Featured - Hope Sports

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or find the file at http://traffic.libsyn.com/hopesports/HS26-UFC-Champion-Frank-Shamrock-Fulfillment-beyond-Success.mp3

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About This Episode

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Frank Shamrock’s childhood was marked by many things - foster homes, group homes, shenanigans, and trouble. But more than anything and perhaps surprisingly, he would also say that it was marked by unconditional love. He became a ward of the state when he was eleven years old after being removed from a physically and emotionally abusive home. Sometime around age thirteen, he landed in the group home of Bob Shamrock and despite getting removed and into further, more serious patterns of destructive behaviour and trouble, Bob never gave up on Frank. When he was eighteen years old Frank went to prison for three years and Bob visited him often and brought nothing but encouragement, support, and a new narrative for Frank to believe: that he could be something great. Frank committed to a complete life turn-around while in prison. He attended college, started lifting weights, and began to believe Bob’s message. His athleticism was obvious and Bob was convinced that he could turn it into a career that would eventually change the trajectory of his life.

Barely 48 hours out of prison and Frank was already on the steps of a martial arts training center for a try out. After surviving 500 hundred pushups, sit-ups, squats, and leg lifts, he had to survive a fight against a professional for twenty minutes, but not just any professional - they chose his foster brother, Ken, who openly admitted that he didn’t believe Frank deserved to be there. Despite the brutal beating, Frank emerged alive and only partially injured, but also a proud member of the team. After six months of training he was on a plane to Japan for further training and his first fight. Of stepping into the ring for the first time, Frank said, “it was absolutely terrifying.” Although ultimate fighting might seem like the pinnacle of fearless and confidence, he admitted that it took years to get over being scared of getting seriously injured or killed in the ring. The sport was relatively new and virtually ruleless, which added to the intrigue, but also the risk. But when he emerged as the victor of that first fight, he knew that he was onto something. “This was the type of sport that you could put in all of your emotion because it was about you surviving. It was the first time that I felt like I was in total control,” said Frank.

Eventually, he added more tools and skills that made fighting less scary. At one point, he spent more time studying than training, observing his opponents, the systems of strategy, the lineage of styles, and the mechanics of movements. He became a student of every time of fighting imaginable - from mixed martial arts to Judo to Greco-Roman. “I didn’t really want to hurt people,” said Frank. Having coming from a home filled with physical abuse, Frank took no joy in injuring his opponent and would often go the extra mile to discover a way to beat them that didn’t involve hurting them. And it was his commitment to studying his opponents that led to what was perhaps the greatest victory of his career. He was set to face Keving Jackson, who was the UFC tournament champion, undefeated in MMA, and the reigning Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the time. But before the fight even happened Frank put in the time and energy to learn his weakness and even told the media his exact plan - to beat him in an armbar. When fight day came he did exactly that; he armbarred him in just sixteen seconds to clinch the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Despite his fair share of disappointing losses and challenges, Frank said that the lowest point of his career was a failure or a knockout; it was how it ended. A series of injuries led Frank to hang up his gloves sooner than he had hoped and retirement came like a shock. “The stress and risk and pressure got really big, but I was still trying to perform at the highest level,” he said. He even tried to go back to training camp, push himself further, and focus even harder, but it only further proved that his body just wasn’t in it anymore. “Just becoming a normal person was the hardest part of my career,” he said. Over sixteen years were dedicated to building skills in a physical sport, but he had neglected to invest the same amount of effort into developing the social and emotional skills that would bring him fulfillment and joy for the following years of his life. “All of the dreams on my list had come true, but I still felt empty and without purpose,” he said. After climbing the mountain and reaching the top, it was time to go back down the other side. He tested out interests in business and entrepreneurship but eventually realized that serving others and giving back to his community brought the most meaning into his life. He started a charity, began strategically supporting issues that he cared about, and joined Hope Sports for several house builds in Mexico. Having been homeless at one point himself, Frank deeply resonated with the ministry and was even able to reconnect with his son during the weekend.

Outside of sports, he says that his greatest talent is to fix things. Whether it’s a physically broken item or issues like investment issues, business problems, or that pesky back ache; his knack for keen observation and careful studying leads him to innovative solutions. In his retirement, he’s pursued opportunities in business consulting and investments in a wide range of products or causes. He also was honored to share in a TedTalk on the subject of fear. It might be obvious that he feared being beat up or hurt, but underneath that was also the fear of not being loved or being abandoned, something Frank says is common for children of abuse. But rather than step away from fear to reposition or re-evaluate, he encourages others to step into the center of it and watch it’s power dissolve. He encourages upcoming athletes to become students of their own lives, tracking their emotions, experiences, questions, and needs. Not only for empirical purposes, but also to help the brain create pathways of curiosity and skills of observation.

But at the end of the day, despite all of his accolades and accomplishments, he just wants to be remembered as a good person. Like his foster father, Bob, Frank wants to leave a legacy of generosity, love, and commitment. Because without a stranger like Bob choosing to see the best in a kid like Frank, then “The Legend” of boxing would have never existed.

Follow Frank on Instagram, Twitter, on his personal website, and through the work of his Charity.

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[/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_text admin_label="Excerpt" _builder_version="3.18.6" _dynamic_attributes="content"]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9leGNlcnB0Iiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJ3b3JkcyI6IiIsInJlYWRfbW9yZV9sYWJlbCI6IiJ9fQ==@[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Podcast Player" _builder_version="3.22.5"][/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label="Show Link" _builder_version="3.22.5" text_font="||||||||" text_font_size="13px" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat"]or find the file at http://traffic.libsyn.com/hopesports/HS17-Hope-Sports-Founder-Guy-East.mp3[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2" _builder_version="3.0.47"][et_pb_image src="@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@" _builder_version="3.18.6" _dynamic_attributes="src"]
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About This Episode

As a sixth grader, Guy East would wake up every morning, put on a medal from one of his novice races, raise his arms high, and pretend that he won Olympic gold. Inspired by Lance Armstrong’s heroic return to cycling after cancer, Guy knew that someday he wanted to be that: a champion. He was bullied at school and remembers using his anger and frustration to fuel himself. Instead of running away, he channeled his pain into his training. He viewed cycling as a way to show his worth to his biggest critics. “I wanted to prove that I was better than all the names they called me at school,” recalls Guy.

The tactic worked. At age 16 he was invited to a training camp with the US National Cycling Team and soon after was hand picked as one of a dozen rising stars to be a part of Lance Armstrong’s development team. He began to realize that his dreams might actually become a reality. But the anger that once drove him began to wain and as he got further in his career the performance culture of the sport ate away at him. “I was only as good as my last performance,” says Guy. Coaches and teammates echoed the fears that were already inside of him -- that he wasn’t worthy of love if he didn’t win. He pushed himself harder to become faster and be ranked higher, but the constant scrutiny led to eating disorders and the brutal self talk robbed him of the joy of riding.“I was competing out of a desire to prove to people that I was worthy and capable, rather than because I loved the sport,” says Guy.

All of these feelings came to a head when he was 21 in Mexico City where he was competing. Instead of reserving energy like the rest of his teammates, he stepped outside of his Five Star hotel and was struck by the immense poverty that was directly across the street. Families were living in shacks, children didn’t have shoes or clothing, homes were crumbling. His instinct was to turn away and never think of it again, but that moment changed something for him and he genuinely wanted to help. “At that point I started to question what I was doing as an athlete,” he says. “I realized that I didn’t want to just be remembered for being fast, but for making a difference in the world.” Coming from such a cut-throat, “all in or all out” mentality of elite sports, Guy didn’t believe he could do both. After a year of inner turmoil and soul searching he decided to sell all of his possessions and equipment, and quit the sport all together. It wasn’t an easy decision, however. With so much of his identity and worth wrapped up in his athletic abilities, he deeply feared being rejected as he walked away. “I believed that people only liked me because I was a cyclist,” says Guy. And that rejection did come as teammates and critics reminded him that he was giving up his greatest talent, that all of his efforts over the years were for nothing, that he didn’t have a clue what he was going to do next.

Without a college degree, without a plan, and without any prospects on the horizon, Guy combined the only two things that he knew he loved: serving others and cycling. He bought a one way ticket to Puerto Rico and hung out with the homeless on the streets, served in soup kitchens, lent a hand at non-profits, and helped in churches. He brought his bike and journeyed for two years through Central America with no real agenda. “I never felt more connected to people, my faith, and my purpose,” says Guy. After two years he felt more free and content than he ever did racing a bicycle, but he also realized that he deeply enjoyed competing. He finally bought a return ticket to the States with the goal of returning to the professional circuit, but this time it would be with a much bigger perspective on life and what was important.

Guy went on to compete professionally for several more years, but was committed to sharing what he learned. All around him he saw athletes who were like him; they didn’t believe they had any purpose beyond their athletic ability and saw themselves only in medal counts, scores, and standings. Passionate about helping transform the mindsets of his elite athlete friends, Guy started gathering groups to travel to Mexico and work with Homes of Hope, an organization that builds homes for families with volunteer teams over a weekend. “I kept seeing light bulbs go on for people,” says Guy. He recognized that there were plenty of people pushing physical development programs for athletes, but very few supporting their development in emotional, spiritual, or psychological ways. In 2015 Guy founded Hope Sports which regularly brings teams to build homes in Mexico and is committed to training coaches to challenge the negative framework of elite sports.

In Guy’s opinion, the performance culture is only going to get worse unless we actively work against it. It communicates that hard work and sacrifice can help an athlete earn value, acceptance, and love. Unfortunately, this line of thinking extrapolates itself into all relationships, from coaches and teammates to parents, friends, and spouses. And there is never an end to the winning. If a victory at the next championship will finally bring a sense of worthiness, what happens when that is won and there is a next one? “If our purpose is winning, then we’ll never be satisfied,” says Guy. Elite athletes need to find a way to be content and happy now, not after some medal, some ranking, or some championships. “We want to free people of that mentality so they can believe that they are great for who they are,” he says. We live in a high performance society and sports will always be about hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, but Guy says, “yes, you may have to earn your medal, but you’re never going to earn love.”

Guy retired in 2017 to focus more on the work of Hope Sports and is constantly seeking new ways to reach the next generation of athletes with this message. Through trips, seminars and training for coaches, and the Hope Sports podcast, he hopes to wield his platform for good and encourages other athletes to do so as well. Learn more about the work of Hope Sports by visiting their website and following Guy on Twitter and Instagram.

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About This Episode

Hardly any kids grow up bobsledding regularly or even dreaming of reaching an elite level in the sport. The same was true for Elana Meyers Taylor. As a kid she played all sorts of sports before focusing on softball, which she went on to play for George Washington University. Throughout college it was her goal to play with the Olympic team, but tryouts did not go as she hoped. “I literally had the worst tryout ever,” Elana recalls. She swung over balls, misthrew relays, and bumbled catches, all of which solidified the disappointing end of her softball career.

Hanging up her cleats didn’t just signify the end of softball, it felt like letting go of her Olympic dreams. In the midst of the post-graduation listlessness, her parents saw bobsled on television and encouraged her to check it out. A quick google search and an email to the coach of the US National Team landed Elana an invitation to give bobsled a try. After a few shorts months on the track, she attended the Olympic Trials for the 2010 games in Vancouver and a selection committee chose her for the position of brakeman for a two woman team. In light of the immense pressure to simply make the American team, the actual Olympics were like a dream. She took time to be present, enjoying the celebration of diversity, athletics, and sportsmanship. With her bobsled partner she took bronze and will forever remember the bliss of her amatuer games.

But now that she had one Olympics and one medal under her belt, the pressure was on to go for gold. She increased her training and the frequency of competition. She took silver at the 2013 World Championships, but didn’t just head home with her medal, she walked away with a ring as well. Her boyfriend and fellow bobsledder, Nic Taylor, popped the question in front of her friends, family, and fans as she got down from the podium and broadcast their love story around the world.

Elana stepped into 2014 prepping for the Sochi Olympics and for her April wedding; a welcome distraction in the midst of such rigorous training. These games felt different, however. In Vancouver she was there to experience the Olympics, soak in the culture, and participate in the celebration of nations -- in Sochi she was there for gold. Rather than being selected for the role of brakeman, she earned a spot as the driver. Focused and competing well, they held onto their gold medal standing through three of the four cumulative heats. But a mental mistake early in the final heat cost them the gold. “We almost lost some of the fun of it because it was all about the medal, and maybe that’s why we didn’t get it,” Elana says. She walked away devastated and disappointed, truly more upset over not competing to her full potential than missing out on a gold medal.

Post Sochi she took a much needed reprieve from bobsled. She got married in April, and that summer trained in California at the same facility as the US Women’s Rugby Team which, like bobsled, is also known for attracting crossover athletes. Elana was invited to practice with the team and went on to play in two tournaments with the National Women’s Rugby Sevens team. “I found a community of really enthusiastic, encouraging women,” says Elana. It was the perfect change of pace after a disappointing Olympics, but she knew that her heart was still with bobsled. She returned to the track that fall, albeit in a slightly different scenario. 2014 marked the end of a 75 year ban on women in four-man bobsled competition. With the right to drive secured Elana was immediately keen to give it a try, but she was having trouble getting anyone behind her in the sled. Her husband, Nic, was the first to volunteer to compete with her and his presence encouraged several more athletes to join. She became the first woman to compete in international mixed gender competition for the United States.

In 2018 both Elana and her husband represented Team USA in bobsled at the Olympics in PyeongChang. She was enlisted as a driver, while her husband was selected to the men’s team as an alternate. He may have been disappointed for a minute, “but he is the most positive person that I know,” says Elana. They were looking forward to experiencing the games together that year, but a week before competition Elana partially tore her achilles in a training exercise. Determined to compete, she arrived in PyeongChang in a wheelchair and had to radically alter her pre-race training to account for the injury. Oscillating between training as much as possible to be sharp, but as little as possible to recover, she needed to manage the pain and try to not do further damage. Her husband jumped on board with the trainers to quicken her recovery. He pushed her around the games in a wheelchair to cut back on walking and even refashioned her shoes to alleviate pressure on her ankle. She went on to win a silver medal that year, but wasn’t dampened by the disappointment she felt with the previous second place finish. Focused more on the experience and her efforts, rather than the outcome, left Elana feeling proud of what she offered and the medal she got to bring back with her. “I wanted it to be fun for the people, and for the games,” Elana recalls.

Through the ups and downs of competition and injury, it’s her faith and her family that keep her grounded. Her father was a professional athlete and she credits him with instilling in her the importance of having other hobbies and passions. Even in her marriage the presence of sport is limited. “We have to ask permission to use the ‘b-word’ at home,” jokes Elana. With two professional bobsledders in the house, it would be easy to allow critiques of training, debates on strategy, or stress about upcoming races overshadow their relationship. “I have always managed to work or volunteer outside of my sport to make sure I don’t get too inundated with bobsled. ” she says. Most notably for Elana is her recent work with the Women’s Sports Foundation. The Foundation aims to encourage and advance the lives of girls and women through sports. Started by tennis legend Billie Jean King, the organization encourages professional athletes to be ambassadors to their communities, supports programs that involve young girls in a variety of sports, and advocates for sports equality for all. In 2018, Elana was named President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and awarded an honorary doctorate in Public Service from George Washington University.

Through it all she continues to train and fully intends to race in Beijing, but her regimen looks different now. Accounting for her injury and her age, she’s no longer pounding out intense workouts or testing her strength in the weight room. Her experience, self-awareness, and confidence allow her to craft a program that works for her and gives space in her life for things that matter more than another medal: service and family. Elana continues to be recognized for the inspiring woman that she is, so be sure to follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and at the Women’s Sports Foundation as she looks ahead to the 2022 Olympics and advocates for uplifting work around the world.

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Laura:

[00:00:05] Hello and welcome to the Hope Sports Podcast where each week amazing athletes share their personal stories of

overcoming obstacles and conquering fears. To encourage you in your unique journey towards purpose. I'm your host Olympic

gold medalist Laura Wilkinson. This week we have such an influential and inspiring guest Elana Meyers Taylor is a three-time

Olympian and an incredibly decorated bobsledder. But if you've ever felt like your dreams were dashed with one blundered

opportunity then Elana is your girl. Hear about how she navigated a failure so big that it seemed her Olympic aspirations

would never come to be. Elana also uses her success to advocate for others. She serves as the president of the Women's Sports

Foundation and will surely stir you to find ways to give back to those around you. All right. Let's dive on in. Elana welcome to

the Hope Sports Podcast! I am absolutely stoked that you're here with us today.

Elana:

[00:00:58] It's great to be here.

Laura:

[00:00:59] Now ok. You did not start off in bobsled for what you are so well-known for now. Can you kind of give us your

background? How you got started in the sports and how that eventually led to bobsled?

Elana:

[00:01:10] Yeah so just as a process most people given a bobsled through a variety of ways and nobody grows up bobsledding.

With the exception of where do you live in Lake Placid New York or Park City Utah you might grow up doing it but for the

most part nobody grows up bobsledding. So I grew up playing a lot of different sports softball, basketball,l track, soccer, you

name it I played it. I really love softball and I went to college played softball. Played professionally with the intention of going

to the Olympics. And I did everything I could but have an Olympic tryout and had the absolute worst tryout in the history of

tryouts.

Laura:

[00:01:45] Oh no.

Elana:

It was really bad like swinging up balls over my head. It was horrendous. And then softball sticking out of the game. So I

thought my Olympic dream was over but I still had it. So I was like well what sports can I try. And it was at that point that my

parents actually saw Boston on TV and were like why not try this one? they're looking for a woman. And I was like OK sure

why not. And I just google it emailed the coach and got invited to a tryout.

Laura:

[00:02:12] Oh my gosh I love it. You just google that right? Ey! let's give it a whirl!

Elana:

[00:02:16] Yeah. I have no idea what I would have done if I was pre-google. You know I couldn’t have found it.

Laura:

Google saves the day! I love it. Oh, that's insane. And so I mean it was like what? Less than three years from when you started

to when you were standing on the podium at the Olympics right?

Elana:

[00:02:33] Yeah it was crazy. That was a little bit of a whirlwind. I never would have imagined that. I knew I had a shot to

make an Olympic team but that was all I thought. I didn’t have intentions of medals.

Laura:

[00:02:46] Oh man that's so great. So what was making that first Olympics in 2010 like? I mean was it just a dream but just in

a different sport? Or I mean was it just surreal? Describe that to us.

Elana:

[00:02:57] It was absolutely a dream. I mean the first thing is for bobsled for women's bobsled. We have 2 men is our

traditional Olympic event and there's 2 of us in the sled. So I was in the back and I was a brakeman and now I'm the pilot. The

brakeman position is largely dependent on a selection committee. So it's a group of people who select you to be on the team.

Whereas the pilot the role I'm in now you actually raced races and earn points and you make the team based off of your

performance. So brakeman, it's a much more nerve-racking position. So all the way up until like 2 weeks before the Olympics

when the team is actually announced. You're battling it out and you're sweating you're nervous as a brakeman because you

have no idea what this committee is going to select. And fortunately, I was selected so that moment was just the most

incredible. Because you know it was. Truly I wasn't sure what was going to happen. And at that moment when they named me,

it was like oh my gosh this is what I've been working for my entire life. And actually, at that moment I actually could relax a

little because I feel like I can go and enjoy these Olympics. I made the team. And that seemed a lot harder than actually

competing at the Olympics.

Laura:

[00:04:06] I feel like that too. Our Olympic tryouts on diving are sometimes more intense than being at the Olympics. Because

if you don't make the Olympic team you can't try and achieve your dreams. You know that home making the team part that's so

critical.

Elana:

[00:04:18] Yeah. Yeah. US is tough for that too. So.

Laura:

[00:04:22] Oh yeah for sure. Now at the 2013 world championships, you won a silver medal and as exciting as that is

something else happened on that award stand that I'm willing to bet was maybe even a little more exciting than the medal. Can

you tell us about that?

Elana:

[00:04:36] Yes it was one of the most exciting days of my life. So funny enough I had been dating my now husband for two

years at the time and use a bobsledder too. And we had had the conversation. I thought he was going to propose to me at

Christmas. So I was a little disappointed with it. And we had the conversation I was like absolutely do not propose to me at

World Championships. I want championships to be about worlds. I want our proposal to be about that because we had talked

about getting married. But lo and behold doesn't listen to me and propose to me while I was on the medal stand. But actually

it's one of the coolest moments of my life and I'm so glad he did it. And now we have footage and now we have like all these

photos from around the world of people who are covering the event. Because you just got down on one knee got some roses for

me. Which end up because it was so cold and save from Switzerland. This rose is actually frozen. Which is kind of funny? My

hands were so swollen from racing. The ring did not fit but still that the proposal was changed so much better than any real

championship medal could ever be.

Laura:

[00:05:46] Oh that's so epic. I love it that all the photographers are there. Everybody covered it. That's so cool. It's a good thing

he didn't listen to you that one time. Right?

Elana:

[00:05:54] Yeah that one time.

Laura:

[00:05:55] you let him sneak by. Well, so how was going into the Sochi Games in 2014 different from your first Olympic

experience?

Elana:

[00:06:04] It was very different because my first Olympic experience I went in just happy to be there. You know you just oh

everything's the most wonderful thing possible. But in Sochi I actually went in with the intention of winning a gold medal. And

that was where everything was focused on. And I felt like we had a great team in place. And I felt like my driving and my

understanding of that particular track in Sochi was in a place where we could actually go to the gold medal. So that was all the

focus. And as some part, I think we actually lost a little bit of the fun during that experience. It came about the gold medal and

I think that's actually why we didn’t end up with the gold medal because that's all the focus was on.

Laura:

[00:06:45] Wow. So I guess. I mean do you guys still got a silver but was that disappointing then because you were so focused

on the gold?

Elana:

[00:06:53] It was a little disappointing because we were leading in the race for 3 heats and.

Laura:

[00:06:58] You did 4 right?

Elana:

[00:07:00] Yep yep we did four heats. And then it's total combined time. And so I was in a really good position after the first

three heats. I’m still leading the race by over a 10th of a second at least. Which is a pretty large margin bobsled to start off

with. And then I made a mental mistake and ended up making a pretty costly mistake in its curve at the top of the track. And

that cost us a good amount of time. Which ended up costing us the gold medal essentially. And I think because I put the

pressure on myself and because I had actually questioned myself whether or not I could do it. You know that's what eventually

cost us. And because I was so focused on that gold medal and because we were so close it really changed how I looked at that

race.

Laura:

[00:07:46] Oh wow. So how did you feel after that? Like walking out the games like after that?

Elana:

[00:07:51] Oh I was pretty devastated. And you know I feel like you still win silver medal. You know it's still a huge

accomplishment. At the same time and knowing that I could have done better. That's the hardest thing to deal with. Four years

later the same result but a totally different experience. So after that Olympics you know I knew I could do better I could be a

better driver I could be a better athlete at that point. And that's why I felt like I'd let myself down and my team down. So I

knew I had to make changes going into the next quad.

Laura:

[00:08:25] That's cool. And you and Nic tied the knot shortly after Sochi right?

Elana:

[00:08:29] Yes.

Laura:

[00:08:29] so was the wedding planning distracting at all going into that games? Or was it you were able to separate and

compartmentalize?

Elana:

[00:08:35] It's actually you know I wouldn't necessarily recommend this but it actually gives you something else to focus on. I

feel like as athletes sometimes we get so caught up in what we're doing. And live in these little bubbles of you know you got to

do every single thing in my sport. We're trying to fight for every hundred. So what that comes down to is what you eat, how

much you're sleeping, what exact time you're doing your workouts, and you spend so much time in that focus. It's sometimes

nice to have things outside to focus on. And the wedding planning was kind of in that regard. And I didn't really know what I

was doing. My mom helps me fit a lot of it. She called me up one day she's like so what color do you want for your wedding? I

said pink and she's like OK what shade of pink? I was like there are different shades of pink? What are you talking about? I

don't know pink shades. It is a good distraction in some regards.

Laura:

[00:09:26] It's awesome. I love you're like laid back attitude. That's great. Okay, so 2015 was another huge year for you where

you made history. You became the first woman to earn a spot on the U.S. national team competing with the men as a 4 man

bobsled pilot. You went on to become the first woman to win a medal in international competition in a men's event. And if

that's not enough you also won the 2015 World Championships in the women's two main event the first woman in history to do

so. I mean what? How are you doing these things? And what separates you from everyone else?

Elana:

[00:10:03] I don’t know. Grace God that's all I could say. Fortunately, you know I've got really good people around me my

husband being one of them. And that was the biggest thing is when I wanted to take on 4 men in traditionally women's bobs

but it's just been too personal. We've actually been banned from driving for man sleds for most of history all the way from

1939 to 2014. Women were actually banned from driving for men sleds you know. Because I don't know it'll hurt our ovaries

or something like that. So we finally got the right to drive sleds and I really wanted to take it on. But it was something I when I

initially went to take it on you know I couldn't get anyone to get behind me in the sled. Couldn't get a brakeman and I was

having a lot of a hard time really making this happen. And my husband being a bobsledder volunteered to be the first one in

my sled. And then, fortunately, I was able to get other guys to join him really join him join me to join him after.

[00:11:02] So like I said I've been fortunate to have his support and the support of other people around me to really do some

incredible things and have some incredible experiences. And in that season, in particular, it was not only my husband but my

coaching staff as well to try and work together to develop a plan. Allow me to do both 2 man and 4 man races and still compete

at a high level. So it took a team literally in order to be able to accomplish those things.

Laura:

[00:11:29] That's so cool. And that kind of leads in really well because I was gonna ask you. What's it like having a husband

that's also an elite level bobsledder?

Elana:

[00:11:38] Most of the time is pretty awesome. He understands me better than I understand myself and he knows what I need

before I know I need it. And it's just great having him there with me and having him to help out with whatever I need at the

Olympics this year. There's no chance I would have won a silver medal without him. So he's the instrumental part of my team.

At the same time I want him to win more than I want myself to win. So it is very I can imagine me because you have children

so maybe it's like that way for having had kids. You get so nervous when they're competing and just it's hard for me to actually

watch. And like not want to do something but there's nothing you do. You just did the sidelines and just hope and pray because

you can't do anything. That is the most nerve-racking thing I think ever.

Laura:

[00:12:32] Well I heard I read somewhere that you guys try to minimize your shop talk at home no. Like at home you say it's

the B word or something. Isn't there some like rule about it? What’s the rule?

Elana:

[00:12:43] We have to ask permission to talk about the B-word. Just because we really want to make sure you know this day

and age there are enough distractions out there. And we want to make sure that our marriage is secure and we're really engaged

with each other. So we want to make sure we're not sitting at home talking about bobsled all day. Because at one point we're

not going to be bobsledder anymore. We're not going to be able to do this anymore. And it's important that we don't spend

however many years you've got only focus on the bobsled. And what would we talk about in our marriage later? We're just

going to sit around and tell all bobsled sort of stuff? It is important to develop ourselves outside of sport.

Laura:

[00:13:21] Oh that's great! I love it. And you did mention that your husband got in with you to encourage others to get in the

sled with you. But you also got to compete with him didn't you?

Elana:

[00:13:30] Yes. Yep.

Laura:

[00:13:31] Okay. So were you as nervous for him when he was in your sled? Or are you not as nervous then because you were

driving?

Elana:

[00:13:37] No I was less nervous because I was driving. I had control. So I could actually do something about it. So actually

that was the most fun stories. But with other drivers like I’m a nervous wreck.

Laura:

[00:13:49] I love it. You guys work well together it's perfect.

[00:13:52] I'll continue my conversation with Elana in just a minute but first I want to tell you more about what we do here at

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to HopeSports.org sign up for the June 7th through the 10th home build and build hope for a family. And win like never before.

So sign up today. It could be the key you need to find success in your career.

[00:15:09] And now back to the last half of my conversation with Elana. Now you mentioned getting really nervous when he

goes and he was an alternate on the 2018 men's Olympic bobsled team. And you made your third Olympic team. I'm guessing

there was a huge mix of emotions there. Can you kind of walk us through that?

Elana:

[00:15:26] Yeah. So actually most people I feel like come off the Olympics and are pretty disappointed to be named in an

alternate spot. But you know my husband is one of the most positive people you would ever meet. And as soon as he was

named to the alternate sport yes he was disappointed that he wouldn't be racing but same time our alternates travel with us.

They stay right if they're not in the village they stay right outside the village. There are training sessions every day. They have

full access to the village. So they're there with us and they're an integral part of the team. So for him as soon as they named the

alternate selection he spent maybe a minute being bombed and then he just took it. What do I need to do to help this team win a

medal? And not only did he do that to the men's team but he also did that for me as well. As is what is my role now and how

am I going to support my wife in trying to win this medal. So before that Olympics, I actually ended up tearing my Achilles.

So he was an instrumental part of me being able to even compete. And he'd be an alternate being able to be there every single

day helped me through that was huge.

Laura:

[00:16:36] When did you tear it?

Elana:

[00:16:38] We had a training camp a week before the Games. We were at opening ceremonies and I was doing an uphill Sprint

and came down wrong on it. And immediately felt like a shot in the leg. It was not great.

Laura:

[00:16:41] Oh my goodness.

[00:16:52] OK. Yeah. So how did you go on to be OK enough to do it at the Olympics? I mean had a tear that's pretty

significant. That's tough.

Elana:

[00:17:03] Yes. So it was a partial tear. Luckily it wasn't a full rupture. And then at that point, we had MRI and everything and

we realized you know this is pretty bad. But if I could manage the pain there's a chance I might do some worse damage. I

definitely did. But the main thing was dealing with the pain and figuring out creative ways to train as much as possible. But

also train as little as possible to get to the actual races. And so it was even to the point where I had medical treatments every

single day multiple times a day. I couldn't walk in opening ceremonies. We literally had to limit my walking as much as

possible. I actually rolled up to the games in a wheelchair. Came off the plane and was going through Pyeongchang in a

wheelchair for a little bit. Which is pretty interesting. And then my husband recrafted my shoes to make it more comfortable.

To allow me to get his sled. And we just really got creative with our training.

Laura:

[00:18:04] Wow! That's impressive. I mean I know most athletes are at some level of injury going in but to have a significant

tear like that. That's something else. I mean you are battling team Germany and Pyeongchang right over for heats of

competition back and forth and you just miss out on the Gold Medal by seven hundreds of a second. But you said this is totally

different from Sochi. So what was that experience like?

Elana:

[00:18:27] Yeah. Going in with the Achilles I knew we were at a significant disadvantage I knew that would hurt us

significantly. And also we're having some equipment issues as well so I knew the cards were against us. So I just went in and

tried to drive the four best heats of my life and I really felt like I'd put together a race that could be proud of. And that's why

regardless of whether or not we had won a medal I would be happy with that race because we really went out there and put on

a show me and my brakeman Lauren Gibbs and I think we put on a great performance. And at the end of the day, I think that's

where my career's kind of shifted. It started off as all about me and what's going on and inside my head and my hands and

really wanting to win all this hardware. But it became more about the performance and going out there and putting our show. I

mean that's what people want to see you know working out there to perform in front of you at the Olympics millions of people.

They want to see a show. They want to see a close race 700th of a second they don't want to see somebody winning by half a

second. So if I can give people a good entertaining show that's what I'm out there to do.

Laura:

[00:19:33] I love how you connected that to like you understand the change and just having that different attitude. Like I'm just

going to put on my best song and be happy with what I can do and just getting the same result. Like you said you're walking

away with a totally different feeling and emotion and memories from it. I mean that's pretty awesome. I think that's a great

takeaway for all of us listening to your story here. But do have to back up because right before Pyeongchang didn’t you try a

different sport randomly? What? What? Like how did that happen? And why did that happen?

Elana:

[00:20:08] Yes. So during the summers in bobsled you can train anywhere in the world. There's no ice so we're just doing

running and lifting. So right before Sochi I was into a Vista California at the Olympic Training Center out there where the U.S.

rugby team trains. And the rugby coach saw me and of course, I'm pretty much rugby player size and my dad is running back

to the NFL. So he saw me as like Hey! Why don't you come over here and throw this rugby ball around and come on in and

practice with us? And I was like you know what I'm kind of busy right now not to of risks. But afterward you know I came

home from Sochi I was pretty disappointed and I just wanted to be away from bobsled for a little bit. And rugby gave me a

perfect outlet.

[00:20:51] So I was fortunate enough you know rugby looks for a lot of crossover athletes. So I was fortunate enough to go

right with the U.S. team and start training with them and go to two tournaments with them. Which was a really cool experience

and really helped me get over I guess your “Post-Olympic depression that you kind of suffer”. Especially when you're really

disappointed with a performance like that you know. I was inundated with a group of girls who were so energetic about the

sport rugby. Which at that time was just going Olympic and they were just trying to navigate this Olympic pathway and

everything. And the girls were so welcoming and everything. It was a nice breath of fresh air right after those games.

Laura:

[00:21:31] That's cool. Be careful because we just talked to

Alev Kelter

a few weeks ago and that's how she got sucked right

in. So we might be needing to watch for you in the next Summer Games but I think I'm hearing.

Elana:

[00:21:41] Good now! Me and Alev actually came in at the same time. So she's a joy. She's awesome person.

Laura:

[00:21:48] Yeah. She is she is fantastic! Now I have to ask this because I don't know much about the bobsled process and how

you get your teammates. Cause I know each Olympic Games you've had a different teammate. And you said the pilot is based

off of like points and results and how you're doing. But the brakeman is always selected so is that hard for you? Are you

having to constantly work with different people throughout the season then? Like how does that dynamic work? So

complicated.

Elana:

[00:22:14] Yes. Yeah. They do constantly rotate throughout the season. They used to be in bobsled that the pilots used to

choose their brakeman. But in order to make sure they had the most competitive sleds possible they changed it to a selection

committee. It's six people coaches and some of the upper-level executives who sit down and decide the brakeman for each sled.

And they look at numbers they look at physical testing numbers. They look at results of races over the season and how they've

done. And really try and dig into the numbers and choose the best brakeman for each sled. So I have a little bit of input but

usually. It doesn't really it goes with whatever they see best. And as a pilot, you kinda just have to trust that they know what's

best for your sled. Because this pilot I feel likes you can have blind spots. You could feel more comfortable with one person or

another. But if they see something that's gonna make you faster down the hill then you have to trust them. So it's nerve-

wracking for the brakeman to know. And in the past 2 Olympics 3 Olympics, I think the difference between making and not

making the team for brakeman over all the data we had is like 200th of the second. So it's very narrow margins and it's very it's

a crushing decision. But fortunately, I don't have to make it.

Laura:

[00:23:34] That's so tough. Well OK, so your life is so intertwined in your sport. I mean when you train you earn a living.

You're sitting on the boards of directors. You're getting proposed to at an event. You're training with and competing with your

husband. Like all of these things with bobsled. Like how do you separate Elana and your worth as a person from your

performance and your results as an athlete?

Elana:

[00:23:54] Yeah. I think part of it is my faith. Part of it is staying up with my faith and realizing that there's more to bobsled

than you know. God gave me a gift to be a bobsledder but that's not the only thing I'm going to do. And that's the only thing

I've done. So there's much more I have to accomplish and in that regard. My father being a professional athlete always made

sure that we had other interests because you never know when it's going to end. I hope that I get the chance to choose when I

retire. But at the end of the day, you don't know. So we've seen with plenty of athletes. They have to retire before they would

like to so I have to be prepared. I've always managed to work or volunteer or do whatever I can outside my sport. To make sure

I don't get too intimidated in the day and day bobsledding and that's my only life. Because at some point it's gonna end and I

need to be prepared for that.

Laura:

[00:24:48] So wise. I love it. Now last year at George Washington University honored you with an honorary doctorate degree.

And now you're the current president of the Women's Sports Foundation. I mean does this kind of all just seem surreal? Or

These things you were hoping for and getting for one day like Long long ago? How is life taken this turn for you?

Elana:

[00:25:09] It is very surreal. I always wanted a doctorate but I thought I actually have to go to school. And so.

Laura:

[00:25:15] Most people do.

Elana:

[00:25:16] Yeah. You know. I so might do that. That's in the cards. But as far as the Women's Sports Foundation and being the

president of that it's. Every day it's such an honor to be at the helm of that organization. It's for me it's an organization that's

paid such a powerful role in my life. As far as even just giving me some of the basics I needed to be able to become an elite

level Bobsledder. So whether it's in the form of grants or whether it was in the form of support you know. Being able to go to

events and meet the most incredible female athletes in the world and being able to sit down and pick their brains. And be how

are you successful? How are you able to do this? You know it's just been such an incredible organization towards me. So to be

able to be in this position it's such an honor and a privilege. Like I do have to pinch myself because you know to be able to

impact girls and women in sports it's more than I could ever ask for.

Laura:

[00:26:12] So cool. What are some of the coolest things you've done since being president?

Elana:

[00:26:16] The coolest things by far are the Athlete Ambassador events. The events we put on. We have Athlete Ambassador

events around the country and if anybody's interested listeners interested we're always looking for athlete ambassadors. And

basically, we would run events at people's hometown. And we'd have athletes at those events Women's Sports Foundation

athletes. And so those events have been the most incredible events I get to. Because it's girls from a variety of backgrounds

whether different socioeconomic status different racial status it doesn't matter. All different backgrounds and we're working

with them in one common task and that's learning a sport. And so to be able to see the smiles on their faces to be able to see

100 kids run up to Billie Jean King you know. Billie Jean King is 75 years old and you've got 6year olds running up to her

asking for the autograph. And being a part of that it's the coolest thing I could ever imagine. And it's just being surrounded by

kids who are so enthusiastic just to be able to get out and play a sport. Like with them it's not about winning Olympic medals at

that point. It's just getting out there and playing. It's really really incredible experience.

Laura:

[00:27:27] I love it. That's so awesome. Now you fully intend to return to the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing in 2022 right?

Yeah? Once again going for gold? How's the training going right now.

Elana:

[00:27:37] Yeah. So actually on that regard you know I'm learning that I do I am getting older I have to train differently. This

year itself coming off the Achilles injury I've really struggled to be healthy whether it's you know illnesses or injuries itself. I

tend to think I'm still 22 but I'm realizing this year that I'm not. So we have to learn how to train differently and adapt things.

And that's really been the story of this season is struggling through that and finding out what our new limits are and defining

what that is. So I feel like we're starting to get a handle on it and go to the next three years. We're really going to have a plan so

I can get to Beijing 2022 as healthy as possible and still competitively.

Laura:

[00:28:31] I love it. So are you gonna take up another sport for cross training in between?

Elana:

[00:28:35] Absolutely.

Laura:

[00:28:37] You are totally welcome in the pool with me I could use a synchro partner. Just gonna throw that out there. You're

always welcome.

Elana:

[00:28:43] I could belly sucks so.

Laura:

[00:28:45] I don't want to do that from 10 meters. That's not going to feel good.

Elana:

[00:28:49] Ahmm you know. I'll do different types of training than I've done. A little bit more yoga a little bit more a lot less

pounding and a lot less time in the weight room. So it'll be a little bit different but I actually was thinking about this like about

a week ago. And I sat down with my husband was like you know what I think I'm done with sports. Like I'm at the point in

time where I'm just if I haven't played before we're not picking it up. Because in bobsled a lot of people do crazy ideas where

they're going to try all these other sports because they tried bobsled and it worked so why not try something else. I was like No

I'm done. You know I wouldn't mind throwing a softball around again. But as far as new sports nah were good.

Laura:

[00:29:34] Well, you are still always welcome at the pool. So I'm just keeping that offer on the table. So where can we follow

you online to keep in being inspired and encouraged by you and to cheer you on toward Beijing?

Elana:

[00:29:46] So my Instagram handle is @elanameyerstaylor my Twitter handle is @eamslider24 and I'm on Facebook. But as

always you can always go to womenssportsfoundation.org. Find more about me and the organization and all the work we're

doing.

Laura:

[00:30:04] Awesome Elana! Thank you so much for coming on our podcast and sharing your incredible story and just inspiring

all of us.

Elana:

[00:30:10] Oh, Thank you. Please talking to you.

Laura:

[00:30:15] Isn't she incredible? I feel like so many can relate to her story. Sometimes there are experiences like her tryouts that

just don't go as we hope or plan and it feels like it derails our entire lives. But she was able to step into something new without

having to abandon her dreams entirely. They just took shape in a different way. I hope that you're encouraged today that no

matter if you're an athlete trying to make it to the top or an entrepreneur or a person with a big vision for your future. Your

dreams are still attainable even if it's not the way that you originally envisioned it. And if you want support in ways that you

can grow as a competitor and overcome obstacles just like Elana did? Head on over to LauraWilkinson.com/performance to

grab my free guide. Five things that you can do today to become a more confident competitor. Again that's

LauraWilkinson.com/performance. Be sure to tune in next week as we have another incredible woman a

Alev Kelter

who plays

for USA women's rugby. On behalf of Hope Sports, I'm Laura Wilkinson. Thanks again for tuning in and have a great week.

This podcast is produced by Evo Terra and Simpler media. For more information on Hope sports and access the complete

archives please visit HopeSports.org

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