109. Celebrating the Stories of Women Athletes with Flame Bearers Founder Jamie Mittelman

Consciously Connected Podcast

Connect with Jaime:

Jaime's Website

Jaime's Instagram

Laura Wilkinson 10/5/23 Laura Wilkinson 10/5/23

89. Fall in Love with Failing with 3x World Champ Softball Player Haylie McCleney

In this week’s captivating episode, Laura is joined by the outstanding Olympic Silver medalist and softball legend, Haylie McCleney, for an entertaining and informative conversation chock-full of ‘mic drops and truth bombs’. Haylie's extraordinary journey began early in her life, fueled by an insatiable passion for sports and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Graduating with a degree in Human Performance from the University of Alabama and attaining a Master's in Exercise Physiology at Florida Atlantic University, Haylie's dedication has ultimately led to her becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with membership in the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Throughout her discussion with Laura today, Haylie shares invaluable insights touching on her approach to thriving as a leadoff hitter, embracing relentless presence, and the profound significance of playing the long game.

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 Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW

Laura’s Social Media:

Top 10 Mental Skills Guide

Connect with Haylie:

Haylie's Website

Haylie's Linktree

Laura Wilkinson 9/28/23 Laura Wilkinson 9/28/23

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."

Links:

Laura’s Social Media:

Learn more about the Take Action Workshop

Connect with Erin:

Erin's LinkedIn

Ascension Coaching

Laura Wilkinson 8/24/23 Laura Wilkinson 8/24/23

83. Growing into a Leader with Swimming Olympic Medalist Elizabeth Beisel

In today’s episode, Laura engages in a captivating conversation with none other than Elizabeth Beisel, the 3-time Olympian and 2-time medalist, who was voted by her teammates to be the 2016 Captain of the US Olympic Team. Elizabeth’s journey, marked by her Olympic debut at the age of 15 and extensive subsequent success, unfolds as a tapestry of determination, resilience, and triumph over adversity. The episode offers a deep dive into Beisel's formative experiences, her trajectory towards becoming a swimming champion, and the transformative shifts in mindset that propelled her to her remarkable achievements. Throughout the discussion, themes of tenacious determination, the significance of self-belief, and the profound influence of mentorship are interwoven, presenting an inspiring illustration of the pursuit of excellence in both athletic and broader life contexts.

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:

Laura’s Social Media:

Elizabeth's Website

Connect with Elizabeth:

Silver Lining

Laura Wilkinson 8/17/23 Laura Wilkinson 8/17/23

82. The Next Best Run with 2 Time Olympian Kim Conley

Two-time Olympian and renowned runner, Kim Conley, joins Laura on the podcast this week to share her incredible story of defying all odds to reach the pinnacle of her sport. From facing disappointments in college to becoming an Olympian with her first endorsement deal within just three years, Kim's tale is a testament to the power of perseverance and self-belief. In addition to her prowess on the track, she also operates a successful coaching company which caters to runners of all abilities across the nation. Today, this very special guest details the many powerful lessons she has learned during her unforgettable journey of passion, triumph, and dedication.

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:

Learn more about the Take Action Workshop

Laura’s Social Media:

Grab a free guide here

Connect with Kim:

Kim's Website

Kim's Instagram

Laura Wilkinson 5/25/23 Laura Wilkinson 5/25/23

79. Making a difference through sport with 3 time Olympian Hugo Inglis

Welcome to an electrifying episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast as Laura sits down with three-time Olympian and esteemed member of the New Zealand Black Sticks hockey team, Hugo Inglis, to discuss his remarkable journey in the pursuit of excellence. One of the world's most revered field hockey players - currently training towards his fourth Olympic Games in Paris 2024 - Hugo is not only a successful, multifaceted athlete, but he has also excelled in the realm of academia, earning an MBA with distinction. Today, he and Laura delve into the depths of the mental game in sports, the arduous journey of a professional athlete, and the power of unwavering dedication.

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:

Laura’s Social Media:

High Impact Athletes

Connect with Hugo:

HIA's Athletes

Hugo's LinkedIn Page

Hugo's Twitter

Hugo's Instagram

Laura Wilkinson 11/17/22 Laura Wilkinson 11/17/22

72. Enjoy the Journey with Olympic Diving Coach Kenny Armstrong

On this episode of the Pursuit of Gold, Laura welcomes her diving coach of thirty years, Kenny Armstrong, to the podcast. Not only is he a two time Olympic diver, but he’s also a coach turned father figure who helps aspiring divers get Division One scholarships and even gold medals. The pair dive into Armstrong’s origin story as well as his ‘out of the box’ training style, and why it works. As a young boy, Kenny began his diving career rather uniquely: diving into a pond. A decade and a half later, he would find himself at the 1972 Olympics, diving in front of a large audience for the first time. It wasn’t until the University of Calgary, however, that he got his start coaching.

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.”

Links:

Grab the Black Friday Catalog!

Laura’s Social Media:

Laura’s Facebook

Woodlands Diving

Laura Wilkinson 10/27/22 Laura Wilkinson 10/27/22

70. Striving for Balance with Olympic Champion Dominique Moceanu

Joining Laura today is Dominique Moceanu, the youngest Olympic gold medalist in US gymnastics history and youngest senior US national all-around champion in history. Dominique was a member of the first US women's gymnastics team to win Olympic gold in 1996, commonly referred to as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ by the media. A nine-time US national team member as well as back-to-back junior and senior all-around national champion, Dominique has been inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame with her 1996 teammates. But, as life would have it, all that glitter isn’t gold. Even though Dominique made history as a young athlete and achieved astonishing results in her career, that success came with a heavy price. From a toxic sports environment to abusive coaching methods, there were a lot of things happening behind the scenes while Dominique and her teammates were winning medals and making gymnastics history.

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.”

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Links:

Get Your Freebie: ‘Five Ways to Stay Focused in a Competition’

Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

Pursuit of Gold Merch

Laura’s Social Media:

Dominique’s YouTube Channel

Connect with Dominique:

Dominique’s Twitter

Dominique’s Instagram

Dominique’s LinkedIn

Laura Wilkinson 10/13/22 Laura Wilkinson 10/13/22

69. How to Effectively Implement Visualization with Our Host Laura Wilkinson

On today’s episode, Laura’s talking about one of the things she gets asked about most frequently: visualization. Laura credits this technique as a big part of why she was able to make the Olympic team and win gold when no one else expected her to. Having seen other athletes succeed with this approach, she adopted it as a way to continue training after shattering her foot three months before the Olympic Trials, making an opportunity out of that forced sidelining. Visualization has remained part of Laura’s personal toolset, and she uses that experience in this episode to explain what the technique is and walk us through how to get started visualizing in a way that will actually make a difference.

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:

1-on-1 Coaching with Laura

Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

Laura’s Social Media:

Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global

Laura Wilkinson 5/26/22 Laura Wilkinson 5/26/22

64. "Swimming Chose Me" with 12 Time Olympic Medalist Natalie Coughlin

Laura’s guest on today’s episode is record-breaker, trailblazer, and history-maker Natalie Coughlin. Natalie has won twelve Olympic medals and twenty World Championship medals; she was the first US woman to win six medals at a single Olympic Games and the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in the same event and consecutive Olympics. And as if that wasn’t enough, Natalie was also the first woman ever to swim the hundred-meter backstroke in less than a minute. Her achievements also include winning eleven out of a possible twelve individual NCAA titles, being NCAA Swimmer of the Year three years in a row, and winning a total of sixteen medals in major international competitions (twenty-five gold, twenty-two silver, and thirteen bronze) spanning the Olympics, the World Championships, the Pan-Pacific Championships, and the Pan-American Games. As impressive as her achievements are, Natalie’s also just a really cool, down-to-earth person who’s so much fun to talk to. During the episode, we jump into how her story began, her fierce competitiveness, and an injury that changed her whole perspective on swimming.

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.”

Links:

Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

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Natalie’s Links:

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Gaderian Wines

Cook to Thrive

Laura Wilkinson 5/5/22 Laura Wilkinson 5/5/22

62. Praying for Rain with Two-Time Olympic Medalist Michael Hixon

Today, Laura is joined by Michael Hixon, an American diver and two-time Olympic medalist. The pair open up the episode to talk about Hixon’s abnormally young introduction to sports. Growing up with two parents that were collegiate coaches, he was practically raised on the basketball court and in the pool, but it wasn’t until his eighth grade year that he decided to pursue diving full time. It would soon be a career full of seemingly unachievable goals, Olympic success, and unusual circumstances. Michael, however, remains humble and expresses his gratitude for his parents, especially his mother, in that they never pressured him to play the sport for the wrong reasons.

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?”

Links:

Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

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Laura Wilkinson 4/21/22 Laura Wilkinson 4/21/22

61. The State of Doping in Sports with Olympic Medalist and USADA Director Allison Wagner

Drug scandals are unfortunately notorious in sports, as the Beijing Winter Olympics so recently illustrated with its flashbacks to the vast Russian doping scandal of the 2014 Sochi Games. These doping issues have cheated many clean athletes out of their rightful medals and can take several Olympic cycles to sort out, leaving the true champions in the shadow of the doper and their scandal. Today’s guest, Allison Wagner, has very personal experience with this issue and is now in a place to start making effective changes in sport for athletes. Allison is an Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World silver medalist, a thirteen-time national champion, and even held a world record in swimming for over fourteen years. On several occasions, Allison was beaten in major championships by swimmers who are highly suspected or have proven to be users of banned performance-enhancing substances. She now works for the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as their first Director of Athlete and International Relations. On today’s podcast, Allison shares her story and gives us a basic understanding of how the drug testing process works and our rights as athletes. We also dig into the Russian doping scandal that started way back in 2014 and what we can do as athletes and coaches to affect change.

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.”

Links:

Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

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Allison’s Contact Info:

Allison’s email: awagner@usada.org

Allison’s phone number: 802-380-0688

Laura Wilkinson 4/7/22 Laura Wilkinson 4/7/22

60. It's Only Gymnastics with Olympic Gold Medalist Coach Cecile Landi

You may know today’s guest, Cecile Landi, as Simone Biles’ coach or for coaching multiple gymnasts to Olympic medals, World Championship titles, and numerous full-ride scholarships to D1 schools. What you might not know is that Cecile was an Olympian herself; she claims to have been a late-bloomer, but once she made the French Senior National Gymnastics team at fifteen, there was no stopping her. Cecile competed at three European Championships, three World Championships, and the 1996 Olympic Games. She’s always up for a challenge and constantly wants to be pushed to the next level in everything she does, yet manages to maintain her calm throughout it all. Today, she walks us through her journey from gymnast to coach and how she and her husband Laurent make an unstoppable coaching duo. She also discusses the difficult time during the Tokyo Olympics last summer and the beautiful silver lining that came from it.

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.”

Links:

Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion

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