post-Olympic challenges athletes face, the pursuit of a music career alongside diving, life-altering decisions, and the significance of trust and authenticity in the competitive arena. Katrina Young's captivating journey, balancing both diving and music careers, reminds us that the pursuit of passion and authenticity is the true path to greatness. Don't miss out on this engaging episode, as it resonates with ambition, offers inspiration, and underscores the relentless pursuit of one's dreams.

Episode Highlights:

• Katrina's dual background in gymnastics and diving
• The profound influence of her grandmother, an Olympian in track and field, on Katrina's ambition and determination
• The challenges Katrina faced during her college years and the pivotal shift in her mindset
• The significant transition to coach John Proctor and the crucial moments leading up to the 2016 Olympics
• The importance of authenticity and staying true to oneself in the competitive world
• Dealing with the pressures of nerves and performance anxiety as a competitive athlete
• Katrina's ongoing journey of self-discovery and personal growth in pursuit of Olympic success
• Exploring post-Olympic challenges, including the phenomenon of "post-Olympic blues," and how music played a healing role

Quote:

"When you're going after your dreams, you don't feel like you have a choice." "No matter what great things our coach says or our friends say, it's our voice in our head 24/7." "It felt a little bit scary to have that much time to think about the possibilities." "I felt like I had to change who I was to become an Olympian, and that's not the truth." "For me, it's more of a performance than anything." "It's a very ironic mix of emotions for me. Every time going into it, I'm like, “I'm going to throw up.”” "Fear is totally normal. It's a totally human thing. But that is also the only time that you can be courageous."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Katrina:

• Katrina's Instagram
• Katrina's X (Twitter)
• Katrina's Grandstand
• Katrina's TikTok

From the momentous start of this podcast in the challenging year of 2020, Laura's mission has been clear: to bring together the tools, knowledge, and inspiration that athletes need to achieve their greatest goals, both in sports and in life. Through insightful conversations with athletes, coaches, and experts from various disciplines, Laura unveils the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects that fuel champions' journeys. As Laura reflects on her own experiences, you'll discover the wisdom gained from overcoming setbacks, finding new pathways, and redefining one’s identity beyond sports. Her pursuit of gold goes far beyond the physical medals to the pursuit of self-discovery, fulfillment, and resilience. 

As you will hear, this 100th episode truly encapsulates the very heart and soul of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, reminding athletes that it's not just about the destination but the incredible journey that transforms them into champions, both on and off the field. Thank you for joining Laura Wilkinson on this epic journey, and here's to the next 100 episodes!

Episode Highlights:

• The birth of the Pursuit of Gold podcast
• Learning from others
• Finding fulfillment in sports and life
• The mental game
• The pursuit of purpose
• Embracing change and growth

Quotes:

"Because as I often say to people, I went to three Olympic games but I only brought home one medal, but it didn't make the other two Olympics failures or regrets or I wish I hadn't gone after it." "Finding fulfillment in your sport carries a lot of weight outside of your sport, too, outside of the pool or the track or the gym or whatever it is. To find that fulfillment in your sport also helps you feel fulfilled outside of your sport." "You don't stand up on the podium and become a champion. You have to become a champion in the dark when nobody is watching in those days, weeks, months, years leading up to that moment that you get to stand on top of the podium." "Gold is a great goal. It is something admirable to work for and to try and achieve. But it's the pursuit that makes you who you are, that makes you incredible." "You don't get to the top of the podium and suddenly everything changes. You have to change in order to stand on top of that podium. You have to change in the pursuit. It's the pursuit of gold that makes you a champion." “I want you to grow into the athlete and the person that you want to be. I am your biggest fan.”  “By listening and sharing this show with your friends, you make it possible to continue on and impact so many people. So a huge, heartfelt thank you for listening and for being here and being a ‘Pursuit Peep.’”

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Throughout the episode, Laura and Robia explore the complex world of emotional eating and its roots in societal pressures and personal insecurities as Robia shares her two-decade-long journey to recognize and address these underlying emotional wounds. Together, they stress the critical significance of seeking help, mentorship, and guidance while underscoring the role of accountability and the power of vulnerability in the healing process. Advocating for self-awareness through journaling and investing in personal growth, this episode is a profound journey into emotional healing and self-discovery, providing valuable guidance for those seeking happiness and fulfillment amid the demands of high achievement and success. Don't miss this opportunity to join Laura and Robia’s insightful conversation today so you, too, can continue on your own path to emotional well-being and self-empowerment.

Episode Highlights:

• Robia Scott's remarkable journey from professional dancer to Prince's muse
• The sacrifices made in the pursuit of dreams
• The hidden struggles behind the glamour of a successful career
• Body image, food, and self-esteem
• Robia's journey of self-discovery and emotional healing
• The significance of acknowledging and processing emotions
• Robia's role as a coach
• The cycle of emotional eating and its roots in societal pressures
• The importance of recognizing the underlying emotions driving destructive behaviors

Quotes:

"In many of our sports, there's this elephant in the room that people don't want to talk about because we're high achievers, we're tough, we think we should be impenetrable, like some kind of superhero." "These escapes might offer temporary relief and comfort, but they can easily become addictive, enslaving, and destructive patterns." "The feelings we're not dealing with are dealing with us." "Awareness is the first step of change. You can't change what you don't know." "If I'm overweight, you just, like, go on a diet. You try to white knuckle things. You try to quit the smoking. You try to stop the addiction. You try to stop drinking the alcohol. But if you don't deal with the root, it just parlays into a different addiction." "I call them counterfeit comforts because they're those comforts that we turn to, that they're an imposter, they give us some temporary satisfaction, some temporary relief, but they're really a counterfeit." "You don't have to be controlled by these…counterfeit comforts. You can overcome that and move past it." "It's important because like you said, we all struggle with it in some ways, so we have to talk about it."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Robia:

• Robia Scott
• Robia's Free Guide

Episode Highlights: 

• Breakdown of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and its origins in summer 2021. 
• The fluctuating dynamics between NIL deals and their influence on college selection. 
• Trends in NIL partnerships, with an emphasis on social media leverage. 
• NIL's indirect and direct benefits for colleges and universities.
• Collective’s role in fundraising and balancing resources for athletic departments. 
• Potential changes in athlete retention and graduation rates with NIL.
• Comparing NIL environments between different division levels in the NCAA. 
• Aspects concerning athletes transitioning from college to professional sports. 
• Ensuring alignment of NIL opportunities with personal values and genuine interests. 

Quotes:   "Sports are this incredibly powerful context, not inherently good or bad, but one of the most powerful contexts for human development."  "I think long-term happiness and fulfillment and wellbeing come from really having a clear sense of who you are, and then how you pursue that."   "There are a number of lawsuits in process right now that I could see fundamentally altering the relationship between student athletes and universities here in the not too distant future." “I recognize this could be transformative for some families… for their kid to be able to pursue an NIL deal in high school that could change the trajectory of an entire family.” “We've jumped the shark in terms of what we require of an athlete to even be able to put themselves in a position to get to a school like Texas. And so now we're layering on, on top of that.”

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide
• Episode 76: Developing a Competitive Mindset with Sports Psychiatrist Dr. T
• Episode 83: Growing into a Leader with Swimming Olympic Medalist Elizabeth Beisel
• Episode 89: Fall in Love with Failing with 3x World Champ Softball Player Haylie McCleney
• Episode 91: Think Big, Act Small with 2x Olympic Medalist Skier Shannon Bahrke
• Episode 95: Courage is a Learned Skill with High Diver David Colturi

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Matt:

• Matt’s LinkedIn
• Matt’s Website

Naya's incredible odyssey from her collegiate discovery of rugby to Olympic glory, as shared here today stands as a resounding testament to her steadfast resilience and dedication. Together, she and Laura discuss navigating the challenges of professional rugby, the mental toughness of elite athletes, appearing on Project Runway, and the journey to the Tokyo Olympics. Naya's passion for supporting youth rugby players through the Naya Tapper Scholarship and her dynamic brand, "Naya on Fiya” shine brightly throughout the episode, and listeners will also gain a glimpse into her aspirations beyond her athletic career, particularly in the realm of sports business. Naya's remarkable story is one that resonates far beyond sports, exemplifying the power of unwavering perseverance and the relentless pursuit of one's dreams. Episode Highlights:

• Naya's journey from discovering rugby in college
• The importance of having a backup plan in professional rugby
• Overcoming adversity and making a comeback in the sport
• Building a personal brand and preparing for the Olympics
• Highlighting the beauty of diversity and unity in sports
• Favorite international rugby destinations, like Dubai and South Africa
• Insights into the Olympic selection process and the importance of staying healthy
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on training and team dynamics
• Naya’s future aspirations

Quotes: "It was destiny because my college coach had connections with the national rugby team." "I got cut from the team. My immediate reaction was, 'I'll just go back to North Carolina and start applying for PT schools.'" "It's always for me, like, 'Okay, what's the next move? How do I get back on my feet?'" "It was nice to be able to chill and relax and let my body decompress and spend time with family and friends that you miss out on a lot when you're full time in this type of profession." "As long as I can stay healthy and continue performing at the level I am, I have the best shot I can possibly provide myself." "Sports have literally changed my life. So to be able to provide that opportunity for people who also want to have that experience, I think was really important to me." "Nobody really knows how to sell you better than you can sell yourself." "I've officially strayed away from PT school mainly because I really don't want to go back to school." "I think something that I've gained a passion for is just sports business."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Naya:

• Naya Tapper

Laura’s very special guest this week is J.P. Nerbun, founder and co-host of the highly acclaimed sports leadership podcast, Coaching Culture. With an accomplished career as a professional basketball coach spanning over a decade, J.P. Nerbun has become a world-renowned leadership coach, sports consultant, and visionary founder of TOC, a leading global sports-consulting and coaching business. Throughout his career, he and his team have provided personalized coaching and practical resources to hundreds of leaders across various industries, including sports, education, medicine, and business. He is also the acclaimed author of Calling Up: Discovering Your Journey to Transformational Leadership and The Culture System: A Proven Process for Creating an Extraordinary Team Culture. J.P.’s ‘The Culture System Online Training Platform’ launched earlier this year. Drawing from his unique perspective as a former athlete, J.P. provides actionable guidance tailored for coaches, athletes, and parents alike seeking to elevate their leadership and culture-building skills. He goes on to share his personal journey and rich leadership experience, and offers insights into effective coaching practices, parental involvement, strategies for handling challenging situations, and the keys to achieving success. Together with Laura, J.P. also delves into the critical role of team culture, crafting coaching philosophies, nurturing relationships in youth sports, and addressing abuse in sports with a positive approach. Brimming with a wealth of wisdom on fostering exceptional team cultures and honing leadership abilities in the sports world, the insights discussed by J.P. and Laura here today will undoubtedly ignite your passion to create positive and impactful experiences in the realm of sports and beyond. 

Episode Highlights:

• Team culture's crucial role
• Crafting coaching philosophy
• Building relationships in youth sports
• J.P.'s transformative journey and experience in culture and leadership
• Addressing abuse in sports and coaching with a positive impact
• Effective coaching and parental involvement
• Handling challenging situations
• Keys to success

Quotes: "If someone is tearing you down as a human being, they criticize your play, that's one thing. But especially to be critical of you as a human being constantly, that you feel less, you feel like you're not worthy... just walk away."

"I wish I could go back so much and just tell that younger self to, hey, just tell him to stop. Just tell him, this doesn't work for me."

"I'm passionate, so I can be really high, and I can be really low. That used to be my excuse.” "We want to create an environment that's intrinsically motivated for athletes, where they just want to show up and work hard and have a good attitude because that's who they want to be."

"My job as your coach is not to make you an Olympic gold medalist. My job is to create an atmosphere and an environment where you can become the very best that you can be."

"Your philosophy is like the outline; you allow the players to come in and color it in."

"Share it as an observation, not as a judgment. Be curious, not judgmental."

"The best way to invite change in others is to first change yourself."

"A great leader creates a future that wasn't possible without them."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with J.P.: TOC Culture

Laura joins forces with professional cliff diver, coach, and performance expert, David Colturi for this week’s installment of the Pursuit of Gold podcast. One of the standout cliff divers over the last decade, David has accumulated 14 podiums in 52 starts, including becoming the youngest ever winner of a World Series event at the age of 24. After returning from the enforced World Series break, he was narrowly edged out of the permanent places in 2021 and will return to the 27m platform as a wildcard this year. David also currently serves as a coach, runs high performance workshops, and is a gifted public speaker.

Together with Laura, David embarks on an exhilarating journey that delves into such topics as his awe-inspiring transformation from a budding diver to an experienced professional, the pivotal role of balance in the pursuit of one's dreams, and the fearless approach required to confront and conquer personal fears head-on. From being determined to conquer the heights of high dives to the heart-pounding moments during his debut at the Red Bull Cliff Diving event in Corsica, this episode is a treasure trove of adrenaline-pumping narratives and invaluable life lessons. Our dynamic duo also go on to share intimate anecdotes and profound insights into the psychological and emotional battles they've waged during their illustrious careers, from grappling with fear and self-doubt to contending with the physical toll exacted by high-speed impacts. Today’s conversation transcends the realm of diving and touches upon the profound importance of setting well-defined objectives, aligning actions with one's authentic values, and embarking on a purpose-driven journey throughout our lives.

If you’ve been wanting to make some crucial mindset shifts like David, in order to perform better, love your sport again or grow your confidence, start getting excited for my awesome Black Friday bundles that are here now but only for a limited time! Every single amazing bundle also comes with a FREE ticket into a new workshop I’ll be hosting in January called Turning Obstacles into Opportunities. Make sure you don’t miss this window of opportunity- go check out these special bundles at LauraWilkinson.com/blackfriday!

Episode Highlights:

• David’s remarkable journey
• Dedication and sacrifices
• How college athletes grapple with pursuing their sport professionally or exploring alternative career paths
• David's leap into professional cliff diving
• Red Bull Cliff Diving events
• David's inaugural experience in Corsica
• Unforeseen setbacks and the power of resilience and a positive attitude
• Overcoming fear and early challenges in high diving
• The journey toward control and focus
• Peer pressure and accountability in overcoming platform hesitation and building confidence

Quotes:

"Courage is a learned skill just like anything else."

"These tough days, these are the ones that define you. This is the good stuff."

"You're just competing against yourself... all you've got to do is be better than you were yesterday."

"You’ve just got to sometimes do what you’ve got to do. And it can be a scary road, but I think you learn a lot of lessons in that, too."

"So it's kind of just learning to take those skills we learn in our sport and applying it into our life."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide
• Laura's Black Friday Sale

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with David:

• David's Website
• David's Instagram

Laura goes solo today to speak directly with listeners regarding the intricate issue of expectations that can plague athletes across all levels. Her wealth of experience shines through as she adeptly guides us all through the nuanced landscape of expectation management, providing not only invaluable insights but also practical strategies to shift focus from the burdensome weight of unrealistic pressures to the exhilarating pursuit of goals and personal growth. Laura also delves into the emotional ramifications of expectations, shedding light on how their emotional nature can lead to disappointment, potentially eroding athletes' self-esteem and confidence. A key theme highlighted in this episode is the essential distinction between goals and expectations, with Laura emphasizing that goals should be concrete, measurable, and underpinned by a well-defined plan, while expectations often manifest as vague desires devoid of concrete strategies. By encouraging athletes to view their goals as destinations and expectations as the vehicles of their journey, Laura inspires a profound mindset shift that enables athletes to sidestep undue pressure and instead immerse themselves in the rewarding process of athletic excellence. A truly essential listen, today’s episode is a beacon of guidance in particular for athletes seeking to master the art of expectation management and cultivate a goal-oriented mentality along their path to athletic success.  More outstanding guidance will also be available through Laura's upcoming Black Friday Sale, where she will unveil a trove of valuable resources designed to reshape mindsets and elevate athletic performance. Join the Black Friday Waitlist here to ensure you're among the first to access these transformative offerings.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the critical difference between goals and expectations
• Navigating the emotional challenges and potential pitfalls of expectations
• Expectations as motivators
• The power of goal-centric focus
• Leveraging expectations for daily training and character growth
• Laura's upcoming Black Friday Sale

Quotes:

"So many of us are carrying the weight of either our own expectations or the expectations of others, whether it be a coach, a parent, teammates, the media, whoever." "Expectations are desires, but they don't have any precise shape or boundaries.” "I really despise the term ‘realistic goals’ because when people say ‘realistic’, they're trying to say, “Set a goal you can already do,” and that's not a goal." "Goals are stable, yet they're pliable enough to adapt to changing circumstances." "Your goal is where you are aiming. That is your final destination." “The secret to not confuse expectations with goals is to let your expectations direct the quality and effort of your training, not your end result.” "Let's be goal-oriented and goal-focused and really just expect that we are going to train with quality, that we are going to train with integrity, every single day."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide
• Laura's Black Friday Sale Waitlist

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

This week, Laura shines the Pursuit of Gold spotlight on Brandon Loschiavo, an exceptional athlete whose journey is truly a compelling one, and whose impressive resume includes Big Ten championships, NCAA championships, seven U.S. national titles, a World Cup bronze medal, and a coveted spot as an Olympian. Following a brief retirement period post-Tokyo Olympics, Brandon has resurfaced with a resolute focus on competing in the men's ten-meter platform diving event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Together with Laura here today, he addresses a number of pivotal themes, including unwavering determination, resilience in the face of adversity, the power of a positive mindset, and the art of adapting to life's challenges.

Throughout the episode, Brandon delves into his college years, which were far from a straightforward path to success, and his diving career which was marred by knee injuries that threatened to halt his progress. Rather than succumbing to these setbacks, however, Brandon relates how he embarked on a journey filled with creativity and proactive injury management. He also goes on to share with listeners a wealth of wisdom on such topics as life after competitive sports, strength training, coaching, and the unique challenges faced by elite athletes when transitioning into new roles. Tune in and join these two legendary athletes for this powerful reminder that success often stems from embracing challenges head-on - an invaluable lesson so very pertinent to all aspects of life.

Episode Highlights:

• Overcoming adversity through creativity
• Chasing Olympic dreams
• Mindset and Olympic trials
• Post-Olympic experiences
• Embracing change and adapting
• Resilience in the face of adversity
• Seeking multiple opinions regarding injuries
• Adaptive training approaches

Quotes: "Simple mental skills and mindset shifts can make a huge difference in your confidence." "I had that goal, I had that aspiration to make it to the Olympics, and I just put my head down and grinded for the long haul."

"It's not the last dive that matters. It's all 18. And I did 17 out of 18 well enough to just keep me not just in the game, but, like, well above second."

"I want to walk into the prelim feeling like it's the final. You don't want to just kind of, like, mosey through the prelim, because then you'll do terribly, and it's a cumulative event, so every list counts."

"When you're a hyper-focused athlete on these huge goals, there's life outside of it, but you kind of forget how to live."

"It felt good to find a new community, and I did for at least probably, like, the first two, three months. I made it a goal to not be defined as a diver when I was outside of diving." "Coaches need coaches. And so I decided to have the team USA strength coach be my strength coach, write my programs."

"Strength training is a slow burn, just like getting an Olympic pursuit. it's a long-term investment that pays off at the end."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Brandon: Brandon's Instagram Brandon's Linktree

In this week’s captivating episode of The Pursuit of Gold, Laura welcomes the truly remarkable Tricia Mangan, a trailblazing skier who defied conventional norms to ascend to the pinnacle of her sport. As a two time Olympian, the 2023 US. National champion, six time North American Cup title winner, NCAA All American and All Academic Team member, and recent Dartmouth College Mechanical Engineering graduate, Tricia's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams regardless of challenges encountered. Today’s episode immerses listeners in the multi-faceted world of athletic excellence, exploring the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that empower athletes like Tricia to achieve greatness. 

As you will hear, Tricia’s journey to the Olympics was nothing short of extraordinary. Initially an alternate, she received a last-minute call to join the Olympic team and faced the whirlwind of preparations. The episode highlights her emotions and experiences during this roller-coaster ride, from the excitement of Olympic swag shopping to dealing with self-imposed pressure and doubt. As you dive into this episode, you will gain invaluable insights into Tricia's underdog mindset, her meteoric rise to becoming a two-time Olympian and 2023 US National champion, and her tireless dedication to inspiring the next generation of athletes to relentlessly pursue their dreams. Throughout their conversation, Tricia and Laura also shed light on the inspiring connection between Tricia and her brother (and guest on The Pursuit of Gold Episode 84), para rower Andrew Mangan. Tricia’s incredible journey, as shared here today, serves as a shining example of relentless commitment and the drive to succeed, reaffirming that even amidst the most formidable challenges, athletes can evolve, learn, and continue to pave their own path in their pursuit of gold.

Episode Highlights:

• Insights into the tight-knit Mangan family
• Tricia's passion for skiing and soccer
• The underdog mindset driving Tricia's journey to success
• Balancing student-athlete life at Dartmouth College while chasing skiing dreams
• Tricia's triumphant return to the US Ski Team 
• Her Olympic journey
• Valuable lessons on process-oriented goal setting
• Finding victories in every experience
• The mental aspects of competition, handling pressure, and embracing challenges

Quotes:

"I knew that my path made me an underdog, but it was that very mindset that fueled my passion for always improving on and off the hill." "My twin brother and I were six when we started ski racing. I just loved it because all of our friends did it, kind of the cool kids at the club did it." "Growing up, I always knew that there were so many better girls out there, so I truly just focused on myself." "I've learned the most about myself, and I still feel it's just a never-ending challenge." "Everyone has their own lived experiences, and there's nothing wrong with feeling bad about a race. Like, you put a ton of work into that." "I just feel so thankful and grateful for all the support I've received, and the most special moments are definitely for me being able to give back and share my journey."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW
• Conquer Your Fear

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Tricia:

• Tricia's Website
• Tricia's Blog - Updates from the Road

Two-time Olympic medalist and three-time Olympian in skiing, Shannon Bahrke, joins Laura for this week’s fascinating episode of The Pursuit of Gold podcast.  In addition to her Silver and Bronze Olympic medals, Shannon’s achievements over her astonishing 12-year career include being a member of the U.S. “A’ Team, earning 7 World Cup victories and 6 U.S. National titles, and winning the Overall World Cup title in 2003, despite enduring multiple major injuries. Since retiring from her sport, she has gone on to create the Team Empower Hour made up of Olympians who empower corporate leaders and teams around the globe through leadership development, team building, keynote speeches, and fitness workout classes.  Today, Shannon shares details of her extraordinary journey, and, together with Laura, explores such themes such as purpose, resilience, and the power of mental training in sports. The episode delves into Shannon's early introduction to aerial skiing, her childhood in Lake Tahoe, and her love for adventure sports. It highlights her transition to mogul skiing and the pivotal role of community and freedom in her skiing passion. Shannon's journey from the University of Utah to competing at the World Cup level sheds light on the challenges she faced, and her accounts of using journaling and visualization in training and competitions underscore the roller coaster of success that defined her Olympic path. Shannon's story, as told here today, serves as a testament to the importance of mental and emotional resilience, seizing opportunities, and embracing unity and patriotism on a global scale. You owe it to yourself to join in on this remarkable journey, as Shannon's inspiring tale exemplifies the indomitable spirit of athletes who choose resilience and triumph, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of sports and beyond.

Episode Highlights:

• Shannon's journey and her resilience and determination to overcome setbacks
• Her development of mental toughness, a vital quality for elite athletes
• The pivotal role of positive self-talk
• The power of visualization
• Falling in love with mogul skiing
• The importance of seizing opportunities even when faced with adversity
• Shannon's ability to bounce back from injuries and setbacks
• Choosing resilience and turning failures into stepping stones toward success

Quotes: "It was hard, it was difficult, it had so many challenges, but it had all of these super crazy and wild people just like me, so it seemed like a perfect fit."

"I'm a natural problem solver, and I like when people tell you can't do it."

"That was the moment that I first started to use visualization, closing my eyes and experiencing and seeing what it is that I wanted."

"We can be the best at our sport, but the difference is in your mental and emotional resilience." "I could be the person that could change the world as a female to do these things."

"When you have a purpose that's greater than yourself, that gives you the ability to do things you wouldn't normally be able to do."

"Our destiny isn't given to us; we have the choice to make it."

"This is the resilience that I need right now to dig deep and be my best self and show the world what I am truly made of."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW
• Conquer Your Fear

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Shannon: Shannon's Website Shannon's Instagram Shannon's LinkedIn

Welcome to yet another elite episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, as Laura takes the plunge into the remarkable journey of Jaime Komer, two-time World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist in water polo. Drawing from this storied Olympic career and her own personal journey of self-discovery, Jaime has gone on to guide Olympians, Paralympians, professional athletes, women's groups, business executives, parents and entrepreneurs alike through challenging transitions they’ve encountered, all with compassion and an open mindset. The Founder of Consciously Connected, a personal growth consultancy, our multifaceted guest has also created a new and unique practice for self-exploration and personal growth known as The Kampfire, and, as if that’s not enough, serves as the host of the Consciously Connected Podcast. This girl gets things done!

As you will hear, Jaime's narrative is nothing short of inspiring, encompassing a journey of transcending boundaries in Central California by initially joining a boys' water polo team to eventually achieving global acclaim. What truly distinguishes Jaime, though, is her transition from the pinnacle of sports to becoming a facilitator, guiding individuals and groups to embrace authenticity and prioritize emotional well-being. Today’s conversation unravels the spectrum of Jaime's insights, including the importance of setting ambitious goals and unleashing the power of creative imagery and visualization techniques. Uncovering the peaks and valleys of Jaime's athletic odyssey - from the heights of Olympic Silver glory to the emotional turbulence of facing rejection - her narrative embodies the indomitable spirit required to chase dreams while imparting invaluable wisdom for all. Join Laura and Jaime here today for this testament to resilience and determination, and immerse yourself in the wealth of knowledge, advice, inspiration and motivation to be found in this riveting installment of the Pursuit of Gold podcast.

Episode Highlights:

• Jaime's remarkable journey
• Goal setting and perseverance
• Authenticity and emotional well-being
• Visualization techniques
• Navigating life transitions
• Olympic dreams and training
• The Olympic experience
• Navigating career transitions

Quotes: "It's really hard because you're like this tight-knit family, and at the same time, there's a very competitive energy in it because you don't know who or what's going to happen."

"It felt like such an honor. It felt like such a proud moment in my life, and for our team to be there. And then at an individual level, I'm kind of working with my own emotions, my own mental health."

"It is a funny experience because you are feeling so many things, and it's so exciting at the same time."

"We went in going big. And I think that's why it was so hard, actually when we did get silver.” "Through coaching, by asking people questions and helping them find their own answers, you're way more motivated to do stuff."

"There's so much that can happen when we do share it, even if it's maybe not the most comfortable thing to start."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Jaime: Jaime's Website Jaime's Instagram Consciously Connected Podcast on YouTube

Key takeaways from the episode reveal Haylie's emphasis on prioritizing personal growth over mere trophies as well as valuing the role of a supportive teammate in boosting morale. She also illuminates the transformative power of journaling as a means to navigate emotions, set goals, and express intentions, offering an enriching perspective on personal growth and competition. While recounting her journey to the Olympics, which saw the unique challenge of softball's temporary removal from the Games, Haylie's tenacity shines through in her work to realize her dream of representing the USA in Tokyo. The complexities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic are addressed as well, emphasizing the importance of stability during uncertain times. Haylie McCleney's inspiring narrative, as shared here today, stands as a testament to relentless dedication, unwavering commitment, and the unending pursuit of excellence - a truly inspiring tale brimming with invaluable wisdom born out of extensive and elite experience.

Episode Highlights:

• The pursuit of personal growth and competition over mere trophies
• Being a supportive and uplifting teammate in sports
• Dedication to playing the long game and maintaining focus
• The distractions and obligations faced while playing professional softball.
• Navigating the unique challenges of an Olympic journey
• Coping with disappointment
• The importance of resilience and team bonding
• Positive aspects of unconventional Olympics
• Journaling for mental health

Quotes:

• "You've got to be really in love with failing and learning from your failure."
• "I was raised to begin with the end in mind and trust that the effort you put in today, weeks, months, years from now, you're going to see the benefits of it."
• "Softball can be my year-round, full-time job. I can sign one contract, and that's enough money for me to make an incredible living."
• "What if we try out again and get cut? What if I was an Olympian? But now I'm not an Olympian. Do I still say I'm an Olympian?"
• "I might as well just have some fun, like, continue to play softball."
• "Time heals everything."
• "Play the long game, try to see the long game as best you can."
• "Every single second matters."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Haylie:

• Haylie's Website
• Haylie's Linktree

Our guest’s remarkable career shines a spotlight on the potency of multidisciplinary athleticism and perseverance in the pursuit of Olympic aspirations. Together, she and Laura uncover the advantages and hurdles of engaging in multiple sports, the significance of setting audacious goals, and the paramount importance of ensuring a safe experience for all involved in sports. Erin's perspectives on the realm of collegiate sports and her dedication to helping individuals unlock their inner Olympian provide invaluable lessons for budding athletes and those in search of inspiration. Join Laura and Erin here today for this thought-provoking discussion on resilience, career transitions, and the importance of addressing misconduct in sports.

Episode Highlights

• Erin's remarkable journey balancing collegiate sports
• The importance of ambitious goals and pursuit of Olympic excellence in multiple sports
• Challenges and rewards of participating in various sports during youth and high school
• Erin's insights into crucial NCAA issues and advice for athletes
• Heartwarming stories of transformation and resilience
• Multidisciplinary athleticism's power in Olympic dreams
• Awakening the inner Olympian
• The power of resilience, determination, and family support in overcoming challenges and personal growth

Quotes:

• "Participating in multiple sports during my youth allowed me to develop exceptional body awareness skills that translated into success in volleyball and track."
• "The NCAA system has its challenges, but it's essential to raise awareness about issues like grooming and abuse, and I'm committed to helping athletes navigate these challenges."
• "I just remember being so relieved that someone from my family was there. I just felt the love."
• "Seize the moment, seize the day, because you never know if you're going to get another shot."
• "I was never going to be 6’3”. I was going to be stuck at 6’1”, and that's something that you can't coach."
• "I think that is actually my calling. I completely quit my career in commercial real estate and I launched Ascension Coaching."
• "I believe that everyone has an Olympian within them. Whatever that looks like, you just have to find it and tap into it."
• "Grooming, obviously, because it hits so close to home for me, is such a scary thing because you start to trust these people."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Erin:

• Erin's LinkedIn
• Ascension Coaching

Her journey, as shared here today, serves as a powerful reminder of the potential challenges athletes face during their transition from elite sports to retirement, and emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out plan and discovering new passions to lead a fulfilling post-athletic career. She also highlights The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation's role and her own dedication to staying active and healthy, even after retiring from competitive weightlifting. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of Olympic weightlifting, the pursuit of Olympic dreams, the critical importance of clean sport advocacy, and the potential fate of weightlifting in the Olympics. You do not want to miss this one.

And you do not want to miss Laura’s transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success.

Episode Highlights:

• Carissa’s "Golden Prison" experience
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
• Pursuing Olympic dreams
• Balancing education and sport
• Carissa's transition from athlete to a professional
• The value of knowledge and intelligence beyond athletic accomplishments
• Seeing sport as a component of life, not the entirety of one's identity
• Carissa’s Olympic journey and challenges
• The potential fate of Olympic weightlifting

Quotes:

• "We can guarantee you a spot in February of 2001, but, like in June when you graduate high school, I don't know if we're going to have anything available for you.’ And I said, ‘I'll be there.’"
• "I need to prepare for life after sport, and so that's what going to school was doing for me."
• "What I would really encourage athletes to recognize, is: your sport, yes, it is a part of who you are, but it is not you. It doesn't define who you are for the rest of your life. You have other identities as well."
• "I am still part of sport but just in a very different way."
• "You still need to have a plan to make sure that you, as a person, are fulfilled and have some sort of direction in your life."
• "Unfortunately, doping issues have been very common in the sport of weightlifting."
• "You don't just disappear. You still need to have a little sprinkle of whatever in your life."
• "Weightlifting is on the chopping block for 2028.”
• "I like to say we're the science behind strength and conditioning."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Confident Competitor

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Carissa:

• Carissa's Instagram

• Carissa's Pinterest

• National Strength and Conditioning Association

More key components for this journey can be found in Laura’s transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success. 

Episode Highlights:

• Visualization takes practice
• Start small, grow big
• Sitting up matters
• Eyes closed, mind open
• Modeling vs. visualization
• Diverse approaches to visualization
• Consistency is key

Quotes:

• "Just like physical training, mental training like visualization also takes practice and time."
• "Start small and you can always grow bigger."
• "It's actually much more functional and effective if you are sitting up and thinking through the process."
• "When you close your eyes, it helps you see the images in your mind clearer instead of having your eyes open and distracted."
• "With consistency, with consistent practice, you will get better at visualization also."
• "This is a mindset skill you are growing. Build that consistency and it will become easier for you."
• "When you can also take time to just visualize in your head alone without the action, you're actively kind of rewiring your brain in ways you might not be able to yet with the actions attached to it."
• "You have to have patience with yourself. It takes practice. Mental training, real quality mental training, takes practice."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Confident Competitor

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

With Laura, April explores the controversies arising from the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, and highlights the importance of standing up for women's rights and equitable competition, even in the face of opposition.  Their discussion also delves into the impact of transgender athletes on women's sports, the differentiation between competition categories, and the empowerment of athletes to advocate for change.  April goes on to recount her own experiences competing against male athletes, and her aspirations for gold in future competitions. With April's journey as the backdrop, today’s episode fosters a compelling dialogue about the healing power of sports, gender equity, and the unwavering spirit of athletes dedicated to preserving the integrity of women's athletics.

In more great news, Laura is reintroducing her transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success. 

Episode Highlights:

• April's journey from addiction to triumph and sobriety
• Powerlifting as a catalyst for personal growth and empowerment
• Competing against male athletes and advocating for women's rights
• The story of the biological male going by the name Anne Andres
• Powerlifting's synergy with mental health and physical empowerment
• April's training routine and aspirations for future competitions
• Navigating transgender athletes' impact on women's sports
• Advocacy for equity and women's rights amidst challenges and opposition

Quotes:

• "A lot of women are silenced and feel silenced... April is leading the charge, hoping to inspire courage in others to speak up as well."
• "COVID was so horrible for probably 90% of people, but for me, it was actually my blessing because I got sober a couple of months prior."
• "I want to work on my squat and I want to work on my bench... I want to just keep getting better and better and better."
• "In 2026, the Commonwealth Games will be in Australia, so I want to go there and sweep up all the records in the Commonwealth Games."
• "The first step we need to do is obviously just educate people, right? I mean, when I first started this, people would call me a bigot or transphobic, right?”
• "We need to fight for girls in sports, our future generations."
• "If you stick up for fairness and truth, you can have a great sleep at night."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Confident Competitor
• Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with April:

• I Stand With April
• April's Instagram
• April's Twitter

As you will hear, with resolute determination, he has seized each incremental victory, masterfully turning challenges into opportunities while pursuing his dreams. Along the way, he has also taken the time to create a spinal cord outreach platform, and author a book about brain computer interfaces - a topic of crucial importance to him. Andrew’s odyssey of surmounting daunting challenges to achieve his goals resonates as a testament to indomitable resilience and unwavering determination. His journey from grappling with a life-altering spinal cord injury to scaling the precipice of Paralympic aspirations paints a vivid picture of the human spirit's triumph over adversity. Listen in to this fascinating conversation today and witness how the ripples of life's trials are navigated with skillful grace, morphing aspirations into gleaming realities, beckoning with the allure of gold. Be sure to tune into this captivating Pursuit of Gold dialogue filled with inspiration and insights that once again transcend the arena of sports, empowering us all to face multifaceted challenges in every aspect of our lives with unshakable resolve. 

Episode Highlights:

• Andrew Mangan's story of his triumphant path of recovery and personal growth after a life-altering spinal cord injury
• Confronting an uncertain recovery journey 
• Establishing "Connecting the Resilient" 
• Andrew's pursuit of Paralympic dreams
• Imparting universal lessons in mental resilience, adaptability, and transforming adversity into purpose
• Andrew’s unwavering determination to transcend challenges and discover purpose
• His choice to study abroad and explore personal growth in Berlin
• Andrew's journey to Paralympic qualification

Quotes:

• "You have to have hope, and then you also have to have action that follows that hope."
• "It's beneficial to control the things you can control."
• "If you put in the work now, especially the closer I am to my injury, the more likely I'll maximize the amount of recovery that I can get."
• "Our attitude is something that we always have control over."
• "If you give a little bit past what you think you can every day, then that will show itself in a couple of months' time."
• "For me, when I had this injury, I just kept going forward, I guess is the biggest message, and doing it with a positive attitude."
• "Being able to row is one thing and get on the water and train, but being able to actually compete again and compete against someone is a whole 'nother ballgame."
• "It's not the adversity itself, but rather how you respond to it that defines you."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Andrew:

• Andrew's Website
• Andrew's Blog
• Connecting the Resilient
• Plugged In
• Andrew's GoFundMe

Elizabeth’s voyage within the realm of swimming serves as a testament to the confluence of ambition and unwavering dedication. Accomplishing feats both in and out of the pool, Beisel adeptly balanced her academic pursuits, emerging with a distinguished 3.9 GPA and clinching the esteemed 2011 NCAA Division One Scholar Athlete All American of the Year award before moving on to her storied Olympic career. Ultimately transcending the competitive sphere, Beisel found a new vocation as a talented and insightful media contributor, commentator and author, adding depth to audiences' engagement with the sport. Noteworthy among her endeavors is her charitable initiative, Block Cancer, wherein Beisel embarked on a remarkable nonstop swim that raised an impressive $600,000 for cancer research and clinical trials. A luminary both within the world of sport and beyond, Elizabeth’s tale, as shared here today, is as fascinating as it is inspiring - definitely one you do not want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

• Elizabeth's inspirational journey
• Her self-confidence and mindset shifts
• Mentorship and achievement
• Authenticity and connection
• Triumph over challenges
• Transition and charity
• Olympics: reality vs. perception
• Michael Phelps' Legacy and Motivation

Quotes:

• "I remember distinctly watching the 2000 Sydney Olympics on TV. I was seven years old, and it was the first time I'd ever seen my sport swimming on television. It was the first time that I also grasped the enormity and weight of the Olympic Games."
• "If there's one thing that I would love for any athlete or whoever it is to take away from this podcast, is like, you can do all of the reps in whatever it is that you do, but if you are not actively practicing how to be confident and believing in yourself, it's never going to click."
• "It's cool to trace a lot of things back to one pivotal conversation. Like one person made that difference."
• "I had this rosy colored view of the Olympics because all I had exposure to was what I saw on TV and all of the teams that I had been on leading up to the Olympics."
• "I think my brain was like, well, I didn't win. I don't have a gold medal yet, so I do want to keep going."
• "Self-reflection and a desire for personal growth guide decisions about the future."
• "My best type of leadership is just serving others."
• "Your life is a constant roller coaster."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Learn more about the Take Action Workshop

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Elizabeth:

• Elizabeth's Website
• Silver Lining

Throughout this fascinating conversation, Kim recounts her road to the Olympics, her transition to marathon running, the challenges she faced during her athletic career, and how she balanced her personal life with her professional ambitions. She highlights the significance of teamwork in running, where even middle-of-the-pack athletes play crucial roles in team scores, and notes that her love for running and the joy she finds in the sport have been the driving forces behind her success and continued dedication to the marathon. The life-changing grant that allowed her to devote herself wholly to training for the Olympic Trials, and the sheer determination and courage she demonstrated in securing her place in the Olympics by a razor-thin margin are also discussed. Kim goes on to introduce her coaching business, "Next Best Run," and her plans for the future, including her quest for the 2024 Paris Olympics. As you will hear, Kim Conley’s story, as shared here today, is a truly remarkable one of grit, passion, and seizing the moment that will undoubtedly leave you inspired to pursue your own dreams, no matter what obstacles you may encounter in your path.

Episode Highlights:

• Overcoming disappointments.
• The value of teamwork
• Setting ambitious goals
• Finding joy in running
• Pursuing excellence
• Striving for support and independence
• Kim’s make-or-break moment
• Tactical Olympic trials

Quotes:

• "Sometimes we just need to give ourselves the opportunity to do great things. All of our paths to get there may look different, but every effort we make matters."
• "I was really focused on really helping the coaches with the recruiting process and trying to build up the team so that we could be the type of team that would qualify for Nationals."
• "I felt like, ‘Wow, in three years, if I keep making progress, could I get to the Olympic Trials? Would that make me feel accomplished and make up for this huge, heartbreaking disappointment with college?’"
• "I just need to stop fixating on the outcome and just try to run as hard as I possibly can to see where that lands me."
• "A lot of it is about where running is fitting into a person's life and how they're feeling. And so I like to have a lot of communication and interaction with the people that I work with."
• "With the support of coaches, with the support of my family, I kind of set that goal of ‘I want to be at the Olympic Trials in three years.’ And so that's how I decided to keep pursuing it after college."
• "I want to be a runner for my entire life.”

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Learn more about the Take Action Workshop

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Kim:

• Kim's Website
• Kim's Instagram

Together, Laura and Cejih explore various themes, including the art of building a personal brand as an athlete and seizing the recent name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities for college athletes. Along the way, Cejih details how his team empowers athletes to thrive not only in sports but also as influential figures in their field by strategically telling their story, creating an engaging social media presence, and using email marketing to forge meaningful connections with followers and sponsors Throughout their conversation, they unravel the significance of athlete branding, delve into the benefits of crafting a unique brand identity, and share practical tips to grow a dedicated audience and engage with potential sponsors. Cejih also recounts the journey of his CG Sports Company, the comprehensive services it provides to athletes, and highlights its advice to athletes to maintain consistent effort and authentic connections while avoiding the fleeting allure of viral social media posts. Listen in today as this undisputed leader in his field reveals absolutely all that sports professionals need to know about redefining their sports journey by building a brand that reflects their unique story and purpose.

Episode Highlights:

• Cejih Yung and CG Sports Company
• The significance and power of athlete branding
• Leveraging NIL opportunities
• Strategic storytelling
• Power of email marketing
• Growing an audience
• Success beyond virality
• Mental strength in sports

Quotes:

• "Your brand is how you are perceived by the market and how you want the market to perceive you and understand you."
• "It's not about going viral; it's about consistency and building authentic connections."
• "The value of mental skills in sports can bring confidence during pressure-packed moments."
• "The more valuable you can make your product, the better it's going to be for potential sponsors or partners or paid deals and things like that."
• "Think of there's you, the person, and then there's you, the product, in the market. And think about those two things."
• "Building an audience is important because you are taking people on the journey with you."
• "The most effective way that we have found to get audience engagement and really make a connection with an audience is through email marketing."
• "You as a person are the most important thing, more than your brand or your identity or any of this stuff."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Cejih:

• CG Sports Company
• CG Sports Brand Camp
• Cejih Explains
• CG Sports on Instagram

From being diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta at just 19 days old, McKenzie's life has exceeded all expectations as she consistently defied limitations set by others. Through aqua therapy and unwavering support from her parents, McKenzie's love for water became a source of rejuvenation that propelled her to ultimately become a three-time U.S. Paralympian, a six-time Paralympic medalist, and a world record holder. In today’s episode, she delves into such topics as the emotional turmoil of team selection, the impact of the Paralympic Games, and the importance of mental strength in facing uncertainties leading up to the Tokyo Paralympics. McKenzie also offers her insights on adaptive sports, strength training, and the emotional rollercoaster of pursuing Paralympic excellence. Noting the profound impact of support from family, coaches, and teammates, she also highlights the power of embracing life's challenges to pursue your dreams with belief and determination. Join Laura and McKenzie here today for this remarkable journey of defying limitations and achieving greatness, as they reveal the fact that the pursuit of gold is not just about winning medals; it's about finding freedom in your passion and pushing yourself to new heights.

Episode Highlights:

• The belief McKenzie's parents instilled in her that anything was possible
• How swimming became McKenzie's refuge
• Balancing ambitious goals with living in the present moment
• How McKenzie’s discovery of the Paralympic Games inspired her
• The power of resilience and determination
• Overcoming adversity and pursuing dreams
• The emotional turmoil of team selection
• McKenzie’s journey towards Paris 2024
• Growth, resilience, and the power of rewiring the mind for success

Quotes:

• "Through every broken bone, every setback, every obstacle, McKenzie has never lost hope, and neither should you."
• "I think it is really good to have your mind already set in what your next goal might be or achieving the goal that you're just starting to work towards now."
• "For the first time in my life, I saw athletes who had a disability, who looked like me, with gold medals around their neck and… I realized that this dream is a possibility for me.”
• "The things that happen to us either become things that happen to us or things that happen for us. That's up to you to decide in the moment."
• "Everything I've been through in the last few years has led me to this moment. This is my time to go out and show them how strong I am."
• "Seeing all the athletes from all the other nations, and we're all so different…but we all are coming together to do one thing, and none of that matters for the next week or two."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with McKenzie:

• McKenzie Coan's Website
• McKenzie Coan on Twitter
• McKenzie Coan on TikTok
• Breaking Free

Together, they peel back the layers of what it takes to excel in the world of elite sports as they review Hugo's humble beginnings on the fields of New Zealand to the grand stage of the Olympic Games to Managing Director of High Impact Athlete. The duo explores the trials and triumphs of a professional athlete, reveal the power of mindfulness in boosting performance and nurturing mental well-being, and share invaluable advice on cultivating mental skills from an early age. As the conversation unfolds, you'll be transported to different corners of the globe, as Hugo shares his experiences of playing field hockey in various countries, the unique challenges and rewards that come with that, and the unyielding determination and unbreakable spirit that propelled him to such greatness. This is an episode you won't want to miss, as Laura and Hugo unearth the keys to pursuing excellence, unveil the secrets of a gold-medal mindset, and take you on a journey that will leave you inspired, motivated, and yearning for more.

Episode Highlights:

• The role of mindfulness in enhancing performance and mental well-being
• Hugo’s journey to becoming a professional athlete
• Maintaining a love for the game and embracing one's strengths
• Strategies for overcoming self-doubt and finding joy in the pursuit of excellence
• Perfection, personal growth, and recognizing one's progress
• Mental well-being and the significance of identity beyond winning or losing
• Overcoming challenges
• The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports
• Balancing professional team commitments and national team obligations
• Hugo’s motivation in pursuing an MBA 
• High Impact Athletes

Quotes:

• "I think it's a really beneficial part of my development, was never quite settling."
• "Remember what your best part is, what you bring to the game, whatever sport you're playing, and recognize that and be proud of it and own that and let that be your just kind of magic sauce."
• "It's about more than just the medal at the end of the competition... I wanted to find out how great I could be."
• "Perfection itself is not truly attainable, but the pursuit of perfection is a good thing when we can recognize that we might never get there."
• "Our self-worth or value is not dependent on achieving perfection."
• "The surgery and the recovery from the surgery was easy. The hard part was standing still for six months to a year with the recurrent back problems."
• "When you have purpose, a purpose-based performance, it's going to drive you far more than if you're doing it out of fear or something else."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Grab a free guide here

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Hugo:

• High Impact Athletes
• HIA's Athletes
• Hugo's LinkedIn Page
• Hugo's Twitter
• Hugo's Instagram

You will undoubtedly be captivated as Melvin shares his extraordinary narrative of rejecting limitations as, against the backdrop of discouraging whispers doubting his potential due to his height, Melvin chose to defy the odds and carve his own path to success. Rising as a two-time NCAA All American Basketball player, he surpassed others’ expectations and emerged as a prominent figure in the basketball world. Yet, his journey did not end there. Melvin discovered an unwavering passion for public speaking, harnessing his experiences to inspire and empower the younger generation. Join Laura and Melvin here today as they explore resilience, purpose, leadership, and the transformative power of sports, inspiring us all to reach our full potential and make a lasting impact on the world around us.

Episode Highlights:

• Melvin's challenging upbringing and his use of basketball as an escape
• The power of resilience, determination, and overcoming obstacles in Melvin's journey.
• Melvin's transition to public speaking
• His inspiring message of hope
• Discovering identity and purpose beyond sports
• Lessons learned about leadership and teamwork
• Mentoring and passing the torch
• Leading by example, finding personal identity, building relationships, and motivating others

Quotes:

• "It does not matter where you start, but how you finish."
• "Being a leader is not just being the best athlete. It's about character and setting an example."
• "Basketball is just what you do, it's not who you are. And I think for so many athletes, we get caught up in our identity or our value even lies in the results at the end."
• "You can speak to people till you're blue in the face, but when they see what you do, that speaks so much louder."
• "If you have a gift and you're being pushed up, use your gift to bring other people up and make the world a better place."
• "If you say you're going to commit to something, commit to it with your heart, your soul, your body, and your mind."
• "The Globetrotters taught me that there was more to the game than just winning and losing."
• "Don't just think it's going to be forever a winter blizzard. Even in your winter, you can make snowmen."
• "It's not your circumstance, it's what you do with that and how you approach it and your attitude toward it."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Grab a free guide here

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Melvin:

• Melvin's Instagram
• Melvin's Twitter
• Melvin's Top Youth Speakers Page

She and Laura also cover a number of themes such as handling difficult situations, rising above negativity, and the importance of being an example for others. They provide personal anecdotes and insights into their own experiences of dealing with negative comments and unfair judgments in sports, and emphasize that the value of an athlete is not determined by their place on the podium. The importance of perseverance, family support, and the power of prayer are also highlighted, and the role of parents in supporting their children's passions, but allowing them to navigate their own journeys is also examined. Filled with sage advice drawn from first hand experience, today’s episode offers a unique perspective on the hard work, dedication, and support necessary for achieving one's dreams, rendering it an invaluable resource for parents seeking to raise successful and well-adjusted young athletes.

Episode Highlights:

• The important role parents play in their children's athletic lives
• Supporting and encouraging children's passions and dreams
• Valuing perseverance, concentration, and skill set
• Choosing the right gym for your child's needs
• Striving for a good home life, structure, and fun
• Letting children make their own decisions and navigate their own journeys in sports
• Importance of trying new things to find the sport that "lights you up"
• Dealing with challenges and negativity, and rising above it

Quotes:

• "Life doesn't come with a manual. It comes with a mom."
• "I wasn't in it for all the competitions, just for you to learn some skills and to have fun and to make friends."
• "You may not make it to the Olympics, but you would be good at whatever you did." 
• "Listen to your child's frustration... respect their opinions."
• "You let me fall, you let me get back up."
• "Part of that is when you get knocked down, if you are fighting to get back up, you're learning real quick how important this thing is to you."
• "Just give it a try for a season."
• "Your value is not in your place on the podium...your value is because you are you."
• "Just be there to support them...let your athlete and coach do their thing."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Grab a free guide here

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Dr. Arman Taghizadeh, aka Dr. T, is a Board Certified Psychiatrist who specializes in sports psychiatry, and today he joins Laura on the podcast to discuss the significance of developing a positive mindset for athletes to become confident competitors. Together, they explore how the mindset of an athlete affects their attitude, perspective, and responses, and review The Confidence Journal, a guided journal that helps athletes develop a positive mindset, move closer to achieving their goals, and grow their confidence along the way. Dr. T also shares his journey into psychiatry, beginning as a former athlete himself, and how he found his passion for building meaningful connections with patients, similar to the relationships built in sports.  He notes that the lack of understanding around mental health challenges in sports motivated him to focus on this area, and he highlights the importance of relatability and understanding in the mental health field. He and Laura also discuss the importance of simplifying life to improve mental health, especially for young athletes and those struggling after the pandemic, and emphasize how focusing on three areas of their lives each day can help individuals identify and achieve small goals that add up over time. The significance of coaches in helping athletes with mental health challenges is also discussed, including the need for them  to engage in active listening to create a collaborative approach to problem-solving. Join Laura and Dr. T here today for yet another ‘must listen’ episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, and gain valuable insights into the significance of mindset, communication, and collaboration in sports and mental health.

Episode Highlights:

• Dr. T's background as an athlete growing up
• The importance of mindset in sports
• How your attitude, perspective, and responses come from you and you alone
• Developing a competitive mindset
• The Confidence Journal and its benefits
• The importance of focusing on your own mindset rather than others'
• The lack of understanding around mental health challenges faced by athletes
• Dr. T’s journey to becoming a psychiatrist
• Building ongoing relationships with patients in psychiatry
• Working to revolutionize the mental health field
• The underserved athletic population in mental health
• Simplifying life to improve mental health
• Breaking each day down into three areas of focus
• Coaches helping athletes with mental health
• The importance of knowing your athlete and engaging in active listening
• A collaborative approach to problem-solving
• Creating a safe and supportive environment for athletes
• Empowering athletes to take ownership of their performance
• The importance of communication between parents and children
• The role family dynamics can play in mental health issues in sports
• Caring about athletes as people
• Contextualizing the athlete's environment 
• The need for coaches and parents to recognize and address mental health issues

Quotes: "Becoming a confident competitor begins and ends with your mindset." "Through simple guided journaling, your focus and thought process will begin to shift." "The Confidence Journal will begin to show you the beauty of your journey and just how tangible your goals really are." "It's one thing to sort of understand psychology and the brain. It's another thing to understand the grit and the determination and the work ethic and the discipline and the sacrifice that comes with really trying to be an elite athlete." "The competitions and the challenges are just sort of little benchmarks that are part of it. But when we really look at it, the meaningful experience is all the other stuff." "Simplifying is really important... and even writing it down... starts to build those synapses and those connections, and again, starts to build that confidence." "Small victories, small achievements, they all add up." "The best way to win is to have your athlete perform at their best. And the best way to help them perform at their best is to have them be the most confident and motivated and self driven individual." "I have been so blessed to be under a coach for like 30 years that is one of the best in the world. And he has exemplified all of these things that I've seen in the greatest coaches in the world. And he knows every single one of us on our own level." "Helping coaches understand the appropriate language and when to use it and how that impacts an athlete is so important because they may say something, intending one thing, but the athlete may be hearing it differently and processing it differently." “The reality is today's athlete, in a lot of ways, is probably tougher because they're managing so much more and navigating so much more and have more expectations and more pressures, but their brain development is the same.” "If you give athletes the opportunity, even the younger ones will sort of figure out what works best for them." "Ask them what they think, what they saw, give them an opportunity, because number one, you get a sense of where their head's at and what they were thinking." "I want to get to know you as a person, as an athlete, I'm going to ask a lot of different questions." "I also think you show them that I care about you as a person, not just an athlete." "It takes a lot of courage to say, ‘I'm struggling and I don't know why.’"

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website The Confidence Journal (25% off with  coupon code: TOPDOC) Grab a free guide here

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Dr. T’s Links: Mindset Training Institute The Mindset Experience Podcast Instagram TikTok/

In today’s episode, Laura welcomes Oorbee Roy, also known as Aunty Skates, to the podcast to discuss her journey of becoming a skateboarder in her 40’s as well as her enormous social media success. Together, they discuss the mental and emotional challenges of learning a new sport, overcoming self-doubt, and the impact of Oorbee's positive message on her TikTok followers. Oorbee shares information regarding her upcoming free clinic, "It's Never Too Late to Skate with Aunty Skates",  this May in Toronto, which is open to anyone who wants to start skateboarding. She and Laura also discuss the toxic Aunty culture prevalent in South Asian communities and how Oorbee created the character of Aunty Skates to offer a safe space for South Asian women to pursue their dreams. 

They go on to explore the sense of belonging that skateboarding can provide to adults, and how it allows adults to step outside their comfort zone and experience the liberating feeling of play, without fear of judgment or criticism. The importance of finding connections with children through shared interests, modeling perseverance and kindness, and investing time in activities with them to build strong relationships and promote healthy development are all topics that are discussed as well. Laura and Oorbee both emphasize the value of being invested in their children's interests and activities to create meaningful connections, and being positive role models online to help children deal with negativity. The episode concludes with a reflection on the joys of parenting and the importance of being present in their children's lives.

Episode Highlights:    

• Oorbee Roy, and the origin of  Aunty Skates
• Documenting her skateboarding journey on TikTok
• Aunty Skates’ message
• Inspiring others to pursue their dreams and live their best lives
• Finding joy in the journey and not being too hard on yourself
• Offering a safe space for South Asian women to pursue their dreams
• The toxic Aunty culture is a result of generational trauma that Oorbee wants to break.
• Inspiring others to break down barriers in their own lives.
• Stepping outside your comfort zone and experiencing the liberating feeling of play.
• How skateboarding has allowed her to parent in a unique and fun way.
• Creating special connections with children.
• The importance of being invested in children's interests and activities
• Modeling perseverance and kindness
• The joys of parenting
• Celebrating the journey, not just the successes
• Giving children the confidence they need to navigate online negativity
• Dealing with hate on social media
• Building resilience

Quotes:

"It's never too late to live your best life." "It's really about finding joy in the journey." "You have to be your biggest fan." "I think it's really important to inspire people to take that first step." "I want to be a safe space for young South Asian women to come and know that anything is possible." "I have compassion for that Aunty generation now, but I don't want to repeat that." "You hit a spot, a sensitive spot, and something a lot of people needed to hear." "It's a mental health break that we all need." "I want to provide that opportunity for people because it's such a joyful experience." "Watching the surprise on their faces when they land the tricks, and then when they get the high from skating and the endorphins start coming in, I'm like, yeah, I love it, I love it, I love it." "Every time they see me fall, they see me get back up." "I do a lot of parenting at the skatepark, which is great. It's great multitasking." "Finding a connection point with your kids...I think is really invaluable." "I guess we see each other's journey, and that's one thing I find really special about the skating community." "I think a lot of it is about confidence." "I'm out there skating in my sari and I feel like a freaking superhero." "They see how joyful I am, they see how confident I am." "Social media is great, and it can be a virus. Like, it can be awful."

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Grab a free guide here

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Oorbee’s Links: Aunty Skates Homepage Aunty Skates TikTok Aunty Skates Instagram Aunty Skates Facebook

The episode explores the emotional toll that silencing female athletes who speak out against allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports has on these athletes, and the lack of fairness in competition. The discussion also touches on the need for better policies to address the issue, given the significant impact it has on the integrity of women's sports, and the disturbing silencing of those who wish to speak out about it. Laura and Riley go on to analyze the recent ruling by Phoenix that addresses the issue of trans athletes competing in female events, which, while a step in the right direction, still has flaws that need to be addressed. Together, they emphasize the need for fairness in sports and Riley recounts her involvement with Independent Women's Forum, highlighting the work they are doing to protect women's sports and uphold Title IX policies. Their message here today is clear: the inclusion of biological males in women's sports has significant negative consequences that affect the integrity of the sport, and it is essential to continue to have open and honest discussions to address this issue in order to ultimately create policies that ensure fairness for female athletes. As is clearly noted, "This episode is not to say whether someone's chosen lifestyle is acceptable, it's to expose how biological males are taking opportunities away from biological females in sport."

Episode Highlights:

• Women's sports and the inclusion of biological males
• Riley’s experience competing against Lia Thomas
• Negative consequences and impact of allowing biological males to participate in women's sports
• Unfairness in competition for biological females
• The importance of addressing this issue openly
• The role of NCAA in dealing with the issue
• Protecting and providing fair opportunities for biological females in sports
• Physical advantages that biological men have over women in sports
• The need for more nuanced rules governing transgender athletes in sports
• The importance of having conversations about these issues in order to find solutions
• The silencing of female athletes who speak out against transgender athletes competing in women's sports
• Title IX policies
• FINA’s recent ruling
• The idea of transitioning before the age of twelve
• Rulings from other sports organizations
• Trans athletes competing in contact sports
• Staying up to date on this issue
• Supporting the organizations fighting for women's rights in sports
• Following updates on Riley’s Twitter and Instagram accounts

Quotes:

"Many coaches and athletes don't want to discuss this publicly because they fear losing their jobs, scholarships, or their spot on the team."

"The whole point of creating women's sports was to have fair competition."

"I'm bringing this topic to light because it is absolutely destroying women's sports and the ability for girls and women to train, compete, and live their lives both fairly and safely."

"Women are, of course, strong and have done phenomenal things. There's phenoms in so many sports across swimming, but of course, that's in relation to your physical capabilities that your body has."

"I think the rules need to be more nuanced, and I think there needs to be more conversation around it... I don't think the current rules are sufficient."

"I'm fortunate, my coach never tried to silence me, my athletic department never tried to silence me. But talking with these other girls, the amount of silencing and the amount of emotional blackmail and just threatening and intimidation that these schools and these administrations put on these girls is mind blowing."

"This is a massive level of abuse, in my opinion."

"It just felt like a massive disregard for the work that we put in and the hours that we spent in the pool and the sacrifices that we made."

"I think it's really important to stay up to date on this topic because if not, you'll kind of fall into this believing this lie, that this is a non-issue, this is something the Republicans just want to be hateful about. But that's not true."

"I'm not going to sit and complain about something and do nothing about it. And so Independent Women's Forum has just been fantastic in allowing me to do that."

"I actually think that's what makes this issue so special is it something that no parent, regardless of where you align politically, wants their daughter to be exposed to."

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Choose your free guide here

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Riley’s Links: Riley's Website Riley's Facebook Riley's Twitter Riley's Instagram Independent Women's Forum

From wild child to Olympic medalist, Jonathan Horton is the kind of athlete who truly inspires, his determination and grit winning him silver and bronze Olympic medals. Jonathan begins the episode by discussing his experience as a hyperactive kid, including the time he climbed a twenty-five-foot support beam in the middle of Target! He then talks about how watching the ’96 Olympics women’s gymnastics team provided a moment of intense motivation that would help him become a pro gymnast. He also discusses the importance of finding your passion and not giving up, including taking new opportunities and embracing challenges. Next, Jonathan chats about his time in college and how it helped him evolve from a self-centered athlete to a team member who supported and fought for his teammates. He then talks in detail about his Olympic experiences, from the doubts about the 2008 men’s team, to bonding through anxiety on the eve of team finals, to winning bronze against the odds. Plus, he shares how going for broke against his coach’s advice led him to a silver medal. Jonathan then discusses the injuries that led to the end of his gymnastics career and his one regret from that time before closing the episode with his experiences on Ninja Warrior and how he became a two-time author.

Episode Highlights:

• From hyperactive kid to motivated machine
• Finding your passion and taking on challenges
• Learning to be a team member
• Jonathan’s experiences at the Olympics
• Competing on Ninja Warrior

Quotes:

“That was inspirational for me and millions, if not billions of people, to see those gold medals go over those women’s necks and watch the American flag go up in the air and listen to the national anthem. And I just remember thinking, ‘That’s it, that’s why I’m doing gymnastics, that’s what I want to do one day.”

“I think that you owe it to yourself to not quit on looking for that thing that fires you up and clicks in your brain and etches itself into your soul.”

“I was such an individual, selfish, self-centered athlete that only wanted to win win win for myself. And then, I got to college, and I quickly learned what it meant to have teammates that were all chasing after the same thing. And my first year of college was a steep learning curve where I had to toss all of my own, not all of my own self desires to the side, but really learn how to compete for the guys standing next to me.”

“We suddenly just became a brotherhood. We were more than just an Olympic team. We were a family of guys that were like, ‘Hey, screw it. I know that no one believes that we can win a medal. We barely believe that we can win a medal because we’re all panicking right now. But let’s just go out there. And we always said, grip it and rip it, just grab the equipment and just go.”

“My goal was always to be like Laura Wilkinson and win gold. I wanted that gold medal. And that’s what kept driving me. I never got to really call myself an Olympic champion. But I also tell people, I didn’t lose gold. I won silver, I won bronze, I didn’t lose anything.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold Website Choose your free guide here 5 Ways to Stay Focused in a Competition 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence

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Jonathan’s Links: Falling Forward: How An Ordinary Kid Failed His Way to His Olympic Dream on Amazon If I Had Known: Life Lessons From An Olympic Pro Athlete on Amazon Jonathan’s Facebook Jonathan’s Instagram

Since then, his career earned Kenny a legacy defined by consistency, adaptability, culture, and fun.  Like Laura says at the onset of the episode, “A good coach can change the game.  A great coach can change your life,”  and for so many athletes, Kenny has done just that.  Today, he talks about why he loves it all so much, what it is about the sport that gets him excited,  and why the athletes’ success is far more important than his own.  Reminiscing on ‘offbeat’ diving retreats during which he lost half of his squad, his team’s special comradery, moments of victory with Laura, and practicing sports psychology, he notes that the journey always supersedes the destination to him.  He and Laura strongly hold the belief that the two minutes of victory on the podium are too fleeting to hold onto; it’s the moments in between that really matter.  So listen to this special conversation to hear about the legend that is Kenny Armstrong and his unique and highly successful career.  

The Finer Details of this Episode: 

• Armstrong’s first dives into a pond
• The ‘72 Olympic Games
• Reckoning with his international status
• Getting his coaching start at the University of Calgary
• Creating culture
• Why consistency wins
• Knowing your people and letting them know you
• Winning gold together 
• Why the journey > the destination
• The freedom of diving
• Father figure and mentor

Quotes: 

• “A good coach can change the game.  A great coach can change your life. I feel like that describes Kenny in a nutshell.”
• “These athletes would want us to continue, which was probably true. I mean, if they had a vote… we'd have been probably still going.”
• “Well, I finally found out that I could be competitive on an international level. I did pretty well in Nationals and in the Olympic trials.  Finally, I think the year of 1980, I beat Greg in his home pool.”
• “Everybody says we have to separate politics and sports, but it's impossible. You can't do it.”
• “You have to have a culture. Like it's one thing for me to tell somebody how to win a gold medal. It's another thing if they get to train with somebody that is doing that.”
• “People seem to say about all the greats from different sports that these coaches knew each one of their athletes so well individually, how to push their buttons, or how to back off– and they had to back off.” 
• “This whole culmination of your life has to be about more than two minutes standing on the podium.”
• “So don't lose the fun in sport. That's what brings kids, and when they get too serious about it, that takes the fun away. So you've got to be obviously serious, or you're not going to make it, but you have to also be very careful with that.”

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Woodlands

In this episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, Laura and Allistair dive deep into the growth mindset of professional athletes. Allistair begins by discussing the biggest struggles that athletes face today and explains the key difference between choice and sacrifice. As he nicely puts it, when you’re passionate about something, it’s not a sacrifice; it’s a choice. Then, Allistair goes on to explain the importance of learning to deal with failure and overcoming perfectionism as an athlete. Being a perfectionist won’t get you far in sports, but embracing failure will. Next, Laura and Allistair talk about the power of vision, the importance of developing self-leadership, and the differences between excellence and success. If you want to learn more about being champion minded, make sure you tune into this episode to hear what Allistair has to say.

Episode Highlights:

• Allistair’s background
• The biggest struggles that athletes face today
• Choice vs. sacrifice
• Embracing failure and overcoming perfectionism
• The inspiration behind Champion Minded
• The importance of vision for professional athletes
• The differences between team sports and individual sports
• The importance of developing leadership skills
• Why authenticity is key for coaches
• Excellence vs. success
• The power of the growth mindset

Quotes: 

• “We all know that progress is different for every single athlete. Sometimes you'll have spurts of growth, sometimes, you'll have spurts of confidence, which helps, and so on and so forth. But we're all on a different journey. ”
• “Nobody can make you hungry. No one can give you a passion. No one can tell you to enjoy it more. That really comes from within.”
• “You're not always going to feel like a million dollars. You're not always going to jump out of bed in the morning and can't wait to go to practice. It's impossible, no matter how dedicated or passionate you are. So for me, it was that vision or that purpose of wanting to be a champion one day, wanting to be the best I could be - that's what got me through those tougher days. ”
• “It has to come from within. You can't make somebody passionate. You can't make somebody do something that they don't necessarily want to do.”
• “You can't lead others if you're not leading yourself effectively.”
• “I believe that great coaches, great leaders are more about excellence than about success.”
• “Enjoy it; that's the most important thing. And I know that's very hard when you're in the middle of it, and especially when things aren't going well, but the journey is the most important thing about it.”
• “All the hard work, no matter what level you get to, no matter what your destiny is, it will never go unused; it will always be worthwhile because these are qualities that you learn in sports that will help you afterward in your relationships and in business and corporate, whatever direction you go into.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee

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Connect with Allistair: Allistair McCaw Website Allistair McCaw’s Books Allistair McCaw’s LinkedIn

In this episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, Dominique opens up about her emotional and challenging journey. First, she tells us about the impact of the abusive sports environment on young athletes and the toll that it takes on their mental health. Then, she walks us through all the events that were leading up to the Olympics, as well as the hardships she endured after the competition. When Dominique finally decided to speak up about her experiences, everything changed for her. She was abandoned by the community and had to find another way to make a living. Fast forward a few years, and she’s now a New York Times best-selling author and an advocate for athletes' rights and protection. Tune into this episode to hear all about her mission to make sports safer for future generations of athletes.

Episode Highlights:

• Dominique’s gymnastics journey
• The mental toll of a toxic sports environment
• The emotional and challenging lead-up to the Olympics
• Discovering your identity as a professional athlete
• Finding the right path post-Olympics
• The incredible power of telling your truth
• The devastating reality of standing up for yourself
• The importance of trust and support in a community
• The sacrifice of speaking up and the consequences of not speaking up
• Teaching young athletes to communicate
• Creating a safe and positive sports culture

Quotes: 

• “Everything went from bright and encouraging and nurturing to all of a sudden, a huge shift of the gym is cold, its environment is stressful. You're constantly humiliated and berated and trying to do things out of fear rather than out of nurture and love. ”
• “You can't be in the right mindset to pull the best out of yourself when you're terrified.”
• “I'm lucky that I made it as far as I did with that kind of intensity. Most teenagers would break. Most teenagers would not be able to handle it.”
• “You know it's wrong, but you can't articulate why. And you're supposed to have the adults advocate for you. ”
• “The mindset with everything going on, it wasn't the place I needed to be to probably be even my best, but it was good enough for gold.”
• “This is not who I am; it's what I do. And I love what I do, and I'm passionate about what I do. But you can't let it become who you are.”
• “Can you live with yourself if you don't do the right thing?”
• “That's what I kept saying to the women who came to me; it's wrong. You have to report it.”
• “It is a personal choice. At the end of the day, you have to be okay with the consequences, and they're not always pretty.”

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Links: Get Your Freebie: ‘Five Ways to Stay Focused in a Competition’ The Pursuit of Gold The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Pursuit of Gold Merch

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Dominique: Dominique’s Twitter Dominique’s Instagram Dominique’s YouTube Channel Dominique’s LinkedIn

Visualization is defined as purposely rehearsing a skill, routine, or performance in your mind to program your body physically for success. Practicing it consistently becomes a fortifying competition strategy, rewiring your brain to prepare it to deal with all the different factors that come into play while competing. Laura explains that there are a few different ways to visualize, including first and third-person versions, which contribute different effects and should be used in conjunction with each other. She also points out the importance of engaging all your senses while visualizing to better immerse your brain and make changes more easily. Laura then shares some how-to basics for those wishing to start visualizing, from giving yourself a set amount of time to practice, to making sure you have a quiet place to visualize in, and starting with the approach that comes most naturally to you. And finally, Laura finishes the episode with some tips and tricks for beginners, including practicing frequently and consistently, mixing things up every day, and using video study to enhance your visualization.

Episode Highlights:

• Laura’s personal experience with visualization
• What visualization is
• Types and elements of visualization
• How-to visualizing basics
• Tips and tricks for getting started with visualization

Quotes:

• “When I burst onto the scene winning an unexpected Olympic victory—well, unexpected to everyone else—the story that was being told was centered around me having shattered my foot before the Olympic trials and being unable to physically train. So I visualized, and that not only helped me make the Olympic team, but I consider it a big part of the reason that I was able to stand atop the podium and listen to my national anthem play.”
• “The more senses that you engage, the more your mind starts to believe that you’re really doing the activity. You’re actively rewiring your brain on how to fire and react when you’re doing specific movements and techniques. So the more real it is to you, the more real it is to your brain, and the more effective changes you can actually make.”
• “People say practice makes perfect, but really, practice makes permanent. So if you’re practicing or thinking about or visualizing the wrong actions, that’s what you are making into concrete in your brain. So you really want to make sure, as you’re visualizing, that you take the time to think about doing all the things, all the tiny, little details, correct because that’s what you are programming in your brain.”
• “These visualizations of the competition scenarios, it just allows you to put yourself in so many different situations that maybe you don’t have the actual time to be going out and doing the thirty different competitions against the same people to see how you would stack up in different scenarios. But you can do that in your mind.”
• “Make sure that you’re keeping this positive. This is not a place to beat yourself up or to get frustrated. This is a place to learn, to experiment, and to see yourself doing all these awesome and amazing things that you’ve dreamed of doing.”

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Links: The Pursuit of Gold 1-on-1 Coaching with Laura The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Next, Gretchen discusses her decision to become a business major and how combining that with her passion for sports led her into the sports marketing industry and a job with the Rockets in the early 2000s. She talks about the changes the franchise was going through at that time and how that allowed her to make quick progress in her career while staying with the team. She also tackles what it takes to get into the sports industry and succeed, including a willingness to take risks, set goals, and make sacrifices. Laura then asks her to talk about what it feels like to be one of only a handful of women at the top of the NBA, and Gretchen admits there’s a lot of pressure but also opportunities to raise others up, such as her work with Women in Sport and Events (WISE). The discussion then pivots to how the NBA and the Rockets dealt with the impact of COVID and the loss of live events by creating the NBA Bubble, plus Gretchen shares what she and the team are doing now to bring people back in. And finally, Gretchen shares how she maintains her work/life balance by knowing her glass balls from her rubber ones and gives some advice to upcoming athletes not to worry too much about getting internships and focus on their full-time job of college and competing.

Episode Highlights:

• Gretchen’s journey to competitive diving
• What being an athlete teaches you
• Succeeding in the sports industry
• Being a woman at the top of the NBA
• How the Rockets coped with COVID

Quotes:

• “Some of our friends’ kids are older, and they’re really good athletes. And they’re talking about this stuff at an age that I hadn’t even started in the sport that I went to college on a scholarship for, that I was relatively decent at, at a time where parents these days are freaking out if their kids aren’t even getting recruited.”
• “As an athlete, you hear that every single day, all day, every day, multiple times a day, that this wasn’t good enough, that was bad, or this was good. So you learn how to take a compliment and recognize what you’re doing well and make that even better. And you learn how to take negative feedback in a constructive way and correct yourself.”
• “You need to be prepared to take risks and to move if growing your career is the most important thing. Which I’m not saying that it is—everybody needs to live their own life and create their own path and not necessarily follow other people. And they’re like, but you didn’t leave. And I was like, I know, but I went into it knowing that I would likely have to at some point, it just didn’t happen.”
• “In order to go to the next step, you have to sort of master what you’re currently doing. And until you’ve mastered what you’re currently doing, or at least shown that you have the commitment to master what you’re currently doing, why would anyone want to talk to you about the next thing?”
• “Monday is high school orientation, that me, as an idiot, thought was Monday night. And today, I found out that it is not Monday night, it is at 8:30 on Monday morning. And so I had to cancel two meetings, and I had to reschedule them because I’m going to high school orientation with my kids. Like, that’s a glass ball, not dropping it.”

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Links: The Pursuit of Gold 1-on-1 Coaching with Laura The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

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Gretchen Sheirr: LinkedIn

Next, Ellie talks about her desire to keep challenging herself and working on new dives—including one partly inspired by Laura—so that she can continue unlocking her potential to the highest degree. She also speaks to how she and other cliff divers manage their fear, pointing out that fear can be a good thing physiologically, but only if we learn how to control it and use it in a healthy way. Ellie takes a moment to discuss the impact of social media and how she uses it as a tool while enforcing personal boundaries to ensure she avoids the urge to compare herself with others. Closing out the episode, Ellie reveals some of her pursuits when she’s not diving herself, including creating the High Diving Institute at the Utah Olympic Park and co-founding Clean Cliffs, a project with the mission to prevent plastic pollution in the world’s bodies of water.

Episode Highlights:

• Walking away from and coming back to diving
• Learning to cliff dive and starting to compete
• Unlocking potential and managing fear
• Creating the International High Diving Institute
• Giving back with Clean Cliffs

Quotes:

• “I wanted to represent Team USA, I wanted to go to the Olympics, and I would practice my gold medals speech in the shower every single night as a kid and my autograph. In class, I used to get in trouble all the time for practicing my autograph.”
• “The answer is always ‘no’ if you never ask, so I would rather ask and get the answer ‘no’ than not ask at all and maybe miss out on a really cool, incredible opportunity. So I definitely get embarrassed or shy or self-conscious sometimes when I have things that I really want to do, like, it’s definitely not just easy. But I know that the reward of asking and what could come of it is so much better than not asking.”
• “It was also very humbling to realize that if I was going to keep diving, I needed to dive for me and not for the results or what it looked like from the outside to other people. Because there’s always going to be something bigger and better and different that you can do if you’re basing your life on decisions or opinions of other people.”
• “I really think comparison is just the absolute worst thing that you can do. And so, I try to eliminate that as much as possible from my everyday life. So you know, if any of my friends are listening to this, I love you, but I’m not going to watch your Instagram stories. You can tell me all about it in person.”
• “I think that that’s the most exciting thing about life is we don’t know, we get to figure it out as we go. And, you know, I used to have a different approach of, ‘I want to know the answer now. I want to know what I’m supposed to do.’ And now I have this whole new mindset of, ‘I’m so excited to see what I can do versus what I’m supposed to do.’”

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Links: The Pursuit of Gold 1-on-1 Coaching with Laura The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Ellie’s Social Media: Ellie’s Instagram

On this episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, Laura and Rebecca discuss mental blocks and how to overcome them. Rebecca shares her own story dealing with perfectionism, how mental blocks destroyed her gymnastics career yet helped her to uncover effective tactics for getting over them. She explains the two main parts of overcoming a mental block: the physical side and the mental side. Once you overcome the physical part, you need to work on maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself, meaning build your self-awareness and inner confidence. These two are fundamental to your self-growth. Rebecca goes on to share a few more useful tactics for overcoming mental blocks, such as turning nervousness into excitement, practicing mindfulness, and front-loading confidence. Finally, Laura and Rebecca wrap up the episode by touching upon the importance of having a supportive coach, emphasizing the fact that a positive environment sets the tone for success.

Episode Highlights:

• Rebecca’s gymnastics background and moving past mental blocks
• Winning the battle against perfectionism
• The importance of praising effort versus talent
• The incredible power of imagination and creativity for your competence
• The two parts to overcoming a mental block
• Increasing and front-loading confidence to avoid mental blocks
• Turning nervousness into excitement
• Practicing the mindful warmup and being present
• Dealing with injuries as a professional athlete
• Mental health and motivation during COVID
• The importance of a supportive and positive environment for athletes
• Supporting young athletes as a parent

Quotes:

• “Their parents are like, ‘She’s the best tumbler anyone's ever seen, why can't she just go do it?’ And there's this because there's just such a combination of factors that lead to mental block. One of them is that it's the pressure of being amazing, being perfect.”
• “Our brain only cares about keeping us safe. That's the only thing. It doesn't care about competitions. It doesn't care about scores, or metals or places, or deadlines, or any of that stuff It only cares about ‘keep the body alive.’”
• “She was the kid who was a hard worker with heart. She was not the most talented kid on our team. But so, with that being said, if you want to move forward, you can't wait for your magic talent fairy to bless you with the ability to do your skill again, it just isn't going to work.”
• “There is this huge kind of internal component that's all about connecting with your own joy and your own choice. Because if you don't, if you feel like you're doing it for anybody, but you, you're going to get burned out, it's just the way it goes.”
• “Excitement and nerves are both high arousal, physical states. So, your heart's beating, you're a little more fidgety, you've got a little more energy, it is a lot easier to go from nervous to excited than it is to go from nervous to calm, especially when you only have moments before you compete.”
• “Injuries, just like mental blocks, are part of the deal. For a lot of athletes, it's just a setback. And so, the worst thing you can do is compare yourself to where you should be or could be or where your friend is or where you would like to be because all that does is create self-pity.”

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Links: The Pursuit of Gold 1-on-1 Coaching with Laura The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca’s LinkedIn Rebecca’s Instagram

From becoming a team player to developing mental toughness, John says this program taught him some of the most valuable lessons in life. He dives deep into the power of trust and how it can be applied in sports, too, not just in the military. He goes on to explain the importance of adopting the ‘never quit’ mindset, highlighting its very powerful and contagious nature. Laura and John also address mental health in sports and the military, pointing out the importance of having strong team support and adequate resources. Finally, John shares an inspiring story about his solo swim across the English Channel to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation. He offers an inspiring conclusion to this extraordinary episode by stressing that you can accomplish anything in life if you do it for a reason greater than yourself.

Episode Highlights:

• John’s swimming background and introduction to the Air Force Academy
• Going from the Air Force Academy to the Navy
• The challenging journey of getting into the BUD/S class
• The three phases of BUD/S training
• Mental toughness vs. physical toughness
• Learning to be a team player
• Adopt a ‘never give up’ mentality
• The importance of trust in teamwork and relationships
• The power of little things
• Protecting the homeland after 9/11
• Pushing yourself without hitting the breaking point
• John’s solo swim across the English Channel to raise money for the Navy SEAL Foundation

Quotes:

• “One of my biggest takeaways from my time in the teams was about relationships based on trust. And you know why - that starts with our parents, but it also starts with mentors.”
• “Everyone fails physically pretty quick. That first night, you go to failure on just about everything you do. But the mental piece is so important. And you learn very quickly, that when you thought your body was done, you actually do have more to give.”
• “You quickly learn at BUD/S training that if you're trying to do something as an individual, you will fail. There are very few things, even this swimming in BUD/S, you can't do it by yourself. Everybody has a swim buddy. And if the two of you fail, don't make the time, you both failed the swim.”
• “Part of the goal with that type of training is to identify those that when they get really uncomfortable, when they get really tired, they end up making decisions that maybe are not the best. And whether or not somebody is going to quit, you want to identify that pretty early on.”
• “'Never quit mindset' is very, very powerful and contagious to others on the team.”
• “When you're doing something really hard in life, try and find a way to do it for something that's bigger than yourself, it's bigger than you, to do it for a reason greater than yourself and you can do damn near anything.”

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Links: The Pursuit of Gold 1-on-1 Coaching with Laura

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Connect with John: John’s LinkedIn

First up, Natalie shares how she got into swimming at a young age and how her natural competitiveness drove her to break onto the swimming scene at just thirteen. She then relates how she suffered a torn labrum in the run-up to qualifying for the 2000 Olympics team, the effect that had on her mindset and perspective, and her choice to avoid surgery and recover through physical rehab. Next, Natalie discusses how she chose which college to attend (eventually ending up at Cal, Berkeley) and the choices she made in her career post-injury, including ditching the two-hundred-meter backstroke and transitioning to sprint events. She talks about qualifying for the 2004 Olympics and the relief when she did, followed by the experience of winning her first gold medal and the positive impact that had on her confidence and ability to stay calm while competing. She also discusses how becoming a gold medalist led to more media attention and street recognition, how the Michael Phelps phenomenon helped shield her from the worst of that, and how she managed to achieve a happy medium of attention for her record-breaking success. Natalie then shares how it felt when other swimmers started nipping at her heels, firing up her competitiveness, and the mindset she gets into when preparing to compete. She then discusses how she prepared for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, keeping her cool when the media were pushing retirement, and circling back to that early injury and how it helped her keep swimming in perspective. Laura then asks Natalie to share her most memorable and toughest moments in her career, including winning the hundred-back in Beijing and feeling isolated during the 2012 Games. And finally, Natalie shares what she’s been up to since retiring from competition, including writing her cookbook Cook to Thrive and starting the women-owned winery Gaderian Wines in Napa Valley.

Episode Highlights:

• How Natalie got started in swimming
• Natalie’s competitive spirit
• Breaking onto the swimming scene at age thirteen
• Dealing with injury while trying to make the 2000 Olympic team
• Choosing between colleges
• Ditching the 200 backstroke
• Qualifying for the 2004 Olympic team
• The impact of winning gold at the Olympics
• Dealing with media attention
• Winning medals and breaking records
• The mentality of competition
• The road to Beijing 2008 and London 2012
• The most memorable vs. the toughest moment of Natalie’s swimming career
• What Natalie’s up to now
• Natalie’s cookbook, Cook to Thrive

Quotes:

• “Like the Water Babies type thing, you know, that every parent really needs to do for the safety of their children. It’s very, very important, whether you want them to be a swimmer or not, you have to get your kids in the water early.”
• “When we did soccer at school, like during PE or during recess and lunch, all the kids in my class, they were in soccer, and they were just, they were so much better than me. So I remember going home and practicing with a soccer ball against the wall in the backyard, just so I could get better. And no one was coaching me, I was doing this by myself.”
• “I will never forget, like, walking out onto the pool deck in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and they’re like, ‘And in lane one, Natalie Coughlin. Thirteen-year-old Natalie Coughlin.’ And then I choked because it was the first time I was on, like, the major stage.”
• “A doctor, you know, finally told me, ‘Hey, you tore your labrum.’ So I had to deal with that, you know, most of ’99 and the lead up until 2000. And so my training really suffered. Emotionally, I really suffered. It was a really, really tough thing. And so I got to the 2000 Olympic trials, and by that time, I was just a shell of like, what I was before.”
• “Honestly, the 200 back is one of the most painful events. And by that stage in my career, I was transitioning much more into sprint. And so that was just kind of the proof that I needed of like, ‘Hey, see? I don’t need to do this dumb event.’”
• “Olympic gold, kind of, you just enter this other stratosphere of athletics where you will forever be an Olympic gold medalist - no one could ever take that away.”
• “Because I had the confidence to do so, I would go pretty easy that first hundred, I would build the fifth twenty-five, and then that last seventy-five meters, I would just hammer it home and just mow people down. It was so fun to swim that way.”
• “I remember being in the middle of Manhattan and people stopping me on the streets and, like, being on a train in the middle of nowhere, and people stopping me and being recognized. And, you know, part of that was really cool. But also, you know, I turned twenty-two at that Olympic Games. So it was, it was a lot, you know, like, it was great, but it also was super-overwhelming at the same time.”
• “I didn’t want all that pressure on me. It’s that catch-22. You know, if you want all that attention, you have to take all that pressure, and I felt like I had kind of the happy medium of it.”
• “And then, all of a sudden, I started crying. And then I started crying because I was crying. I was just like this sobbing, like, snotty mess.”
• “2012, I failed to make the Olympic team in the 100 back. And people were like, ‘Oh my God,’ you know, waiting for me to freak out or something. And like, 'It’s just swimming, guys. I already have two gold medals. Like it’s, I’m fine.'”
• “One, it’s so misogynistic, and two, none of their business. Like, it is so inappropriate for people to tell women that they need to retire and have babies. Some women don’t want it. Some people have a hard time getting pregnant. There’s like, so many reasons to not.”
• “What I’m most proud of is just, kind of, my consistency throughout the years. The ability to, you know, be in medal contention for twelve different events over three Olympic Games. Like that’s something that no one’s done. You know, even you know, Dara and Jenny. They didn’t do it in three Olympics. I’m really proud of that.”
• “I knew definitively after the ’16 trials that I was done. Like, I love swimming, and I love training so much, but honestly, I don’t feel the need to compete ever again. Like, that was kind of my mentality. And so, you know, I ended on my own terms, and I was really, really happy about it.”
• “I’ve always made sure when my teammates have had disappointing races or whatever, to not hide from them, and not hide from the conversation, just to be there for them. Like, it was a learning experience for me too.”
• “I think it’s really telling of us as maybe a culture sometimes. Like, we expect people to have a hissy fit or just have this giant pity party.”
• “I eat very healthy, but I don’t deprive myself. So like, I allow myself to have butter, and I eat chicken with the skin on it. And like, I believe in Whole Foods, and I believe in balance.”
• “People really wanted to peg me into, like, just clean, just healthy. This, like, boring Spartan, like, oh, this is what athletes eat. And that’s not how I’ve ever eaten. And if I ate that way, I would go crazy. I need to have a glass of wine, I need to have my chocolate and butter and like all those things.”

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Links: The Pursuit of Gold The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Natalie’s Links: Natalie’s Instagram Gaderian Wines Instagram Gaderian Wines Homepage Cook to Thrive

And the final question rounding out the episode asks where Laura finds purpose after having achieved so much and what keeps her going every day. Her response is that she’s always been very goal-oriented and focused on pushing the envelope of what she is capable of, so she continues to find purpose and fulfillment in setting huge goals and being determined and consistent in pursuing them. But you might be surprised at what directly follows that answer.

Episode Highlights:

• How Laura got into diving at an older age
• Is it ever too late to start diving and compete?
• The best advice Laura’s ever received
• Being the underdog vs. the favorite
• Moving forward from a loss
• Laura’s favorite and least favorite dives
• How Laura feels watching her kids play sports
• Using injury time as an opportunity
• Dealing with mental blocks
• Setting goals and having purpose

Quotes:

• “I wanted to continue learning and pushing boundaries and trying things, and I just kind of realized it was time to move on. But that dream of the Olympics was still in the back of my mind. I just recognized at that point I needed to find a new sport.”
• “I’m not sure if it was ever that I recognized my own potential. I just wanted this thing so badly that I was going to pursue it. Whether it was switching sports or, you know, I was just going to pursue it no matter what. I was going to find a sport that I could go to the Olympics, and I was going to find a way to the Olympic Games.”
• “If you are interested in diving and competing at any age, give it a whirl. I think, at the very least, you’re going to try something new, you’re going to learn something, and you’re gonna have a blast.”
• “Soak it in. You’re at the Olympics, you’re in your dream, you’re getting to do all these things, just live it up. But when it’s your time to dive, when it’s your time to compete, that’s when you just let all that go. And at that point, you’re just at another diving meet against competitors you’ve competed against so many times, doing dives you’ve done a thousand times, you know exactly what you’re doing.”
• “When I was kicked off my high school diving team for being a waste of space, yes, obviously, it still gets under my skin today, but I am so glad I was told that because it lit a fire. And sometimes, we need that kind of fire lit under us.”
• “We want adversity, we want obstacles because that’s when we rise to the occasion. So I don’t think being labeled an underdog is a bad thing. I think fighting for something, it gives you that fuel—it’s just such a perfect description—that fuel to push forward and to overcome. Because you want this thing, and you’re fighting for it.”
• “It’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to just lose it, and just kind of want to cry or vent or whatever, like, make sure you are allowing yourself to experience that emotion. If you are stuffing it in and trying to avoid the emotion of what happened, it will come out later in a much uglier way.”
• “Don’t sit in the grief for, like, forever, you know, but give yourself a few days, a few weeks, whatever the timeline is, a little bit of time to process it. Then begin to create a new game plan and analyze and work on what happened and what is going to come next.”
• “My other kids are still kind of figuring out what it is that they’re going to do. One has said she is not an athlete, she is an artist, and I respect that, although she will run sprints with me, and so that’s really cool, maybe one day she’ll go for track. But you know, I love, I love, absolutely love watching them find the thing that lights them up the way that I feel like diving lights me up.”
• “Don’t be afraid to get more than one opinion on what your injury is. You know, one doctor doesn’t always have the answers or may not pick up everything, like, it’s okay to get two or three opinions on things to make sure you’re making the right choice.”
• “When you have injuries, this is the number one thing I will tell people to do: take care of your injury and then train mentally. Everybody says sports is 90% mental, but no one trains that way. Not one. I can pretty much guarantee you that.”
• “When you close your eyes as you start implementing all of your senses, you’re not just seeing it with your eyes, you can actually feel what you’re doing. You’re actually firing muscles, like, from the neurons in your brain, you’re starting to react with the right muscles that are going to be doing all of these skills. You’ll be blown away by what you can do if you do this consistently in that time.”
• “A lot of times, the issue is not starting in the pool or in the gym. Sometimes, the issue is starting at home or in your personal life. We have this way of carrying stress and anxiety, and it begins to burden us so badly that it comes out in our sport, looking like mental blocks and things like that, or this ultimate fear that is overwhelming. And it’s actually not coming from your sport.”
• “A lot of times, our sport, even if you’re a sprinter, the whole process is a marathon, not a sprint. So have that long-term vision and hang on to that.”
• “I’m very, very goal-oriented. And so, even when I’ve done really awesome things, I’ve always wanted more. I’ve always strived for more, like, my whole goal wasn’t… I mean, I wanted to win the Olympics, but I also wanted to find out what I was capable of, how good can I be, how hard of dives can I do and do them really, really well, for like nines and tens.”
• “I love training as much as I love competing. Competing is exciting and it’s fun. But the hunt to get there is almost better. Like sometimes, when you get to the meet, you’re like, man, I kind of wish it wasn’t here because I love that process. And that hunt. And that work. There’s just something so fulfilling about that to me.”
• “My purpose doesn’t just lie in having goals. And it’s not just in what I’m doing. I know that I have worth and value because God created me, and he told me that. And, you know, for me, diving has always been a beautiful way to feel really connected with God. Because that is a gift I know he gave me, and when I do it with everything that I am, it feels like worship. And it feels beautiful and completely fulfilling to me.”
• “I’m still learning how to not just juggle all these things, but how to, you know, shift my priorities to where diving isn’t my number one priority, my family is, and then diving will come after that. And learning that I don’t have to be so intense all the time, but I can actually just fully embrace it and enjoy every step of the way.”

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He raves about the importance of purpose based performance, and how his parents taught him that true success is hardly ever achieved when you compete for the wrong reasons. These lessons helped guide him on his Olympic journey and during his initial introduction to synchro, which, afterall, was fairly different compared to his experience previously competing alone. It was during this time period that Michael feels he honed his skills the most, perhaps due to the help of his coaches, his teammate, Andrew, or the ‘Pray for Rain’ speech from a former Olympian.  Laura and Mike draw this episode to a close as they talk about embracing hiccups and mishaps - if you welcome adversity into your life, you transform your mindset.  

Episode Highlights:

• Hixon’s young introduction to sports
• Growing up with parents who coach for a living
• Feeling behind during his junior career
• Why unrealistic goal setting is a strong suit for Hixon
• The importance of having someone believe in you
• Proving others wrong
• Purpose based performance
• Grounds for transferring universities
• The redshirt process going into the Olympics
• Hixon’s experience with synchro
• Olympics in Rio
• Praying for Rain
• The Olympics during Covid

Quotes: 

• “I grew up in a gym and a pool. I actually refused to go to kindergarten my first year, because I was having so much fun, and there was no way that anyone was going to ever get me to sit in a classroom when, prior to that, all I had done was play all day.”
• “Eighth grade was when I wanted to quit playing basketball. I wanted to go fully into diving, but when you stopped growing at five foot eight, your decision’s kind of made for you.”
• “I was diving alone in a pool with my mom and that was very isolated, absolutely. Then the other side of that is I got to go play basketball with my friends, and that was a social outlet as well - it was a ton of fun to be a part of a team.”
• “I thought you know, ‘If I'm going to chase this guy and have the success that he's had, and get onto that international level the way he has at a young age, I've got a lot of work to do.’ To be honest, chasing him was one of the easiest ways to get better. When you have a really high standard and you hold yourself to that, that's going to push you forward quickly.”
• “There is a difference between fear based performance and purpose based performance, and you are talking about a purpose. You had meaning to this, not pressure, not expectation.  You had a purpose doing it for somebody else– something bigger than yourself.”
• “I think maybe the wrong reason to transfer is maybe if you think everything's supposed to be just 100% perfect, and exactly what you envision. It's just not, and understanding that going into that is important.”
• “Whether it was this crazy wind that's blowing over, you know, the backdrop at Rio, the green pool, the food, or all these crazy little wrenches thrown into what would have been a perfect plan, we were excited for that. We weren't just okay with it. We were like, ‘This is great’.”
• “I got off the airplane from Rio…I was listening to pump up music on the flight back. I was just so excited for what was next, and I ended up really burning myself out that next year a little bit for that reason; not taking time to maybe allow that whole situation to sink in and give respect to what had happened.”
• “I might wake up tomorrow, and I'm going to find out at the same time as everybody else. I'm going to wake up tomorrow, and the Olympics are going to be canceled, you know. All this work, what was it for?”
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Allison begins the episode with a rundown of her history as an athlete and her personal experience competing against dopers. She shares the frustration of not being protected by those in positions of power and influence and how that led to her current position working for USADA, where she’s committed to driving changes in the global anti-doping system. Allison then gives some advice for current athletes on what to do if they find themselves up against dopers and an overview of how doping controls function, including the requirements enforced by the Whereabouts System. She also explains what rights athletes have to appeal in the event they miss a test or receive a positive result. The conversation then switches gears to discuss the Russian doping scandal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the failure to effectively punish those involved, and the negative impact that has had on trust in governing bodies in sport. Alison points out that there are still major issues regarding trust and transparency in sports governance, as highlighted recently with the Kamila Valieva scandal at the 2022 Beijing Games, and calls out the lack of concern and acknowledgment for the harm done to the clean athletes competing against Valieva. She calls for those in positions of power to speak up and take action and suggests ways that athletes can push for change by speaking to their sponsors and representatives, emphasizing that communication is key to making those in power take notice and change their priorities.

Episode Highlights:

• Allison’s history as an athlete
• Competing against dopers as a clean athlete
• Allison’s advice for current athletes on dealing with dopers
• How doping controls work
• Athletes’ right to appeal
• Turnaround times for sample analysis
• The Russian doping scandal at Sochi and its influence
• Issues of trust and transparency in sports governance
• The Kamila Valieva scandal
• How and where change can happen
• Speaking truth from positions of power
• How athletes can push for change

Quotes:

• “Over the years, these doping issues have become front and center in the news to the detriment of the clean athletes. Sometimes, several Olympic cycles will pass before athletes are even found to have cheated, and the clean athletes are finally awarded their rightful medals and place on the podium. But that’s long after the world has forgotten about the event and moved on, leaving the true champions forever in the shadows of the doper and their scandal.”
• “That experience, for me, was gradually and more increasingly frustrating and defeating. You know, realizing that my devotion to respecting the rules and a fair playing field and respecting my competitors, you know, that devotion wasn’t being protected by those people in positions of power and influence.”
• “This is how things change, if people get engaged and involved. While there’s a lot of room for improvement in terms of how athletes have or don’t have power, decision-making power in sport-governance structures, I think it only helps if athletes can engage.”
• “I had a DCO once accompany me to a theater show. I had just emptied my bladder, and I had tickets to this show. And so, they just came with me. So I could, like, provide a sample again.”
• “I think that it’s pretty unfair as an athlete to have to compete against a system that wasn’t effectively sanctioned. And what we see now is that I don’t think anybody’s really confident that they’ve not been coordinating doping amongst their athletes. And that any punishment, or the lack of punishment basically, has led us to where we are today.”
• “It’s unfair to everybody. It’s unfair to the Olympic Games and the Olympic system overall. You know, people lost confidence in the Olympic Games being clean, they lost confidence that there would be bold action taken in response to the state-sponsored doping that was proved.”
• “What was concerning to me as well was that there was no acknowledgment for the irreparable harm to the clean athletes in competition, as well. So it was all focused on the harm to Kamila, but what about the harm to the clean athletes and also the sport and the Olympic Games?”
• “The Olympics in LA in 2028 are going to be a great opportunity for the US to assert concerns and create a new stage for the Olympics that is more dedicated to protecting athletes—clean athletes and athletes in general—from injustices.”
• “The Olympic spirit, as we know, and the Olympic values are a cherished part of the Olympic movement, I think by everybody, but they’re not being sufficiently protected. And the Olympic Games are not being, and the Paralympic Games are not being sufficiently protected.”
• “Speaking truth is something that takes, you know, courage and boldness, and it’s to be respected and supported. And I think we need more people doing that.”
• “I’m just trying to find a way to change this, you know, I don’t want to just leave it the way it is. I love sports, and I want it to be this awesome thing for my kids coming up, for the next generations coming up. I want it to be this beautiful thing that made us fight for things and want to be these amazing people, you know, in this pure, beautiful way.”
• “What I’m hearing is the moral of the story is we just can’t stop pushing. I guess we just need to be this consistent drumbeat where we just don’t let it go.”
• “I’ve experienced the downsides of sports. And I am happy to keep any concerns confidential. And there will be no selling out on my behalf. Because I just, you know, I paid too high of a cost personally, for what I experienced in sport, to take anything lightly. Most especially confidence.”
• “We need to start speaking up. We are courageous athletes, we need to be courageous people as well, you know, outside of our arena, outside of the sport, when it has to do with these things like our sport that we love.”
• “The conversations I have with people from the IOC, WADA, and other sport-governance people is that they just have no idea. You know, they’re living in this bubble of unicorns and rainbows, and that is not in touch with the reality of how athletes fight their way through their careers oftentimes. And athletes need more support in lots of ways, and they need more advocates.”

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Cecile starts the episode with her story of growing up in gymnastics, telling her parents at age seven that she wanted to be an Olympian, and getting invited to the National Team Training Center at age nine. She discusses her transition from not being the hardest worker to deciding she wanted to be pushed to be better and how that let her break through to the Senior National Gymnastics Team. Cecile then gives an insight into her competitive experience, describing her favorite memories of going to her first World Championships and to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, before moving on to describe how she decided to continue with gymnastics at the club level following her Olympics experience. She follows that up with the story of how she got into coaching and moved to the US, how she and Laurent balance their professional partnership and their marriage, and their journey to coaching at the elite level, a journey that brought them an amazing opportunity. Cecile and Laurent were on a break from coaching and in the process of buying their own gym when they got a remarkable offer—to coach record-breaking gymnast Simone Biles at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Cecile discusses how the couple couldn’t turn down the opportunity, how she coped with the pressure of training a superstar, and the impact of the pandemic on their preparations. She also goes into detail about what happened when Simone began experiencing the twisties, including how they dealt with the fallout and put together a beam routine that would win Simone and Team USA a bronze medal. And finally, Cecile discusses her latest success, winning level ten in Texas, and gives her trademark advice to other coaches—be there for your athletes and remember that it’s only gymnastics and the sun will rise tomorrow.

Episode Highlights:

• Cecile’s experience growing up in gymnastics
• Breaking through to the national team
• Cecile’s most memorable experiences at the national level
• Going to the ’96 Olympics
• Choosing to continue in the club world
• Becoming a coach
• Moving to the US with Laurent
• Coaching at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy
• How Cecile and Laurent work together and maintain their marriage
• Stepping up to coaching elite athletes
• Taking a break in 2017
• Getting the call from Simone Biles
• Coaching Simone and coping with pressure
• The impact of the pandemic on training
• What happened at the Tokyo Games
• Dealing with the fallout of Simone’s decision
• Figuring out the medal-winning beam routine
• Winning level ten in Texas
• Cecile’s advice for other coaches

Quotes:

• “I started when I was five. And it was just one club in my city of 40,000 people. And I just started because my sister started. She’s three years older than me. And by the age of nine, doing some little competition, I ended up being invited to the national team training center.”
• “I didn’t feel pushed. And I wanted to feel it. So we had a couple of Chinese coaches that were there. And they had the best kids. And I wanted my chance to be there. And most of the people there were like, 'I don’t think you’re going to survive. I don’t think you’re strong enough to do it.' And actually, it helps me. When someone tells me I can’t do it, I’m going to prove to you that I can.”
• “When I was younger, I wanted to be a nurse like my mom. And then she told me really early on, 'Don’t do it, it’s too hard, you don’t make money, you work too much.' And I look at her now and say, 'Look what I do. I work way too much. I don’t make a lot of money. And I’m not a nurse.'”
• “I have a lot more respect for my coaches and anyone who coaches because it does not get any easier as the years go on. It’s just, it’s a hard job. It’s a hard job. Sometimes, a lot of people think it’s a hobby. It’s more than that. It has to be more than that.”
• “Year by year, we just kept working. Kept working with the girls, and they were just learning so fast. And they followed our leads and the process and trusted that we had the best interest for them. And it just worked out.”
• “We went back to Dallas, and we looked at each other, we’re like, man, we can’t pass this opportunity. We can always open a gym later. But working with the most talented athlete I’ve ever seen in my life, it’s not going to happen again.”
• “The pressure for us was toward her, we didn’t want to disappoint her. We wanted to make sure she got the chance that she deserved. And other than that, I didn’t really care what anyone else was saying. You’re not in my shoes, and I do know that I’m doing the best that I can to help her. And as long as she knows that, then the rest doesn’t matter.”
• “The pandemic had been such a mental struggle for everybody, but nobody wanted to talk about it. And I think she was the one who said, ‘Hey, I’m not okay. And it’s okay to not be okay. And I’m struggling.’”
• “We started training, and something was said by our national team staff that she took wrong. And her demeanor changed. And I saw that pressure on her shoulders even showing up more, and she was not practicing as well. And that’s when she started having her first case of the twisties on the floor.”
• “She looked at me, she looked really good. I was pretty confident that, you know, she was okay. But she said as soon as she stepped into the arena and the lights, something just clicked, and she just lost her confidence in everything, and she started panicking, but didn’t want to say anything, so went for the vault.”
• “She said, ‘Those girls, they need a medal, they deserve a medal, and they will get a medal without me. If I compete, we’re done.’”
• “In a sport like gymnastics where, like you said, you’re landing on a hard surface, and if you don’t know right side up from upside down, and you land on your head, you break your neck, like this could be it, you know, like, like life-altering, ending.”
• “Understanding what she couldn’t do in that moment, to say she couldn’t compete, I feel like was a very impressive thing to do. I’m actually really, really impressed by that choice that she made. I think that was really smart. But it had to be excruciatingly hard.”
• “When she hit that dismount, that was just, the relief, like, she did it, she’s safe, she competed the way she wanted to compete. She proved to herself that she could do it, and it’s going to help her on the healing process. For me, that was what was important. It was, I know if she can do this, it’s going to help her.”
• “Time will tell what she decides to do. We told her, if you come back again, it has to be for you. Can’t be for us, can’t be for anyone else but yourself. And we’ll be here if you want us to be.”
• “Even if it’s an individual sport, they’ve noticed that they only get better if the team is better. And so that’s why, really, we want them to understand, the stronger your team is, the stronger you’re going to be.”
• “At the end of the day, you are here for the athletes. They’re not here for you. You’re here for them. It’s your job to figure out how you can help them become their best. And the sun will rise tomorrow. It’s only gymnastics. It’s going to be okay if today is not perfect.”

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Cristi begins by sharing what inspired her to get into gymnastics, her journey to becoming an elite gymnast, her transition to diving, and the injuries that ultimately ended her Olympic dreams. She goes on to describe what drove her to yoga, how it changed her, and why she eventually began teaching it. Cristi also details her experience as a global traveling yoga teacher, how the pandemic caused her to pivot yet again, and the outcome of her most recent pivot. The episode draws to a close with an overview of Cristi's work to expand the definition of wellness and well-being, and how her style of yoga brings her back to how she grew up. Cristi’s story of responding to injuries with her determination to bounce back, keep learning and moving forward will captivate and inspire all who listen into this fascinating conversation today.

Episode Highlights:

• Cristi’s transition from being an elite gymnast to an elite diver
• Diving injuries ended her dream of the Olympics, just as they’d ended her gymnastics career
• How Cristi’s pain and anxiety drove her to yoga
• How yoga changed her
• Cristi begins to teach fitness classes, but she refused to teach yoga
• What changed her mind?
• How flying by the seat of her pants helped launch her career as a global traveling yoga teacher
• How the pandemic forced Cristi to pivot yet again
• The outcome of Cristi’s most recent pivot
• Cristi’s work to expand the definition of wellness and well-being
• How Cristi’s style of yoga, which incorporates dance and music, brings her back to how she grew up

Quotes:

• “My mom was like ‘No more. No more. I know it’s your dream but we’re not risking you being paralyzed.’ And there was no pushing… that was the end of my gymnastics career.”
• “That’s just so quick though, too. I mean, you go for a summer, doing a sport you’ve never done, and you just decide to move for your last two years of high school. Like, that’s pretty intense. But it sounds like that’s kind of the way you roll.”
• “I did shatter my left hand into a million pieces. Basically, I had three metal plates and 22 screws to put it back together.”
• “And that’s where joy, like a joy of movement, started coming back. My body was healing, I was connecting to my breath.”
• “But now I had a new lens on it, because the practice I was doing was healing me and I wanted to be able to share that with others… I taught tons of different fitness classes and was still doing yoga as my personal practice… yoga really opened me up in a way that I didn’t even know I was closed.”
• “Every time you show up and do it, those voices will get smaller.”
• “I had some really bizarre instances that just made it so, so clear that the way I was living and the way I was working were no longer in alignment.”
• “I got to a point where the fear of if I failed was much smaller than the fear of actually staying and staying small and staying trapped in something.”
• “Over the years it evolved… how could something that was so right, now be something that’s actually a detriment to the evolution of my career or the evolution of where in my soul I believe I wanted to go?”
• “I just thought I was going to be hanging out in LA for six months, like figuring it out… but as the opportunities came, I was like, ‘Well, I just have to say yes’.”
• “I didn’t realize I had all my eggs in one basket; I thought I was diversified.”
• “Everything I teach is based off of ‘how can we use this as a map for our own empowerment, our own awakening, so that we can live a life that is full of color and rich in love and passion and freedom, but really be grounded in this very human experience and be able to deal with everything that life brings?’”
• “The whole idea was to share women’s stories… I want more women’s voices to be heard. I want more kids growing up to have more access to role models from different backgrounds.”
• “I’m not teaching a routine. It’s not like ‘5, 6, 7, 8’. It’s actually getting you to a place that you feel free enough to express and to move and to breathe, and just enjoy the aliveness and the power pulsing through your body - letting it move, letting the emotions move, letting everything just flow. And it’s super powerful and super fun!”

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First, Hank gives us the lowdown on his remarkable journey, from learning to dive at Camp Longhorn to becoming a champion diver, and giving up diving because of a back injury, before sharing how he transitioned from teaching to fitness instruction to business school. Then he tells the story of surviving month-to-month when launching DEFINE and how he expanded the business into a global franchise, including how he survived COVID by pivoting into online services. Next, Hank talks about his decision to go back to school to get his Master’s degree in applied positive psychology and how it has influenced his worldview and business, with DEFINE shifting into a well-being hub with a mission to enrich its members’ lives. He also has some advice on how to incorporate positive psychology into your everyday life and how it can help athletes develop resiliency and focus on strengths rather than weaknesses, as well as how meditation and mindfulness can work in partnership to improve self-awareness and enable positivity. Laura then asks Hank about his partnership with Education Based Housing, a nonprofit working with cost-burdened households to provide access to quality housing, and Hank discusses his passion for creating circles of well-being within communities and how DEFINE will offer well-being services through this partnership. And finally, Hank offers his thoughts on what has made DEFINE so successful, pointing to its mission to offer a service that truly helps its communities, and gives some advice to current athletes and coaches, emphasizing the importance of focusing on personal strengths and creatively applying them in challenging situations.

Hank’s story of determination, resiliency, and willingness to keep learning and developing will captivate and inspire athletes and non-athletes alike to focus on their strengths, keep a positive outlook, and never give up on their dreams.

Episode Highlights:

• How Hank got into diving with lessons at Camp Longhorn
• Transitioning from school athlete to college athlete
• Hank’s back injury and how diving both caused it and kept it in check
• Moving on from diving to teaching sixth graders in the South Bronx
• How Hank followed his passion for movement and interest in health into teaching yoga and Pilates
• Going back to business school and figuring out his dream of opening his own studio
• Launching DEFINE and expanding into a franchise
• Dealing with the impact of COVID by pivoting to online
• Hank’s Master’s in applied positive psychology and how it transformed DEFINE into a well-being hub
• Hank’s advice on incorporating positive psychology in your life
• What Hank would change if he could go back in time with the knowledge he has now
• The importance of resiliency when a setback occurs
• Hank’s opinion on the benefits of mindfulness and meditation
• DEFINE’s partnership with Education Based Housing, a nonprofit working with cost-burdened households to provide access to quality housing
• What Hank believes has made DEFINE successful
• Hank’s advice for current athletes and coaches

Quotes:

• “Diving, it truly was a way of utilizing movement as a self-expression. And you know, the many lessons that all of us learned in diving, the overcoming fears, the setting goals and accomplishing them, the concept of resiliency, even during injuries, etc. It’s such a powerful, powerful sport.”
• “Being a student athlete, you are literally performing a job in some ways. You are studying for school, you’re going to school, you’re training first thing in the morning, you’re training in the evening, you’re eating, I mean, it’s very regimented. Right. And I know for a fact, it made me a much stronger, better person. But I remember that first year being like, oh my gosh, I don’t know if I can continue doing this.”
• “The good thing about the mindset that, really, work being physically hard created is that when we got to the end of the year, I actually really knew I deserved it. I was like, I’ve worked so hard, I deserve to do well at this NCAA championship. And so that worked, but at the same time, by the end of the year, I was a little burnt out physically, mentally, emotionally.”
• “It’s called spondylolisthesis. And you know, it’s manageable. A lot of people have to have fusions done. But that’s really how I started getting into the next phase of my life, which was really getting into yoga and Pilates to help to prevent to have to have the fusion.”
• “When I started thinking about the classes and the things that I really, really loved, it was centered around psychology, it was centered around education, it was around mindset. And so I applied for this program called Teach for America. And they placed me to teach sixth-graders in the South Bronx, and it was truly a life-transforming experience.”
• “I give all the respect in the world to schoolteachers. Any school has its challenges, any grade level has its challenges. And so working with the various teachers that were in our public school setting just gave me the most utmost respect for what school teachers do on a daily basis.”
• “I never really thought of myself as being, like, a fitness instructor as my goal in all of this, but I loved working with clients, I loved working with people. And that has been kind of the consistent theme for me throughout. And when you believe in a product or a service so much because of its own transformative benefits that you’ve received, it’s impossible to not want to share that, truly.”
• “My professor, within that same timeframe, said something that changed my life. He said, ‘You know what? Don’t take a job just because it’s available.’ He said, ‘Do something that will define your role in this world.’ And I, literally, the light bulb went off, the chills in my body. And I’ll be honest, because it’s a process of overcoming fear in many ways, just like diving, that I was like, I don’t know if I’m going to open up a studio, but if I do, I know I’m going to name it ‘Define.’”
• “There are also a lot of negatives, challenges, that can also happen because of the franchise model. And a lot of it is because the mindset of a franchisee is that they own a business, whereas really, they’re just licensing the name and the services of the business.”
• “Once COVID hit, it was a survival mindset and a little bit of a free-for-all. And truly, people felt like they had to do whatever they needed to do to make sure that they survived, and we really responded quickly by pivoting. Within just a few days, our entire business shifted online, we started Zoom classes, we had an on-demand platform.”
• “The concept is that if we’re just focusing on our weaknesses, well, that’s how we’re going to feel when we’re living our lives. Versus if we can put our energy and focus on our strengths, then it’s going to have that ability for us to find more of a state of flow, more of a state of ease and also be able to be more proficient.”
• “It’s not simply about just being focused on the good, right? It’s also coming up with a plan for when things don’t go the way you expected, how to kind of overcome that.”
• “What I ultimately realized is that what meditation is doing is it’s training us simply to become more aware. More aware of our internal dialogue, more aware of the stories we tell about other people or ourselves, more aware of truly how we feel being around certain people, or how we feel about, you know, certain activities that we do.”
• “I love the analogy for meditation where it’s like, you know, you can go a couple of days without showering and not a lot of people notice, but after a while, you know, people are gonna notice, right? And I feel the same way about my meditation. Like, I can go a couple days, and it’s not a big deal. But if I go for more than three, four, or five days, my attitude’s a little stinky.”
• “One of my huge passions is about supporting and providing and helping to create circles of, you know, well-being if you will, and support. I feel like the studio business, it caters to a very specific demographic, and that demographic is people who can afford to come and take those types of services. And there’s so much that could be done and said in our world that could help various people.”
• “Walking into the store of DEFINE, it needs to be an experience, and that experience should be, you know, welcoming, it should be truly nurturing in many ways, but at the same time pushing you and challenging you enough to get something out of it. So I think people come to us for that reason.”
• “It’s important that we focus on strengths. And as a mentor or as an athlete, it’s important for us to help discover that strength, whether it’s a parent role, or a mentor role, or a coaching role, helping to really look at the strength of the individual.”
• “Instead of using some of their weaknesses, which is very common in a challenging situation, we can now train ourselves to look at our strengths and use creative ways of applying that to our lives.”

**Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global.**

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

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Hank’s Links: DEFINE homepage DEFINELIFE homepage Hank’s Instagram

She opens up the episode by describing her transition from life as a sprinter into that of a wrestler. While Tamyra didn’t love the sport at first, it became a big part of her life that stayed with her through bouts of loss and depression. She goes on to talk about meeting her husband and their decision to move to Colorado to train for the Olympics. Some rough patches followed her through 2016, but she notes that these tough times really taught her the importance of faith and compartmentalization. Tamyra also notes that COVID gave her a much needed breather that allowed her to prepare for the Olympics. She was incredibly successful in the 2021 Olympic Games, and in the wake of vaccine mandates, she’s become a key supporter for Athletes for Medical Freedom. She makes it clear that she isn’t anti vaccine, she’s anti mandate, and, to close out this week’s episode, she expresses gratitude for Athletes for Medical Freedom, because it taught her how to use her voice.

Episode Highlights:

• Transitioning from sprinting to wrestling
• Tamyra’s experience confronting the death of family and friends
• How she met her husband
• Making the decision to move to Colorado Springs for Olympic training
• Learning to compartmentalize and trust in her faith
• Why COVID was a breath of fresh air
• Tamyra in the 2020 Olympic Games
• Athletes for Medical Freedom

Quotes:

“For some reason, back in the day, I was an early riser, and I loved going to school when it was dark and there was nobody around. There was just some kind of freedom about that.”

“I don't blame wrestling now because it has given me the platform to identify with people who have dealt with the struggle.”

“You cannot succeed without a little loss.”

“Some people in college had asked me why am I dating a white man. And I went, ‘You never asked me out. You never showed me any consideration that you wanted to date me. Jacob took the initiative.’”

“When you are wrestling for one of the biggest tournaments ever, stay in the moment and leave the mat with no regrets.”

“COVID was a blessing. I just had time to breathe. I came up with a great win. And I could just relax and it was awesome. And once the Olympics came around, I came to destroy.”

“When you go to the Olympics, you're going to represent whatever country you are representing, and I'm proud to be an American. And I got up on that stage, I represented America, and I was extremely happy. I've been doing this since 2008 - wanting to go on that stage - nobody was gonna take that away from me.”

“They're just trying to mandate the vaccine. And I'm fine with vaccinations. But when you force people to do things, that's where the line gets really skewed.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook Tamyra's Links: Athletes for Medical Freedom on Instagram Tamyra Mensah-Stock on Instagram

Ryan starts the conversation by sharing how he fell in love with flying and set about making it his career before hitting upon the idea to break a world record. He lets us in on the process of fundraising a quarter of a million dollars at just nineteen while gaining flight experience and gives us insight into the remarkable, record-breaking flight itself, including the incredible sights and how he and his crew kept their heads under pressure. Ryan then provides an emotional account of the plane crash that nearly killed him and left him diagnosed as paraplegic, stuck in hospital with a long journey of recovery in front of him. He tells us how he drew inspiration and learned perspective from a fellow patient and developed the mindset toolbox, the idea that we all have a mental toolbox we can fill with tools to help us navigate change, challenge, crisis, and adversity. He also explains how his own toolbox helped him not only become tough and lean into his recovery but also to accept and adjust to long-term disability without letting it hold him back. In fact, he was even able to get back in the cockpit and fly again, keeping that intrinsic part of himself that he almost lost. Finally, Ryan tells us about his plans to get married, his move into motivational speaking, and why a pink Cadillac has become an important symbol for his attitude toward life.

Ryan’s resilience, determination, and fighting spirit are sure to inspire as he shares his emotional and uplifting journey from glory to tragedy and back to happiness.

Episode Highlights:

• How Ryan fell in love with flying and set about becoming a pilot at fourteen
• Ryan’s first solo flight at fifteen
• Planning a record-breaking flight
• Fundraising $250,000 while building flight experience
• Flying over water for the first time by pointing the airplane at the Pacific Ocean
• Pushing the limits of man and machine
• How Ryan and his crew keep their heads together during the flight by doing things one step at a time
• How it felt to land having broken the world record
• Working out what to do next
• The plane crash that nearly cost Ryan everything
• Tackling adversity, starting recovery, and learning perspective
• Developing the mindset toolbar
• Adjusting to disability
• Getting back in the cockpit
• What Ryan’s up to now
• The Pink Cadillac

Quotes:

“So we’re actually invited to go up and visit a cockpit as three young boys, and I tell you what, that’s pretty incredible. Eyes wide, amazed at the buttons and switches, super-stoked to meet the pilots, I thought they were the coolest people that ever walked the Earth. And that was it, that was the day that six-year-old Ryan discovered his passion, and that would be all things aviation.”

“Fifteen years old, this kid’s flying an airplane on his own, and I was jealous. Like, I was envious, I couldn’t believe this was legal. It just blew my mind.”

“The day that I turned fifteen, I went to the airport, I practiced some takeoffs and landings with my flying instructor. And then he told me to take him back to the hangar, not to shut the airplane down. He got out of that airplane, did up his seatbelts, he took his headset. He said, ‘Don’t forget to lock the door, go and have fun.’”

“I saw something I wanted, I started to kind of research how to do it, I put a plan in place, I worked really, really hard, I gave up on a bunch of stuff to be able to make it happen and ultimately found success in that. And that was a pretty powerful lesson to have when you’re fifteen.”

“I went to Google, and I googled ‘how to fly solo around the world,’ right? Legitimate Google search.”

“At that point, it wasn’t about precision. It was just about progress, doing something.”

“I often tell people, I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to rent a car at an airport under the age of twenty-five, it’s very, very hard. Under the age of twenty-one, it’s borderline impossible, right? But trying to rent a million-dollar, single-engine airplane at seventeen, eighteen, nineteen to fly it around the world was an incredibly tough sell.”

“At the end of the day, we had to take 24,000 miles and split it up into not just legs but little tasks. So this wasn’t a 24,000-mile flight around the world. This was thirty-five A-to-B flights that happened to connect the dots around the globe, but then every single flight was broken down into jobs.”

“What really mattered was the impact we had on some many different people.”

“The reality was that my entire life had changed. The very thing that had given me my identity and made me who I was, at that point in time, was now the very thing that had taken it all away.”

“I’d been to the top. And even though I couldn’t see it then, I look at this as my biggest gift: I had now been to the bottom. And the opportunity to compare those two, to ask ourselves a couple of really important questions, where do we truly learn what makes us the very best version of ourselves? They are the powerful questions that I had now the real-life experiences to pull apart and find myself.”

“Adversity is a byproduct of breathing, and turbulence is a part of life. And it comes down, at the end of the day, to how tough and resilient you are and how willing you are to tackle the mountain that’s ahead and get up every single time you’re knocked down. And it comes back to understanding that resilience is a learned and refined skill.”

“Every day in hospital, I could go to the gym, and I could move a muscle, and I could build strength, and I could see progress. That progress is what gave purpose to the pain. Right? That’s what made me get up the next day, get back in the wheelchair, go back to that rehabilitation gym.”

“Every single one of us is born with a toolbox. It’s really big, it has drawers and wheels, we take it with us wherever we go in life. Now, the aim of the game is to fill that toolbox with tools, tools that we can use to navigate change, challenge, crisis, and adversity, right? To make us turbulence tough.”

“I’m now walking independently and shuffling around, kind of, you know, getting where I want on my own two feet. The way that we arrived at that point was by kind of making a pact and understanding that no one was going to give me, you know, a great outcome. I had to work for it.”

“You have to kind of come to terms with aviation from a different set of eyes. That it is safe. It is incredible. It is part of who I am. And you know, to be back up there is what ultimately was the end goal, and we made it happen.”

“We like to say go and do something that, you know, may not be logical, you know, may not be financially sensible, but it makes you smile like a kid. Once you do that, you start to show up better in all areas of your life.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold Website Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee

Laura’s Social Media: Laura’s Instagram Laura’s Facebook

Ryan’s Social Media: Ryan’s Instagram Ryan’s LinkedIn Ryan’s website

She opens the episode by recounting how she made the leap from her home in South Africa and Zimbabwe to Houston, as well as her experience of becoming a diving Olympian for team Portugal before becoming a coach.  Jane goes on to discuss her coaching career, attributing much of her success in this field to being in the right place at the right time. She also highlights what she learned by working with the Russian Olympic Diving Team, and also by working with Tom Daley. Taking a note from Laura’s book, Jane notes that she has started valuing the importance of mental preparedness more, and encouraging her athletes to focus less on medals, and more on striving to be the best they can. This fascinating interview draws to close with Jane sharing her plans for the future. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Growing up in Zimbabwe
• Coaching at University of Houston 
• Olympian for one year on Portugal’s team
• International presence
• The importance of being in the right place at the right time
• Figueiredo’s time working as a coach for the Russian team
• Lessons learned from team Russia 
• Presently coaching British team
• Tom Daley and his strong work ethic and need for planning
• How Tom made her a better listener
• Tom’s lack of success in Rio
• Confidence going into Tokyo
• The importance of mental preparedness 
• Focus on being the best you can be; not gold medals  
• Jane plans to return to London to prepare for Paris Olympics

Quotes: 

“Obviously, I was born and raised in Southern Africa. And we had, believe it or not, a deep history of diving. Most of the divers that ever came out of Zimbabwe, all dove in the States on scholarship.”

“There is certainly an extra drive, because you’ve got to understand, a lot of them… they live with their parents for many years into their adult life. So they don't have the same opportunities that American kids have. So yes, the drive is certainly there to try to better themselves in a different way.”

“My technical knowledge exploded because once I started coaching Vera Ilyina I understood they coached me on twisting technique. Because I would ask a lot of questions.”

“In the US, we never had trials, and nobody used dry land, whereas in the Russian system, it was 80% dry land. And that's where they develop their divers, in dry land. And then the other 20% was, ‘Okay, let's have a look in the pool.’”

“Tom called me and said, ‘Hey Jane, I want to come over and chat with you. Can I come train with you?’ I said, “Sure, you can come.” And– I thought he was coming in two weeks. He said, ‘I'll be there tomorrow morning.’”

“I'm pretty satisfied with my career and the college thing had gone really, really well, and I was okay. I was happy with myself, and then he came along, and I was just like, ‘Oh, my God, this is just, Oh, my God, he's got me.’”

“I'm happy to admit that as an elite coach, we become quite controlling, because we want to try to control all of it. Sure. We want to try to control the mindset, the physicality, the emotion, the private, because all of it contributes to whether you're successful or not. And then I had to really just let some of it go.”

“We talked too much about winning the gold medal, and I think that puts so much pressure and expectation on you. And that when you don't deliver, it's like you go below the surface. It's like the iceberg below the water. And so we decided, I don't want to hear a word about it.  Don't let me hear you, in any interview, talk about a gold medal. I don't want to hear about it. Do not say a single word.”

“Life does not go exactly to schedule. So you know, maybe the event gets postponed, maybe you're up there getting ready to do front, four and a half. And they blow the whistle just as you're running because something's fallen in the pool. I said, ‘Tom, I'm going to schedule this out. But the only thing that I want you to always remember is that things can change.’”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee

Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

Jane's Social Media: Jane's Instagram

She picks up the story at the point where the pandemic began to derail training and sponsorships, and goes on to describe the mindset shift she went through and the value of always being ready to pivot. As always, Lauren is open, candid, and vulnerable, as she discusses not being chosen for the Olympic team a second time, the struggle of keeping a certain weight to compete, and how she became friends with her competitors. She also offers some great advice about learning how to tell your story to attract sponsors and supporters, and about different apps to help athletes on various stages of their journey. Lauren finishes up by giving us a rundown of athletes to keep an eye out for at the Winter Games, and an update on what she is up to these days, especially her work with Heroic. A remarkable woman with an equally remarkable story to share, Lauren Gibbs demonstrates once again here today that she is a talented, resilient, and inspiring individual from whom we can all learn so very much about both sport and life in general.

Episode Highlights:

• Lauren Gibb's astonishing career from age 30
• How she was affected by the pandemic
• Lauren's work with Kara Winger on Parity
• How she pivoted and supported herself with COVID and the Tokyo games being postponed
• Lauren's physical, emotional, and mental state
• Her advice and insight for aspiring athletes
• The value of sharing your story in your athletic career
• Her transformation from high school and college to now
• The difference between quitting and knowing when it's time to move on
• The uniqueness of bobsled and how Lauren navigated its complexity
• The adrenaline letdown after success
• Lauren's friendship and connection with Kaillee Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor
• The competitive dynamics among women in the same team in sports
• The challenges women face in sports, particularly Olympics
• Insights on the upcoming Winter Sports and exciting newcomers
• Update on what Lauren is currently doing
• Details about Heroic and her work there

Quotes:

• "It's been tough to see people struggle. I've been very fortunate, but I enjoy life with other people. And so, to see people around you and people you don't know struggling is always hard. My heart goes out to anybody that's been adversely affected by the pandemic. That's a lot of people."
• "Then, when the pandemic hit, everything went away. And it was a quick lesson to me on how quickly life can change and how you have to prepare for a pivot. So you always have to be ready for a pivot."
• "Olympics was never my end goal when I started bobsled, which I think sounds probably crazy to most people."
• "You have to figure out what your story is because everybody has a story that people can learn and grow from."
• "People just want to know about real people. They want to know about your struggles, successes, and the weird things you do in your sport that people would never think of. So share as much as yourself as feels comfortable, but also remember, once you share it, you can't take it back. So really show up as yourself."
• "Don't try and be this person you think everybody wants to see or hear from because no matter who you are, there's enough people in this world that your story will click with - the people that it needs to click with."
• "As someone who's on the other side, I can't wait to help athletes that need help in their journey because people help me. So I think just realize that more people out there want to help you than you think. So you’ve got to share your story and figure out what you're all about."
• "I was one of those people who were fairly good at a lot of things. And so, when things got difficult, I would just quit. And I've realized that quitting feels worse than failing. And I was always more afraid of failure than I was excited for success, that I would quit before I got there. I've learned that that's more dissatisfying because you don't really learn anything from just quitting."
• "That conversation with my dad was such a gift. He wasn't telling me that the Olympics weren't worth my time or worthless. Basically, he was telling me that the Olympics don't define Lauren Gibbs. And it can be so easy for an athlete to feel defined by their successes or losses in a sport. That's unhealthy. That's not good. You should do it because you love it. "
• "You are not your sport; your sport is something that you do."
• "If you're depending on this result to change how you feel about life or yourself, whether you get the result or not, it's not going to do it."
• "That's how you become a leader at anything. You have a goal in mind, and you work towards that daily. It really focuses on the small wins and the daily activity and then having this great support system."

Show Links

The Pursuit of Gold Website Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

Lauren's Social Media: Lauren's Instagram Lauren's LinkedIn Heroic

Krysta begins with her unique journey in sports, and reflects on coming back stronger from her recurring injuries, as well as how she ultimately found diving at the age of 20. She talks about transitioning her skills from trampoline to diving, working with her coach, Jianli You, to change certain habits, and entering the 2016 Olympic Team Trials following her graduation from the University of Nevada. Krysta tells Laura about a training trip to China that served as a turning point in her path to becoming an Olympian, as well as how her own experience as a coach has helped her as an athlete, and what she learned from competing in the 2017 and 2019 World Championships (her first international meet). She explains how her mindset to learn and grow from setbacks has helped her through the pandemic, and shares the moving story of receiving her Olympic ring from Laura. You’ll hear about Krysta’s memorable experience at the Tokyo Olympics, how her faith keeps her grounded, and the surreal and exciting moment she realized she had medaled in Tokyo.

Krysta’s honesty and perseverance throughout today’s conversation are sure to motivate and inspire as she shares her incredible journey, and everything she has overcome to be able to do what she loves to do.

Episode Highlights:

• Krysta’s journey in sports, beginning with gymnastics and trampoline at a young age
• Coming back stronger from her heartbreaking injuries and finding diving at the age of 20
• Transitioning her skills from trampoline to diving, changing certain habits, learning new dives on the fast track
• Entering the 2016 Olympic Team Trials following her graduation from the University of Nevada
• Her training trip to China in 2016, and how it brought her closer to becoming an Olympian
• The difference between platform and springboard diving, and Krysta’s transition from platform to springboard
• Supporting her athletic training after college through coaching, and how this has helped her become a better athlete
• Her experience at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019
• Learning and growing the most from disappointments or poor competitions
• How this mentality helped her make the most of trials and tribulations brought on by the pandemic
• Training through injuries and her family’s support throughout her career
• Krysta’s very special memory of receiving her Olympic ring from Laura
• Her unique experience at the Tokyo Olympics
• The importance of Krysta’s faith
• The surreal and exciting experience of realizing she had medaled in Tokyo
• How Krysta continues to process her accomplishment and what the next season of her life looks like
• Continuing her education and studying toward an MBA

Quotes:

• “At the age of five, when I was young, I really really had this lifelong dream of being an Olympian one day.”
• “You're always having to use your visual awareness to spot where you are. And make changes based on where you are. So I learned that through trampoline, and that actually really progressed well into my diving career.”
• “I've had two big struggles in learning how to make a proper entry. And also learning how to get the rhythm and the timing with the springboard, because also trampoline is very quick - quick twitch muscle work.”
• “I competed platform in the 2016 Olympic Trials because we weren't quite there yet with springboard. And my coach had always said, Give it time. Because springboard diving...you need time to develop the skill of it.”
• “I came into the team mid-semester, so in January. And I had to learn all my springboard dives for 1-meter/3-meter before Conference in February.”
• “I think the biggest thing was just trusting my coach [Jianli You], because I knew that she has the knowledge and the skill to teach me, whatever it is. I'm learning and I have the talent to try it. And it only takes me trying it to learn something new.”
• “That was the trip that made me stronger as a diver and as a person.”
• “I really gained a whole other level of respect for my coach at that time, because I really saw how respected she is amongst all the Chinese coaches and athletes.”
• “For me, it really made me appreciate my sport and my country and our freedom to choose to be able to do sports.”
• “I think that was the biggest takeaway for me from the trials is just feeling like I fit in. But I know that there's still more in me and I still need to learn more in order to get to that point.”
• “We really did take a step back from platform at that time. Then springboard started to pick up, and I was competing in it at all the Nationals and getting better and better.”
• “The springboard is very similar to trampoline, and I can do a lot of the same skills that I would typically do on a trampoline as well.”
• “I was coaching our club team. And that's really the majority of where I got money in order to survive and make a living. And so I was starting to see things from a coaching perspective, which actually helped me as an athlete as well.”
• “That's been a big learning lesson as I transition from a college athlete to now a professional athlete, is just to really pay attention to everything that surrounds me as an athlete, and what's going to help me achieve my dream.”
• “My first ever international competition was the World Championships in 2017.”
• “Coming back from that competition, I really had done a lot of processing and journaling, writing things down of what went wrong. What I learned was my mentality going into this event - I really learned that I had put a lot of pressure on myself. And nobody else did that. I was the one that did it to myself.”
• “I really needed to learn from that. And not necessarily get dragged down by the failure of it. But stepping into, kind of, that failure and learning from it, and then growing from it, and taking the next step into the next chapter, and facing what happened… These competitions were actually the ones that I've learned and grown the most from.”
• “I think my mentality through all my injuries really helped me through the pandemic, because it was really, Be stronger than you were before the injury. And coming into the pandemic, I could see it two different ways - I could see it as a disappointment and as a setback. Or I could see it as an opportunity and an area to grow, and another year of training, which is really beneficial for me because I’m still a new diver.”
• “I really chose to look at it that way and took that mentality from the injury standpoint and said, Hey, I'm going to be stronger than I was before the pandemic.”
• “For me, it's a performance. I love getting out there and just showing off what I love to do.”
• “That was just a beautiful, beautiful moment for me to receive [my Olympic ring] from you. And you're telling the story - I'm still getting chills because it's special for me.”
• “For me, what keeps me grounded is reading the Bible and getting my time with God.”
• “At that point, [Coach Jianli You] knew that I had medaled. And so I gave her this big hug. And she just held me tight. And she just said, We did it. We did it. And so that's just - that was a beautiful moment.”
• “I don't think this is my peak performance as a diver... I know that there's so much more that I still have left in me.”

Show Links

The Pursuit of Gold Homepage Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days               Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page

Krysta’s Social Media: Krysta Palmer’s Instagram Cheer for Krysta Facebook Page Krysta Palmer’s Twitter @PalmerKrysta

He begins by sharing his early involvement in sports, his shift into football, his mom’s perspective on it, and both those who doubted and believed in his potential. He then goes on to summarize his playing career from high school to college to the NFL, the pivotal injury he suffered and his recovery from it, his ability to use fear to help him, and the source of his impressive longevity in the NFL. He finishes up by sharing the hardest and greatest moments in his career and what he does these days in retirement. Throughout this fascinating conversation, Tory highlights the role that family, gratitude, love of the game, and his unwavering belief played in his success, and his story as told here today will undoubtedly move and inspire all who listen.

Episode Highlights:

• How Tory became involved in sports and football in particular
• Listening to the one coach who believed in him
• His feeling of unwavering belief
• His Mom’s perspective on his playing football
• Tory’s impact on those who doubted him
• His transition for high school to college football
• Getting to the NFL
• The difference between the NFL and college football
• His knee injury and recovery
• Using your fear to help you
• His return from the knee injury
• What makes the NFL so tough
• The source of his longevity in the NFL
• Loving to play
• The important role family plays
• The hardest and greatest moments of his career
• What Tory does in retirement

Quotes:

• ‘‘It hurts so bad. It hurts still to this day, because I still like basketball over football. But I was always good at football, so I took his advice and I started playing football.”
• “So when I'm helping little kids, I tell them, ‘See it in your mind, you do it perfect in your mind over and over again until it becomes you and it becomes natural.’”
• “For whatever reason, people put their fears on you, and I just never let it affect me.”
• “I think you probably changed their entire outlook on how they saw the world, and I think that's huge.”
• “That's, like, the joy when I think about playing football - how it made people feel.”
• “The power of just having one person believe in you like that one coach when everybody else is saying ‘No’, it makes a huge difference.”
• “It was really hard to mess up in Denver, they just had it down. That's probably one of the most professional teams I've ever played for, and it showed by us winning and everybody loved each other, and everybody helped each other. It was amazing.”
• “We're all going to go through stuff, and it's how you handle it that's going to grow you as a person and your character and who you are the rest of your life beyond your sport, too.”
• “Fear is feeling excited and ready.”
• “Now today, what I do is I'm thankful for everything that happens.”
• “Hard work, dedication, drive, and just willing to do what you have to do and just not ever giving up on your goal.”
• “I hope everybody else that I'm playing with feels like they're the best because that's the type of players I want to play with.”
• “You tell me I can't do it, I'm going to find a way to prove you wrong.”
• “You made this choice to enjoy it and to have fun and playing the game the whole time.”
• “The reason I'm playing is for family.”
• “I learned discipline, hard work, to be honest, from my mom.”
• “It turned out to be the best thing that happened to me because I think if I wouldn't have gotten hurt early on, I don't think my body would have held up as long as it did.”
• “They always kept me grounded and humble, like, you know, and I kept that with me my whole football career.”
• “I wanted to get 10 years and I felt like if I got 10 years and that's like my goal, that's like my gold medal.”
• “I love your mental mindset. I love your passion, your gratitude, you're always so thankful for every opportunity, good and bad. I love that you showed us your purpose that's beyond yourself, your unwavering belief in your dreams.”

Show Links The Pursuit of Gold Homepage Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days               Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page

In today’s episode, Chad and Brian discuss the connection between sports and faith., concepts like forgiveness, and how sports can become a part of one’s identity. Together, they also delve into viewing sports as a form of play, how not everybody is drawn to the idea of competition, and how sports must be enjoyed at the moment. They conclude by exploring athletes’ mental health and the sense of loss they feel after certain events such as the Olympics, and by discussing how to view sports as a separate space from other things in life. Filled with ideas regarding how to lead with grace, call for truth, and be a light on a very diverse team, today’s conversation is enlightening, informative, and, above all, one you do not want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

• Competition in sports: the good side and the bad side
• Comparisons that people make while playing sports
• Sports and their impact on one’s identity
• How human beings are meant to be playful
• Forgiveness and the concept of a community
• Selfishness in sports and attributions people make for their successes or failures
• Mental health and sports
• Redemption in sports

Quotes:

• ‘‘And we see this, especially those who are in Olympic sports, where, you know, it’s not like you play Major League Baseball, where if you don’t do well, one day, you get a chance to the next day, right?”
• “And what’s so interesting about athletes or successful people in some ways is that they attribute failure to things outside themselves.’’
• “And so, from a faith perspective, I think it’s a reminder to us that when we watch our heroes, we’re watching real people with skin and flesh and people who are dealing with real everyday issues. That’s important for us to remember in the midst of our heroism - the way in which we worship athletes at times, for sure.’’
• “And then we also need to take a step back with someone we trust - a coach, a teammate, somebody - and logically look at what happened without the emotion and learn from it instead of just blaming all the time. Because I’ve had teammates who blame judges, who blame this, that, and the other all the time.’’
• “If you use your energy to fix what you're doing wrong, instead of blaming other people, you might actually be a better athlete.”
• “There are experiences that we have on Earth, that may be glimpses of Heaven, and when we're at play, we're doing something because the joy of it is in the doing. We're experiencing that Kingdom at hand.”
• “I have parents that ask me all the time, like, ‘How can I make my kid more passionate?’ and, like, you’ve just got to let them fail. Like, if he fails and he wants to keep going, like, he’ll find the passion.’’

Show Links The Pursuit of Gold Homepage Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Brian and Chad: Sport. Faith. Life. Homepage

Episode Highlights:  

• Emily’s realization of her love for aerial skiing
• Dealing with injuries as an athlete
• Her experiences at the Olympics
• Emily’s work at The Speedy Foundation
• How she had trust in her coach
• Emily’s commitments in the sports sphere
• Being a coach vs. being an athlete                        
• Emily’s work outside the sports sphere

Quotes:  

• “So, I always determined before a training block, whether it was a three-week training block or something, what my negative thought stoppers would be, and, you know, exactly what mindset I wanted to be in on the hill. I use music a lot as well.’’
• “And then, every once in a while, like, as humans, we’re just not reliable, we’re not reliable to our own commitments.”
• “But regardless of who’s there watching, you know…you’ve accomplished something that you set out to do so many years earlier, and it’s an incredible feeling.’’
• “And so, it was a daily choice, it was a choice of showing up and showing up 100% no matter what, no matter what my mood was, no matter what was going on around me.’’
• “In the end of the day, knowing exactly what I wanted to accomplish, and then debriefing exactly what I did accomplish, so that I knew what I needed to change the next day in order to perform even better.’’

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Homepage Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                  Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page     Connect with Emily:   Emily's Homepage   Classroom Champions   The Speedy Foundation

Amy starts by discussing her love for snowboarding during her teenage years. She then discusses her struggle with her medical condition and how she rose above her hardships through her self-belief. As you listen, you’ll learn of Amy’s many accomplishments, such as securing brand deals and winning a bronze medal. Along the way, you’ll understand Amy’s positive contributions to athletes with disabilities/special needs, and the lessons you learn from this podcast will definitely inspire you to look at difficulties in a whole new way.

Episode Highlights:

• Amy’s early days when she snowboarded with her friends
• How meningococcal meningitis impacted Amy
• Amy’s struggle with self-doubt
• How Amy discovered a creative solution to help her snowboard
• How Amy co-founded Adaptive Action Sports
• Amy’s successes with snowboarding
• How Amy’s injury complications changed her life
• Amy’s experiences and how she connects with her audience

Quotes

• “So yeah, so snowboarding really was my passion. That’s what pulled me through my darkest days. And then you know, who would have thought that it would become almost my purpose, right?”
• “And when I woke up from this coma, a few days later, I still have this respirator down my throat. And so, I couldn’t talk. But I wrote out on a piece of paper that I was given a choice and I chose to stay.’’
• “I was just hanging on, and also incredibly grateful, like to have the opportunity to hang on and fight. And so, gratitude became a big part of not just a practice, but to be honest, like a very natural organic thing for me, because every day I woke up and I was alive, I was grateful whether I’d lost my legs or not.’’
• “And I remember at one point saying, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, but if anybody can, it’s going to be me.’ ‘’
• “I needed a community of people who are like me, and it didn’t really exist and needed something to pull it together.’’
• “It’s like going through the valleys of despair and like finding your way out and having these real realizations of what’s really important in life, and how do we get through challenges. And I’ve decided to share the journey along the way.’’

Show Links

The Pursuit of Gold Homepage Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page

Connect With Amy: Bouncing Forward with Amy Purdy (Spotify) Adaptive Action Sports Homepage Amy Purdy on Instagram

Resources: On My Own Feet: The Journey from Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life (2014)

Episode Highlights:      

• Laura’s new book
• Chad’s background and his journey to the work he does now
• The Ten Principles of Entelechy and sports mindset
• His Championship Mindset brand and company
• The hardest part of achieving the championship mindset
• Emotional safety
• ‘Taking change by the hand’ during the pandemic
• Jon Gordon’s The Power of Positive Leadership
• Mark Batterson’s Win the Day
• Chad’s Championship Mindset chart and how to apply it
• Working with a team vs. working with an individual
• Chad’s The Rock Tumbler and his favorite lessons from it
• His advice regarding parental involvement
• Jessica Lahey’s The Gift of Failure

Quotes:    

• “It's the seven fundamentals of mental fitness. I've been a master facilitator with that for the last six or seven years, which has led me now to start my own company called Championship Mindset, and a lot of other things.”
• “Whether we're working with corporate clients, whether we're working with athletes, coaches, teams, it's really just focusing on helping them be the best that they can be.”
• “This championship mindset is the formula for success in all areas of our lives.”
• “At the end of the day, it really comes down to our talent, our hard work, our attitude, our mental toughness, our teamwork, and our passion into everything that we do.”
• “The things that I've learned through diving are the very things that helped me in my life outside of the pool.”
• “I would say everything for me starts with culture, we have to have the right culture.”
• “The first thing that we have to build is we have to build emotional safety.”
• “Players don't care about how much you know, until they know about how much you care about them.”
• “When we really think about what we've gone through this last 14 to 16 months, what we've really been doing is, we've been grieving.”
• “Just be there for your students be there for your players in this moment.”
• “It's okay to grieve the dream, but don't stay there.”
• “Regardless of those tough events that we go through, we still get to choose how we respond.”
• “How you do anything is how you do everything - and to me, that's the core of the championship mindset.”
• “How we view the world and more importantly, how we interact with the world, greatly affects what you get out of the world.”
• “If you have to go through it, you might as well grow through it.”
• “Own your journey, it's your journey, own it to the best that you can.”
• “We need to let our kids fail.”
• “The most powerful thing that you can say to your athlete when they're done competing is, ‘I love watching you compete. I love watching you play.’ ”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Homepage Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page     Connect with Chad:   Champion Mindset Homepage   The Rock Tumbler   Championship Mindset Linktree   Championship Mindset Podcast   Championship Mindset Twitter   Championship Mindset Facebook   Championship Mindset Instagram     Resources:   The Power of Positive Leadership   The Gift of Failure   Win the Day

Episode Highlights:      

• What it takes to reach elite levels
• Laura’s high school diving experience and her ‘call to action’
• Her perspective on failure
• Taking ownership of your performance
• Laura’s performance at the Sydney Olympics, the events leading up to it, and the pep talk she gave herself
• Dream Chaser
• Her neck surgery and recovery
• Laura’s thoughts on fear and moving past it
• Preparing to qualify for Tokyo
• Dealing with the ‘uncontrollables’
• Her thought on finding balance in her life
• Achieving longevity in sports
• Channeling the pressure of the moment
• Her ‘Pursuit of Gold’ podcast
• Laura’s next couple months
• The 3 things Laura does every day to be successful
• The elite performance characteristic that Laura most exemplifies

Quotes:   

• “Faith and determination separate the good from the great.”
• “Just because somebody tells you you can't, doesn't mean it's true.”
• “Failure is part of success. And the concrete actions that you take from the moment you accept that you failed are what defines you as a leader and as an elite performer.”
• “I'm not afraid to look like a fool.”
• “When we talk about the development of elite talent, there's a requirement to be humble and show humility.”
• “How can I become better? How can I fix that? How can I move forward?”
• “It doesn't matter how old you are, doesn't matter what station you have in life, you can really make a difference for somebody just by being there for them.”
• “This pressure that you felt became a power.”
• “I realized that there were so many people that probably would never have the opportunity that I was in at that moment.”
• “The task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you.”
• “I absolutely loved it, because it wasn't about me in that moment...it was about something so much bigger.”
• “So it's about the pursuit, it's about the hunt. It's about who you become. And I think that's what I really mean by Dream Chaser.”
• “You have to have this done just to be a mom because if you trip down the stairs, if you have a small car accident, like, that could lead to a quadriplegic.”
• “A lot of times we're scared of the unknown…fear is a lot of times a liar.”
• “To wholly stay in the moment is really the biggest key…and you have to practice that in practice.”
• “I think really breaking my foot back then was such a gift because it gave me that opportunity to focus on visualization, to go through so many competition scenarios in my mind with so many different athletes.”
• “Adversity makes you stronger.”
• “The challenge in front of you sometimes becomes the blessing that you needed.”
• “I have learned this last year is that I can just tear my plans up, throw them out the window, because I’ve got to roll with it. And I'm not good at that.”
• “I think one of the best things COVID taught me was that I need to have my kids be part of what I'm doing.”
• “They saw the sweat, they saw the tears, they saw the frustration, they saw how many times a day I was having to do this stuff and how hard I was working, all just hoping to get back in the pool. So it provided a lot of really good conversations for us.”
• “The best people you see doing this are beginners at some point, like, you have to start somewhere.”
• “I've had a lot of times where I'm like, you know, God, I'd be okay, if He closed the door, and we're done with this. But He's made it very clear, this is where I need to be, and He's made a way, and then that fire is back, and that fuel is back.”
• “I've learned not to be scared of my emotions. I've learned how to use them and how to direct them.”
• “And it's not about the pressure, or the expectations, or all these other things, just let that go. And it's just about me enjoying the moment.”
• “This is actually my way of finding the resources and giving them to other athletes.”
• “Learning those lessons from people and taking that with me, I think makes me not just stronger mentally, but emotionally and spiritually.”
• “There's this need for achievement and growth mindset - be better today than you were yesterday, continuous self improvement - that you display that has set you apart from all of your competition.”
• “For all the people who maybe think they're too old to do something they love to do, don't let society or culture decide that for you. If you love something, do it.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold Homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page  The Jedburgh Podcast: The Jedburgh Podcast Website The Jedburgh Podcast on iTunes The Jedburgh Podcast Instagram The Jedburgh Podcast LinkedIn

Episode Highlights:  

• Victoria’s sports history and how she got into Taekwondo
• Making the US National Team
• How Taekwondo athletes are selected for the Olympics
• Her knee injuries and surgeries
• How Victoria’s faith has helped her
• Her story of not qualifying for Rio and focusing on Tokyo
• The times when God spoke directly to her heart
• Transitioning from the US to the Puerto Rican Team
• How Olympic qualifying works for Taekwondo and diving
• Her knee injuries and surgeries while preparing for Tokyo
• Handing control over to God
• Qualifying for Tokyo
• Her 17 scars and what they mean to her
• Master Bang
• Victoria and her fiance’s Taekwondo and Parkour studio
• Laura’s best advice for someone competing at their first Olympics
• What’s different for Laura now
• Laura’s thoughts during the finals for her gold
• How Laura’s faith has helped her throughout her career
• Laura’s biggest goal when competing at the Olympics
• Her upcoming trials
• Laura’s thoughts on not being able to have family at the Tokyo Olympics

Quotes:   

• “When I saw Jackie Chan, Jet Li, I was like, ‘I want to be these guys’.”
• “For the Olympics, only two weight categories can qualify, female and male, per country.”
• “Deep down inside, I knew that my knee was never the same.”
• “I know God put the right person at the right time that I needed to hear those words, ‘not to quit’ and to ‘come back’.”
• “That started the process of three knee surgeries within a period of six months.”
• “What I picture is kind of like God just wrapping His arms around me and giving me a hug. And at that moment, I was able to continue on and it was actually just the very next day where I was like, ‘Okay, I'm going to go for Tokyo’.”
• “He had to take out the rest of the meniscus…in my mind, I was like, ‘You just took my whole career away from me’.”
• “And then, sure enough, God always sends the right message, the right person, at the right time.”
• “God has seen your tears and, and He's with you. Don't give up, keep going.”
• “I was done emotionally, mentally, you know, physically, spiritually. I was just drained. And that's when I just released total control to Christ and let him handle it.”
• “Christ was my confidence…and I qualified for the Olympics.”
• “A reminder of everything I've been through and everything God has brought me out of. And what better reminder, really? It's basically tattooed on my body.”
• “People get so lost in the aura and the bigness and the pressure of the Olympic Games. But, just, you’ve got to be able to let that go.”
• “That's for Him to use this for my good and for His glory.”
• “You don't have to have the lead if you have the heart to come from behind.”
• “I've had a lot of big dreams that I've fallen very short of, but, in that moment, I was living it. And to me that was one of the greatest things that I got to take away.”
• “Now I do want to boast about my weaknesses, because that's the chance for the power of Christ to rest upon me, and for the world to see, you know, exactly what He can do.”
• “The biggest thing that I need to do is stay in the moment.”
• “Maybe I can just really spend that time dependent with God.”
• “You've got to kind of expect the unexpected, and just roll with it.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Victoria's Instagram Victoria's Facebook Victoria's Homepage

Episode Highlights:  

• A brief history of Laura’s personal and professional lives
• Laura’s spiritual journey and the moment her life began to change
• Trusting God with her life
• Taking her faith into her competitions
• The impact of the Olympic postponement on Laura
• Returning to diving after her neck surgery
• Sharing her faith with others
• Her perspective on ministering to other athletes
• Laura’s family
• What Laura has learned about herself

Quotes:   

• “I was told I was a waste of space… fortunately for me, it lit a fire.”
• “I had reached out and I kind of realized that I had taken the reins of my life and I'd made a mess of things, but I was reaching back out for God.”
• “I just remember thinking that God was saying, “Look, when you trust Me with your life, I have plans for you. I have a purpose for you.”
• “You are probably impacting people's lives all over the place and you don't always see the fruit of that. But you've got to know when you're trusting God and you're doing what He's asking you to do, like, waves will be made, seeds will be planted, you know, and the harvest will come.”
• “I was much better at staying in the moment because of Him, because I was focused on Him.”
• “God always gives you these challenges that you're like, ‘No, I don't want to go through this’, but he uses those to equip us in ways that we can't even fathom to help us for something bigger that’s coming ahead.”
• “You have to be able to meet people where they are and talk to them where they're at.”
• “I think for athletes just constantly, constantly reminding them that, like, you are not the sum total of your score or your place at the end of the competition. Like, you are far more valuable than that. And if you get injured and you can't go on tomorrow, you still have value and purpose and you were created for that purpose.”
• “I've gotten really good at juggling, and I have an amazing husband who is very supportive. Without him, I mean, honestly, none of this would have happened.”
• “The older I get, the more I realize I don't know.”
• “Having kids, they kind of make you really not eat your words, but live up to your words.”
• “I think athletes and sports ministry leaders alike can learn from what you're putting out there with the guests that you're having.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page Tracy Hanson's Pursuit of Gold Episode Power Up Podcast Power Up Facebook Power Up YouTube

Episode Highlights:  

• Setting a goal out of your reach
• Writing down and sharing your goals
• Employing healthy competitiveness to get better
• Being specific with goals and creating a plan to get there
• Setting short and long term goals
• The difference between goals and expectations
• Avoiding the ‘expectation trap’
• The importance of your ‘why’
• Takeaways from today

Quotes:   

• “If you’re setting a goal that you know you can already achieve, it’s not a goal.”
• “If you share it with someone, you are 77% more likely to accomplish it.”
• “It’s now real because somebody else knows about it, and they can hold you accountable in a number of different ways.”
• “The better your teammate’s getting, that’s just going to push you to get better.”
• “It’s important to recognize that expectations tend to have very emotional roots and responses.”
• “At some point you’re not going to be able to keep up with that growing expectation because it’s not a tangible result.”
• “When you have purpose, you can become capable of so much more than you ever thought possible.”
• “You’ve got to start acting like you are the person who is going to achieve that goal.”
• “I grew as a person. I grew as an athlete.”
• “You are capable of doing great things.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page

Episode Highlights:  

• How Brad found cycling
• His transition to becoming a professional
• Tours and road racing
• Team selection, training, and roles
• Preparing for races physically and mentally
• Developing patience
• Brad’s most memorable moments
• Where his nickname came from
• Brad’s training program focus
• Some of his special awards
• His definitions of success when he was racing and now
• Brad’s transition out of professional cycling
• Moms in Tow
• Velo Kids
• Velo City Cycles

Quotes:  

• “The next thing I knew…I was not teaching anymore, I was racing.”
• “It's really important that you know your role, you can execute your job, but also that you show up ready.”
• “The preparation for each course is going to be different, but kind of the same, and then you're just going to react differently.”
• “The overall time is what matters to some riders, but then, to other riders, winning a stage is a big deal.”
• “If I need to suffer this that little bit longer, you know, they may give up.”
• “I think one of the biggest motivators for me was just not wanting to let down my team, my fans.”
• “Patience is a huge part of, I think, all sports.”
• “We were just riding so well together all the time, having fun on and off the bike.”
• “I think there's definitely something about, even with a training plan, listening to your body and being able to react to what your body is dealing with, and get the most out of your training.”
• “Kind of racing stupid made me stronger, made me a little smarter later, but it also got my name out there a little bit.”
• “Being able to achieve what you set out to achieve that day is a success.”
• “I think the biggest thing for people transitioning out of sports is you don’t need to find the thing right away.”
• “The bike has done so much for me within my career but also, you know, mentally, physically, spiritually, it's connected me with people…and it's amazing what I've seen it do for people.”
• “With COVID, bikes have been a big hit.”
• “The programs we have are to give back to our community and to create experiences for people to use the products that we’re selling them.”
• “You can make your sport very much a part of your life and still have that love for it and just bring it out in different ways.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Brad: Velo City Cycles Homepage Velo City Cycles Facebook Velo City Cycles Instagram Velo Kids Moms in Tow Homepage

This week, Laura welcomes Olympic hurdler, Sarah Wells, to the podcast. Once an athlete who was cut from every high school team she tried out for, Sarah discovered track and field and went on to become an Olympic semi-finalist and Pan Am Games silver medallist in the 400m hurdles, building a reputation for overcoming challenges and achieving the ‘impossible’ along the way.  She is also the Founder of the Believe Initiative, where she now uses her story to help youth understand the importance of being resilient and the power of believing in themselves, and to help corporations build more resilient teams.   Sarah begins by recounting how she got her unique start in sports, the support networks which have sustained her throughout, her rapid development in the hurdles, and both working and learning through her injuries. She also shares her discovery of ‘her word’, her Olympics Trials and Games experience, managing her stress fractures, and preparing to qualify for Rio 2016. Sarah concludes the conversation by discussing her Believe Initiative, how to get involved in it, her retirement from sports, and her perspective and guide to redefining success. A gifted speaker with a truly inspiring story, Sarah Wells has learned so much from her journey which is so very pertinent to life both within and beyond the sporting arena, and she shares it all here today. Episode Highlights:

• Sarah’s start in sports
• Her support networks
• Sarah’s rapid development in hurdles
• Working and learning through her femur injury
• Finding her word ‘Believe’
• Returning from her injury
• Her Olympics Trials and Games experience
• Managing her recurring stress fractures
• Preparing to qualify for Rio 2016
• The Believe Initiative and how to get involved
• Retiring from sport
• Sarah’s perspective and exercise regarding redefining success

Quotes:  

• “At that point I hadn't defined myself by sport and I also had some really amazing siblings.”
• “You go from zero to competing internationally in, like, eight months.”
• “When someone else says it, you know, you're instantly a bit more likely to believe it.”
• “I would almost, like, live and die by how my leg felt that morning.”
• “I just would get so mentally defeated and, like, halfway through an interval I would just start walking.”
• “In the most important races in my life, when the gun goes off, I hear nothing. I just lock into completing what I need to do.”
• “It hurts so much that I'm scared, tomorrow when I run, it could break in half.”
• “It's a hard line to figure out when to push and when to ease off.”
• “Success isn't linear, it’s this roller coaster ride of emotions.”
• “Rest would have been very productive in that moment.”
• “I miss qualifying by half a second.”
• “Clearly you don't build self-belief through achievements, you build it through action.”
• “It helps people everywhere take a passion they have with a problem they want solve, and they use that passion to solve that problem, and they build self-belief through action.”
• “While hard work doesn't always lead to success, being resilient will always lead to another opportunity for it.”
• “Far more people are inspired by the time where I didn't make the Olympics over the time where I did.”
• “If you're able to continuously embody and act from a place of those powerful character traits that lead to success, well then, even in a moment where things don't work out, you're going to be able to rely on those things and find your next opportunity for success.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Sarah: Sarah's Homepage   Believe Initiative The Believe Leadership Course Redefining Success

Episode Highlights:  

• How he found his way into cycling
• The Velodrome
• Giddeon’s breakout moment
• His time at the Olympic Training Centre
• Comparing his Olympic experiences
• His perspective on doping in sport
• The various cycling events in which he raced
• Failing to qualify for the 2012 Games
• Transitioning from cycling to real estate
• Giddeon’s advice for athletes coming up with dreams and goals

Quotes:  

• “The sprint disciplines were more intriguing and just looked more fun and appealing to me.”
• “It was a gradual progression and I learned from some of the best.”
• “You know sometimes you go years without something, and other times you have a year where you have two or three or four falls.”
• “We lived that together, and we supported one another, and that was a great, great thing about that space.”
• “The whole experience… is pretty overwhelming and special that first time.”
• “I feel bad for those people that choose to go that route, but it doesn't impact what I do and how I approach what I do. I sleep comfortably at night.”
• “If you don't have a purpose it's kind of like not having a destination.”
• “I'm very comfortable in uncertainty because I know that my preparation is such that, if given the opportunity, I'm going to be where I need to be.”
• “The individual stuff, it's like, you know, it's chess on bikes.”
• “I think every Games has its own lifeblood to it.”
• “Watching from the outside… that was very hard.”
• “I wasn't ready to be done.”
• “Sometimes I tell people I'm a recovering Olympic athlete.”
• “You lose some of yourself when you step away from that because not everybody cares about the Olympics and not everybody cares about, you know, what you’ve spent most of your life doing.”
• “Okay, what have I learned that I can actually apply here?”
• “It starts with having a healthy respect for the sport that you're participating in, for the people that are devoting the time to invest in you, to being willing to accept the critique and the criticism.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Giddeon:    Instagram: @giddeon Giddeon's Real Estate homepage

Episode Highlights:  

• Some of the injuries that Laura has sustained throughout her career and how she and her coach responded to them
• Believing in what you’re doing when coming back from injury
• Learning from injuries and recovery and carrying those lessons forward
• The importance of our mind, mindset, and perspective
• Working through your emotions
• Inspiration to be drawn from past podcast guests
• Laura’s advice on ways to deal with injuries and what you can do while sidelined
• The power of nutrition, video study, visualization, mindfulness, coaching others, and restructuring goals
• Choosing your response to injuries wisely

Quotes:  

• “Obviously, hindsight, I wish we would have pressed for X-rays anyway, but my coach and I were just hoping that, you know, it wasn’t a big deal.”
• “That first week, I still had all those mix of emotions that you get when you feel like your world is caving in on you.”
• “We’re not going to look back and say, ‘What if?” and ‘Could I have?’, we are only going to look forward with a new plan.”
• “I have to tell you that believing in what you’re doing - as crazy as it might appear to anyone watching - if you believe in what you are doing, you’ve got to be all in.”
• “I would not have stood on that podium if I had not broken my foot.”
• “They basically took two of the discs out in my neck and fused the bones together.”
• “You can come out the other side even stronger.”
• “If your goals have changed and you don’t want to be in your sport anymore, you don’t always have to use the injury as an excuse.”
• “Sometimes these injuries turn into something more beautiful.”
• “These injuries, they can break you if you let them, or they are something that can turn you into an entirely new athlete with a new purpose.”
• “I encourage you to even check out the small injuries.”
• “Take your physical therapy seriously.”
• “Be smart. Know when to go slow. Know when to push forward.”
• “There is so much you can do while you’re sidelined.”
• “The mind is powerful. You need to learn how to use it.”
• “Don’t underestimate the power of coaching. Even if it’s some younger kids that are around you, it can be really, really beneficial.”
• “It all truly comes down to how you chose to look at it…choose wisely, friends.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Previous episode links:   Robert Paylor, episode 38   Chanelle Price, episode 37   Allysa Seely, episode 29   Dr. Ben Houltberg, episode 27   Abby and Jacob Cooper, episode 23   Chaunte Lowe, episode 18   Apolo Ohno, episode 16   Amy Dixon, episode 14   Brad Snyder, episode 12

Susie Parker-Simmons, episode 7

Episode Highlights:  

• Dom’s upbringing in Cape Town and her start in running
• Netball
• Living away from home to go to a high school with a track team
• Her Olympic dream and her parents’ support
• Going to the University of Arkansas
• Her college experience
• The differences between indoor/outdoor track and cross country
• How she improved so much over her college career
• Dom’s year of fairytale moments
• Her Rio Olympic experience and the process involved in getting there
• What helped Dom through her doubts and anxiety leading up to Rio
• What Dom has learned in terms of her identity
• Her current definition of success
• How COVID has impacted her and her preparation for Tokyo
• What keeps Dom going through the hard times
• The Dom Squad

Quotes:  

• “I grew up playing every sport.”
• “I guess as a dreamer and the determined person that I am, as a 12 year old, that just seemed like something that was worth fighting for and worth making hard decisions for.”
• “Selflessly…she told me to go and to follow my dreams, follow my heart, and if she hadn’t done that, I think I probably would have pulled the plug on the whole thing.”
• “College, you’ve got to remember, everyone is away from home.”
• “Very quickly, I started changing the way I was talking…and looking back at it, I’m so sad that I did that.”
• “Don’t change who you are to blend in and be like everybody else…you want to stand up and rise above that.”
• “My freshman year was a big learning curve.”
• “I just tried to start observing.”
• “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
• “Your 10 points just secured the win for the Lady Razorbacks.”
• “That sermon gave me so much peace.”
• “You earned your spot on that start line.”
• “I had taken the necessary steps to make my dream a reality.”
• “At the time, I was embarrassed to say I’d come 21st,which is ridiculous!”
• “It’s not about the place, it’s about how you feel about what you did.”
• “Being an Olympian and having competed in the Olympics is not something that made me a better person, or, like, changed my life significantly either…it wasn’t something I wanted to be branded as.”
• “If you are searching for your identity in anything other than Christ…it’s never going to fulfill you, it’s never going to satisfy you, and you’re always going to be left wanting more.”
• “I am…more than Dom Scott, the athlete.”
• “I really feel like surrounding myself with people that love me and support me – that’s what helps me through those really horrible days.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   Laura's Instagram Facebook:   Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Dom:   Dom's homepage   Dom on Instagram   Dom on Facebook   Dom on Twitter

Episode Highlights:  

• How Robert got involved with rugby
• His experience at Cal
• The day Robert’s life changed forever
• The advice he received and the decision he made in his darkest hour
• Accessing mental toughness to make treatment decisions
• Robert’s post-surgery experience
• Support of family and friends
• Robert’s rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Colorado
• False hope and false hopelessness
• Working through the grind toward his ironclad vision
• The first flicker of movement
• Accessing perspective to be more grateful
• The three ways to achieve recovery form spinal cord injury
• The role that neuroplasticity plays in his recovery
• Robert’s rehabilitation since he left the hospital
• The support from Robert’s rugby team and especially Coach Billups
• Graduating from Cal
• The power of asking yourself, “Compared to what?”
• The impact that Robert can have on the lives of others
• Talon’s story
• The biggest commitment that Robert has ever made
• The power of forgiveness
• Counting the days and appreciating the daily grind

Quotes:  

• “It was a day of legacy.”
• “My face slams against my chest, I feel this crunch in my neck, and I immediately can’t feel or move anything below my neck.”
• “The reality is, you will never walk again. You will never move your hands.”
• “The one thing you have control over is your mindset. Your positivity, your ambition, your willingness to wake up every single day and fight is up to you.”
• “I was going to give everything I had to get absolutely everything I can get.”
• “I knew I couldn’t live with the regret of not going into this surgery.”
• “It was like Death was sitting with me in that hospital room, waiting for me to quit.”
• “If I don’t do this, I might die!”
• “They look at me and they see potential, not some broken body.”
• “The one thing we do know is that we are going to give you everything that modern science and medicine has to offer.”
• “I came here to walk out of these hospital doors.”
• “Appreciate every victory we have no matter how small they are.”
• “There was just so much that I had lost that I had taken for granted in my life.”
• “I couldn’t have graduated if it weren’t for this team.”
• “Just being a quadriplegic is a job in itself.”
• “It was my perspective that really fuelled me.”
• “Remind me not to complain about anything ever again.”
• “I think that’s very unhealthy when we dismiss our challenges.”
• “There are so many positives in our lives that we can be focusing on right now.”
• “If I could go back and change what happened to me on May 6 of 2017, I wouldn’t and I couldn’t, because…it has given me now the greatest purpose that I have in my life.”
• “I forgive him whether he is sorry or not.”
• “I’m either going to get out of this wheelchair one day or I’m going to die trying.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   Laura's Instagram Facebook:   Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Robert: Robert's homepage Robert's Facebook Robert's Twitter Robert's Instagram

Episode Highlights:  

• How Chanelle found her way into track
• Her early success
• Chanelle’s struggles with insecurity
• Her college experience
• Seeking a sponsorship deal
• Chanelle’s contemplation of suicide
• Her journey with Christianity
• Drifting away from and returning to God
• The many challenges Chanelle has worked through
• Moving to train in Eugene, Oregon
• Training for Tokyo during COVID
• Chanelle’s Olympic Trials experiences
• The importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with sport and surrounding yourself with supportive people
• Her current definition of success
• Chanelle’s ‘why’

Quotes:  

• “I just didn’t really find track fun. It felt more like punishment.”
• “Once I started that singular focus on track once I got to high school, you know, it really paid off.”
• “It was definitely the success that got me to like it.”
• “That is where my sense of identity came from was my achievement on the track.”
• “I don’t know who I am if I’m not Chanelle Price the track star.”
• “It was like a 100 pound weight on my shoulders every time I went to race.”
• “Behind closed doors, I was really, really, really struggling.”
• “Chase after Me like you chase after track.”
• “Your worth is not based off of how you perform out there on the track.”
• “To whom much is given, much is required.”
• “I was just a completely different person on the track.”
• “You know, God, I’m going to come back to You.”
• “The past 4 years have been the hardest years of my life…He answered, but it just wasn’t really what I expected.”
• “I miss being that desperate for Him.”
• “It was a very humbling experience.”
• “God, I don’t know what You’re doing, but I’m about to break here…I don’t know if I can take this.”
• “Every other month I said I was going to quit.”
• “Maybe He’s telling me it’s time to move on.”
• “I knew that this extra year was definitely a blessing in disguise for me.”
• “Honestly, I considered retirement after that.”
• “The woman that you have become through this journey is worth it.”
• “I’m not thinking about anything else besides using my gift, and for me that’s when things seem to fall into place.”
• “Some pressure is good, don’t get me wrong, but it shouldn’t get you to the point of suicide like it has for me in the past…that is not a healthy relationship with sport.”
• “This is what you do. It’s not who you are.”
• “The person that we become along the way - I think that’s what brings a smile to God’s face.”
• “The sole thing that kept me going was my ‘why’.”
• “Don’t sacrifice the gift.”
• “There is always hope beyond what is happening in front us right now.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   Laura's Instagram Facebook:   Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Chanelle:   Chanelle's Instagram Chanelle's Twitter Chanelle's Facebook

Episode Highlights:  

• How Rachael found volleyball
• Her rapid progress in the sport
• Rachael’s parents and their approach to her career
• Her recruiting process
• Rachael’s college experience
• The process of getting to the Olympic volleyball squad in the past and for Tokyo
• Making the 2016 Olympic squad
• Maintaining her mindset
• How the pandemic and the Tokyo postponement have affected Rachael
• Transitioning from college to professional volleyball
• Rachael’s experience playing overseas
• Her favorite country to play in
• Coming back after surgery
• Rachael’s inner trust and inner determination
• Her definition of success at this point in her career
• Rachael’s most memorable tournament
• journeystrength.com

Quotes:  

• “Thank you for being such a great social media person.”
• “Why have the crazy journey if you aren’t going to share and inspire others along the way, you know?”
• “I became addicted to that learning process…my Dad always told me to be a sponge, and that’s what I became.”
• “It’s been a kind of a crazy long journey, but I’ve learned a lot about myself through so many ups and downs.”
• “I still feel like there’s so much left to learn.”
• “So much a part of my career was self-driven.”
• “They let me fail, they let me succeed, and didn’t try to sugarcoat everything.”
• “Would I want to go to this college even if there was no volleyball?”
• “You see more experienced players, more older players, more seasoned players, making Olympic squads than, like, younger players.”
• “All you can do is, like, be your best, show up, put your best skills in front, be a good teammate, and hope that the body of work that you’re building is what the coaches want for the team.”
• “It’s so much out of your control.”
• “I’m literally just focusing on, like, one day at a time, one rep at a time, one accomplishment at a time, one practice, and just building little things from there.”
• “You think you know everything, but you don’t, and you’re just very humbled.”
• “You can’t be mindless in a foreign country.”
• “The lonely grind…that’s what I’m in right now.”
• “I totally feel you on so many levels.”
• “It kind of feels like a little bit of your mission is to make sure other people know that they’re more than they might think they are.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   Laura's Instagram Facebook:   Laura's Facebook page   Connect with Rachael:  journeystrength homepage Rachael's Instagram journeystrength's Instagram

Episode Highlights:  

• Defining what fear actually is
• Healthy fear
• Fear and control
• Overcoming fear
• Changing the way we talk and think about fear
• Refocusing and reframing
• Gaining courage
• Commitment
• Laura’s Free 5 Day Fear Challenge

Quotes:  

• “Fear is huge in my sport…I am no stranger to fear.”
• “Fear basically boils down to a strong feeling.”
• “A healthy fear should not be absolutely paralyzing.”
• “However big your fears are, you are not powerless against these fears.”
• “Fear has no actual control over you, it’s only making you feel a certain way.”
• “When we ignore our fears, they don’t get smaller, they begin to grow.”
• “When we’re trying to push our fears away, we’re actively interacting with them.”
• “The only way to overcome fear is to face it.”
• “We have to begin trusting ourselves and our knowledge and what we know will help us.”
• “You cannot have courage or be brave unless you are first afraid.”
• “The most important ingredient to becoming courageous is commitment.”
• “It’s normal to freeze up and get scared just before a big, important moment. That just let’s you know how important it is to you.”
• “You can’t dip your toe in from the 10m to see if the water feels nice.”
• “The thing on the other side of fear is more important to me than the fear itself.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   Laura's Instagram Facebook:   Laura's Facebook page

Randy begins by sharing his own history in sports, his development into sports reporting, and his tips for athletes who are interested in doing so themselves. He then discusses many aspects of his job including the most important character trait for it, the most difficult aspect to it, the importance of establishing relationships, and his advice for athletes preparing for interviews. Randy also reviews some of his most memorable moments in his job over the years, and offers his perspective on the sport that has transformed the most, the quality he feels elite athletes share, how COVID has impacted his work, and the sporting events he would like to cover that he hasn’t yet. The mutual respect between these two remarkably successful individuals is palpable during this conversation that is as comfortable as it is revealing, providing a behind the scenes glimpse into the world of sports reporting and the joy that can be found in making your passion your occupation.

Episode Highlights:

• Randy’s history in sports
• His development into a sports reporter
• Randy’s tips for athletes wanting to get into reporting
• The most important character trait for his work
• The most difficult aspect of Randy’s job
• The importance of developing relationships
• Advice for athletes preparing for interviews
• His favorite sport and game he’s covered
• Keeping viewers excited
• Randy’s memorable stories
• His play-by-play experience
• Interviews that made Randy nervous
• The quality he feels elite athletes share
• What has surprised him the most in interviews
• The sport he believes has transformed the most and become the most competitive over the years
• The ‘Tiger Factor’
• How COVID has changed covering sports
• The sporting events that Randy would still like to cover in person

Quotes:

“My dream was to play college baseball.”

“Breaking into TV, you know, I would have been willing to do whatever…I wanted to cover sports, I wanted to tell stories.”

“You’ve got to have a skillset that’s a little broader now that can kind of separate yourself from others trying to get after these jobs.”

“You can’t just sit back and let it come to you…you’ve got to grind. You’ve got to always look to improve what you’re doing.”

“You could easily let this job that we do, this profession, kind of consume you if you don’t find a balance.”

“Act like the camera’s not there.”

“Just have a conversation with the person asking the question.”

“You do know we just witnessed one of the greatest all time moments in college football history, right?

“It can get monotonous if you let it…you’ve got to go find stories.”

“You’re constantly in the planning stages.”

“I almost drove off the road.”

“You seem to experience everything with the athletes.”

“I’ve got to act like I’ve been here before.”

“You’ve got to be committed to what you’re doing.”

“You’ve got college golfers that come out and are just lighting it up.”

“The athletes were becoming a bit of the reporter for you.”

“You miss the contact, that’s what you miss. You miss the face-to-face stuff with them.”

“The Olympic Games would be cool to cover.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: Laura's Instagram Facebook: Laura's Facebook page

Connect with Randy: Click2Houston homepage Randy's Click2Houston page Randy on Twitter Randy's Facebook page Randy's Instagram page

References: Apolo Ohno Episode

Episode Highlights:   ·   Laura’s recent history and current situation ·   The pandemic’s impact on athletes ·   Training with a moving target ·   Staying in the moment ·   This precious opportunity ·   ‘Cool Runnings’ ·   The greatest gift you can give yourself ·   Who do you want to be?

Quotes:   “I actually have a nice titanium plate and 6 screws in my neck now.”   “It was devastating to so many athletes on different levels.”   “Now there’s pretty much nothing on our schedule until the Olympic trials in June.”   “Even though the target may be shifting and moving around, you’re aiming for that bullseye, and that has not changed.”   “We are going to have to adapt.”   “You are capable of getting through this and thriving.”   “You could handle anything as long as you stayed in the moment and gave it everything that you had.”   “They get back up and try again.”   “Instant gratification is actually not normal.”   “If it’s important to you, it is worth fighting for in that long term.”   “We need to remember that there’s so much more that goes on than just what we’re seeing in that little clip.”   “A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one.”   “Those moments magnify your character for better or for worse.”   “I have not only won all those things, I have failed miserably at all of those events as well.”   “I choose to be a champion both in character and in integrity.”   “If I may lose, let me stand by the road and cheer as the winners go by.”   “What can you do right now in this moment to the very best of your ability to help you continue working toward that goal?”   “It will give you peace.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:  http://thepursuitofgold.com/  5 Smart Strategies to Confidence:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson 

References:

Episode 27 with Dr. Ben Houltberg

Episode Highlights:   ·   How Gary found his way to diving ·   Transitioning from platform to high diving ·   His favorite places to dive ·   Gary’s craziest high diving story ·   The potential dangers in high diving ·   The process involved in introducing a new dive ·   The worst lead up he has to do ·   Gary’s mental preparation ·   The Red Bull World Series ·   How he’s navigated coaching ·   His favorite moment in diving ·   His perfect score dive ·   Preparing for dives ·   Using juggling to remain focused ·   Gary’s new goal ·   How COVID has impacted him

Quotes:   “I started noticing the divers in the other side of the pool looking like they were having much more fun than I was.”   “It was like a new door was being opened before me with so many possibilities.”   “Sometimes when it’s really windy, you just want it to be over.”   “The training is often much more scary than the actual competitions.”   “I couldn’t remember anything about after the dive.”   “You have to expect that it’s not always going to go your way.”   “There are horror stories of people being swept away.”   “We feel like we’re in safe hands.”   “In the times where it hasn’t gone well, I think I’ve learned from it.”   “I was the first of a wave of new high divers that were really going to push the boat out.”   “I entered the sport at the right time.”   “I think diving from a helicopter is one of my highlights.”   “Usually, I will do one of each dive before the competition when we get to a new location.”   “This dream of competing on 10-meter again just started to get more and more interesting.”   “I prefer looking ahead and just focusing on my training.”   “As long as your head’s into it and you’re focused, you can do it.”   “You are an inspiration…giving yourself new passion projects…new goals.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  5 Smart Strategies to Confidence:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson    Learn more about Gary: https://www.instagram.com/garydiver/

Episode Highlights:   ·   Gabi’s start in diving ·   Growing up in Romania during the revolution ·   Enjoying so much success at such a young age ·   The impact of his NBC interview at the Barcelona Olympics ·   His move to the USA and his American family ·   How Gabi learned to speak English ·   His differing Olympic experiences ·   His college experience ·   Gabi’s third Olympics Games ·   Handling disappointment ·   The weirdest time of his life ·   His start and progression as a coach ·   Coming full circle ·   Gabi’s current definition of success ·   His parting words of wisdom

Quotes:   “I still remember my first jump off the 10 meter…it was scary.”   “Diving is a very scary sport sometimes…if you have that ‘no fear’ it helps a lot.”   “I actually appreciate that I went through that because…now that you reflect back, it makes you a better person.”   “When you have a team like that, it becomes your family.”    “It was such a unique experience…it was awesome…I got spoiled pretty quickly.”   “I was watching ‘Beavis and Butthead’.”   “All you guys were pretty tough on me.”   “We’ll call you out when you’re being a punk, you know, but we’re going to love you no matter what you do, for sure.”   “Going into Atlanta, it felt more like home.”   “Going to Tennessee, it was a no-brainer.”   “Unfortunately, I just did not have a great performance in the 2000 Olympic Games.”   “It’s not just one meet – it’s the journey.”   “We’re just going to keep pulling you back in, too.”   “This is how I’m going to give back.”   “If you guide them through that process, then their journey becomes a little bit better, a little bit more family-type feeling for them.”   “You have to figure it out, how to make them feel ready and right in their mind to approach certain skills and certain dives.”   “I’m very lucky that I’m able to experience this.”   “It’s been a cool ride so far.”   “Let’s learn from each other.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  5 Smart Strategies to Confidence:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson    Learn more about Gabi:   Gabi Chereches - TeamUSA Woodlands Diving Team: Woodlandsdiving.org

Episode Highlights:  

• Bonnie’s journey through skating from the very beginning
• Her ‘school through the mail’ experience
• Bonnie’s first Olympic experience
• Increasing her training diligence and consistency
• Bonnie’s second Olympics and how they differed from her first
• Her track cycle racing experience
• Bonnie’s third Olympics and the years leading to them
• Her dad and the impact he had upon her career
• How Bonnie handles pressure
• Her fourth Olympic Games, her preparation for them, and Dan Jansen’s win
• Bonnie’s post-Olympics competitions
• Life for Bonnie and her family during COVID
• The dynamic of an Olympian parent with their kids who are pursuing sports

• Quotes:  

• “I was racing at the age of 4.”

• “She just won the race and she’s thanking me!”
• “It really kind of became a lot about personal best for me, and challenging that clock.”
• “It’s funny to see these people we look up to, like fanboying or fangirling other people, too – it’s awesome.”
• “We didn’t have somebody with US Speedskating who was a media person who handled any of this.”
• “I know what I need to do.”
• “Doing that thing for the very first time is a very powerful moment.”
• “When they actually announced that the other girl won, I was so relieved.”
• “I like that you’ve won so many that you don’t know!”
• “Everybody gets there a different way, and everybody has their own path, and what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another.”
• “Hone in on your strengths.”
• “All these different coaches really gave me something at a time when I needed it.”
• “The only person I can control is me.”
• “He’s my younger brother that I never had.”
• “To this day, hearing the national anthem has a whole different meaning to me.”
• “It ended on a perfect note.”
• “I did it because I loved it, the challenge of the clock, wanting to be the best that I could be, chasing those personal bests, and to me, you know, that’s kind of what it was all about.”
• “It’s fun being a mom of kids that love their sports and are following their own journey.”
• “What I did was stupid crazy…to try to think that you have to live up to something like that…that’s not right.”
• “It’s really all about the love of doing something, and then giving it everything you’ve got.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  Mental Training:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson    Connect with Bonnie: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/bonnieblairc/?hl=en Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bonnieblair?lang=en

Episode Highlights:  

• Some of Allysa’s DIY projects
• Her start in the triathlon
• Allysa’s diagnosis of Chiari II malformation, its symptoms, and her reaction to it
• Her brain and spine surgery, rehabilitation, and return to running
• How her science background has helped her
• Transitioning from triathlon to paratriathlon
• Her amputation and returning to racing
• Her World Championships and Paralympics experiences and their impact
• Allysa’s team
• Nutrition, sleep and recovery for her
• Allysa’s training schedule
• Her ESPN Body Issue experience
• How the Tokyo Games postponement has affected Allysa
• How she is feeling these days since her last hospital stay

Quotes:

• “I really just fell in love with the challenge and the camaraderie and the exhilaration of the sport so I haven’t left yet.”
• “The bike has definitely been the lasting challenge for me…I have a love/hate relationship with it.”
• “The back part of my brain – the cerebellum – is not actually in my skull, it’s herniated into my spinal column.”
• “It’s not super common, so there’s many times I’m explaining it to medical professionals as well.”
• “I ran my first 5K as an amputee in December after losing my leg in August.”
• “Learning to walk and run was actually easier than when I had my foot.”
• “I do think very little was expected of me.”
• “People who believe in you, but yet love you whether you win or lose, right?”
• “My neurological disability is absolutely more challenging than the amputation.”
• “Because of the injury to my brain, my body is not able to digest food like most others do.”
• “For the first time in my life, we’ve been able to…fully support my training, build muscle mass, and not worry about my weight throughout the season as much.”
• “Nutrition is so important to achieving your best.”
• “Not a single person cared that I was unclothed.”
• “I’ve had a really rough year this year.”
• “All in all, I think it might have worked out okay for me. Hopefully, next year’s going to be way better.”
• “We can’t change the cards we’re dealt, and so we just have to make the best of what we have…those who are able to cope with the changes and stay on track and stay motivated are the ones that are going to find the most success next summer.”
• “Although these few months have been hard, I don’t think it counts me out. If anything, it lights more of a fire under me to prove that I can overcome this and everything else thrown my way to be the athlete and the competitor that I want to be.”
• “Impossible is a dare.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  Mental Training:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson    Connect with Allysa: Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/triallysa/ Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/allysaseelytriathlete/

Episode Highlights:  

• The USA House
• Cammile’s early start into swimming
• Competing with her twin sister
• The story of Cammile and Ashley’s college recruitment
• The influence of her coaches and mentors
• Cammile’s unique fly stroke
• Her college experience
• The value of working on things ‘outside of your normal box’
• Her first Olympics
• Moments in life where ‘your tribe’ speak truth to you
• One of the darkest moments in Cammile’s life
• The importance of having wise counsel around you
• Balancing life outside of the pool and in the pool
• The transition to going pro
• The road to her 2016 Olympics
• Her 2016 Olympics experience
• Cammile’s SafeSplash Swim Schools
• Cammile’s advice for young athletes

Quotes:  

• “I’ve actually never played another sport.”
• “Ashley really swam for the friends.”
• “I think I learned more about the person I want to be from Steve, than, like, the swimmer I want to be…he did truly change my life.”
• “Sports isn’t just about sports.”
• “I think shoulder surgery may be one of the best things that happened to my swimming career.”
• “This is not always a fun, comfortable feeling to be in, but this is an opportunity.”
• “I got to become a student of the sport of swimming and that was my entire focus.”
• “Think about what you can do outside of the water to make yourself better in the water.”
• “I needed to figure out how to fight through.”
• “I also just truly believed that it was an absolute privilege to swim for Texas A&M.”
• “Not letting the highs be too high and the lows be too low…within life and within sport.”
• “One of these is not like the others.”
• “It made me to be very aware of my emotions.”
• “You have all these, almost like, end of life kind of thoughts…it’s very real stuff.”
• “No one had warned me that that feeling was coming.”
• “I needed that, like, roundhouse kick in the face – grow up!”
• “How much growth I had made, not only in the sport, but also personally…2015 was just a really special summer for me…all the parts were just aligned.”
• “You train your entire life for this, and then it’s gone within seconds.”
• “It’s one of those ways, like, God teaches you to deal with adversity.”
• “It was such a hard lesson for me, I think.”
• “It was just like the perfect life balance that I needed.”
• “This is my dream job, and I have it at, you know, 27 years old…and I honestly can’t imagine ever doing anything else.”
• “If you fail to prepare, you are preparing to fail…a statement that I live by.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  Mental Training:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson    Connect with Cammile: SafeSplash Swim School:   https://www.safesplash.com/ Cammile’s Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/cammileadams/

Ben begins by sharing his journey from his first interest in sports and his running career, through to his current position, and then offers a thorough analysis of both performance based and purpose based identity, as well as the continuum between them. From this analysis, he expands upon performing out of fear and coping with it, mental health, his perspective on overcoming the challenges that this past year has provided, and the importance of gratitude and positive emotions. While examining the foundation for dealing with adversity, Ben explains the concept of Mindfulness, and actually leads Laura and our listeners through an exercise. He finishes the conversation discussing virtue development and high performance and sharing his advice for young athletes. Ben’s overriding belief that we are all of value, not because of our performance, but because of who we are, is evident throughout this inspiring episode. His is an impactful and important message for absolutely everyone to hear and to heed.

Episode Highlights:

• Ben’s journey from his start in sports to his current position
• Performance based identity, purpose based identity and the continuum between the two
• The impact of ‘performing out of fear’ and recognizing when you are struggling with it
• Steps to follow for coping with the fear
• Emotional regulation and co-regulation
• Mental health in the world of sport and society in general
• Michael Phelps’ ‘Weight of Gold’ documentary
• Ben’s observations and guidance regarding 2020 and moving forward from it
• The importance of feeling gratitude and expressing it to others
• The impact of positive and negative emotions
• 3 foundational aspects to preparing for adversity
• Mindfulness and its importance
• A mindfulness activity
• Virtue development and high performance
• A study regarding the impact of negative emotions and connection
• Ben’s advice to young athletes

Quotes:

• “My same exhilaration for sports began to transfer over to my desire to want to understand how the mind works and how relationships work.”
• “In the process of trying to study this, I experienced my own kind of healing in some of the wounds that I experienced as an athlete.”
• “When results start to get wrapped up as the main definer of your self-worth, then it has devastating consequences.”
• “I really firmly believe that there’s a lot of athletes who ‘choke’ or ‘bonk’, or whatever you want to call it, that really comes from an overstimulated sympathetic nervous system.”
• “Often, our body responds even before we are able to process it cognitively.”
• “Our external lives and relationships and stressors all can have positive or negative consequences physiologically on us.”
• “We deal with stress and pain better when we have a purpose that’s bigger than ourselves.”
• “These athletes that have this more purpose based identity, they achieve at really high levels as well, but they don’t have the consequences of high levels of depression or anxiety or shame.”
• “Throughout history and throughout research, we just do better when we’re connected to others and we have this connection to some type of transcendent purpose.”
• “What do I value? What is most important to me?”
• “Relationships are so powerful for our emotional health.”
• “How can I serve the people around me right now?”
• “The foundation of the self becomes really important…the mindset skills are also really important.”
• “Invest in your relationships – in healthy ones.”
• “Being mindful in your day-to-day is really just…a non-judgmental awareness of being in the present moment.”
• “For me, breath also represents a connection to God or even for some people to everybody around them, the source of life.”
• “You are valued. You are loved. You are known. You are free. And your worth does not depend on your performance. And you have something to offer this world that nobody else can take away…there’s a purpose in what you can contribute to those around you.”
• “When we do have that solid foundation, we are able to also give our best, and I think that’s where virtue development and high performance come together.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Ben:

Search Institute: https://www.search-institute.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drbenhoultberg/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/benhoultberg

In today’s episode, Nathan shares his history in sports and specifically swimming right from the start up to current day. Along the way, he discusses his college experience, his experiences at Worlds and the Olympics and what he learned from them, his training, becoming Team USA’s Captain, and his sense of joy and optimism as well as some tips he follows to maintain it. Nathan also recounts some of his most memorable performances, the importance of having humbling moments and knowing yourself, and his cancer diagnosis and its impact upon him. He draws the episode to a close by sharing how the pandemic and Tokyo postponement have affected him, and his thoughts on becoming a father in the near future. Nathan’s fascinating journey is one filled with both highs and lows, and, throughout it all, he demonstrates the wisdom to tease out the lessons to be learned from each experience – lessons not only about sports, but about life in general, which he translates into valuable advice for us all here today.

Episode Highlights:

• Nathan’s start in sports and journey to swimming
• His college experience
• Nathan’s advice for athletes when choosing their college
• The impact of training with Mike Bottom’s professional team
• What he learned through his first Worlds and Olympic Trials experiences
• Nathan’s first Olympics
• The differences between his three Olympics
• Expectations for those who make the USA Olympics Swimming Team
• His experience as Team Captain
• Nathan’s sense of joy and optimism and some ways he maintains it
• How his approach to training changes for swimming yards or meters
• Nathan’s most memorable performances
• The importance of having humbling moments and knowing how you operate the best
• Transitioning from college to pro
• Nathan’s diagnosis of testicular cancer
• His return to training after his treatment
• The impact of the pandemic and the Olympic postponement
• Becoming a parent soon

Quotes:

“I was always competing in my own little third child way.”

“I was trying to keep up with these guys, all the time, everyday.”

“No matter how hard you think you have tried, or no matter how any given competition has gone up until that point, like, your next race might be the one.”

“Team USA and USA Swimming do a great job of, you know, helping you, make you feel secure.”

“I felt like my job there was to go to swim as fast as I could on the relay for Team USA and then try to just soak up all the knowledge and experience, and just watch people go through what they need to go through to be successful.”

“We are going to do whatever we can to give you something to be successful.”

“You don’t want to be Captain to be enforcer of rules or punishments.”

“I do seem to err on the side of optimism.”

“What contributing factors perhaps put me in, you know, this sort of rut, and what can I do in the future to try to avoid that?”

“My freestyle, I have, I’d say, let’s just call it like five different gears…let’s call six gears.”

“It takes a long time at the beginning of the season to sort of groove those neuropatterns out, but once you’re clicking…you just kind of do it.”

“I think every athlete that gets up to a certain level has these sorts of stories where they just totally sucked, and no matter what their resume is, that story is still there.”

“You really have to know yourself.”

“You, as the patient, still have to make actual decisions.”

“The diagnosis itself will definitely change your outlook, especially, I think for an athlete who is all about that delayed gratification, that payoff at the end of the season.”

“I still look forward to going to practice even to this day.”

“It certainly shaped my own paradigm moving forward…I almost got so much just ripped away.”

“My wife was a saint through it.”

“Something feels off…like, my left foot doesn’t sweat – it’s like the weirdest thing ever.”

“Your body has this incredible way of finding a way to compensate and, you know, figure out a way to still move through the water.”

“I’m just getting a little bit better each and every week.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Nathan: Homepage: http://www.nathanadrian.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathangadrian/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathangadrian

Episode Highlights:   Questions for Laura:  

• How do you set your goals when everything is changing?
• Since you compete all over the world, and you have met lots of different people, has it ever given you the opportunity to share your faith with a fellow athlete?
• Why do you love ‘Learning to Fly’, the song by Petty so much? Is it inspirational or is it just because you think it’s a cool song?
• Coaching mental and physical abuse – how can we combat this as athletes?
• Recovering from intense diving practices
• How do you overcome the feelings of personal failure?
• Why do some divers wear swim caps now?
• What Gym did you go to gymnastics at before you did diving?
• Who are some of your mindset coaches or influencers at this point in your life?
• What dive has caused you to have the largest mental block, and how do you overcome it?
• What made you want to go to the Olympics?
• What are your chances of qualifying for Tokyo?
• How did you get into diving?
• How many medals do you really have?
• How many sports did you do before you did diving?
• How many times have you gone to the Olympics?
• What is your hardest dive ever?
• What’s your easiest dive?

Questions for Arella:  

• What was the first sport that you did?
• What did you do after gymnastics?
• How do you get bored in gymnastics?
• Why do you enjoy Ninja Warrior so much now?
• Do you have any big goals for Ninja Warrior?
• Are there any lessons that you learn while you’re training for Ninja Warrior that help you in your everyday life?
• What is your new dream that you just came up with that you want to be when you grow up and why?
• Do you want to talk about the workout that you created during homeschool after you watched the Navy Seals?
• How has homeschooling been going?

Quotes:   “Your ultimate goals don’t need to change…what changes is your path to get there.”   “Research what other athletes in your sport are doing out there right now, like, stalk Instagram or Facebook or YouTube.”   “Obviously, the biggest part of being able to share your faith is starting relationships with people. That has to come first.”   “That’s really when you get a chance to show people what your faith is, what it means to you, and begin to have those discussions if they’re open to that.”   “’I’m going to free fall out into nothing. I’m going to leave this world for a while’, and to me, that just encapsulates what it feels like when I’m diving 10 meter, and I’m just in my happy place, and I’m in my zone, and it kind of feels like a place of worship for me because I’m using the gifts that God has given me.”   “Episode 11 with Kaillee Humphries, she talks about mental and verbal abuse…from one of her coaches…and also in Episode 20, with Tracy Hanson, there was kind of a very long term abuse going on there.”   “It’s kind of like a small car accident every time.”   “Sometimes it’s not your body that’s wearing out, it’s your mind…if that’s the case, go play.”   “If you’re not failing, you’re not going to succeed.”   “It’s to keep the chlorine from absorbing into their hair.”   “Mostly, ‘Flips’ was my home gym.”   “The Bible has just been, kind of, my firm foundation since I gave my life to Christ.”   “If you’re ever going through a really hard time, Psalms is a wonderful place to go.”   “It really broke a barrier for me to all of a sudden, I could do anything.”   “I tried a bunch of sports until I finally found diving.”   “My biggest challenge is really getting my body back to the point where I can get my entries clean again.” “I didn’t give up just because I had a bad dive…I came back and I won the competition.”   “In 2000, it was in Sydney, Australia. In 2004, it was in Athens, Greece. And in 2008, it was in Beijing, China.”   “The back 3½ somersault pike just felt really, really, really hard.”   “Sometimes, the simple ones are the hardest.”   “My easiest dive is probably just, like, jumping in the water…a pencil dive.”   “My first sport was gymnastics.”   “I did soccer and now I’m a Ninja Warrior…I did diving…before soccer.”   “The trapeze bar is probably my favorite.”   “I keep trying over and over again until I finish the route.”   “I want to be…the first woman to be a Navy SEAL.”   “I like hard and challenging things.”   “I started working out while I was doing my Math.”   “I really like homeschooling – it’s really fun!”   “I think we should make another episode.”  

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  Mental Training:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn 

Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Their conversation with Laura today explores not only their story in sport and in their personal relationship, but also of their unwavering faith, and the role that God plays in their lives. Along the way, they touch on Abbey’s experience at Dartmouth and the beginning of her faith journey, God’s grace in her life, His transformation of Jacob’s heart, and how He has taught them lessons about hardship, suffering, and what really matters through His ministry to them. Of course, Abbey’s historic and inspiring performance at the 2016 Olympics is recounted from both of their perspectives, and they also share details of their unique dynamic, what the past four years have been like, what they’ve been working on during the pandemic, and the dream that they have for helping other athletes. Having been through so much, and having faced it all together, supported by the power of their faith, Abbey and Jacob have many lessons to teach about making meaning out of experiences, and they do precisely that here today with extraordinary grace, humility, and sincerity.

Episode Highlights:

• Abbey’s experience at Dartmouth
• The beginning of her faith journey and her transitional moment
• God’s grace in her life
• Jacob’s athletic experience
• God’s transformation of his heart
• Jacob’s transition into sports psychology
• How Abbey and Jacob’s relationship started and built
• Abbey’s 2016 Olympic experience, and how God prepared her for the moment
• Jacob’s perspective of it
• God shifting Abbey’s perspective on the meaning of hardship
• What really matters
• How God ministers back to us
• What their past four years have been like
• The dynamic between Abbey and Jacob
• What they’ve worked on during the pandemic and Tokyo Games postponement
• Understanding the purpose of suffering
• The importance of acknowledging grief
• The unique fulfillment of inspiring and lifting other people up
• Jacob and Abbey’s dream to help other athletes rehabilitate their relationship with sport
• runningwithheart.org (coming soon)

Quotes:

“God had other plans.”

“I wouldn’t go back and change it, because it really brought me to the end of myself, and introduced me to this need for the Lord in my life.”

“It was the peace He gave you inside.”

“It was definitely a pretty humbling and arduous path from there that God really used to kind of transform my life.”

“It was this gift to glorify Him.”

“Luckily, God surrounded me with great friends, coaching, and mentors that helped me make meaning of my experience.”

“It was the fastest mile of my life, and probably the slowest of Abbey’s.”

“It was like God’s hand was over the whole thing.”

“I know that I’m here for a reason, but none of this makes sense.”

“That is so unnatural to me to respond in a way that isn’t selfish that I am so sure that it was just the Holy Spirit.”

“Abbey tried to get up like two or three times and run, and just kind of collapsed.”

“It was one of the most memorable and uplifting stories of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.”

“Now to him who is able.”

“When I crossed the finish line, I was already so amazed by what God had done.”

“Lord, bless me with wisdom, bless me with humility, and bless me with a godly wife someday…He gave me all three combined into one.”

“God’s given me a lot of hardship to walk through, and so I’ve picked up a few things along the way about what’s helped me.”

“I hope and pray athletes will feel less alone in their struggles.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Abbey and Jacob:

Running With Heart homepage (coming soon): https://www.runningwithheart.org/ Abbey’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbey_dags/

Today, Trey shares his journey all the way from his beginnings in sport to what he is busy with these days in retirement, detailing the many highs and lows along the way. In addition to discussing mentors, injuries, and coming up short in competition, he offers his thoughts on encouraging children in sports, his Olympic competitions, adopting a professional mindset, and being a commentator at the Rio Olympics. Woven throughout is his strongly held belief in having no regrets in sport or in life. If you are in need of a ‘kick in the butt’ to pursue your dreams, Trey’s inspirational story and sage advice, combined with the humility and humor with which he shares them, are precisely what you need to listen to here today.

Episode Highlights:

• Trey’s start in sports and athletics
• His motivation to start pole vaulting
• Children and sports
• A walk through of a jump and what it feels like
• His college experience and his start in the decathlon
• Trey’s transition from college to pro
• His first Olympic experience and its impact on him
• The power of a professional mindset
• Training for the decathlon
• His second Olympics
• The injuries he suffered in the years after the London Olympics
• Being a commentator at the Rio Games
• Having no regrets and being personally accountable
• His comeback in 2017
• Trey’s retirement and what he’s up to these days

Quotes:

“Sports became this after school daycare for me…it just became this way of life.”

“Basketball was the thing that I loved.”

“I’m going to show this idiot coach, like, how good of a pole vaulter I can be, and be the best doggone pole vaulter that’s ever been at this school.”

“It is a hard hurdle to get over to transition into internal motivation, the real ‘why’ of why you’re out there.”

“Do you want your kid to be good at sports, or do you want them to be happy and full of joy and contentment.”

“Genuinely, it’s one of the most deadly sports in the world in terms of participation and catastrophic incidents…people do pass away, have permanent brain injury.”

“There’s no feeling quite like it really in any other sport that I’ve tried or done.”

“Really good in a lot of things, but not great at anything, that’s kind of where decathletes fall.”

“The moment and everything that went along with it, I was, mentally, so unprepared for, that it just swallowed me up.”

“If I really wanted to be good, and take the next step, kind of, stand on the medal stand, I needed to professionalize this, both from the preparation side, but the mental side as well.”

“Coming up short when you’re giving your best can make you feel terrible.”

“It is far worse to live with regret than it is to put yourself out there and fail.”

“It became a beautiful thing for me to fail, and fail gloriously, because you learn so much from it.”

“Regret nothing, let’s go for it.”

“It was time to start being a dad and being, you know, a real family.”

“I’m still…trying as many hats on as I can to find that next thing that I’m passionate about.”

“It’s really important to me that I’m around and I’m available and, kind of, flexible to be a dad, all day, 24/7, and not out of commission too much.”

“Don’t be afraid to put it all out there. There’s worse things in the world but non more difficult to deal with than living with regret.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Trey: Homepage: http://www.treyhardee.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hardeetrey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treyhardee/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/treyhardee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/treyhardee

Michelle details her career in sport from its very beginning through to current day, touching upon her ‘Coach Daddy’s’ role in it, her experiences in high school, college and the Olympics, and how her mindset was developed and impacts her performance, along the way. She also discusses drug use in her sport, being on the pro circuit, dealing with illness and injury, and her tremendous faith, including how God ‘shows up’. She finishes up the conversation with an update on her career these days, how COVID has affected it, and the various initiatives that she has started to help girls in sport. Michelle Carter is undeniably an elite athlete whose achievements are utterly spectacular, and, as you will hear today, she is so much more. In her mindset, her confidence, her faith, her ethics, and her passion, she is a role model not only to other athletes, but to absolutely every one of us.

Episode Highlights:

· Michelle’s start in sports and her journey to shot put · Her dad’s track and football career and his role as ‘Coach Daddy’ · Michelle’s high school and college experience · Her Olympic experiences and how they all differed for her · Her mindset and how it was developed · Handling the build up to, and atmosphere at, the Olympics · Dealing with drug use in track and field · The pro circuit · Dealing with an injury in the build up to 2016 Olympics · A throw by throw account of her Olympic gold medal performance · How God ‘shows up’ · Her career since the 2016 Olympics · How COVID has impacted her · Michelle’s ‘You Throw Girl Sports Confidence Camp’ · Her ‘One Golden Shot’, ‘Fuel Up’, and ‘I’m Supported’ initiatives

Quotes:

“I didn’t look at it as if I always had to win. I just knew I had to do better than I did last time.”

“I wanted to meet the expectations that I had for myself.”

“It was like I always kind of expect something to go wrong, and to be ready to kind of face that challenge.”

“I didn’t want my first Olympic…experience to be horrible, and I did truly feel like I was not ready.”

“That year really proved to myself that I knew that I had what it takes to be successful.”

“I didn’t see myself as one of the world’s greatest athletes…I was just so in awe.”

“I didn’t want to put any extra pressure just because it was the Olympics…I just have to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities.”

“I had pretty much just stayed off social media from the time I got to the Olympic Village until after I competed because I had to protect my energy.”

“I was actually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s in 2010, so I knew that 2012 wasn’t going to be easy.”

“All I control is me…I pride myself on being a clean athlete…what’s done in the dark will come to light.”

“I want to beat the dirtiest person on their best day with my clean self being ready on that day…I’m going to beat you while you’re cheating.”

“Being a part of one of the world’s greatest teams, Team USA, we have all the medical things you ever need or want. “

“I’m having these conversations in my head to keep myself balanced.”

“Lord, listen, this is it. I only have one more throw. If You said that I could win, you better show up right now, because this is it.”

“What I had worked on showed up.”

“I know she has the ability to beat me. The question is, like, can she meet the challenge?”

“Whatever you want to do is possible.”

“I know now why He did it that way. It was to humble me and to reach so many more people and change their lives…that’s just such a God thing.”

“He believed in me when I didn’t quite believe in myself.”

“I know that I can still do better.”

“You can be me and better.”

“I feel like once you’re confident in who you are outside of your skills, add your skills on top of your confidence just in who you are, you become so powerful.”

“You are so passionate about young girls and helping young girls. I love your heart.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Michelle: Website: https://www.shotdiva.com/ ‘You Throw Girl’: https://www.shotdiva.com/you-throw-girl ‘One Golden Shot’, ‘Fuel Up’, and ‘I’m Supported’: https://www.shotdiva.com/onegoldenshot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ShotDiva/

In this conversation, Tracy relates her history in sports, particularly in golf, and offers details regarding her role now as a counselor. She also shares the story of her abuse from its start of being ‘groomed’ to finally recognizing it as abuse, and its immense impact upon her life. Along the way she recounts her struggle of wrestling with her identity, the prominent role that her faith has played throughout her life, and how she has become a counselor for others who may be going through what she experienced. She and Laura discuss some organizations that offer help to athletes, including Tracy’s own non-profit, and Tracy offers valuable advice for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone with similar experiences. So much of today’s episode is centered around a difficult but enormously important topic offering an equally important message delivered by a woman gifted not only with athletic prowess, but with unrivalled strength, perseverance, faith, and courage. This is an episode that needs to be heard by everyone.

Episode Highlights:

· How Tracy got started in sports and specifically golf · Her college experience and her transition to going professional · Her most memorable golf tournament trip · Tracy’s mindset when starting on the professional tour · Tracy’s faith journey · The abuse that she experienced · What ‘grooming’ is · https://safesport.org/ resources · Recognizing it as sexual abuse · Wrestling with her identity · Tracy’s advice for others with similar experiences · Her work as a counselor and her motivation to do it · Bringing all of who you are to your sport · Being mind, body, soul, and spirit · How COVID has affected Tracy’s life and ministry · The Faith in Sport Institute · Tracy’s golf experience now · The Tracy Hanson Initiative · Tracy’s parting words

Quotes:

“I’m not sure it was my dream to start with.”

“Golf is just something to something bigger in your life.”

“One person who started talking to me more about Jesus…also became an abuser in my life.”

“I didn’t understand what was happening, and I didn’t feel safe to tell anybody.”

“In the context of the coach who started grooming me, I felt and received a lot of those things that I was longing for from my dad.”

“For athletes or non-athletes…we don’t understand what’s happening because we’re getting some really good things. We’re getting connectedness, we’re getting somebody who really is speaking life into us and who believes in us.”

“The grooming is part of the abuse.”

“Those hunches need to be followed through. So, that’s where I was missed.”

“My golf career was just one of those numbing agents…I just tried to perform harder.”

“God was really gentle with me.”

“I was out there, I was sharing my faith, and I was being the Christian athlete, and yet, so empty inside. And that was the part that people didn’t know.”

“You’re not alone. You’re not the only one who has experienced something horrific…there is or are people that want to be with you in that pain.”

“There is somebody…that will believe you…take the risk to speak it out.”

“I think counseling was the hardest and best thing that I’ve ever done in my life.”

“I wanted to help young athletes get the help that I needed in my early 20’s instead of having to wait 20 years.”

“I really just offer myself as a mentor/counselor for really life conversations, and spiritual conversations go, kind of, around that and in and through those conversations as well.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t give athletes the freedom in our culture to be that human person.”

“There’s so much power in just being able to name what’s true.”

“My whole desire and purpose is to provide…safe opportunities for athletes to talk about their stories of trauma.”

“If the stress and anxiety around the sport is outweighing the joy and the playfulness of it, then there’s something out of balance, and…they need to get some help.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Tracy:

Website: https://tracyhanson.com/ The Tracy Hanson Initiative: https://tracyhanson.com/ministry/

Michael begins by sharing what he is doing in Turkey these days, and about his exciting involvement with the New York Breakers and the International Swimming League. He then goes on to describe his unique career in swimming, the role his parents continue to play in it, the ‘haters’ they had to deal with, and his family’s willingness to share all that they have learned with anyone wishing to learn. Michael also shares his nutrition regimen, how he balances new training techniques with establishing routines, his vlogs and love of technology, and an exciting new venture that he and his dad are working on. Woven throughout is Michael’s deep commitment to his faith and the prominent role it plays in his life and career. As you will discover, Michael Andrew is most certainly a superstar in the world of competitive swimming, but he is so very much more than that, and he shares it all with you here today.

Episode Highlights:

· What Michael is doing in Turkey these days · The New York Breakers and the International Swimming League (ISL) · ISL’s agreement with CBS Sports · Michael’s unique career in swimming · His parents’ involvement and influence in his career · Other people’s attitudes towards his career · Their willingness to share their methods with others · How God has blessed his journey · Dealing with ‘haters’ · What he has done since COVID started · 2019 as a season of learning about intentionality · Michael’s nutrition regimen · Balancing trying new training techniques with establishing routines · His mindset preparing for Tokyo · Michael’s faith and how it plays out in his daily life · Laura’s experience with depending on God · Michael’s vlogs and his love of technology · The project he and his dad have been working on

Quotes:

“It’s kind of like we’re in our own little bubble anyway.”

“My entire swim career, we’ve always been very family oriented.”

“I am a Team Captain, owner, and athlete of New York Breakers.”

“This league really just gives athletes an opportunity beyond the Olympics.”

“It takes all of the…exciting events, condenses it into two hours of extreme action – the fastest athletes in the world going head-to-head, scoring points, and money’s on the line.”

“Why would we do that if we don’t believe in the way they train, we don’t believe in all the negative things that come from those experiences? Like, why not just do it differently?”

“It was really interesting to see over the years how people’s perception of us had changed because we were consistent in who we were and what we stood for.”

“We have more supporters than we ever had haters, really, and it’s just cool to see how…faithful God has been through that, in us kind of sticking to who we are and not backing away from it.”

“It feels like my career’s just beginning at 21.”

“I’ve been super blessed with a family that has supported me from the beginning.”

“They’re judging from a very warped picture.”

“We don’t live to earn man’s approval, really. We’re here doing what we do to the greatest of our ability, but also to glorify God and what he has given us.”

“I never want to be the athlete that kind of feels that I have to restrict myself from a lot of the fun things in order to perform.”

“I think it’s so important for athletes to have clear goals and things that they’re working towards.”

“Your body can use oxygen more efficiently when you are keto-adapted.”

“How do we rewire the brain and change these habits?”

“At the end of the day, it’s just swimming…I know God loves me for who I am.”

“I just need to show up and race and let God handle the details.”

“I don’t live a performance-based identity, but I live a purpose-based identity.”

“The closest you get to God is usually in the hardest times.”

“We’re creating a subscription platform where we can just give people everything.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Michael:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/michaelandrew4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimmermichael/

International Swimming League: https://isl.global/

In today’s episode, Chaunte shares this story of her personal life and career as they intertwine from childhood to today. Along the way, she discusses her childhood difficulties, the resilience she developed, her various Olympic experiences, including the remarkable story behind her Bronze medal, and the incredibly moving and inspiring account of her battle with breast cancer. She and Laura also talk about coming out of retirement, preparing for the coming Olympics, and the challenges of doing so with all the changes that the current pandemic presents. Woven throughout their conversation is the importance of Chaunte’s faith, the powerful motivators which keep her going, and the sheer strength that she possesses, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well. As you listen in today, you will discover that Chaunte Lowe is, indeed, an ‘unstoppable force who has a purpose greater than her goals’, and is truly an inspiration to all.

Episode Highlights:

· Chaunte’s background and how she got into high jumping · Her childhood difficulties and how she worked through them · Chaunte’s high school and college careers · The role her faith plays · Her journey to the Olympics · Chaunte’s experience at the Athens Olympics · Becoming a professional athlete · The story of her Beijing Olympics, receiving her medal, and her feelings about it all · Chaunte’s battle with breast cancer and the importance of knowing your body · Her retirement · The training she is doing now · Laura and Chaunte’s experiences with their children learning at home · What the next year looks like for Chaunte · What keeps her motivated

Quotes:

“We never had a lot, but we were always happy.”

“No matter where I was or how dire the situation was in my life, I would always be able to find a home within the church.”

“Something about the high jump was calling me to it, and I believe that now to be God putting me on my right path.”

“The day that I stepped onto campus, there was a plan. I was focused on executing the plan.”

“He told me to think beyond athletics.”

“I kept my integrity intact.”

“The advancement in testing technology caught some things that weren’t initially caught in 2004.”

“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason in the right time.”

“I was so confident that it wasn’t breast cancer, that I brought my kids to the appointment to get the results.”

“Throughout that whole process, and with the strength of God, because I couldn’t have done it on my own, I decided to train.”

“I wouldn’t have made it to my 40th birthday, that’s how dire it was.”

“As athletes, we know our body.”

“I’m figuring out ways to have my own…series of meets.”

“I want my daughters to grow up in a breast cancer free world, and so that’s what I’m doing it for.”

“That’s when you change the world.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Chaunte:

Website: https://www.chauntelowespeaks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chauntelowe/?hl=en

Chellsie and Laura cover her entire gymnastics career all the way from her beginnings in the sport up to her recent comeback attempt, and explore the very high moments of her many successes, as well as the many times that injuries impacted not only her ability to perform, but also her mindset. Throughout this review of her career, they also discuss the role her father played in coaching her, the role that both parents played in helping her during her times of recovery, the importance of acknowledging, grieving and moving past injuries, and how different her training, mindset, and confidence are now during her comeback. They conclude with a description of Chellsie’s current YoutTube channel videos, and just how much Laura loves them. Chellsie Memmel’s tale of success and perseverance through injuries is a truly inspirational one not only for athletes but for all who experience setbacks in pursuing their goals. There is so much that she has learned from these experiences, and she shares it all in this week’s thoroughly intriguing episode.

Episode Highlights:

· How Chellsie got started in gymnastics · The highs and lows of her competitive career · Having her father coach her · Her many accomplishments in 2005 · Chellsie’s shoulder injury and her parents’ help during recovery · Acknowledging, grieving, and moving past the impact of an injury · Her story of qualifying for Beijing and her experience at those Games · Olympic processing · Maintaining her mindset · What she did after Beijing · Celebrating her career · The story of her current comeback · The pandemic’s impact for Chellsie · The hardest part and most surprising part of coming back · Her mindset and confidence now · A typical day for Chellsie now · The current gymnastics qualifying process · Her weekly videos

Quotes:

“You’re kind of coaching him on how to coach you.”

“What are you learning from this situation so you can get better?”

“It was just, like, sheer mental strength at that time of just being able to pull that out…so that part of it was not great.”

“Looking back now, I can be super proud of what we did, but just in that moment, it was tough and it was bittersweet.”

“You’re like the Bionic Woman!”

“It is so amazing like, how competitive I truly am, like, when it’s something…that I care about.”

“I always tried to use gymnastics as a way to get in shape, and this is the exact opposite.”

“The gym just is empty – it needs gymnastics, so I started doing more.”

“I want to be able to give something my all.”

“Don’t stand in your own way of doing something just because you know how hard it’s going to be.”

“It’s keeping me healthy, it’s keeping me sane…but I’m still making progress.”

“To be doing better than I ever was before…I just attribute that to the kind of conditioning that I’m doing and the different appreciation I have for my body and how I am treating it and conditioning it.”

“I just obviously know from experience that a positive attitude is always much better to have.”

“I already feel like I’ve won.”

“It’s been really cool to share this process…I feel like it’s really neat to have people be a part of the journey…to also see the struggle and to see me getting nervous when I’m trying something new.”

“Take a little bit of time for yourself…I think it will make everybody happier.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Chellsie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmemmel23/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChellsieMemmel23

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CMemmel

Website: https://chellsie-memmel.com/

Apolo begins the conversation by reflecting upon his first broadcasting experience, the effects of the Olympic postponement on athletes, and the first sports in which he participated as a child. He then compares and contrasts short track and long track speed skating, and relates his storied career in speed skating, including the game changing life lesson his father taught him, the importance and power of his shift in mindset, and especially the tremendous impact that sports psychology has had upon his performance. Apolo goes into great detail about the ‘assertive intentionality’ which revolutionized his training, and he provides all the details behind his infamous silver medal at the 2002 Olympics and his transformation as he reinvented himself for the 2010 Olympics. This fascinating conversation concludes with Apolo offering his sage advice for athletes. As an athlete who has experienced so very much throughout his remarkable career, Apolo Ohno possesses a unique perspective on setting goals and accessing each and every ‘reservoir of potential’ during their pursuit. Today you have a front row seat to hear him share his extensive knowledge, insight, and wisdom with Laura in this very special episode.

Episode Highlights:

· Apolo’s first broadcasting experience · The effects of the Olympic postponement on athletes · His early sports experiences · Short track and long track speed skating · Apolo’s speed skating career · The life lesson his father taught him which changed Apolo’s life · The importance and power of his change in mindset · The impact that sports psychology had upon his performance · Apollo’s ‘assertive intentionality’ around training · The story of his 2002 Olympics · His transformation for his 2010 Olympics · Apolo’s advice for athletes

Quotes:

“It looked so impossible to me that these guys were leaning over at these impossible angles, going like 30 miles an hour, inside of a hockey rink. It just was so cool looking.”

“I don’t like racing against the clock – that seems very boring to me – I liked racing against other athletes and testing my might against them.”

“I was racing against men who were 30, 35 years old, who had been skating and training longer than I had been alive on this planet, and I was beating them with ease which was very, very weird.”

“At a flip of a switch, I was now being talked about as being a statistic, as being a kid who had it all but threw it away, who didn’t know what hard work and discipline was. And that was painful.”

“Whatever it is, I want to see real dedication and commitment from you.”

“It’s only a true failure if you stay down.”

“I have a mindset…that you are not willing to go to. I will go to the places in my mind that you are afraid to go through.”

“I have something upstairs and in my heart that other people around me do not have.”

“I had this untapped reservoir of potential, and that was my mind.”

“You’ve got to take pleasure in those small wins.”

“I was able to make such assertive intentionality around each training, pre-, during, and post-, that the quality of my training went so high.”

“Everything scarred me in some degree, and…it wasn’t healthy back then, but when it comes down to sheer performance, I think there was no one that was more driven.”

“We, as a country, needed to see some athlete like that, to get knocked down when he was supposed to win, and to not complain about it, and to not gripe about it, but to say...‘Life happens’…it was a blessing.”

“I’m so grateful that I didn’t win that race…anything else would have been different.”

“It was really about me exhausting any and all of the options, leaving no stones unturned in that preparation.”

“Every up, every down, every mediocre performance is an incredible learning experience and opportunity to light that fire within.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn

Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Apolo:

Website: https://www.apoloohno.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apoloohno Twitter: https://twitter.com/ApoloOhno

Elana begins the episode by sharing the story of her marriage proposal, her subsequent pregnancy and delivery, and the conditions with which her son, Nico, has been diagnosed. She and Laura then explore the ways in which motherhood can impact an athlete’s training and the many benefits of involving your children in the training. Elana also describes how COVID-19 has impacted her training, the upcoming bobsled season, and her family’s income. The shift in her mindset and how she is feeling now, what it’s like training with and being coached by her husband, her definition of success, and her favorite memory of her bobsledding career are discussed as well. Elana then concludes the episode with her sage advice for fellow elite athletes who are moms. As you listen to her story today, you will discover in Elana a remarkably accomplished woman who sets and pursues her goals relentlessly, providing a sterling example not only for her beloved child, but for the rest of us as well. Prepare to be inspired.

Episode Highlights:

• The story of Elana’s marriage proposal
• The story of her pregnancy and delivery
• Her son’s diagnoses of Down syndrome and profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss
• How motherhood and COVID-19 have affected her training
• The benefits of involving their children in their training
• Setting an example for their children
• How COVID-19 has affected the bobsled season
• How Elana is feeling right now and how her mindset has shifted
• Training with and being coached by her husband
• The impact of COVID-19 on her family’s income
• Elana’s definition of success
• One of her favorite memories from her bobsledding career
• Elana’s advice for new moms who are also elite athletes

Quotes:

“He spent about eight days in the NICU, which was an experience that I wouldn’t wish on anybody at all.”

“They adapt, you adapt, and you kind of figure it out together, which is kind of the beautiful thing.”

“I’m going to be a new, different, and, I think, better athlete as a result of everything that’s going on.”

“For our kids’ sake, they are going to get a lot out of…their mother showing them that they can go on and set goals and achieve something even while still being a mom.”

“I feel like part of our journey is simply that, is being the best example we can to our kids, and sometimes, yes, bringing them along.”

“I really want to show my son that I’m out there doing what I love to do and I continue to do what I love to do while being his mother.”

“He is able to adapt whatever I need and to make it make sense to me.”

“Communication is such a big, big thing.”

“Our identity does not lie in our sport.”

“For me, success is really defined internally by you going after a goal and what steps you took to accomplish it and how you feel the process went.”

“The couch or the back of a bobsled – I’ll take the back of a bobsled, please.”

“Be prepared to adapt…trust in yourself and believe in yourself…no challenge you can’t overcome.”

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Elana: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanameyerstaylor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/eamslider24 FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/ElanaMeyersTaylor/

She begins their conversation by sharing her experience and advice as a sommelier with Laura before moving onto how the pandemic has affected her and her training, including how her autoimmune disease has prepared her for the current health protocols. Amy then offers a vivid description of exactly what her sight is like these days, her bad luck at World Championships, the story of her vision loss and how she dealt with the news, and the therapy she found in working with horses again. She also discusses the story of her competitive triathlon career, how she missed going to the 2016 Paralympics, what keeps her going for the 2021 Games, and the surgeries and treatments she continues to undergo and the complications they create for training. Amy closes out the conversation by explaining how she maintains her mantra given her many challenges and offers details about the ‘No Sight No Limits’ camp she started. Today’s episode is a truly moving and inspiring story of one woman’s courage, strength, perseverance, and determination, which holds lessons for everyone, especially those in pursuit of gold.

Episode Highlights:

• Amy’s sommelier expertise
• How the pandemic has affected Amy and her training
• How Amy’s auto-immune disease has prepared her for the current pandemic protocols
• Amy’s description of her sight
• Her bad luck at the World Championships
• The story of her vision loss and how it led her to the triathlon
• How she dealt with the news of her vision loss emotionally
• The therapy she found in returning to her love of horses
• The story of her competitive triathlon career from the beginning
• The story of how she missed going to the 2016 Paralympics
• What keeps her going for Tokyo 2021
• Her eye surgeries/treatment and the complications they create for her training
• Her mantra and how she keeps it going with so many challenges
• Amy’s ‘No Sight No Limits’ camp

Quotes:

“This is my one and done shot.”

“I always laugh that I’m held together with duct tape and glue.”

“I’ve lived my whole life like this as far as being…physically distant.”

“I developed some really unhealthy habits as far as anxiety is concerned.”

“It’s like looking through a keyhole.”

“They were able to slow down the progression of my disease by putting me on a kind of steroids, but I gained 75 pounds, and so that’s when I found triathlon.”

“I just envisioned it to be the worst possible death sentence, in my opinion.”

“I can still do this with this different body and this different ability and just in a different way, and it wasn’t that different than anybody else out on the course.”

“So you took chemo and got cancer.”

“The goal always was to slow the disease down enough that technology would catch up with it.”

“I’ve had 33 surgeries over the past 7 years…to control my disease.”

“My eye is constantly deflating every time I train really hard.”

“95% of people who are…legally blind have some residual vision.”

“I’m the first patient over the age of 40 that has any usable vision with this kind of diagnosis.”

“I know what the other side looks like and that it’s not all bad.”

“This anxiety that we have with this Olympic and Paralympic postponement really has created problems that I didn’t imagine for myself, but, at the same time…on the positive side, it’s bought me an entire year of hopefully having consistent training and hopefully being healthy if I make some good decisions going forward.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Amy:

Amy’s homepage: https://amydixonusa.com/

Amy’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amydixonusa

Amy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nosightnolimits/?hl=en

Amy’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/nosightnolimits

AJ begins the conversation by relating his experiences with, and advice regarding, both bullying and mental health. He then goes on to describe the remarkable impact that fellow athlete Steve Holcomb had upon him, the ‘I’ll show you’ attitude which propels his performance, the steps he took to improve his skill in skeleton so quickly, and, above all, the importance of having a goal greater than yourself. AJ’s faith, his duty to represent his community, the special tradition which he started, and his experience of training in Jamaica are all discussed as well. The conversation draws to a close with their exploration of being the best version of yourself, AJ’s Olympic experience in 2018, and what he is up to these days. Intelligent, articulate, passionate, and committed are just a few of the words which come to mind as you listen to AJ speak about all he has been through and accomplished to this point in his life. He is a visionary who puts his heart and soul into each and every goal he sets, and you will undoubtedly be equal parts amazed, impressed, and inspired as you listen to him here today.

Episode Highlights:

• AJ’s experiences with, and advice regarding, bullying and mental health
• His journey from playing hockey at MIT to becoming a skeleton athlete
• The impact that Steve Holcomb had on AJ
• AJ and Laura’s shared ‘I’ll show you’ attitude
• How he improved at the skeleton so quickly
• The importance of having a goal greater than yourself
• AJ’s faith and representing his community
• His special tradition
• AJ’s experience training in Jamaica
• Being the best version of yourself
• His 2018 Olympic experience
• What AJ is up to these days

Quotes:

“The only reason why I try to do any of the things that I try to do is borne out of using those experiences, in particular the negative feelings that sometimes come about from depression, as fuel.”

“It’s always been about rise above and be the best that you can be, but initially motivated by some very negative experiences.”

“Even though people hurt you, oftentimes, they themselves are hurting, but that’s also not an excuse to take it.”

“Realize that you are on a higher plane than your bully.”

“We have to fight bullying by addressing the root causes.”

“Mental health is very similar to most other health issues, in that it presents differently for people, but we have to acknowledge that it not only exists, and that it exists within ourselves, but that there are many methods that we can take to treat it, but we have to treat it.”

“I don’t believe that decisions are ever wrong if they’re made with the right intent.”

“The plan was to find a sport in which I could actually become truly excellent and elite, to show that Jews can become elite in a sport, even later on in life.”

“People may not register on your scale, but you can impart an enormous amount of influence and help on other people’s lives.”

“I was fighting in my mind for the future of my program.”

“I will not be part of the end product, but I will be, I can be, a significant stepping-stone to creating something really good.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson Connect with AJ: Email: adam.edelman@olympian.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajedelman/?hl=en

Brad begins by detailing his start in swimming, the impact that becoming the swim team captain in college had upon him, and how he found himself in the role of an EOD Officer. Brad then recounts the stories of his deployments, including the day of his injury, the effects of losing his sight, and his eventual return to swimming and rebuilding his identity. He and Laura discuss the power of celebrating the process as well as the outcomes in athletics, and Brad shares his Paralympic experiences, the reasons for writing his memoir, what he is up to these days, and just how the pandemic shutdown has affected him and his training. Brad concludes by recommending Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way, a book for which he has the greatest respect. As Laura notes, Paralympians ‘have a unique strength of character that combines mental toughness, physical ability, and outstanding agility’ whose performances ‘often redefine the boundaries of possibility’. Brad Snyder embodies all of these qualities and more, as you will find out in this inspired and inspiring episode today.

Episode Highlights:

• Brad’s start in swimming
• The impact of becoming his team’s leader
• His road to becoming an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer and his experiences in that role
• Brad’s deployments
• The day of his injury
• Existential depression vs. momentary frustration
• Brad’s return to the pool
• Losing his ability to serve and its impact on his sense of identity
• Rebuilding his identity
• Process and outcomes
• Brad’s Paralympic experiences and how they compare with each other
• His memoir Fire in My Eyes and his reasons for writing it
• What Brad is up to these days
• How the COVID-19 shutdown has affected him
• Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way

Quotes:

“We’ve been water people my whole life.”

“It was so humbling to go to the pool for the first time and watch what competitive swimming was all about.”

“My bailiwick is leadership.”

“In the modern era, what we do predominantly is the mitigation of explosive hazards in support of military operations worldwide.”

“They were able to save my face, but they weren’t able to save my eyes, unfortunately…the good news is I walked away with my life.”

“I’m never going to be who I was, and that shouldn’t prevent me from being who I am.”

“So much of our frustration in our daily lives comes from a mismatch of expectation.”

“It felt nice to go back to doing something I was good at.”

“Statistically, I actually think my blind times may be as or faster than my able-bodied times.”

“I felt like I belonged…I felt fulfilled.”

“You have to be vulnerable. You have to learn how to make a mistake, but then vow not to do it again, and to learn something from it.”

“I love how you just keep challenging yourself.”

“We’re on the road to Tokyo full force.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/ Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson Connect with Brad: Website: https://www.bradsnyder.us/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradsnyderusa/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradSnyderUSA

Brad’s book:
https://www.amazon.com/Fire-My-Eyes-Warrior-s-Battlefield/dp/0306825147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480371142&sr=8-1&keywords=fire+in+my+eyes

Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way: https://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Ancient-Adversity-Advantage/dp/1781251495/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+obstacle+is+the+way&qid=1598055918&sr=8-2

Kaillie shares the stress, pressure, and expectations on her following her gold medal win and the preparation for her next Olympics. She talks about becoming a leader, her 2014 Olympic performance, what kept her wanting to continue to compete afterward, and her efforts to ensure equality and equity in her sport. Kaillie also goes into great detail about the verbal and mental abuse she suffered at the hands of the Canadian coaching staff and Federation in the lead up to her 2018 Olympics, the steps she took to address it, and precisely why athletes are so hesitant to speak up about such abuses. The conversation draws to a close with her story of joining the USA Team, the grace and humility that both she and the team demonstrated during this transition, and her plans for the future. Kaillie’s story is one which ranges from the sheer joy of victory to the pain and personal agony of being bullied and excluded by those who should have been supporting and protecting her. There is so very much for everyone to learn from the perseverance, consistency, and courage she has shown throughout her life – listen in to today’s episode (and part one if you missed it) to be inspired by all that she has to share.

Episode Highlights:

• The stress, pressure, and expectations Kaillie faced after winning gold and while working to defend her title, and how she dealt with these
• The story of Kaillie’s 2014 Olympic win, the role that consistency played, and what it taught her
• What kept her wanting to compete after 2014
• Bringing equality and equity to bobsled
• Dealing with coaching staff and Federation abuse and filing a complaint about it
• The effects of the bullying she received
• ‘Coach’s discretion’ and how it can be used to threaten athletes
• The effects of filing the complaint and why athletes fear doing so
• Kaillie’s move to the USA team and the grace and humility exhibited by all involved
• What the next couple years look like for Kaillie

Quotes:

“If we don’t win, at least I’m happy with how I competed.”

“I wanted to push and see how far I could go.”

“I was constantly being told that I was wrong, that I was incorrect, that I was letting my country down, that I wasn’t, you know, living up to expectations, that my teammates didn’t like me.”

“These are people who are supposed to be looking out for you, and they don’t have my best interests at heart.”

“They were challenges that I faced to the best of my ability and I handled them with as much grace as I possibly could.”

“I am best friends with one of my biggest competitors – there is no need for people to look down on another based on hair, color, race, gender, it doesn’t matter what it is.”

“There was a lot of what I consider verbal and mental abuse that had occurred.”

“I needed to speak my truth, and I needed to hold people accountable, and I needed to make sure that moving forward I was in a safe place.”

“Be who you are and respect other people for the fact that they’re who they are.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Laura’s Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Kaillie’s Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailliehumphries/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobsledKaillie

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bobsledkaillie/

Beginning with a look at his own background and the powerful model his family provided for him in terms of service to others, Chip then relates his experiences as he entered the coaching field and the level of mentorship which these positions offered him. He shares the changes he has witnessed as a teacher/coach over the years, explores the qualities that make up a good coach, and reviews his transition from coaching to producing ‘The Success Chronicles’. With great passion and humor he shares some of his formulas for helping people achieve success, his own definition of success, what it takes to become an effective leader, and how to handle times of doubt. Chip’s remarkable warmth, wisdom, and humility shine through in this informative, entertaining and inspiring conversation.

Episode Highlights:

• Chip’s background and the example of service that his family provided him
• Chip’s early years with coaching
• The mentorship side of coaching
• The changes and the constants he has seen over the years
• What makes a quality coach
• Transitioning from coaching to producing ‘The Success Chronicles’
• Chip’s formulas for helping people to be successful
• His definition of success
• Becoming an effective leader
• Handling times of doubt

Quotes:

“I have stories upon stories upon the…positive difference that my family members made in the lives of others.”

“If you are open-minded and you work hard and you treat people right…I believe that great things will happen for you.”

“Input equals output.”

“In any situation that we’re placed in, every choice we make either, you know, pushes us forward, or holds us back.”

“I love that it all started with you wanting to give back, wanting to give service.”

“Formulas are the way to help us get through things.”

“Show up…have a great attitude…give your all.”

“It’s not about me.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Laura’s Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Connect with Chip: YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChipBakerTheSuccessChronicles/featured Online Store: https://chip-baker-the-success-chronicles.square.site/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chipbakertsc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chipbakertsc/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/chipbaker19

After a brief discussion about the adorable similarities in their dogs, Kaillie and Laura go on to delve into Kaillie’s history with sports and the road that led her to bobsledding. Kaillie offers a vivid account of what it’s like to compete in a bobsled, shares the training process for the sport and emphasizes the critical importance of intense focus within it. With great candor, Kaillie then describes her career in bobsledding, especially her Olympic experiences, the disappointments along the way, and the lessons she learned from them. The two continue by exploring the value of overcoming negative advice, focusing on being your best rather than winning, and then finish up with the inspirational tale of Kaillie’s Olympic Gold performance in her home country. Kaillie Humphries’ story is a testament to the power of perseverance, surrounding yourself with people who love you, and believing in yourself. Today’s conversation is one that, while it focuses on the sports world, provides valuable examples and lessons for virtually every aspect of life.

Episode Highlights:

Kaillie and Laura’s dogs Kaillie’s history in sports and how she found bobsledding Her description of what it’s like to bobsled How bobsledders train including visualizations The critical importance of focus Her career in bobsledding, particularly her Olympic experiences Learning from disappointments and mistakes Overcoming negative advice and surrounding yourself with people who love and care for you Focusing on being your best rather than winning Winning Olympic Gold in her home country of Canada

Quotes:

“For me, sports was always an outlet, it was where I felt the most comfortable, where I felt the safest…I got to push myself, challenge myself.”

“Coming last on a consistent basis, it wears you down.”

“It’s a second hand sport, as they call it.”

“I feel like if you’ve been in a fighter jet or like a Formula 1 race car, you’re going to have an idea.”

“Unfortunately, there’s fatalities that can occur, so you need to be 100% focused every single time you step on the ice and you go to push.”

“I wasn’t doing it to impress anybody, I was doing it because it fulfilled me.”

“Surround yourself with people who do care about you, more than what you’re doing.”

“The goal wasn’t on winning, it was about doing my best each and every step that it was going to take in order to ultimately have a great result.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Laura’s Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Kaillie’s Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailliehumphries/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobsledKaillie

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/bobsledkaillie/

Ted shares both how he started in broadcasting and his vast experience in the field. He discusses the athlete who has had the greatest impact upon him, looks at the mindset of a defending Olympic champion, and relates some memories of his most unexpected Olympic moments. He also offers his perspective on the most common trait found in the most successful athletes, details the reasons why he continues to call sports, relates some of the crazier Olympic moments he has encountered, and explores just what makes good sports drama. You can hear the passion in his voice as he shares his remarkable experience and insight with Laura, and you will undoubtedly come away with the same high degree of respect for Ted Robinson that he and Laura so clearly have for each other.

Episode Highlights:

Ted’s broadcasting career and how it started His experiences with being asked to call sports with which he was unfamiliar The most impactful athlete for Ted The significance of David Boudia’s gold medal moment The mindset of a defending Olympic champion Ted’s memories of unexpected Olympics moments The profound nature of being able to compete for your own country Ted’s perspective on the quality that is common to all of the greatest athletes Apolo Ohno’s perfect race What keeps Ted calling sports and what he has learned over his many years of covering individual Olympic sports Some of Ted’s crazier Olympic memories His perspective on what makes for good sports drama The events Ted would like to call that he hasn’t already A fascinating fact about Ted

Quotes:

“I was completely channeled from age 17 on to do what I am still doing into my early 60’s now.”

“There are Olympic sports, and there are sports in the Olympics.”

“Suddenly, you understand the formula, you lose your fear…you’ll handle it…it helps your employment greatly.”

“I’m going to work the Olympic games until I’m disinvited.”

“In that moment you realize that all these things you have done are not just for you, it’s, like, for your country.”

“The ability to be ready for the moment.”

“As soon as…the competition starts, I love it, I love it, and that’s what keeps you going.”

“Crazy things happen in the Olympics – good and bad.”

“We were lectured very sternly by NBC going to Athens that we were really not supposed to wear things that identified us as Americans. I purchased Canadian t-shirts.”

“When you understand that the lights are at their brightest and you still see an athlete perform – that’s the moment…that’s what you come back for.”

Links:

The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Laura’s Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/

https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson

Ted Robinson:

https://twitter.com/tedjrobinson

https://www.instagram.com/tedjrob49/

Susie begins today’s discussion by reviewing her journey to her current role and her work during the pandemic, and offering an extensive analysis of how to use nutrition to extend athletic careers. She explores the impact of nutrition on the physical, cognitive and emotional development of athletes, offers some tips for young athletes, and shares her perspective on nutritional supplementation. Susie also looks at the evolution of the nutritional content of food over the years, dietary practices for recovering from injuries, breakthroughs in sports nutrition, and preparing athletes for easing into retirement. She finishes by providing her recommendations regarding the use of apps by athletes. As you listen today, you will be struck not only by Susie’s expertise in this field, but her sincere desire to make the life of athletes better both within and outside of their sport – she is truly as informative as she is inspirational.

Episode Highlights:

Susie’s journey to her current role Her work during the pandemic Using nutrition to help extend your athletic career Determining the time of peak growth Nutrition and physical, cognitive and emotional development Top tips for young athletes Reliable sources of nutritional information for athletes Different nutritional requirements for different sports Nutritional supplementation The evolution of the nutritional content of food Dietary practice advice for athletes recovering from injuries Breakthroughs in sports nutrition Preparing athletes to ease into their retirement Susie’s recommendations regarding apps

Quotes:

“During the peak growth phase…you need to modify the load through the body because that’s the at-risk time for injury.”

“If you listen to your body, your body will tell you…what it needs.”

“It’s important not to neglect the emotional and the cognitive sort of development that happens with these kids as well because they may stop the sport.”

“It’s important to look at who you are, what your dreams are…what you need to do to fulfill your dreams.”

“I want to prevent the loss of athletes from sport, and also the loss of the love and the passion for their sport.”

“We’ve just got to make sure we look after their life outside of the sport as well as their life in sport.”

“Go back to the basics.”

“I try to take the emotion out of food.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Susie’s work with Olympic athletes: https://www.teamusa.org/News/2018/February/17/Nutritionists-Behind-The-Scenes-Give-Team-USA-Athletes-The-Right-Fuel-For-Success

Lauren starts things off by describing her unique journey to becoming an Olympian, what it is like to actually live at an Olympic Training Centre, and emphasizing the importance she places upon having and following an effective recovery regime. She also shares what she has learned from this journey, about dealing with self-doubt, and exactly how the Olympic Bobsled Team is selected. Her emotional tale of her first Olympic experience, her preparation for a potential second Olympics appearance, and her strategy for getting through the ‘tough times’ that all elite athletes encounter are explored as well. Finally, she shares with listeners her recent collaboration with airbnb which offers people the opportunity to interact with her online in real time. Lauren is a thoroughly engaging speaker whose honesty, insights, and humor in today’s episode will not only educate and entertain, but also inspire all listeners.

Episode Highlights:

Lauren’s journey to becoming an Olympian Living in an Olympic Training Centre The importance of a recovery regime What Lauren has learned from her journey Dealing with thoughts of self doubt How the USA Olympic Bobsled Team is picked Lauren’s Olympic experience Preparing for her second Olympics Getting through those ‘character building days’ Lauren’s ‘Airbnb Online Experience’

Quotes:

“Lauren Gibbs in high school and college was kind of lazy.”

“At any point in your life you can change who you are and do better.”

“And by the way, bobsledding feels like being kicked off a cliff in a trash can. Have fun!”

“Most of us Olympians don’t make much money, if any at all, like, we’re paying to do our sport oftentimes.”

“Lauren, you worked hard at something, you committed yourself to something, and you did it. Congratulations, here’s your new life.”

“The difference maker was going to be how I handled those tough days.”

“In a time when the world kind of feels like it’s on fire and ending, it’s really nice to have something positive and exciting and interesting to do.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Lauren’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagibbs84/

Lauren’s bio: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-bobsled-skeleton-federation/athletes/lauren-gibbs

Lauren’s ‘Airbnb Online Experience’: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/1661397?locale=en&_set_bev_on_new_domain=1593448886_xxh3CusJGZToEWMP

Today, Laura talks to Kim about her illustrious career in gymnastics, including the 1991 World Championships, as well as the times that she retired and then returned to the sport. They also delve into her transition into coaching, what she has learned through it, how her coaching style compares to the coaches she had, and her opinion on the top qualities for being a coach. Kim also offers some valuable advice for recognizing and acting upon abuse. As you listen, you will soon discover that Kim has a great deal of wisdom to share not only about gymnastics, but about life as well, proving that she truly deserves the heroic status which Laura has bestowed upon her.

Episode Highlights:

Kim’s gymnastic career and her reflections upon it 1991 World Championships The times that Kim retired from and returned to gymnastics Her transition to coaching and what she has learned from it Comparing how she coaches to how she was coached Kim’s opinion on the most important qualities in a coach Her advice regarding recognizing and acting upon abuse

Quotes:

“You’re living through history, and sometimes living through history is not always comfortable.”

“Define before you go into something what is going to make you happy with it.”

“It’s okay to grieve a broken or lost dream, but you can’t stay there.”

“How do I help convince them that they have the tools to do it, is really more what it is.”

“This is both ways, we’re all learning through this.”

“Keep encouraging openness.”

“We are all evolving humans, and I think if we can be there for each other, and own things, that we can do better and be there to inspire people.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Kim’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/KimZmeskal

Kim’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimzb/

Texas Dreams homepage: http://texasdreams.com/

In this episode, Cat describes her start in softball, her journey to becoming a star at the University of Texas, and her experiences at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. She also shares her standout collegiate career moment, the difference between pro and college ball, and softball’s fluctuating status with the Olympics. Her coaching career, her return to softball, and how she and her team are handling these unusual times are also explored, and she offers some sage advice for up and coming athletes when dealing with adversity such as this pandemic. Cat Osterman is an elite athlete possessing a vast amount of knowledge, skill, and insight regarding both sport and life in general, and you will be educated, informed, and inspired as you listen in on this conversation today.

Episode Highlights:

Cat’s start in softball and her journey to the University of Texas Cat’s road to the Olympics and her advice for others doing the same Her first Olympic Games adventure in 2004 Cat’s standout moment from her collegiate career The difference between pro and college ball Her second Olympics in 2008 Softball’s changing status with the Olympic Games The coaching/playing relationship Cat’s situation when the pandemic struck and how she and her team are navigating it Her advice to young athletes handling adversity

Quotes:

“That 2004 group was a special group, how we kind of gelled and worked together.”

“When we’re immersed in this sport and it’s what you love to do…you almost do anything to make sure it happens.”

“Keep your eye on your goal, and remember to do your part towards that goal.”

“With team…you also love bronze, because you’re winning the bronze, whereas a silver, you’re losing the gold.”

“Everything we preach to our kids, we have to remember it applies to ourselves as well.”

“In just being a teammate and communication-wise, I think coaching has helped me be a better player more than playing has helped me be a better coach again.”

“Control what you can control.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Cat’s homepage: https://www.catosterman.com/

Cat’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catosterman/

In our discussion, Greg shares how elite athletes, including himself, handle cancelled or boycotted competitions, deal with distractions, and maintain motivation while processing criticism. We also explore the importance of the trust between a coach and athlete, dealing with feelings of failure, and the incredible story of Greg’s 1988 Olympics experience. We finish up by looking at his perception of challenges actually being opportunities, and I ask him how he would like to be remembered. Throughout this fascinating conversation we discover Greg’s lifelong focus upon learning to perform to the best of his ability rather than competing for awards – a valuable attitude for us all to emulate in both sports and life in general.

Episode Highlights:

How athletes are handling the cancellation of the Red Bull Cliff Diving Season How Greg dealt with the boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games Managing distractions while competing, maintaining motivation and processing criticism Building coach-athlete trust Dealing with feelings of failure The story of the 1988 Olympics Seeing challenges as opportunities Performing instead of competing How Greg would like to be remembered

Quotes:

“If you think of an elite athlete in many sports, it’s like a carton of milk…it has an expiration date.”

“I always wanted my performance to speak for itself…I was out there to prove something.”

“It’s human nature to root for the underdog, and for many, many years, I was not the underdog.”

“I think the most important thing is to observe and listen.”

“It was never my goal to win gold…my goal was to have the best performance that I could on that given time, and just be the absolute best that I could be…the results will take care of themselves.”

“This pandemic is proof – we have such little control, ultimately.”

“As long as I was in the pool in training, HIV didn’t exist, nor did my relationship…that was my safe space, my sanctuary.”

“I always thought…a bad takeoff was a great opportunity.”

“Emulate what you admire, but be your own person.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Greg’s homepage: https://greglouganis.com/

Greg’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greglouganis/

In today’s episode, Laura and Dr. Cogan cover an incredible amount of territory including the Doctor’s journey to sports psychology, her direction for athletes dealing with the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the benefits of implementing mindfulness techniques in both sports and life in general. They also look at the causes of burnout in athletes, some reasons behind athletes seeking Dr. Cogan’s assistance and what it means to honor their feelings, as well as some common characteristics of successful and struggling athletes. Finally, Dr. Cogan offers her advice on a number of topics ranging from helping struggling athletes to managing distractions, routines, and pressure, and she also shares some words of wisdom for parents and young athletes. This is an episode overflowing with amazing insight, unique perspective, and powerful ‘truth bombs’ from two highly accomplished experts in their fields. There truly is gold in your future, and today’s show marks the first in a series of formidable steps to help you pursue it.

Episode Highlights:

Dr. Cogan’s background and her journey to sports psychology Her direction for athletes trying to cope through this pandemic and who are preparing to get back to full swing when this isolation ends Mindfulness training for sports and life The causes of burnout in athletes and how to avoid it Reasons that athletes have for talking with Dr. Cogan and how she honors their feelings Common characteristics of both successful and struggling athletes Dr. Cogan’s advice regarding helping struggling athletes, overcoming ‘fear of success’, dealing with pressure, managing distractions, routines, community, and technology Her advice for young athletes and parents of athletes

Quotes:

“What I have encouraged athletes to do is to really honor the feelings that they have, whatever those are.”

“It’s okay to grieve dreams or hopes and things like that when it doesn’t play out like you want.”

“When we try to push down those things we’re afraid are going to take over, we’re actually giving them power to take over, and that’s when they end up exploding in our face.”

“Everything is a performance issue when it comes to the Olympics.”

“An athlete has to be able to talk openly.”

“Now’s the time to get rid of the bad habits and establish the good habits.”

“Winning and losing does not define you as a person or an athlete.”

“While the gold medal is awesome, and it’s a great goal to strive for, it’s that pursuit that’s going to make you who you are in the long run.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Dr. Karen Cogan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-cogan-93440a24/

In this episode, these two friends discuss many aspects surrounding this year’s Olympic postponement, including its effects upon their mental and physical training. They also share the positives to be found in the current circumstances, what they believe their sports will be like next year, what drives them to continue to compete, and their shared experiences of being both a Mom and an Olympic athlete. Finally, Mariel offers her advice to all athletes on handling this ‘difficult season’. As you listen, you will discover that these are two highly talented and committed athletes – kindred spirits in the quest for continued excellence during this pandemic and beyond – whose real, raw, and honest conversation proves as enlightening as it is heartfelt.

Episode Highlights:

The many effects of COVID-19 and the Olympic postponement upon Mariel and Laura’s lives and physical and mental training Positives to be found in the pandemic Their predictions regarding the state of Fencing and Diving in 2021 What drives Mariel to keep competing Being a Mom and an Olympic athlete Mariel’s advice for other athletes getting through this difficult season

Quotes:

“For athletes who have to prepare for one day or, you know, a series of tournaments, it’s very difficult right now to know what you have to do.”

“We plan our entire life around the Olympics. The Olympics doesn’t wait for anybody. And now it’s like, we have to wait for the Olympics.”

“It’s definitely a tough time mentally and emotionally, not so much physically.”

“Just getting one more year to do that thing I love before maybe my body totally breaks down and doesn’t let me do it anymore - kind of excited about that.”

“Any time you’re just so emotionally and physically invested into something and then it ends or it’s taken away…it just kind of sucks the wind out of you.”

“I just want to set that example for the female athletes to show that we can do it and you can continue if you really want to.”

“Focus on what you can control, and then you’re going to feel a lot more at peace.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/

Mariel Zagunis Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariel.zagunis/

Mariel Zagunis bio: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-fencing/athletes/Mariel-Zagunis