77. How To Be a Gold Medal Mom with Linda Wilkinson
In this latest episode of The Pursuit of Gold podcast, Laura welcomes her most special guest ever - her mom Linda Wilkinson. With Mother's Day approaching, Laura wanted to explore the topic of parents' roles in their children's athletic lives, and, given that Linda raised a successful athlete in guiding Laura on her journey, she definitely has plenty of wisdom and advice for parents raising passionate young athletes. Among the many topics discussed are Linda’s reasons for not wanting Laura to join a large gym, her encouragement of Laura's dreams, and the importance of structure and fun while pursuing one's passion.
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:
Laura’s Social Media:
25. Breaking barriers with World Champion weightlifter Kristi Brewer
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is elite Olympic weightlifter, Kristi Brewer.
K Mighty, as she is known, didn’t even start weightlifting until her mid-30’s, and in her relatively short career so far, she has earned the title of Master World Champion and Master Worlds Best Lifter, and in the process broken 12 world records. She competes for the USA on a national and international platform, and is the oldest national ranked weightlifter on the senior circuit. Kristi is also a CPA, a mom to two wonderful girls, and, not surprisingly, a scheduling genius, all of which you will learn more about here today.
In this episode, Kristi shares the story of her rather non-traditional journey to weightlifting through her steady progress in the sport to the current day, and her plans for the future. Along the way, she touches upon her training history, being a ‘remote athlete’, her competitions and the pressure associated with them, the insignificance of ‘weight on the scale’ in the bigger picture, and the impact her training has upon her daughters. She also offers a glimpse of her stellar organizational and scheduling abilities, what it’s like to compete for Team USA, and how we can help cheer her on. Unmistakable throughout is Kristi’s love of the sport and what it has done for her, her pride in being an example for others especially her children, and, above all, the fact that her story clearly demonstrates that ‘life is not over when we become a mom or when we hit a certain age’. Truly, new beginnings are possible at any point in our lives, so listen in today and be inspired by the mighty Kristi Brewer.
Episode Highlights:
· Kristi’s non-traditional journey to weightlifting
· Her training history
· Being a ‘remote athlete’
· Her competition history
· The source of the pressure and expectations on Kristi
· The story of winning her first Master World Championship title
· Competing internationally in the Open Division
· The insignificance of ‘weight on the scale’ in the bigger picture
· The benefits of weight training
· Cutting weight during the holiday season
· Kristi’s daughters’ perspectives on her weightlifting
· Kristi’s scheduling expertise including visual schedules
· Competing for Team USA
· Her current goals
· How we can cheer Kristi on
Quotes:
“I didn’t find weightlifting actually until my second child when I was 35.”
“I love the intensity of it, and also the monotonousness of the training.”
“Weightlifting also just fit my personality as well as my body type.”
“I didn’t have time to be good at both, and I didn’t want to just be mediocre, I wanted to be really good at one, and so…it morphed into weightlifting.”
“I was so terrified of being a remote athlete.”
“I do train alone in my garage, and I’ve been doing that for 4 of the 5 years that I’ve been an athlete.”
“Ultimately, I had to trust myself that I could make these lifts without someone there telling me what to do and when to do it.”
“You don’t actually know what you don’t know until you just do it.”
“I love that women are, like, breaking all kinds of barriers…showing the world that, like, just because you’re in your 30’s or your 40’s doesn’t mean life is over. You can start something new then, and be awesome at it.”
“Through the variety of my different competitions and experiences, the ones…that I’ve done the best at are the ones that I went in with to have fun.”
“The biggest pressures are definitely self-inflicted.”
“Most people aren’t as concerned with us as we are, but that’s something really easy to say but hard to, like, take to heart.”
“Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean that I can’t do it.”
“I hate BMI.”
“Weightlifting has been this huge, huge, huge mind shift of just how powerful a woman’s body can be and how awesome muscle is.”
“If I don’t stick to the plan, I won’t compete.”
“I love being that living example…we can relate on a totally different level.”
“I am way more for experiences over money.”
“Every day is blocked out into work, training, family, and then basically just fitting that all in.”
“Our days are pretty structured, but that structure creates freedom.”
“We do believe that I did get COVID.”
“Tokyo 2021 is out – that’s not something that I’m qualified for.”
“I am a firm believer that you need to make time for yourself.”
“Every time I see your stuff I just smile and I’m encouraged.”
Links:
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 Kristi:
Kristi’s homepage: https://www.kmighty.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k_mighty/
24. Special birthday Q&A with our host Laura Wilkinson and daughter Arella
This week’s episode is a little different, because today is Laura’s birthday! And to celebrate, she has a very special guest who will be asking the questions – her oldest daughter, Arella. Many of the questions that Arella will be asking Laura have been submitted by listeners, and she has also added a few of her own. Towards the end of the podcast, Laura turns the tables and asks Arella a couple questions as well. You will quickly discover that Arella is an excellent interviewer who might just be ready to host her own podcast someday, and you’ll also learn a lot more about Laura, her sport, her faith, her physical and mental training, and, of course, her Olympic experiences. Today’s episode is an excellent opportunity to learn so much about the life of an Olympian and her family, and if there is more you would like to know, be sure to send in your questions to Laura and they might just be answered on a future episode!
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:
Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
18. When your purpose becomes greater than your goal with Chaunte Lowe
Olympic high jumper, and Laura’s newly declared BFF, Chaunte Lowe, is her very special guest on the podcast this week. Chaunte is a 4-time Olympian, 3-Time World Championship medalist, and 12 times US National Champion, who is always a crowd favorite with her impossibly defined abs, dramatic dance moves, and occasional backflips. She is also a mother of 3 and a breast cancer survivor who is currently training for an opportunity to compete in her 5th Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. Hers is a story of determination, perseverance and strength that you do not want to miss.
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:
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:
Homepage: https://www.chauntelowespeaks.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chauntelowe/
15. Being a mom can make you a better athlete with Elana Meyers Taylor
Laura’s guest on the podcast this week is three-time Olympic medalist bobsledder, Elana Meyers Taylor. In addition to her Olympic achievements, Elana is also a four-time World Champion, eight-time World Championship medalist, and she has made history by being the first woman to earn a spot on the US National Team competing with men. On top of all of this, Elana became a mom for the first time earlier this year, and you will hear all about her little Nico throughout the episode today.
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:
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
1. An honest conversation about the Olympic postponement with Mariel Zagunis
Welcome to the Pursuit of Gold podcast, where each week Olympic and World Champion diver, Laura Wilkinson, and her guest unlock the most effective tools to help athletes achieve their highest goals in sports. These guests include elite athletes, experts, sports psychologists, trainers and coaches, and through this podcast they all share their unique advice, tips, and strategies for success.
Laura is joined today by a very special guest, who is also her very good friend, Mariel Zagunis. In addition to being a four time Fencing Olympian, winning back to back Olympic Gold in 2004 and 2008 as well as a pair of team Bronze medals, Mariel was also selected by her fellow athletes to be the 2012 Team USA flag bearer in London. Today, this highly accomplished athlete engages with Laura in a frank discussion about the many ways that the Olympic postponement and COVID-19 have impacted their lives.
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.
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:
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