92. Paving Your Own Path with 2x Olympic Skier Tricia Mangan
In this week’s captivating episode of The Pursuit of Gold, Laura welcomes the truly remarkable Tricia Mangan, a trailblazing skier who defied conventional norms to ascend to the pinnacle of her sport. As a two time Olympian, the 2023 US. National champion, six time North American Cup title winner, NCAA All American and All Academic Team member, and recent Dartmouth College Mechanical Engineering graduate, Tricia's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams regardless of challenges encountered. Today’s episode immerses listeners in the multi-faceted world of athletic excellence, exploring the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that empower athletes like Tricia to achieve greatness.
As you will hear, Tricia’s journey to the Olympics was nothing short of extraordinary. Initially an alternate, she received a last-minute call to join the Olympic team and faced the whirlwind of preparations. The episode highlights her emotions and experiences during this roller-coaster ride, from the excitement of Olympic swag shopping to dealing with self-imposed pressure and doubt. As you dive into this episode, you will gain invaluable insights into Tricia's underdog mindset, her meteoric rise to becoming a two-time Olympian and 2023 US National champion, and her tireless dedication to inspiring the next generation of athletes to relentlessly pursue their dreams. Throughout their conversation, Tricia and Laura also shed light on the inspiring connection between Tricia and her brother (and guest on The Pursuit of Gold Episode 84), para rower Andrew Mangan. Tricia’s incredible journey, as shared here today, serves as a shining example of relentless commitment and the drive to succeed, reaffirming that even amidst the most formidable challenges, athletes can evolve, learn, and continue to pave their own path in their pursuit of gold.
Episode Highlights:
Insights into the tight-knit Mangan family
Tricia's passion for skiing and soccer
The underdog mindset driving Tricia's journey to success
Balancing student-athlete life at Dartmouth College while chasing skiing dreams
Tricia's triumphant return to the US Ski Team
Her Olympic journey
Valuable lessons on process-oriented goal setting
Finding victories in every experience
The mental aspects of competition, handling pressure, and embracing challenges
Quotes:
"I knew that my path made me an underdog, but it was that very mindset that fueled my passion for always improving on and off the hill."
"My twin brother and I were six when we started ski racing. I just loved it because all of our friends did it, kind of the cool kids at the club did it."
"Growing up, I always knew that there were so many better girls out there, so I truly just focused on myself."
"I've learned the most about myself, and I still feel it's just a never-ending challenge."
"Everyone has their own lived experiences, and there's nothing wrong with feeling bad about a race. Like, you put a ton of work into that."
"I just feel so thankful and grateful for all the support I've received, and the most special moments are definitely for me being able to give back and share my journey."
Links:
The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Tricia:
91. Think Big, Act Small with 2x Olympic Medalist Skier Shannon Bahrke
Two-time Olympic medalist and three-time Olympian in skiing, Shannon Bahrke, joins Laura for this week’s fascinating episode of The Pursuit of Gold podcast. In addition to her Silver and Bronze Olympic medals, Shannon’s achievements over her astonishing 12-year career include being a member of the U.S. “A’ Team, earning 7 World Cup victories and 6 U.S. National titles, and winning the Overall World Cup title in 2003 , despite enduring multiple major injuries. Since retiring from her sport, she has gone on to create the Team Empower Hour made up of Olympians who empower corporate leaders and teams around the globe through leadership development, team building, keynote speeches, and fitness workout classes.
Today, Shannon shares details of her extraordinary journey, and, together with Laura, explores such themes such as purpose, resilience, and the power of mental training in sports. The episode delves into Shannon's early introduction to aerial skiing, her childhood in Lake Tahoe, and her love for adventure sports. It highlights her transition to mogul skiing and the pivotal role of community and freedom in her skiing passion. Shannon's journey from the University of Utah to competing at the World Cup level sheds light on the challenges she faced, and her accounts of using journaling and visualization in training and competitions underscore the roller coaster of success that defined her Olympic path. Shannon's story, as told here today, serves as a testament to the importance of mental and emotional resilience, seizing opportunities, and embracing unity and patriotism on a global scale. You owe it to yourself to join in on this remarkable journey, as Shannon's inspiring tale exemplifies the indomitable spirit of athletes who choose resilience and triumph, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of sports and beyond.
Episode Highlights:
Shannon's journey and her resilience and determination to overcome setbacks
Her development of mental toughness, a vital quality for elite athletes
The pivotal role of positive self-talk
The power of visualization
Falling in love with mogul skiing
The importance of seizing opportunities even when faced with adversity
Shannon's ability to bounce back from injuries and setbacks
Choosing resilience and turning failures into stepping stones toward success
Quotes:
"It was hard, it was difficult, it had so many challenges, but it had all of these super crazy and wild people just like me, so it seemed like a perfect fit."
"I'm a natural problem solver, and I like when people tell you can't do it."
"That was the moment that I first started to use visualization, closing my eyes and experiencing and seeing what it is that I wanted."
"We can be the best at our sport, but the difference is in your mental and emotional resilience."
"I could be the person that could change the world as a female to do these things."
"When you have a purpose that's greater than yourself, that gives you the ability to do things you wouldn't normally be able to do."
"Our destiny isn't given to us; we have the choice to make it."
"This is the resilience that I need right now to dig deep and be my best self and show the world what I am truly made of."
Links:
The Confidence Journal- FREE SHIPPING with checkout code: STARTNOW
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Shannon:
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
54. Always be Ready to Pivot with Olympic Silver Medalist Lauren Gibbs
With the Winter Olympic Games upon us, it's perfectly fitting to bring Lauren Gibbs back on the show. If you haven't already heard Lauren's incredible journey from the corporate world to the Olympic podium in just three years while in her 30s, all you need to do is go back to Episode 6 - 'You're Never Too Old To Dream Big with Olympic Medalist' - and listen to her hilarious and wild journey into the world of bobsled. Throughout her career, she has made eight national teams, competed in 44 World Cups, and has won 17 World Cup medals, two World Championship medals, one of which was gold in 2020, and an Olympic medal in 2018. Today, Lauren provides an update on her incredible story.
She picks up the story at the point where the pandemic began to derail training and sponsorships, and goes on to describe the mindset shift she went through and the value of always being ready to pivot. As always, Lauren is open, candid, and vulnerable, as she discusses not being chosen for the Olympic team a second time, the struggle of keeping a certain weight to compete, and how she became friends with her competitors. She also offers some great advice about learning how to tell your story to attract sponsors and supporters, and about different apps to help athletes on various stages of their journey. Lauren finishes up by giving us a rundown of athletes to keep an eye out for at the Winter Games, and an update on what she is up to these days, especially her work with Heroic. A remarkable woman with an equally remarkable story to share, Lauren Gibbs demonstrates once again here today that she is a talented, resilient, and inspiring individual from whom we can all learn so very much about both sport and life in general.
Episode Highlights:
Lauren Gibb's astonishing career from age 30
How she was affected by the pandemic
Lauren's work with Kara Winger on Parity
How she pivoted and supported herself with COVID and the Tokyo games being postponed
Lauren's physical, emotional, and mental state
Her advice and insight for aspiring athletes
The value of sharing your story in your athletic career
Her transformation from high school and college to now
The difference between quitting and knowing when it's time to move on
The uniqueness of bobsled and how Lauren navigated its complexity
The adrenaline letdown after success
Lauren's friendship and connection with Kaillie Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor
The competitive dynamics among women in the same team in sports
The challenges women face in sports, particularly Olympics
Insights on the upcoming Winter Sports and exciting newcomers
Update on what Lauren is currently doing
Details about Heroic and her work there
Quotes:
"It's been tough to see people struggle. I've been very fortunate, but I enjoy life with other people. And so, to see people around you and people you don't know struggling is always hard. My heart goes out to anybody that's been adversely affected by the pandemic. That's a lot of people."
"Then, when the pandemic hit, everything went away. And it was a quick lesson to me on how quickly life can change and how you have to prepare for a pivot. So you always have to be ready for a pivot."
"Olympics was never my end goal when I started bobsled, which I think sounds probably crazy to most people."
"You have to figure out what your story is because everybody has a story that people can learn and grow from."
"People just want to know about real people. They want to know about your struggles, successes, and the weird things you do in your sport that people would never think of. So share as much as yourself as feels comfortable, but also remember, once you share it, you can't take it back. So really show up as yourself."
"Don't try and be this person you think everybody wants to see or hear from because no matter who you are, there's enough people in this world that your story will click with - the people that it needs to click with."
"As someone who's on the other side, I can't wait to help athletes that need help in their journey because people help me. So I think just realize that more people out there want to help you than you think. So you’ve got to share your story and figure out what you're all about."
"I was one of those people who were fairly good at a lot of things. And so, when things got difficult, I would just quit. And I've realized that quitting feels worse than failing. And I was always more afraid of failure than I was excited for success, that I would quit before I got there. I've learned that that's more dissatisfying because you don't really learn anything from just quitting."
"That conversation with my dad was such a gift. He wasn't telling me that the Olympics weren't worth my time or worthless. Basically, he was telling me that the Olympics don't define Lauren Gibbs. And it can be so easy for an athlete to feel defined by their successes or losses in a sport. That's unhealthy. That's not good. You should do it because you love it. "
"You are not your sport; your sport is something that you do."
"If you're depending on this result to change how you feel about life or yourself, whether you get the result or not, it's not going to do it."
"That's how you become a leader at anything. You have a goal in mind, and you work towards that daily. It really focuses on the small wins and the daily activity and then having this great support system."
Show Links
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura's Social Media:
Lauren's Social Media:
50. Worth the risk with aerial skiing Olympian Emily Cook
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is 3 time Olympian and 6 time National Champion in Aerial Skiing, Emily Cook. Currently the manager of sport and human potential at Skullcandy, Emily also manages programming for the non-profit, Classroom Champions, coaches young athletes at the Utah Olympic Park through the US Ski Team’s Elite Aerial Development Program, and is an ambassador for Right to Play and Kids Play International. Throughout her career, Emily has routinely demonstrated her ability to overcome obstacles and elevate her game to new levels, and she shares her inspirational story with listeners here today.
In today’s episode, Emily discusses her commitment towards her sport, her experiences at the World Cup and the Olympics, and the multiple emotions she went through while training. She also delves into dealing with injuries, making difficult decisions, and compares being a coach to being an athlete. She brings the conversation to a close by sharing details about the important work she does these days. An inspiring model of perseverance, Emily has so very much to share here today that is sure to motivate all who listen.
Episode Highlights:
-Emily’s realization of her love for aerial skiing
-Dealing with injuries as an athlete
-Her experiences at the Olympics
-Emily’s work at The Speedy Foundation
-How she had trust in her coach
-Emily’s commitments in the sports sphere
-Being a coach vs. being an athlete
-Emily’s work outside the sports sphere
Quotes:
“So, I always determined before a training block, whether it was a three-week training block or something, what my negative thought stoppers would be, and, you know, exactly what mindset I wanted to be in on the hill. I use music a lot as well.’’
“And then, every once in a while, like, as humans, we’re just not reliable, we’re not reliable to our own commitments.”
“But regardless of who’s there watching, you know…you’ve accomplished something that you set out to do so many years earlier, and it’s an incredible feeling.’’
“And so, it was a daily choice, it was a choice of showing up and showing up 100% no matter what, no matter what my mood was, no matter what was going on around me.’’
“In the end of the day, knowing exactly what I wanted to accomplish, and then debriefing exactly what I did accomplish, so that I knew what I needed to change the next day in order to perform even better.’’
Links:
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Emily:
30. For the love of sport with speedskating legend Bonnie Blair
Everyone is in for an extra special treat as speedskating legend, Bonnie Blair, joins Laura for this week’s episode. The first American woman to win five Olympic gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games, Bonnie dominated the sprint events of long track speedskating across three Games. At the time of her induction into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, she was the most decorated female U.S. Winter Olympian of all time, and was also one of the most decorated female U.S. Olympians in individual events. Today, she shares the stories of her life, career, and achievements in the most open, honest and down to earth way, clearly demonstrating that she is as much a champion off the ice as she is on it.
In sharing the story of her life and career from her earliest memories, Bonnie touches upon her many Olympic experiences, as well as her schooling, training, and her stint in track cycle racing. She also details the impact her dad had upon her and her career, the ways in which she handles pressure, her post Olympic competitions, and what life has been like for her and her family during COVID. She finishes up by discussing the dynamic she shares with Laura of being an Olympian parent whose children are pursuing sports, and offering valuable advice for all to take to heart. Entertaining, warm, and thoroughly engaging, Bonnie Blair is a superstar professionally and personally, a shining example of one who has discovered the winning formula in both sport and life.
Episode Highlights:
· Bonnie’s journey through skating from the very beginning
· Her ‘school through the mail’ experience
· Bonnie’s first Olympic experience
· Increasing her training diligence and consistency
· Bonnie’s second Olympics and how they differed from her first
· Her track cycle racing experience
· Bonnie’s third Olympics and the years leading to them
· Her dad and the impact he had upon her career
· How Bonnie handles pressure
· Her fourth Olympic Games, her preparation for them, and Dan Jansen’s win
· Bonnie’s post-Olympics competitions
· Life for Bonnie and her family during COVID
· The dynamic of an Olympian parent with their kids who are pursuing sports
Quotes:
“I was racing at the age of 4.”
“She just won the race and she’s thanking me!”
“It really kind of became a lot about personal best for me, and challenging that clock.”
“It’s funny to see these people we look up to, like fanboying or fangirling other people, too – it’s awesome.”
“We didn’t have somebody with US Speedskating who was a media person who handled any of this.”
“I know what I need to do.”
“Doing that thing for the very first time is a very powerful moment.”
“When they actually announced that the other girl won, I was so relieved.”
“I like that you’ve won so many that you don’t know!”
“Everybody gets there a different way, and everybody has their own path, and what works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another.”
“Hone in on your strengths.”
“All these different coaches really gave me something at a time when I needed it.”
“The only person I can control is me.”
“He’s my younger brother that I never had.”
“To this day, hearing the national anthem has a whole different meaning to me.”
“It ended on a perfect note.”
“I did it because I loved it, the challenge of the clock, wanting to be the best that I could be, chasing those personal bests, and to me, you know, that’s kind of what it was all about.”
“It’s fun being a mom of kids that love their sports and are following their own journey.”
“What I did was stupid crazy…to try to think that you have to live up to something like that…that’s not right.”
“It’s really all about the love of doing something, and then giving it everything you’ve got.”
Links:
Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Connect with Bonnie:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonnieblairc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bonnieblair
16. Mindset is everything with speed skater Apolo Ohno
The one and only Apolo Ohno is Laura’s very special guest on the podcast today.
After claiming his first major speed skating title at the US Championships at the age of 14, Apolo went from kid prodigy to the most decorated US Winter Olympian in history—a title he still holds—earning eight Olympic medals in short-track speed skating across the 2002, 2006, and 2010 Winter Games. Many of you will remember that he was also involved in one of the craziest short track speed skating races in history where, after colliding with 3 other racers and hitting the wall, he managed to skate over the line and win a silver medal. He shares that story and much more in the episode today.
Apolo begins the conversation by reflecting upon his first broadcasting experience, the effects of the Olympic postponement on athletes, and the first sports in which he participated as a child. He then compares and contrasts short track and long track speed skating, and relates his storied career in speed skating, including the game changing life lesson his father taught him, the importance and power of his shift in mindset, and especially the tremendous impact that sports psychology has had upon his performance. Apolo goes into great detail about the ‘assertive intentionality’ which revolutionized his training, and he provides all the details behind his infamous silver medal at the 2002 Olympics and his transformation as he reinvented himself for the 2010 Olympics. This fascinating conversation concludes with Apolo offering his sage advice for athletes. As an athlete who has experienced so very much throughout his remarkable career, Apolo Ohno possesses a unique perspective on setting goals and accessing each and every ‘reservoir of potential’ during their pursuit. Today you have a front row seat to hear him share his extensive knowledge, insight, and wisdom with Laura in this very special episode.
Episode Highlights:
· Apolo’s first broadcasting experience
· The effects of the Olympic postponement on athletes
· His early sports experiences
· Short track and long track speed skating
· Apolo’s speed skating career
· The life lesson his father taught him which changed Apolo’s life
· The importance and power of his change in mindset
· The impact that sports psychology had upon his performance
· Apollo’s ‘assertive intentionality’ around training
· The story of his 2002 Olympics
· His transformation for his 2010 Olympics
· Apolo’s advice for athletes
Quotes:
“It looked so impossible to me that these guys were leaning over at these impossible angles, going like 30 miles an hour, inside of a hockey rink. It just was so cool looking.”
“I don’t like racing against the clock – that seems very boring to me – I liked racing against other athletes and testing my might against them.”
“I was racing against men who were 30, 35 years old, who had been skating and training longer than I had been alive on this planet, and I was beating them with ease which was very, very weird.”
“At a flip of a switch, I was now being talked about as being a statistic, as being a kid who had it all but threw it away, who didn’t know what hard work and discipline was. And that was painful.”
“Whatever it is, I want to see real dedication and commitment from you.”
“It’s only a true failure if you stay down.”
“I have a mindset…that you are not willing to go to. I will go to the places in my mind that you are afraid to go through.”
“I have something upstairs and in my heart that other people around me do not have.”
“I had this untapped reservoir of potential, and that was my mind.”
“You’ve got to take pleasure in those small wins.”
“I was able to make such assertive intentionality around each training, pre-, during, and post-, that the quality of my training went so high.”
“Everything scarred me in some degree, and…it wasn’t healthy back then, but when it comes down to sheer performance, I think there was no one that was more driven.”
“We, as a country, needed to see some athlete like that, to get knocked down when he was supposed to win, and to not complain about it, and to not gripe about it, but to say...‘Life happens’…it was a blessing.”
“I’m so grateful that I didn’t win that race…anything else would have been different.”
“It was really about me exhausting any and all of the options, leaving no stones unturned in that preparation.”
“Every up, every down, every mediocre performance is an incredible learning experience and opportunity to light that fire within.”
Links:
Mental Training: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Connect with Apolo:
Website: https://www.apoloohno.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apoloohno
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ApoloOhno
15. Being a mom can make you a better athlete with Elana Meyers Taylor
Laura’s guest on the podcast this week is three-time Olympic medalist bobsledder, Elana Meyers Taylor. In addition to her Olympic achievements, Elana is also a four-time World Champion, eight-time World Championship medalist, and she has made history by being the first woman to earn a spot on the US National Team competing with men. On top of all of this, Elana became a mom for the first time earlier this year, and you will hear all about her little Nico throughout the episode today.
Elana begins the episode by sharing the story of her marriage proposal, her subsequent pregnancy and delivery, and the conditions with which her son, Nico, has been diagnosed. She and Laura then explore the ways in which motherhood can impact an athlete’s training and the many benefits of involving your children in the training. Elana also describes how COVID-19 has impacted her training, the upcoming bobsled season, and her family’s income. The shift in her mindset and how she is feeling now, what it’s like training with and being coached by her husband, her definition of success, and her favorite memory of her bobsledding career are discussed as well. Elana then concludes the episode with her sage advice for fellow elite athletes who are moms. As you listen to her story today, you will discover in Elana a remarkably accomplished woman who sets and pursues her goals relentlessly, providing a sterling example not only for her beloved child, but for the rest of us as well. Prepare to be inspired.
Episode Highlights:
The story of Elana’s marriage proposal
The story of her pregnancy and delivery
Her son’s diagnoses of Down syndrome and profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss
How motherhood and COVID-19 have affected her training
The benefits of involving their children in their training
Setting an example for their children
How COVID-19 has affected the bobsled season
How Elana is feeling right now and how her mindset has shifted
Training with and being coached by her husband
The impact of COVID-19 on her family’s income
Elana’s definition of success
One of her favorite memories from her bobsledding career
Elana’s advice for new moms who are also elite athletes
Quotes:
“He spent about eight days in the NICU, which was an experience that I wouldn’t wish on anybody at all.”
“They adapt, you adapt, and you kind of figure it out together, which is kind of the beautiful thing.”
“I’m going to be a new, different, and, I think, better athlete as a result of everything that’s going on.”
“For our kids’ sake, they are going to get a lot out of…their mother showing them that they can go on and set goals and achieve something even while still being a mom.”
“I feel like part of our journey is simply that, is being the best example we can to our kids, and sometimes, yes, bringing them along.”
“I really want to show my son that I’m out there doing what I love to do and I continue to do what I love to do while being his mother.”
“He is able to adapt whatever I need and to make it make sense to me.”
“Communication is such a big, big thing.”
“Our identity does not lie in our sport.”
“For me, success is really defined internally by you going after a goal and what steps you took to accomplish it and how you feel the process went.”
“The couch or the back of a bobsled – I’ll take the back of a bobsled, please.”
“Be prepared to adapt…trust in yourself and believe in yourself…no challenge you can’t overcome.”
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Connect with Elana:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanameyerstaylor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/eamslider24
13. Why you need a goal greater than yourself with AJ Edelman
Laura is very excited to welcome four-time Israeli National Champion in skeleton, AJ Edelman, to the podcast today. AJ is an American-Israeli who, by competing for Israel at the 2018 Winter Olympics, became the first Orthodox Jew to compete in the Winter Olympics, and the first Orthodox Jewish male to compete in either Olympic iteration. He has since retired from skeleton, intends to compete in the coming seasons and qualify Israel for the 2022 Olympics in 4-man bobsled, and is currently head of development and programming for the Israel Bobsled and Skeleton team. As impressive as these accomplishments are, they constitute just one part of his truly inspirational story, as you will hear today.
AJ begins the conversation by relating his experiences with, and advice regarding, both bullying and mental health. He then goes on to describe the remarkable impact that fellow athlete Steve Holcomb had upon him, the ‘I’ll show you’ attitude which propels his performance, the steps he took to improve his skill in skeleton so quickly, and, above all, the importance of having a goal greater than yourself. AJ’s faith, his duty to represent his community, the special tradition which he started, and his experience of training in Jamaica are all discussed as well. The conversation draws to a close with their exploration of being the best version of yourself, AJ’s Olympic experience in 2018, and what he is up to these days. Intelligent, articulate, passionate, and committed are just a few of the words which come to mind as you listen to AJ speak about all he has been through and accomplished to this point in his life. He is a visionary who puts his heart and soul into each and every goal he sets, and you will undoubtedly be equal parts amazed, impressed, and inspired as you listen to him here today.
Episode Highlights:
AJ’s experiences with, and advice regarding, bullying and mental health
His journey from playing hockey at MIT to becoming a skeleton athlete
The impact that Steve Holcomb had on AJ
AJ and Laura’s shared ‘I’ll show you’ attitude
How he improved at the skeleton so quickly
The importance of having a goal greater than yourself
AJ’s faith and representing his community
His special tradition
AJ’s experience training in Jamaica
Being the best version of yourself
His 2018 Olympic experience
What AJ is up to these days
Quotes:
“The only reason why I try to do any of the things that I try to do is borne out of using those experiences, in particular the negative feelings that sometimes come about from depression, as fuel.”
“It’s always been about rise above and be the best that you can be, but initially motivated by some very negative experiences.”
“Even though people hurt you, oftentimes, they themselves are hurting, but that’s also not an excuse to take it.”
“Realize that you are on a higher plane than your bully.”
“We have to fight bullying by addressing the root causes.”
“Mental health is very similar to most other health issues, in that it presents differently for people, but we have to acknowledge that it not only exists, and that it exists within ourselves, but that there are many methods that we can take to treat it, but we have to treat it.”
“I don’t believe that decisions are ever wrong if they’re made with the right intent.”
“The plan was to find a sport in which I could actually become truly excellent and elite, to show that Jews can become elite in a sport, even later on in life.”
“People may not register on your scale, but you can impart an enormous amount of influence and help on other people’s lives.”
“I was fighting in my mind for the future of my program.”
“I will not be part of the end product, but I will be, I can be, a significant stepping-stone to creating something really good.”
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Connect with AJ:
Email: adam.edelman@olympian.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajedelman/
11. Overcoming abuse and writing history with Kaillie Humphries- part 2
Today’s episode is the second part of Laura’s interview with Kaillie Humphries, two-time Olympic Women’s Bobsled Champion, first female bobsledder to defend her Olympic title, and the most successful Canadian bobsledder in history. In part one, Kaillie shared the exciting story of her epic gold medal win on her home soil, and this week the conversation picks up right at that historic point in her life.
Kaillie shares the stress, pressure, and expectations on her following her gold medal win and the preparation for her next Olympics. She talks about becoming a leader, her 2014 Olympic performance, what kept her wanting to continue to compete afterward, and her efforts to ensure equality and equity in her sport. Kaillie also goes into great detail about the verbal and mental abuse she suffered at the hands of the Canadian coaching staff and Federation in the lead up to her 2018 Olympics, the steps she took to address it, and precisely why athletes are so hesitant to speak up about such abuses. The conversation draws to a close with her story of joining the USA Team, the grace and humility that both she and the team demonstrated during this transition, and her plans for the future. Kaillie’s story is one which ranges from the sheer joy of victory to the pain and personal agony of being bullied and excluded by those who should have been supporting and protecting her. There is so very much for everyone to learn from the perseverance, consistency, and courage she has shown throughout her life – listen in to today’s episode (and part one if you missed it) to be inspired by all that she has to share.
Episode Highlights:
The stress, pressure, and expectations Kaillie faced after winning gold and while working to defend her title, and how she dealt with these
The story of Kaillie’s 2014 Olympic win, the role that consistency played, and what it taught her
What kept her wanting to compete after 2014
Bringing equality and equity to bobsled
Dealing with coaching staff and Federation abuse and filing a complaint about it
The effects of the bullying she received
‘Coach’s discretion’ and how it can be used to threaten athletes
The effects of filing the complaint and why athletes fear doing so
Kaillie’s move to the USA team and the grace and humility exhibited by all involved
What the next couple years look like for Kaillie
Quotes:
“If we don’t win, at least I’m happy with how I competed.”
“I wanted to push and see how far I could go.”
“I was constantly being told that I was wrong, that I was incorrect, that I was letting my country down, that I wasn’t, you know, living up to expectations, that my teammates didn’t like me.”
“These are people who are supposed to be looking out for you, and they don’t have my best interests at heart.”
“They were challenges that I faced to the best of my ability and I handled them with as much grace as I possibly could.”
“I am best friends with one of my biggest competitors – there is no need for people to look down on another based on hair, color, race, gender, it doesn’t matter what it is.”
“There was a lot of what I consider verbal and mental abuse that had occurred.”
“I needed to speak my truth, and I needed to hold people accountable, and I needed to make sure that moving forward I was in a safe place.”
“Be who you are and respect other people for the fact that they’re who they are.”
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Kaillie’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailliehumphries/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobsledKaillie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobsledkaillie/
9. How heartbreak led to an historic victory with Kaillie Humphries- part 1
Laura’s guest on the podcast today is two-time Olympic Women’s Bobsled Champion, Kaillie Humphries. In addition to her two gold medals from the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, Kaillie has won Olympic Bronze in 2018, is the first female bobsledder to defend her Olympic title, and was named the flagbearer for the 2014 closing ceremonies. In 2019, Kaillie left the Canadian team and now represents the United States in competitions.
After a brief discussion about the adorable similarities in their dogs, Kaillie and Laura go on to delve into Kaillie’s history with sports and the road that led her to bobsledding. Kaillie offers a vivid account of what it’s like to compete in a bobsled, shares the training process for the sport and emphasizes the critical importance of intense focus within it. With great candor, Kaillie then describes her career in bobsledding, especially her Olympic experiences, the disappointments along the way, and the lessons she learned from them. The two continue by exploring the value of overcoming negative advice, focusing on being your best rather than winning, and then finish up with the inspirational tale of Kaillie’s Olympic Gold performance in her home country. Kaillie Humphries’ story is a testament to the power of perseverance, surrounding yourself with people who love you, and believing in yourself. Today’s conversation is one that, while it focuses on the sports world, provides valuable examples and lessons for virtually every aspect of life.
Episode Highlights:
Kaillie and Laura’s dogs
Kaillie’s history in sports and how she found bobsledding
Her description of what it’s like to bobsled
How bobsledders train including visualizations
The critical importance of focus
Her career in bobsledding, particularly her Olympic experiences
Learning from disappointments and mistakes
Overcoming negative advice and surrounding yourself with people who love and care for you
Focusing on being your best rather than winning
Winning Olympic Gold in her home country of Canada
Quotes:
“For me, sports was always an outlet, it was where I felt the most comfortable, where I felt the safest…I got to push myself, challenge myself.”
“Coming last on a consistent basis, it wears you down.”
“It’s a second hand sport, as they call it.”
“I feel like if you’ve been in a fighter jet or like a Formula 1 race car, you’re going to have an idea.”
“Unfortunately, there’s fatalities that can occur, so you need to be 100% focused every single time you step on the ice and you go to push.”
“I wasn’t doing it to impress anybody, I was doing it because it fulfilled me.”
“Surround yourself with people who do care about you, more than what you’re doing.”
“The goal wasn’t on winning, it was about doing my best each and every step that it was going to take in order to ultimately have a great result.”
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Kaillie’s Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kailliehumphries/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobsledKaillie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bobsledkaillie/
8. Celebrating the Olympic Games with broadcaster Ted Robinson
Given that today marks what should have been the fifth day of competition at the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, Laura welcomes to the podcast the broadcaster who has covered a total of eleven Summer and Winter Olympics, Ted Robinson. In addition to his extensive experience with the Olympics, Ted has, among other roles, been the radio voice for the San Francisco 49ers, and covered tennis from the U.S. Open to Wimbledon for three decades. Today’s conversation is a fascinating and entertaining one which honors the Games that everyone had hoped for this summer, and now excitedly look forward to next summer.
Ted shares both how he started in broadcasting and his vast experience in the field. He discusses the athlete who has had the greatest impact upon him, looks at the mindset of a defending Olympic champion, and relates some memories of his most unexpected Olympic moments. He also offers his perspective on the most common trait found in the most successful athletes, details the reasons why he continues to call sports, relates some of the crazier Olympic moments he has encountered, and explores just what makes good sports drama. You can hear the passion in his voice as he shares his remarkable experience and insight with Laura, and you will undoubtedly come away with the same high degree of respect for Ted Robinson that he and Laura so clearly have for each other.
Episode Highlights:
Ted’s broadcasting career and how it started
His experiences with being asked to call sports with which he was unfamiliar
The most impactful athlete for Ted
The significance of David Boudia’s gold medal moment
The mindset of a defending Olympic champion
Ted’s memories of unexpected Olympics moments
The profound nature of being able to compete for your own country
Ted’s perspective on the quality that is common to all of the greatest athletes
Apolo Ohno’s perfect race
What keeps Ted calling sports and what he has learned over his many years of covering individual Olympic sports
Some of Ted’s crazier Olympic memories
His perspective on what makes for good sports drama
The events Ted would like to call that he hasn’t already
A fascinating fact about Ted
Quotes:
“I was completely channeled from age 17 on to do what I am still doing into my early 60’s now.”
“There are Olympic sports, and there are sports in the Olympics.”
“Suddenly, you understand the formula, you lose your fear…you’ll handle it…it helps your employment greatly.”
“I’m going to work the Olympic games until I’m disinvited.”
“In that moment you realize that all these things you have done are not just for you, it’s, like, for your country.”
“The ability to be ready for the moment.”
“As soon as…the competition starts, I love it, I love it, and that’s what keeps you going.”
“Crazy things happen in the Olympics – good and bad.”
“We were lectured very sternly by NBC going to Athens that we were really not supposed to wear things that identified us as Americans. I purchased Canadian t-shirts.”
“When you understand that the lights are at their brightest and you still see an athlete perform – that’s the moment…that’s what you come back for.”
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/
https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson
Ted Robinson:
6. You're never too old to dream big with Olympic medalist Lauren Gibbs
Prepare yourself for the unique and unusual story of today’s guest, Lauren Gibbs, Silver Medalist and World Champion Bobsledder, not to mention Laura’s newest BFF. Throughout their lively conversation, you will laugh, you will learn, and most of all, you will be inspired to start dreaming big, no matter how old you are.
Lauren starts things off by describing her unique journey to becoming an Olympian, what it is like to actually live at an Olympic Training Centre, and emphasizing the importance she places upon having and following an effective recovery regime. She also shares what she has learned from this journey, about dealing with self-doubt, and exactly how the Olympic Bobsled Team is selected. Her emotional tale of her first Olympic experience, her preparation for a potential second Olympics appearance, and her strategy for getting through the ‘tough times’ that all elite athletes encounter are explored as well. Finally, she shares with listeners her recent collaboration with airbnb which offers people the opportunity to interact with her online in real time. Lauren is a thoroughly engaging speaker whose honesty, insights, and humor in today’s episode will not only educate and entertain, but also inspire all listeners.
Episode Highlights:
Lauren’s journey to becoming an Olympian
Living in an Olympic Training Centre
The importance of a recovery regime
What Lauren has learned from her journey
Dealing with thoughts of self doubt
How the USA Olympic Bobsled Team is picked
Lauren’s Olympic experience
Preparing for her second Olympics
Getting through those ‘character building days’
Lauren’s ‘Airbnb Online Experience’
Quotes:
“Lauren Gibbs in high school and college was kind of lazy.”
“At any point in your life you can change who you are and do better.”
“And by the way, bobsledding feels like being kicked off a cliff in a trash can. Have fun!”
“Most of us Olympians don’t make much money, if any at all, like, we’re paying to do our sport oftentimes.”
“Lauren, you worked hard at something, you committed yourself to something, and you did it. Congratulations, here’s your new life.”
“The difference maker was going to be how I handled those tough days.”
“In a time when the world kind of feels like it’s on fire and ending, it’s really nice to have something positive and exciting and interesting to do.”
Links:
The Pursuit of Gold homepage: http://thepursuitofgold.com/
Lauren’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lagibbs84/
Lauren’s bio: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-bobsled-skeleton-federation/athletes/lauren-gibbs
Lauren’s ‘Airbnb Online Experience’: https://www.airbnb.ca/experiences/...