93. Getting Creative with Olympic Diver Brandon Loschiavo
This week, Laura shines the Pursuit of Gold spotlight on Brandon Loschiavo, an exceptional athlete whose journey is truly a compelling one, and whose impressive resume includes Big Ten championships, NCAA championships, seven U.S. national titles, a World Cup bronze medal, and a coveted spot as an Olympian. Following a brief retirement period post-Tokyo Olympics, Brandon has resurfaced with a resolute focus on competing in the men's ten-meter platform diving event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Together with Laura here today, he addresses a number of pivotal themes, including unwavering determination, resilience in the face of adversity, the power of a positive mindset, and the art of adapting to life's challenges.
Throughout the episode, Brandon delves into his college years, which were far from a straightforward path to success, and his diving career which was marred by knee injuries that threatened to halt his progress. Rather than succumbing to these setbacks, however, Brandon relates how he embarked on a journey filled with creativity and proactive injury management. He also goes on to share with listeners a wealth of wisdom on such topics as life after competitive sports, strength training, coaching, and the unique challenges faced by elite athletes when transitioning into new roles. Tune in and join these two legendary athletes for this powerful reminder that success often stems from embracing challenges head-on - an invaluable lesson so very pertinent to all aspects of life.
Episode Highlights:
Overcoming adversity through creativity
Chasing Olympic dreams
Mindset and Olympic trials
Post-Olympic experiences
Embracing change and adapting
Resilience in the face of adversity
Seeking multiple opinions regarding injuries
Adaptive training approaches
Quotes:
"Simple mental skills and mindset shifts can make a huge difference in your confidence."
"I had that goal, I had that aspiration to make it to the Olympics, and I just put my head down and grinded for the long haul."
"It's not the last dive that matters. It's all 18. And I did 17 out of 18 well enough to just keep me not just in the game, but, like, well above second."
"I want to walk into the prelim feeling like it's the final. You don't want to just kind of, like, mosey through the prelim, because then you'll do terribly, and it's a cumulative event, so every list counts."
"When you're a hyper-focused athlete on these huge goals, there's life outside of it, but you kind of forget how to live."
"It felt good to find a new community, and I did for at least probably, like, the first two, three months. I made it a goal to not be defined as a diver when I was outside of diving."
"Coaches need coaches. And so I decided to have the team USA strength coach be my strength coach, write my programs."
"Strength training is a slow burn, just like getting an Olympic pursuit. it's a long-term investment that pays off at the end."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Brandon:
77. How To Be a Gold Medal Mom with Linda Wilkinson
In this latest episode of The Pursuit of Gold podcast, Laura welcomes her most special guest ever - her mom Linda Wilkinson. With Mother's Day approaching, Laura wanted to explore the topic of parents' roles in their children's athletic lives, and, given that Linda raised a successful athlete in guiding Laura on her journey, she definitely has plenty of wisdom and advice for parents raising passionate young athletes. Among the many topics discussed are Linda’s reasons for not wanting Laura to join a large gym, her encouragement of Laura's dreams, and the importance of structure and fun while pursuing one's passion.
She and Laura also cover a number of themes such as handling difficult situations, rising above negativity, and the importance of being an example for others. They provide personal anecdotes and insights into their own experiences of dealing with negative comments and unfair judgments in sports, and emphasize that the value of an athlete is not determined by their place on the podium. The importance of perseverance, family support, and the power of prayer are also highlighted, and the role of parents in supporting their children's passions, but allowing them to navigate their own journeys is also examined. Filled with sage advice drawn from first hand experience, today’s episode offers a unique perspective on the hard work, dedication, and support necessary for achieving one's dreams, rendering it an invaluable resource for parents seeking to raise successful and well-adjusted young athletes.
Episode Highlights:
The important role parents play in their children's athletic lives
Supporting and encouraging children's passions and dreams
Valuing perseverance, concentration, and skill set
Choosing the right gym for your child's needs
Striving for a good home life, structure, and fun
Letting children make their own decisions and navigate their own journeys in sports
Importance of trying new things to find the sport that "lights you up"
Dealing with challenges and negativity, and rising above it
Quotes:
"Life doesn't come with a manual. It comes with a mom."
"I wasn't in it for all the competitions, just for you to learn some skills and to have fun and to make friends."
"You may not make it to the Olympics, but you would be good at whatever you did."
"Listen to your child's frustration... respect their opinions."
"You let me fall, you let me get back up."
"Part of that is when you get knocked down, if you are fighting to get back up, you're learning real quick how important this thing is to you."
"Just give it a try for a season."
"Your value is not in your place on the podium...your value is because you are you."
"Just be there to support them...let your athlete and coach do their thing."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
75. It's Never Too Late with Aunty Skates
In today’s episode, Laura welcomes Oorbee Roy, also known as Aunty Skates, to the podcast to discuss her journey of becoming a skateboarder in her 40’s as well as her enormous social media success. Together, they discuss the mental and emotional challenges of learning a new sport, overcoming self-doubt, and the impact of Oorbee's positive message on her TikTok followers. Oorbee shares information regarding her upcoming free clinic, "It's Never Too Late to Skate with Aunty Skates", this May in Toronto, which is open to anyone who wants to start skateboarding. She and Laura also discuss the toxic Aunty culture prevalent in South Asian communities and how Oorbee created the character of Aunty Skates to offer a safe space for South Asian women to pursue their dreams.
They go on to explore the sense of belonging that skateboarding can provide to adults, and how it allows adults to step outside their comfort zone and experience the liberating feeling of play, without fear of judgment or criticism. The importance of finding connections with children through shared interests, modeling perseverance and kindness, and investing time in activities with them to build strong relationships and promote healthy development are all topics that are discussed as well. Laura and Oorbee both emphasize the value of being invested in their children's interests and activities to create meaningful connections, and being positive role models online to help children deal with negativity. The episode concludes with a reflection on the joys of parenting and the importance of being present in their children's lives.
Episode Highlights:
Oorbee Roy, and the origin of Aunty Skates
Documenting her skateboarding journey on TikTok
Aunty Skates’ message
Inspiring others to pursue their dreams and live their best lives
Finding joy in the journey and not being too hard on yourself
Offering a safe space for South Asian women to pursue their dreams
The toxic Aunty culture is a result of generational trauma that Oorbee wants to break.
Inspiring others to break down barriers in their own lives.
Stepping outside your comfort zone and experiencing the liberating feeling of play.
How skateboarding has allowed her to parent in a unique and fun way.
Creating special connections with children.
The importance of being invested in children's interests and activities
Modeling perseverance and kindness
The joys of parenting
Celebrating the journey, not just the successes
Giving children the confidence they need to navigate online negativity
Dealing with hate on social media
Building resilience
Quotes:
"It's never too late to live your best life."
"It's really about finding joy in the journey."
"You have to be your biggest fan."
"I think it's really important to inspire people to take that first step."
"I want to be a safe space for young South Asian women to come and know that anything is possible."
"I have compassion for that Aunty generation now, but I don't want to repeat that."
"You hit a spot, a sensitive spot, and something a lot of people needed to hear."
"It's a mental health break that we all need."
"I want to provide that opportunity for people because it's such a joyful experience."
"Watching the surprise on their faces when they land the tricks, and then when they get the high from skating and the endorphins start coming in, I'm like, yeah, I love it, I love it, I love it."
"Every time they see me fall, they see me get back up."
"I do a lot of parenting at the skatepark, which is great. It's great multitasking."
"Finding a connection point with your kids...I think is really invaluable."
"I guess we see each other's journey, and that's one thing I find really special about the skating community."
"I think a lot of it is about confidence."
"I'm out there skating in my sari and I feel like a freaking superhero."
"They see how joyful I am, they see how confident I am."
"Social media is great, and it can be a virus. Like, it can be awful."
Links:
Laura’s Social Media:
Oorbee’s Links:
72. Enjoy the Journey with Olympic Diving Coach Kenny Armstrong
On this episode of the Pursuit of Gold, Laura welcomes her diving coach of thirty years, Kenny Armstrong, to the podcast. Not only is he a two time Olympic diver, but he’s also a coach turned father figure who helps aspiring divers get Division One scholarships and even gold medals. The pair dive into Armstrong’s origin story as well as his ‘out of the box’ training style, and why it works. As a young boy, Kenny began his diving career rather uniquely: diving into a pond. A decade and a half later, he would find himself at the 1972 Olympics, diving in front of a large audience for the first time. It wasn’t until the University of Calgary, however, that he got his start coaching.
Since then, his career earned Kenny a legacy defined by consistency, adaptability, culture, and fun. Like Laura says at the onset of the episode, “A good coach can change the game. A great coach can change your life,” and for so many athletes, Kenny has done just that. Today, he talks about why he loves it all so much, what it is about the sport that gets him excited, and why the athletes’ success is far more important than his own. Reminiscing on ‘offbeat’ diving retreats during which he lost half of his squad, his team’s special comradery, moments of victory with Laura, and practicing sports psychology, he notes that the journey always supersedes the destination to him. He and Laura strongly hold the belief that the two minutes of victory on the podium are too fleeting to hold onto; it’s the moments in between that really matter. So listen to this special conversation to hear about the legend that is Kenny Armstrong and his unique and highly successful career.
The Finer Details of this Episode:
Armstrong’s first dives into a pond
The ‘72 Olympic Games
Reckoning with his international status
Getting his coaching start at the University of Calgary
Creating culture
Why consistency wins
Knowing your people and letting them know you
Winning gold together
Why the journey > the destination
The freedom of diving
Father figure and mentor
Quotes:
“A good coach can change the game. A great coach can change your life. I feel like that describes Kenny in a nutshell.”
“These athletes would want us to continue, which was probably true. I mean, if they had a vote… we'd have been probably still going.”
“Well, I finally found out that I could be competitive on an international level. I did pretty well in Nationals and in the Olympic trials. Finally, I think the year of 1980, I beat Greg in his home pool.”
“Everybody says we have to separate politics and sports, but it's impossible. You can't do it.”
“You have to have a culture. Like it's one thing for me to tell somebody how to win a gold medal. It's another thing if they get to train with somebody that is doing that.”
“People seem to say about all the greats from different sports that these coaches knew each one of their athletes so well individually, how to push their buttons, or how to back off– and they had to back off.”
“This whole culmination of your life has to be about more than two minutes standing on the podium.”
“So don't lose the fun in sport. That's what brings kids, and when they get too serious about it, that takes the fun away. So you've got to be obviously serious, or you're not going to make it, but you have to also be very careful with that.”
Links:
Grab the Black Friday Catalog!
Laura’s Social Media:
71. How to be Champion Minded with Allistair McCaw
In this week’s episode, Laura welcomes Allistair McCaw, a best-selling author and speaker who is recognized as one of the world's foremost figures in leadership, team culture, and mindset. Throughout his 30-year-long career, Allistair has worked with some of the most successful athletes and organizations in the world, from Olympians and Paralympians to World Champion Athletes and Grand Slam Champions. He’s also a 29-time marathon finisher and a former five-time world championship competitor in the sport of triathlon. Today, Allistair is committed to his lifelong purpose of teaching, inspiring, and motivating others to be champion minded and achieve their full potential.
In this episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, Laura and Allistair dive deep into the growth mindset of professional athletes. Allistair begins by discussing the biggest struggles that athletes face today and explains the key difference between choice and sacrifice. As he nicely puts it, when you’re passionate about something, it’s not a sacrifice; it’s a choice. Then, Allistair goes on to explain the importance of learning to deal with failure and overcoming perfectionism as an athlete. Being a perfectionist won’t get you far in sports, but embracing failure will. Next, Laura and Allistair talk about the power of vision, the importance of developing self-leadership, and the differences between excellence and success. If you want to learn more about being champion minded, make sure you tune into this episode to hear what Allistair has to say.
Episode Highlights:
Allistair’s background
The biggest struggles that athletes face today
Choice vs. sacrifice
Embracing failure and overcoming perfectionism
The inspiration behind Champion Minded
The importance of vision for professional athletes
The differences between team sports and individual sports
The importance of developing leadership skills
Why authenticity is key for coaches
Excellence vs. success
The power of the growth mindset
Quotes:
“We all know that progress is different for every single athlete. Sometimes you'll have spurts of growth, sometimes, you'll have spurts of confidence, which helps, and so on and so forth. But we're all on a different journey. ”
“Nobody can make you hungry. No one can give you a passion. No one can tell you to enjoy it more. That really comes from within.”
“You're not always going to feel like a million dollars. You're not always going to jump out of bed in the morning and can't wait to go to practice. It's impossible, no matter how dedicated or passionate you are. So for me, it was that vision or that purpose of wanting to be a champion one day, wanting to be the best I could be - that's what got me through those tougher days. ”
“It has to come from within. You can't make somebody passionate. You can't make somebody do something that they don't necessarily want to do.”
“You can't lead others if you're not leading yourself effectively.”
“I believe that great coaches, great leaders are more about excellence than about success.”
“Enjoy it; that's the most important thing. And I know that's very hard when you're in the middle of it, and especially when things aren't going well, but the journey is the most important thing about it.”
“All the hard work, no matter what level you get to, no matter what your destiny is, it will never go unused; it will always be worthwhile because these are qualities that you learn in sports that will help you afterward in your relationships and in business and corporate, whatever direction you go into.”
Links:
Grab the Black Friday Catalog!
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Allistair:
49. Bouncing Forward with Paralympic snowboarder Amy Purdy
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is the top-ranked female adaptive snowboarder in the U.S., Amy Purdy. Diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis at the age of 19, Amy has gone on to become a three-time World Cup para-snowboard gold medalist, the 2014 Paralympic bronze medalist, and the founder of Adaptive Action Sports, a nonprofit organization that helps youth, young adults, and wounded veterans with physical disabilities get involved with action sports. She is a professional motivational speaker who has been featured at both TEDx and Pop Tech, and is also an actress, model, dancer, clothing designer, and an experienced product spokesperson. In addition to all this, Amy was also the breakout star and a finalist on season 18 of 'Dancing with the Stars'. A true inspiration to us all, Amy shares her incredible story with Laura and her listeners here today.
Amy starts by discussing her love for snowboarding during her teenage years. She then discusses her struggle with her medical condition and how she rose above her hardships through her self-belief. As you listen, you’ll learn of Amy’s many accomplishments, such as securing brand deals and winning a bronze medal. Along the way, you’ll understand Amy’s positive contributions to athletes with disabilities/special needs, and the lessons you learn from this podcast will definitely inspire you to look at difficulties in a whole new way.
Episode Highlights:
-Amy’s early days when she snowboarded with her friends
-How meningococcal meningitis impacted Amy
-Amy’s struggle with self-doubt
-How Amy discovered a creative solution to help her snowboard
-How Amy co-founded Adaptive Action Sports
-Amy’s successes with snowboarding
-How Amy’s injury complications changed her life
-Amy’s experiences and how she connects with her audience
Quotes
‘’So yeah, so snowboarding really was my passion. That’s what pulled me through my darkest days. And then you know, who would have thought that it would become almost my purpose, right?”
“And when I woke up from this coma, a few days later, I still have this respirator down my throat. And so, I couldn’t talk. But I wrote out on a piece of paper that I was given a choice and I chose to stay.’’
“I was just hanging on, and also incredibly grateful, like to have the opportunity to hang on and fight. And so, gratitude became a big part of not just a practice, but to be honest, like a very natural organic thing for me, because every day I woke up and I was alive, I was grateful whether I’d lost my legs or not.’’
“And I remember at one point saying, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, but if anybody can, it’s going to be me.’ ‘’
“I needed a community of people who are like me, and it didn’t really exist and needed something to pull it together.’’
‘’It’s like going through the valleys of despair and like finding your way out and having these real realizations of what’s really important in life, and how do we get through challenges. And I’ve decided to share the journey along the way.’’
Show Links
New Book: Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect With Amy:
Bouncing Forward with Amy Purdy
Adaptive Action Sports Website
Resources:
On My Own Feet: The Journey from Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life (2014)
46. 17 scars that paved the way to Tokyo with taekwando Olympian Victoria Stambaugh
Joining Laura on the podcast today is Olympic Taekwondo athlete, Victoria Stambaugh. The daughter of a professional boxer, Victoria took to Taekwondo at an early age, made the US National Team in her teens, eventually joined the Puerto Rico National Team, and has since qualified to compete for Puerto Rico at the upcoming Tokyo Games. Having suffered a number of injuries and resulting surgeries over her career, Victoria has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and, through her faith in Christ, has persevered to achieve her dream of becoming an Olympian. In today’s conversation, she not only shares her inspirational story, but also turns the tables to pick Laura’s brain for some of her sage advice as well.
As with all guests, Victoria begins by sharing how she found her way to her chosen sport, and then she goes on to relate the story of her career to date. Starting with how she made the US National Team, Victoria proceeds to recount her battles with injuries over the years, how they have affected both her career and her emotional state, her transition to the Puerto Rico National Team, and how qualifying for the Olympics works in her sport. She also delves deeply into the role that her faith has played in her life and career, the impact of handing control over to God, her 17 scars and what they mean to her, and her work with Master Bang in preparing for Tokyo. Victoria concludes the episode by questioning Laura on her Olympic experiences and advice, and the role that her faith has played in her life and career. As you will hear, Victoria and Laura are very much kindred spirits whose personal, professional, and spiritual lives resonate considerably with each other, and also offer valuable lessons for all listeners here today.
Episode Highlights:
· Victoria’s sports history and how she got into Taekwondo
· Making the US National Team
· How Taekwondo athletes are selected for the Olympics
· Her knee injuries and surgeries
· How Victoria’s faith has helped her
· Her story of not qualifying for Rio and focusing on Tokyo
· The times when God spoke directly to her heart
· Transitioning from the US to the Puerto Rican Team
· How Olympic qualifying works for Taekwondo and diving
· Her knee injuries and surgeries while preparing for Tokyo
· Handing control over to God
· Qualifying for Tokyo
· Her 17 scars and what they mean to her
· Master Bang
· Victoria and her fiance’s Taekwondo and Parkour studio
· Laura’s best advice for someone competing at their first Olympics
· What’s different for Laura now
· Laura’s thoughts during the finals for her gold
· How Laura’s faith has helped her throughout her career
· Laura’s biggest goal when competing at the Olympics
· Her upcoming trials
· Laura’s thoughts on not being able to have family at the Tokyo Olympics
Quotes:
“When I saw Jackie Chan, Jet Li, I was like, ‘I want to be these guys’.”
“For the Olympics, only two weight categories can qualify, female and male, per country.”
“Deep down inside, I knew that my knee was never the same.”
“I know God put the right person at the right time that I needed to hear those words, ‘not to quit’ and to ‘come back’.”
“That started the process of three knee surgeries within a period of six months.”
“What I picture is kind of like God just wrapping His arms around me and giving me a hug. And at that moment, I was able to continue on and it was actually just the very next day where I was like, ‘Okay, I'm going to go for Tokyo’.”
“He had to take out the rest of the meniscus…in my mind, I was like, ‘You just took my whole career away from me’.”
“And then, sure enough, God always sends the right message, the right person, at the right time.”
“God has seen your tears and, and He's with you. Don't give up, keep going.”
“I was done emotionally, mentally, you know, physically, spiritually. I was just drained. And that's when I just released total control to Christ and let him handle it.”
“Christ was my confidence…and I qualified for the Olympics.”
“A reminder of everything I've been through and everything God has brought me out of. And what better reminder, really? It's basically tattooed on my body.”
“People get so lost in the aura and the bigness and the pressure of the Olympic Games. But, just, you’ve got to be able to let that go.”
“That's for Him to use this for my good and for His glory.”
“You don't have to have the lead if you have the heart to come from behind.”
“I've had a lot of big dreams that I've fallen very short of, but, in that moment, I was living it. And to me that was one of the greatest things that I got to take away.”
“Now I do want to boast about my weaknesses, because that's the chance for the power of Christ to rest upon me, and for the world to see, you know, exactly what He can do.”
“The biggest thing that I need to do is stay in the moment.”
“Maybe I can just really spend that time dependent with God.”
“You've got to kind of expect the unexpected, and just roll with it.”
Links:
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Laura’s Social Media:
Connect with Victoria: