88. Hitting New Heights with High Jump Olympian & Pro Volleyball Player Erin Aldrich-Shean
In today's very special episode, Laura is honored to welcome Erin Aldridge-Shean, a true multi-sport athlete extraordinaire whose many achievements include being a 2000 US Olympian in track and field as well as a five-time US National Volleyball Team member. In this riveting conversation, Erin recounts her inspiring journey, shares insights into crucial issues within the NCAA system, and offers valuable guidance to athletes and heartwarming tales of transformation along the way.
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."
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74. Fighting for Female Athletes & Women's Sports with NCAA Swimmer Riley Gaines
In the latest episode of Pursuit of Gold, Riley Gaines, a recent graduate from the University of Kentucky and a twelve-time NCAA All American swimmer, joins Laura for an important discussion regarding the controversial inclusion of biological males in women's sports. Riley shares her experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the Women's NCAA Championships in March 2022, and exposes the negative consequences of allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. Their discussion highlights the importance of recognizing the injustice and the need to ensure fairness and opportunities for female athletes.
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 FINA 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 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’s something that no parent, regardless of where you align politically, wants their daughter to be exposed to."
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