103. Precision Path to Gold with 4 time Olympic Champion Swimmer Ryan Murphy
Laura’s guest this week is none other than six-time Olympic Medalist and World Record holder, Ryan Murphy, who details his simply remarkable journey to, and within, the world of elite swimming. From his early days in the pool, following in the footsteps of his competitive siblings, to becoming an internationally revered leader in the realm of swimming, Ryan’s steadfast dedication, intense focus, and unmatched work ethic have elevated him to the status of a true champion in the sport. In today’s very special episode, he and Laura cover it all, including what’s next in his formidable journey, in particular, his preparation for the upcoming 2024 Olympics.
Throughout the episode, listeners become privy to valuable insights into the life and mindset of an Olympic champion, as this legendary duo explores such themes as building confidence, managing distractions, handling pressure, and the importance of teamwork. They dive deep into the world of competitive swimming and uncover the invaluable lessons it has to offer, including the significance of perseverance, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence in the face of extraordinary challenges. You definitely do not want to miss this fascinating conversation that provides a rare and invaluable glimpse into the mental and physical preparation that goes into reaching the pinnacle of athletic achievement, achieving Olympic glory, and, above all, pursuing and fulfilling your dreams.
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:
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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:
Learn more about the Take Action Workshop
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80. Shattering Expectations with 6 Time Paralympic Medalist McKenzie Coan
Laura is back and she is joined by the truly exceptional McKenzie Coan, a Paralympic swimmer whose remarkable journey has resulted in thoroughly stellar achievements. McKenzie’s story is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, demonstrating that anything is possible when you put your heart and mind to it. In today’s powerful conversation, she reveals the mindset skills that have fueled her success, and emphasizes the significance of resilience, determination, staying present, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth.
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:
Grab the Top 10 Mental Skills Guide!
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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."
Links:
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Riley’s Links:
65. Getting Uncomfortable with Navy Seal John Doolittle
Today, Laura welcomes John Doolittle, a retired Navy SEAL Captain and currently a certified KAATSU Master Specialist who serves as the Chief Revenue Officer of KAATSU Global. Laura and John open the conversation by talking about John’s swimming background and introduction to the Air Force Academy. Supported by his trusted mentor Mike, John decided to join the BUD/S training and become a Navy SEAL. Although the training was one of the most challenging and hardest periods of his life, it served as a great introduction to Navy life.
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
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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.”
Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global
Links:
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
Laura’s Social Media:
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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.”
Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global.
Links:
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
Laura’s Social Media:
Allison’s Contact Info:
Allison’s email: awagner@usada.org
Allison’s phone number: 802-380-0688
28. When your passion becomes your way of life with Olympic swimmer Cammile Adams
Laura is very excited to welcome two-time Olympic swimmer, Cammile Adams, to the podcast today. Originally from Houston, Cammile started swimming at four years old, and went on to specialize in the 200m butterfly, eventually becoming a two-time NCAA Champion and seven-time NCAA All-American. She also competed for Team USA at the World Championships, earning a silver medal in 2015, and also represented her country at the London and Rio Olympics. Having retired from competitive swimming after Rio, Cammile currently runs a number of SafeSplash Swim Schools in and around Houston.
In this episode, Cammile describes her swimming career starting with her twin sister and her father at an early age, through her college, professional and Olympic experiences, and finishing with her dream job running her swim schools. Along the way she shares the influence her coaches and mentors have had upon her, her unique fly stroke, one of the darkest moments in her life, and the importance of building a ‘tribe’, of having wise counsel around, and of balancing life within and outside of the pool. She concludes the conversation with her valuable advice for young athletes, borne out of her vast amount of experience and earned wisdom. Fully evident throughout today’s episode is the idea that sports can teach a person so much about themselves and help them grow the skills necessary for life in general. Cammile Adams provides living proof of this fact, as her incredible learning journey, shared here today, clearly demonstrates.
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:
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/
26. Grins, gold & becoming a #girldad with Olympic swimmer Nathan Adrian
Laura is absolutely thrilled to welcome Olympic champion swimmer, Nathan Adrian, to the podcast today. Nathan is an eight-time Olympic medalist who has played key roles in some of the fastest relay teams in history. From 2008 to 2019, he won gold at World Championships, Pan Pacific Championships, or the Olympics every year but one. He has 16 World Championships medals (LCM) to his name, and has served as a USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador since 2014.
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:
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:
Website: http://www.nathanadrian.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathangadrian/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathangadrian
19. You need to always be in a season of learning with swimmer Michael Andrew
Laura’s guest on the podcast this week is World Championship gold medalist swimmer, Michael Andrew. Turning pro at 14, Michael broke numerous National Age Group Records in his teens, and over the course of his career, he has broken Junior World Records. Along the way, however, he and his parents have also received a lot of backlash for the choices that they made throughout this stellar career. In today’s episode, Michael talks about all of this and so much more in a conversation that is both enlightening and inspiring.
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:
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/
12. US Navy EOD Officer to Gold Medal Paralympian with Brad Snyder
This week marks one year out from the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and Laura is deeply honored to welcome Gold Medal Paralympian, Brad Snyder, to the podcast today. A highly experienced competitive swimmer, Brad graduated from the US Naval Academy and was deployed to Iraq and later to Afghanistan as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer. After six months in Afghanistan, Brad sustained complete vision loss as a result of the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED). What’s incredible about Brad is not what happened to him that fateful day, but as you will hear, how he responded to it.
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:
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:
Ryan Holiday’s The Obstacle is the Way: