Podcast appearances and mentions of Laura Wilkinson

In today's world, attention spans are shorter than ever. With this in mind, marketers need to let go of outdated content tactics to embrace the future of B2B content, and some of the best ways to do this is through the smart use of video and leveraging original insights.In our latest episode of Best Story Wins, we sat down with Laura Wilkinson, Director of Brand Marketing at Vidyard, to talk about how video is the not-so-secret weapon for cutting through the noise, and what it means to optimize for content quality over quantity. Laura shares why her team has moved away from the traditional blog, the power of AI avatars in sales, and how great storytelling is the key to building better customer relationships.We also discuss:Why video-first brands are leaving traditional content in the dust.The marketing myths that need to die immediately.How to make your brand unforgettable (without annoying your audience).And much, much more. 

"A true recruiter who has come up through the ranks and is now Global Head of Talent, a serious hustler from the university of life and dedicated mum.”Shownotes00:00 - Intro & Context08:38 - The Importance of a Positive Mindset21:25 - The Role of Employers in Supporting Working Parents28:47 - Top Tips for New Moms Returning to WorkLinksGuest Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-wilkinson-007197245/Yeliz Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yeliz-castillo/Yeliz e-mail: yeliz.castillo@pplwise.compplwise: https://pplwise.com/

In this session, Laura Wilkinson and Ben Fredericks talk about the development process for incorporating accessibility in their immersive show "Choosing Children" from the outset of the creative process, the lessons learned, and where accessibility in immersive can go from here.Choosing Children was a dramatic and interactive live spectacle for an intimate audience, which aimed to be fully accessible and inclusive. Audiences could request British Sign Language, Audio Description, and/or Captioning in every performance through an integrated Access System.This talk was recorded at the Immersive Experience Network Summit in October 2024 and is supported by Arts Council England and our industry partners Illusion Design & Construct, Mance Communications, White Light, Deterministic, Immersif, d&b audiotechnik, Scene2, Little Lion Entertainment, Entourage, and Vista Insurance.Discover more content from IEN: https://immersiveexperience.network/articles/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this jam-packed episode, we talk to Brighton-based writer Laura Wilkinson about her new book That Night in New York; to Charlie Ross AKA The Roaming Reader about Chichester's new poetry Slam; to Simon Maddrell about his forthcoming pamphlet Jonathan Blake, L1, and the launch in Brighton on February 19th at 7om at Lunch Positive, and to Hannah Dolby, about her Victorian Hastings set books No Life for a Lady and How To Solve Murders Like A Lady.

In this latest episode, we're going faster, higher, and stronger as we discuss the Olympics! Join Erin and Evan as we deep-dive the origins of this ancient Greek religious festival, explore how Christianity influenced the modern games, and discuss the sports metaphors throughout the New Testament. What is “muscular Christianity,” and what was the ultimate demise of the ancient games? You'll have to listen to find out!  MENTIONS Subscribe to our Newsletter! Sign up here Where can I watch the Olympics? Watch on Peacock Did you know that we have interviews with Olympians at The Faith Adjacent Seminary? Listen to Interviews with Laura Wilkinson and Bryan Clay Relevant Past Episodes: Constantine | The Paul Season  Bible Verses Referenced: 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 | 2 Timothy 4:6-8 | Hebrews 12:1-3 The Faith Adjacent Seminary: Support us on Patreon.   Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith Adjacent Faith Adjacent Merch: Shop Here Shop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacent Follow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Game Changers with Jeff Newkirk, where we speak with people who have done something to make this world a better place. It's simple: inspire, educate, and let's go change this world! On today's episode, Jeff welcomes guest Laura Wilkinson, a three-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist. She started diving in her freshman year of high school and was told she was too old to start a new sport. She won the US's first national title in diving and overcame great obstacles in 1998 to win the Goodwill Games as the only US diver to ever achieve this. Laura shattered her right foot in three places and only had 3 weeks back in the water before she tried out and made her first Olympic team. She beat impossible odds by starting in 8th place and then ending up winning in first place. She won the 2004 World Cup, 19 US National trials, and won the Olympic Spirit Award. She had been inducted into five different Hall of Fames and qualified for the 2021 Olympic Trials with her four children and husband cheering her on. Laura now has a podcast called Pursuit Gold, and she helps coach athletes to overcome roadblocks, compete confidently, and fall back in love with their passion.  First, Laura talks about how she wanted to compete in the Olympics as a little kid in 1994 and wanted to be a gymnast. She realized at 13 that she was not at the right level to go to the Olympics for gymnastics, so she searched for another sport. She had coaches tell her she was too old to switch and that she was a waste of space. Authority figures are people you are supposed to look up to and trust. You can either believe them and cave in on yourself or defy them.  She realized it was their issue and not hers, so it lit a fire inside her. She now has caution with the words she says and the impact they carry. She has had amazing coaches, but the best ones are when they create an atmosphere where you can do the very best that you can and achieve your dreams. They make it fun and know their athletes with how they think and how to mold them.  After Laura shattered her foot, she went through mental training and preparation for the Olympic trials. She did that through visualization where she started imagining the actions and steps to go through for a dive. Her coach, Kenny, said she couldn't look back and think about the what-ifs, but she had to look forward and make a new plan. She studied video, visualized the actions of her dive, hobbled up to the diving board on one leg, and imagined every scenario with made-up competitions and her competitors.  She was prepared for any given situation and was more prepared than she ever could have been without training physically. When she started to doubt, her teammates cheered her on, wouldn't let her quit, and believed in her too. We are sometimes so close to success when we are about to give up. After talking to so many athletes who have overcome incredible odds, she says the one thing they all have in common is a belief that it is going to work. Everyone believed in what they were doing and thought it was going to be successful.  Next, they discuss faith in God and how God can use anything for His purpose and His good. Sometimes we have to go through the fire to refine us and make us better than before. She grew up in the church, left it, and came back to church during her sophomore year in college. Learn more about Jeff Newkirk. Do you have any game-changers in your life? Be sure to let me know so we can celebrate their story and contribution to our world. Go to https://gamechangerswithjeff.com to enter your name to be on the podcast

In this special episode, listeners are invited to explore Laura's journey to Olympic triumph, shaped by resilience and determination. Approaching the 24th anniversary of a pivotal moment in her life, personal audio clips, as shared here today, recount significant moments along her journey that profoundly impacted her path. Laura's tale of being a young diver filled with Olympic dreams and facing momentous decisions at times of relative uncertainty inspires many of the episode's themes such as overcoming adversity, embracing gratitude, and finding strength in challenges. Using this momentous event as a springboard, the episode delves into resilience amidst adversity, from life-altering decisions to recovering from injuries. Through this intimate account, listeners gain insights into how resilience shapes Laura's responses to life's trials, and how gratitude emerges as transformative amidst setbacks, shifting her focus towards opportunities and fostering a positive mindset. As you will hear, community support proves vital in overcoming obstacles, brilliantly highlighting the importance of unity, and each setback becomes a chance for growth, paving the way towards Olympic success. As the world looks ahead to the upcoming Paris Olympics, Laura's very personal reflection here today offers timely, hard-earned lessons and insights from her own stellar career that will prove invaluable to all those engaged in their own Pursuit of Gold. Episode Highlights: Facing career-altering decisions and overcoming devastating injuries Embracing gratitude amid setbacks  Transforming obstacles into opportunities, fostering resilience, and maintaining a positive mindset The pivotal role of coaches, teammates, and loved ones How each setback serves as a chance for growth and self-discovery Persevering through setbacks and challenges Reflecting on past challenges The anticipation building for the forthcoming Olympics in Paris Conquering uncertainty and fully committing to Olympic dreams How moments of reflection and gratitude provide solace and fortify determination in the face of adversity Quotes: "Every cloud really does have a silver lining. If you open your eyes, you'll find it." "Recognize that although you may not be happy with the competition, there is more to life than that competition." "Sometimes we will win that amazing gold medal and sometimes we'll miss it. But amazing things still happen because I didn't give up." "Every obstacle that we face, there is an opportunity inside of it, but we have to be willing to find it." "It's easy to say inspiring stuff and work really hard when things are going well and when things like you're healthy and things are just kind of normal and easy in that sense." "Find things to be grateful for. In the middle of the tough, in the middle of the painful, in the middle of the hard, there is something to be thankful for. Fill your mind with that and focus on those things." Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Book Laura to Speak at Your Event! Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

Welcome to a monumental 100th episode of the Pursuit of Gold podcast! In this milestone episode, Laura shares her story, her vision, and the invaluable lessons she has gathered from hosting the podcast.  From the momentous start of this podcast in the challenging year of 2020, Laura's mission has been clear: to bring together the tools, knowledge, and inspiration that athletes need to achieve their greatest goals, both in sports and in life. Through insightful conversations with athletes, coaches, and experts from various disciplines, Laura unveils the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects that fuel champions' journeys. As Laura reflects on her own experiences, you'll discover the wisdom gained from overcoming setbacks, finding new pathways, and redefining one's identity beyond sports. Her pursuit of gold goes far beyond the physical medals to the pursuit of self-discovery, fulfillment, and resilience.  As you will hear, this 100th episode truly encapsulates the very heart and soul of the Pursuit of Gold podcast, reminding athletes that it's not just about the destination but the incredible journey that transforms them into champions, both on and off the field. Thank you for joining Laura Wilkinson on this epic journey, and here's to the next 100 episodes! Episode Highlights: The birth of the Pursuit of Gold podcast Learning from others Finding fulfillment in sports and life The mental game The pursuit of purpose Embracing change and growth Quotes: "Because as I often say to people, I went to three Olympic games but I only brought home one medal, but it didn't make the other two Olympics failures or regrets or I wish I hadn't gone after it." "Finding fulfillment in your sport carries a lot of weight outside of your sport, too, outside of the pool or the track or the gym or whatever it is. To find that fulfillment in your sport also helps you feel fulfilled outside of your sport." "You don't stand up on the podium and become a champion. You have to become a champion in the dark when nobody is watching in those days, weeks, months, years leading up to that moment that you get to stand on top of the podium." "Gold is a great goal. It is something admirable to work for and to try and achieve. But it's the pursuit that makes you who you are, that makes you incredible." "You don't get to the top of the podium and suddenly everything changes. You have to change in order to stand on top of that podium. You have to change in the pursuit. It's the pursuit of gold that makes you a champion." “I want you to grow into the athlete and the person that you want to be. I am your biggest fan.”  “By listening and sharing this show with your friends, you make it possible to continue on and impact so many people. So a huge, heartfelt thank you for listening and for being here and being a ‘Pursuit Peep.'” Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Top 10 Mental Skills Guide Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

How to Let Go of Expectations with Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson Laura goes solo today to speak directly with listeners regarding the intricate issue of expectations that can plague athletes across all levels. Her wealth of experience shines through as she adeptly guides us all through the nuanced landscape of expectation management, providing not only invaluable insights but also practical strategies to shift focus from the burdensome weight of unrealistic pressures to the exhilarating pursuit of goals and personal growth. Laura also delves into the emotional ramifications of expectations, shedding light on how their emotional nature can lead to disappointment, potentially eroding athletes' self-esteem and confidence. A key theme highlighted in this episode is the essential distinction between goals and expectations, with Laura emphasizing that goals should be concrete, measurable, and underpinned by a well-defined plan, while expectations often manifest as vague desires devoid of concrete strategies. By encouraging athletes to view their goals as destinations and expectations as the vehicles of their journey, Laura inspires a profound mindset shift that enables athletes to sidestep undue pressure and instead immerse themselves in the rewarding process of athletic excellence. A truly essential listen, today's episode is a beacon of guidance in particular for athletes seeking to master the art of expectation management and cultivate a goal-oriented mentality along their path to athletic success.  More outstanding guidance will also be available through Laura's upcoming Black Friday Sale, where she will unveil a trove of valuable resources designed to reshape mindsets and elevate athletic performance. Join the Black Friday Waitlist here to ensure you're among the first to access these transformative offerings. Episode Highlights: Understanding the critical difference between goals and expectations Navigating the emotional challenges and potential pitfalls of expectations Expectations as motivators The power of goal-centric focus Leveraging expectations for daily training and character growth Laura's upcoming Black Friday Sale Quotes: "So many of us are carrying the weight of either our own expectations or the expectations of others, whether it be a coach, a parent, teammates, the media, whoever." "Expectations are desires, but they don't have any precise shape or boundaries.” "I really despise the term ‘realistic goals' because when people say ‘realistic', they're trying to say, “Set a goal you can already do,” and that's not a goal." "Goals are stable, yet they're pliable enough to adapt to changing circumstances." "Your goal is where you are aiming. That is your final destination." “The secret to not confuse expectations with goals is to let your expectations direct the quality and effort of your training, not your end result.” "Let's be goal-oriented and goal-focused and really just expect that we are going to train with quality, that we are going to train with integrity, every single day." Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Top 10 Mental Skills Guide Laura's Black Friday Sale Waitlist Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

Welcome to yet another captivating episode of The Pursuit of Gold podcast, where, this week, Laura Wilkinson reconnects with Carissa Gordon Gump, USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame inductee, the first 63 Kilogram American woman to qualify and compete at the Olympic Games, multiple American record holder, and five time consecutive American Open Champion. Carissa currently serves as the Executive Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation and is part of the United States Anti-Doping Agency Athlete Presenter Team, so you know she has a lot of knowledge and experience to share with everyone. Her journey, as shared here today, serves as a powerful reminder of the potential challenges athletes face during their transition from elite sports to retirement, and emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out plan and discovering new passions to lead a fulfilling post-athletic career. She also highlights The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation's role and her own dedication to staying active and healthy, even after retiring from competitive weightlifting. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of Olympic weightlifting, the pursuit of Olympic dreams, the critical importance of clean sport advocacy, and the potential fate of weightlifting in the Olympics. You do not want to miss this one. And you do not want to miss Laura's transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success.  Episode Highlights: Carissa's "Golden Prison" experience Overcoming Impostor Syndrome Pursuing Olympic dreams Balancing education and sport Carissa's transition from athlete to a professional The value of knowledge and intelligence beyond athletic accomplishments Seeing sport as a component of life, not the entirety of one's identity Carissa's Olympic journey and challenges The potential fate of Olympic weightlifting Quotes: "'We can guarantee you a spot in February of 2001, but, like in June when you graduate high school, I don't know if we're going to have anything available for you.' And I said, ‘I'll be there.'" "I need to prepare for life after sport, and so that's what going to school was doing for me." "What I would really encourage athletes to recognize, is: your sport, yes, it is a part of who you are, but it is not you. It doesn't define who you are for the rest of your life. You have other identities as well." "I am still part of sport but just in a very different way." "You still need to have a plan to make sure that you, as a person, are fulfilled and have some sort of direction in your life." "Unfortunately, doping issues have been very common in the sport of weightlifting." "You don't just disappear. You still need to have a little sprinkle of whatever in your life." "Weightlifting is on the chopping block for 2028.” "I like to say we're the science behind strength and conditioning." Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Confident Competitor Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook Connect with Carissa: Carissa's Instagram Carissa's Pinterest National Strength and Conditioning Association

Curious about getting back into a sport or have athletic goals you'd like to train for?  Perhaps you're a former athlete wondering what a comeback might look like?  Either way Laura Wilkinson has an amazing story from being kicked off her high school diving team to winning multiple medals and being a 3 time platform diving Olympian.  Laura has come back from multiple injuries, a 9 year retirement and even neck surgery!  She's now coaching athletes of all ages to reach their fitness and life goals. In this episode of The Health Fix Podcast, Dr. Jannine Krause interviews Laura Wilkinson on how she's coaching clients with the wisdom she gleaned from training to reach her athletic and life goals.    What You'll Learn From This Episode: How training for an athletic goal mirrors the steps to achieve anything in life Why child athletes and masters athletes struggle with the same things mentally The benefits of facing your fears and adrenaline in sports at any age Why facing your fears one at a time will help you progress in anything at any age How returning to sports or becoming active can help you and your family stay healthy for life   Resources From The Show: Laura Wilkinson's Top 10 Mental Skills Every Athlete Must Have - click HERE Laura Wilkinson's Website Pursuit of Gold Podcast

In this episode of the Brawn Body Health and Fitness Podcast, Dan is joined by Olympic Gold medalist Laura Wilkinson to discuss how mental training helped her overcome injuries and the role mental health plays in performance. Beating what many said were impossible odds in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, Laura, starting in eighth place and with a broken foot, came from behind to win the 2000 Olympic platform gold medal. Laura has also won the 2004 World Cup and the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first woman in history to win all three coveted world titles in platform diving. Along the way, she has won 19 US National Titles, been voted by the American public the 2000 US Olympic Spirit Award winner and was nominated for an ESPY award. Laura has also been inducted into five different Halls of Fame including the International Swimming Hall of Fame. People always notice something that sets Laura apart from her competitors, her smile. She smiles during the most pressure packed and fierce competitions, almost like she's removed from the situation, acknowledging her family and teammates in the stands. Laura explains, “I smile because I love what I do. I make a commitment before the competition to enjoy the experience however it turns out.” Laura attended the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games as a reporter and analyst for NBC. In 2017, following a nine year retirement, Laura returned to competition. After a successful return placing second at US Nationals, Laura underwent a two level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). After a year, Laura again returned to competition just in time for the 2020 Olympics to be postponed a year. She continued training and with only three months of access to platform facilities, at 43 years old and with all four of her kids watching, she was a finalist at the 2021 Olympic Trials. Laura has her own podcast The Pursuit of Gold. Her show seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olympic athletes, sports professionals, coaches, and experts. In these conversations, Laura and her guests unlock the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that shape the whole athlete and generate peak performance. She is also an author and mindset coach. Laura wrote a book titled Life at 0 Meters, Lessons from an Olympic Champion, and she recently released The Confidence Journal to help athletes create and maintain a resilient mindset. In addition, Laura created an online course called Confident Competitor to help eliminate performance anxiety and help athletes approach competitions with confidence. Laura is also wife to Eriek Hulseman and mommy to four amazing children by birth and adoption. For more on Laura check out @lala_the_diver To keep up to date with everything Dan is doing on the podcast, be sure to subscribe and follow @brawnbody on social media! Episode Sponsors: MoboBoard: BRAWNBODY10 saves 10% at checkout! AliRx: DBraunRx = 20% off at checkout! https://alirx.health/ MedBridge: https://www.medbridgeeducation.com/brawn-body-training or Coupon Code "BRAWN" for 40% off your annual subscription! CTM Band: https://ctm.band/collections/ctm-band coupon code "BRAWN10" = 10% off! PurMotion: "brawn" = 10% off!! TRX: trxtraining.com coupon code "TRX20BRAWN" = 20% off GOT ROM: https://www.gotrom.com/a/3083/5X9xTi8k Red Light Therapy through Hooga Health: hoogahealth.com coupon code "brawn" = 12% off Ice shaker affiliate link: https://www.iceshaker.com?sca_ref=1520881.zOJLysQzKe Training Mask: "BRAWN" = 20% off at checkout https://www.trainingmask.com?sca_ref=2486863.iestbx9x1n Make sure you SHARE this episode with a friend who could benefit from the information we shared! Check out everything Dan is up to, including blog posts, fitness programs, and more by clicking here: https://linktr.ee/brawnbodytraining Liked this episode? Leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-braun/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daniel-braun/support

Hey there, listeners, members, and subscribers! We're stoked to bring you the sixteenth episode of our Moonshots Master Series. After the thrilling Achieving Your Goals ride, we dive headfirst into Leadership and Goal Setting – where the magic happens.Become a Moonshot Member https://www.patreon.com/MoonshotsWe kick things off with a bang as we chat with the guru himself, John Doerr. He's here to tell us why picking the right goals, for all the right reasons, is the secret sauce – whether you're running a biz or just doing life. Get ready for inspiration as we unravel how Google, Bono, and The Gates Foundation rocked the world with their OKRs.Ever wondered what it's like to snag an Olympic Gold? Olympic gold medalist Laura Wilkinson spills the beans on goal-setting and why victories like that don't fall from the sky. Hint: it's all about intention.Now, let's dive deep with Christina R Wodtke. She spills the beans on 'What Matters' and how to weave those OKRs through your crew. And guess what? Empowerment is the name of the game. Expert Program Management is on deck, giving us the lowdown on keeping cool while setting goals. Plus, why self-assessment is the ninja move?But wait, there's more! Kim Scott walks us through Radical Candor – a nifty way to navigate communication and relationships. Trust us; you'll want to hear about these four quadrants.And guess what? We're wrapping up with the dynamic duo – Terrence Donahue and Michael D Watkins. They're spilling the beans on planning and owning the Next 90 Days.And if you're hungry for more wisdom, we've got a reading list that'll blow your mind from Amazon.com:1. John Doerr, "Measure What Matters" https://geni.us/MeasureWhatMatters2. Christina R Wodtke, "Radical Focus" https://geni.us/RadicalFocus3. Kim Scott, "Radical Candor" https://geni.us/KimScottRadicalCandor4. Michael D Watkins, "The First 90 Days" Watkins5. Michael Hyatt, "Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals" https://geni.us/bestyeareverWe're dying to know – what's the biggest lesson you're taking away from the Master Series? Drop us a line and spill the beans! Thanks for hanging with us. Catch you on the flip side! Thanks to our monthly supporters Brian Mullins Zachary Phillips Vanessa Dian Antonio Candia Dan Effland Nelson Mulemba Pinto Mike Leigh Cooper Daniela Wedemeier Bertram O. Gayla Schiff Corey LaMonica Smitty Laura KE Denise findlay Krzysztof Diana Bastianelli Nimalen Sivapalan Roar Nikolay Ytre-Eide Ana Beatrice Trinidad Roger von Holdt Marco Silva venkata reddy Karthik Tsaliki Hari Birring Emily Krzemienski Dirk Breitsameter Ingram Casey Ola Nicoara Talpes PJ Veldhuizen rahul grover Karen Petersburg Evert van de Plassche Ravi Govender Andrew Hyde Daniel Alcaraz Craig Lindsay Steve Woollard Lasse Brurok Deborah Spahr Chris Way Eric Reinders Andrei Ciobotar Barbara Samoela Christian Jo Hatchard Kalman Cseh Berg De Bleecker Paul Acquaah MrBonjour Sid Liza Goetz Rodrigo Aliseda Konnor Ah kuoi Marjan Modara Dietmar Baur Ken Ennis Marjolijn de Rooy Bob Nolley ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

So much of our lives happen in the mind. Some neuroscientists will argue all of it is happening in the mind. But without question, so much of life is about your mindset. How we manage stress, disease, failure, challenges and hurdles, those are all about our mindset. That is why I brought on gold medalist and mindset master Laura Wilkinson, who won medals in every competition she ever qualified for and decided to go for another Olympic gold at the age of 39.Laura Wilkinson is an Olympian diver who holds a rare honor of having won an individual gold medal at every major international meet for which she was eligible. A specialist on the platform, Wilkinson attended the University of Texas where she was NCAA Champion in 1997 and 1999, won the 1998 Goodwill Games, won her first Olympic gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games and has since won medals at World Cups (2004) and World Championships (2005) as well as competed in two other Olympic games (2004, 2008). She is an inductee in the Swimming Hall of Fame, a 19-time US champion and returned from retirement at age 39 with the aim to compete at Tokyo 2020. A combination of the COVID pandemic delay and serious neck surgery meant that never happened but it motivated Laura to take her coaching to a new level by creating the online course Confident Competitor, with the goal of helping athletes eliminate performance anxiety.Join us as we explore:What it means to have a champion's mindset whether you are a gold medal Olympian or a 15-year-old Laura who was told she started too late and her diving would never amount to anything.What it means to be anti-fragile, resilient and develop grit by developing the mindset that our most painful setbacks and defeats can become our greatest strengths and lessons.The power of mentorship, finding inspiration from others, their stories, and their struggles.Why goals can be “unrealistic” but why it is also okay not to accomplish them, how to overcome fear, the power of self-talk, the importance of flexibility and adaptability, and why flow state is not something magical that just happens but must be trained and prepared for.How to approach athleticism and performance as you begin to mature in age.Contact:Website – https://www.laurawilkinson.comCourse – Confident Competitor, https://pursuitofgold.lpages.co/confident-competitor-2023/Mentions:Person - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow StateBook – Steven Kotler, The Art of Impossible.Product – KAATSU, https://madetothrive.co.za/product/kaatsu-c3-black/Support the showSupport the show on Patreon:As much as we love doing it, there are costs involved and any contribution will allow us to keep going and keep finding the best guests in the world to share their health expertise with you. I'd be grateful and feel so blessed by your support: https://www.patreon.com/MadeToThriveShowSend me a WhatsApp to +27 64 871 0308. Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our content: https://madetothrive.co.za/terms-and-conditions-and-privacy-policy/

Olympic champion Laura Wilkinson joins Laura Kelly to discuss how the visualization technique can help us stay focused and achieve our professional and personal goals. This insightful conversation uncovers how visualization works by conditioning our brain to see, hear, and feel the success in our minds before it happens.

Laura Wilkinson has achieved every honor in the sport of Diving. She is 3x Olympian, Gold Medalist, World Champion, 2X NCAA Champion, 8X All-American, and holds 19 USA Diving National Titles. At the age of 43,she even qualified for finals in the 2021 Olympic trials with her 4 kids watching. Her path was filled with obstacles as she started late, was called a “waste of space” by a coach and gave up her college scholarship to train for the Olympics only to shatter her foot leaving her unable to train  just months before the 2000 Sydney Games. Her mindset to “rather fail than not try” and her choice to find humor and joy and in the scariest of moments enabled her to overcome the impossible coming from 8th place in the final round to achieve her childhood dream of winning an Olympic Gold Medal. She teaches current athletes that we will all have challenges that will define us.  @lala_the_diver, laurawilkinson.com

Laura Wilkinson's first leap of faith from the 10 meter platform was at the age of 15. After being told by one of her teachers that she was too old to start a new sport, Laura plunged into diving anyway. Nine months later, she was kicked off of her high school diving team for being a “waste of space.” The next year, Laura won her first US National Title, made the US National Team, and earned a bronze medal at the World Cup.   Laura wrote a book called Life at 10 Meters, Lesson from an Olympic Champion. Each chapter highlights Laura's mindset and focus as she grew, competed and trained to ultimately reach the pinnacle of sport. As Laura transitioned from childhood to competitive diver to Olympian to adulthood to a mother, there have been many roadblocks, triumphs, challenges, sorrows and unimaginable joy. This crazy, winding journey has taught Laura that we are all capable of far more than we often imagine, and we were created for a much bigger purpose.   Laura also hosts a podcast called Pursuit of Gold. The podcast seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olympic athletes, sports professionals, coaches, and experts. In these conversations we unlock the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that shape the whole athlete and generate peak performance.   Get in touch with Laura: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/  

Deon Woods Bell and Laura Wilkinson join Our Curious Amalgam and Diversity. Advanced to celebrate Black History Month. What can we learn about diversity from two legends of the antitrust and consumer protection bars? Alicia Downey and Jaclyn Phillips talk with Deon and Laura about their storied careers, inclusion, and the importance of engaging with the community. Listen to this episode and be inspired by their perspectives on the value of diversity both in the U.S. and in the international antitrust and consumer protection arena. With special guests: Deon Woods Bell, Senior Advisor, Global Policy, Financial Services for the Poor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Laura Wilkinson, Global Antitrust Counsel, PayPal Related Links: Diversity.Advanced  Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Jaclyn Phillips, White & Case LLP

Are you ready for an inspiring story that will leave you motivated and uplifted? In this episode, we sit down with world champion diver Laura Wilkinson, who shares her incredible journey of overcoming adversity and achieving greatness. From the power of believing in yourself and the importance of letting children learn from their own mistakes, to the challenges of pursuing a dream that doesn't pay and the joys of parenthood, Laura's story has it all. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from a true champion and be inspired by her journey. Tune in now to hear Laura Wilkinson's empowering story of resilience and determination. Topics Covered 00:00:00 - Olympic Diver Makes a Comeback After Overcoming Retirement and Injury to Qualify for 2021 Trials 00:03:52 - Amazing Dive Captivates Crowd at Welcome Event 00:07:47 - Pursuing Big Dreams Despite the Fear of Rejection 00:09:04 - The Impact of One Conversation: Letting Go of Negative Thinking 00:12:14 - The Benefits of Hands-off Parenting: Teaching Responsibility and Knowing When to Move On 00:14:20 - Unique Paths to Sports: Different Ways of Learning and Timing 00:15:44 - Competitive Swimming: A Mix of Technicality and Acrobatics 00:18:09 - Overcoming the Technical Challenges of Diving: Achieving Balance through Mindset and Skill 00:19:56 - Conquering Fear and Strengthening Self-Relationship 00:23:45 - Making a Comeback through Letting Go 00:27:44 - Learning to Let Go and Achieve Success Again 00:29:54 - The Consequences of a Fixed Mindset: Reflections on a Tattoo 00:31:45 - Exploring the Financial Side of Olympic Gold Medalists 00:34:11 - Balancing Diving and Part-time Work 00:38:50 - Life Lessons from Laura: A Gift to My Life 00:40:14 - Smart Decision for Safety: Dealing with Pressure 00:43:27 - Growing through Adoption Challenges 00:48:03 - Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking: A Journey of Growth 00:51:04 - The Importance of Healthy Communication Links and Resources Laura's website Team USA Bio Instagram Facebook Connect with The Better Than Rich Website Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok YouTube Linkedin --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/betterthanrichshow/message

Falling Forward with Olympic Medalist Jonathan Horton From wild child to Olympic medalist, Jonathan Horton is the kind of athlete who truly inspires, his determination and grit winning him silver and bronze Olympic medals. Jonathan begins the episode by discussing his experience as a hyperactive kid, including the time he climbed a twenty-five-foot support beam in the middle of Target! He then talks about how watching the '96 Olympics women's gymnastics team provided a moment of intense motivation that would help him become a pro gymnast. He also discusses the importance of finding your passion and not giving up, including taking new opportunities and embracing challenges. Next, Jonathan chats about his time in college and how it helped him evolve from a self-centered athlete to a team member who supported and fought for his teammates. He then talks in detail about his Olympic experiences, from the doubts about the 2008 men's team, to bonding through anxiety on the eve of team finals, to winning bronze against the odds. Plus, he shares how going for broke against his coach's advice led him to a silver medal. Jonathan then discusses the injuries that led to the end of his gymnastics career and his one regret from that time before closing the episode with his experiences on Ninja Warrior and how he became a two-time author. Episode Highlights: From hyperactive kid to motivated machine Finding your passion and taking on challenges Learning to be a team member Jonathan's experiences at the Olympics Competing on Ninja Warrior Quotes: “That was inspirational for me and millions, if not billions of people, to see those gold medals go over those women's necks and watch the American flag go up in the air and listen to the national anthem. And I just remember thinking, ‘That's it, that's why I'm doing gymnastics, that's what I want to do one day.” “I think that you owe it to yourself to not quit on looking for that thing that fires you up and clicks in your brain and etches itself into your soul.” “I was such an individual, selfish, self-centered athlete that only wanted to win win win for myself. And then, I got to college, and I quickly learned what it meant to have teammates that were all chasing after the same thing. And my first year of college was a steep learning curve where I had to toss all of my own, not all of my own self desires to the side, but really learn how to compete for the guys standing next to me.” “We suddenly just became a brotherhood. We were more than just an Olympic team. We were a family of guys that were like, ‘Hey, screw it. I know that no one believes that we can win a medal. We barely believe that we can win a medal because we're all panicking right now. But let's just go out there. And we always said, grip it and rip it, just grab the equipment and just go.” “My goal was always to be like Laura Wilkinson and win gold. I wanted that gold medal. And that's what kept driving me. I never got to really call myself an Olympic champion. But I also tell people, I didn't lose gold. I won silver, I won bronze, I didn't lose anything.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Choose your free guide here 5 Ways to Stay Focused in a Competition 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook Jonathan's Links: Falling Forward: How An Ordinary Kid Failed His Way to His Olympic Dream on Amazon If I Had Known: Life Lessons From An Olympic Pro Athlete on Amazon Jonathan's Facebook Jonathan's Instagram

How would you react if the person you thought would guide you to greatness told you you're a waste of space? Imagine how troubled you'd feel when even your coaches don't believe you have what it takes to make it. If you feel everybody and everything is going against you, remember it takes one person to believe in you, see your talent, take a risk on you, and change your life. And that person better be you.Laura Wilkinson is an American diver, 3-time Olympian, and Olympic gold medalist. She is the first woman to win the three major diving world titles. After nine years in retirement and four children in tow, she returned to competing in 2017 and placed 2nd at the US Nationals. She is also the host of the Pursuit of Gold Podcast, where she seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools to help them reach their biggest goals in sports.Topics Covered:00:00 Introduction 03:19 Challenging parts of Laura's early life05:55 Imagine being told you're a waste of space by your coach07:29 Laura's transition from gymnastics into diving10:24 Why imposter syndrome affects the most successful people13:34 Never stop setting goals15:58 The difference between goals and expectations18:03 The pressure of being an Olympic champion 20:37 Set big goals but have realistic expectations23:52 Life lessons you can learn through sports25:17 The joy and challenges of motherhood29:17 From diving to running a successful business34:09 What to expect from Laura moving forward38:07 Balancing family life with growing a business40:16 The importance of communication in relationships42:50 The kind of legacy Laura would like to leave behind45:15 Parting thoughts Links and Resources MentionedLaura's Instagram Laurawilkinson.comPursuit of Gold Podcast

Hello, listeners, members and subscribers! Our sixteenth Moonshots Master episode is here and we are leaping into Leadership and Goal setting, off the back of our Achieving Your Goals series!To truly get us going, we hear from the master, John Doerr, who inspires us by stating it's crucial to choose the right goals for the right reasons, in business and in our personal lives, and how Google, Bono, And The Gates Foundation Rock The World With OKRS. We then learn from Laura Wilkinson, an Olympic gold medalist, who discusses the importance of setting goals, and why accidents like winning an Olympic Gold don't just happen.Now we can dive into Christina R Wodtke, who speaks about ‘What Matters' and how you flow OKRs through your organisation, as well as the importance of empowerment. We also have Expert Program Management who states how to keep your balance when setting goals, and the value of Self assessment.To help us kick-start our behaviour today, we learn from Kim Scott, who breaks down Radical Candor and introduces the 4 quadrants. We close, fully inspired and keen to begin, with Terrence Donahue and Michael D Watkins, who talk about the benefits of planning where you're going forward, and the Next 90 Days.Our recommended reading list includes some key titles that will help you go even deeper into the topic: John Doerr, Measure What Matters Caroline Adams Miller and Michael B. Frisch, Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide Christina R Wodtke, Radical Focus Kim Scott, Radical Candor Michael D Watkins, The First 90 Days Michael Hyatt, Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals What key lesson are you taking from the Master Series shows? Get in touch and let us know! Thanks for listening. That's a wrap.If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else." –  Lawrence J. Peter ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Hello, listeners, members and subscribers! Our sixteenth Moonshots Master episode is here and we are leaping into Leadership and Goal setting, off the back of our Achieving Your Goals series! Become a Paid Subscriber: https://anchor.fm/moonshotmasterseries/subscribe To truly get us going, we hear from the master, John Doerr, who inspires us by stating it's crucial to choose the right goals for the right reasons, in business and in our personal lives, and how Google, Bono, And The Gates Foundation Rock The World With OKRS. We then learn from Laura Wilkinson, an Olympic gold medalist, who discusses the importance of setting goals, and why accidents like winning an Olympic Gold don't just happen. Now we can dive into Christina R Wodtke, who speaks about ‘What Matters' and how you flow OKRs through your organisation, as well as the importance of empowerment. We also have Expert Program Management who states how to keep your balance when setting goals, and the value of Self assessment. To help us kick-start our behaviour today, we learn from Kim Scott, who breaks down Radical Candor and introduces the 4 quadrants. We close, fully inspired and keen to begin, with Terrence Donahue and Michael D Watkins, who talk about the benefits of planning where you're going forward, and the Next 90 Days. Our recommended reading list includes some key titles that will help you go even deeper into the topic: John Doerr, Measure What Matters Caroline Adams Miller and Michael B. Frisch, Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide Christina R Wodtke, Radical Focus Kim Scott, Radical Candor Michael D Watkins, The First 90 Days Michael Hyatt, Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals What key lesson are you taking from the Master Series shows? Get in touch and let us know! Thanks for listening. That's a wrap.

On today's episode, Laura's talking about one of the things she gets asked about most frequently: visualization. Laura credits this technique as a big part of why she was able to make the Olympic team and win gold when no one else expected her to. Having seen other athletes succeed with this approach, she adopted it as a way to continue training after shattering her foot three months before the Olympic Trials, making an opportunity out of that forced sidelining. Visualization has remained part of Laura's personal toolset, and she uses that experience in this episode to explain what the technique is and walk us through how to get started visualizing in a way that will actually make a difference. Visualization is defined as purposely rehearsing a skill, routine, or performance in your mind to program your body physically for success. Practicing it consistently becomes a fortifying competition strategy, rewiring your brain to prepare it to deal with all the different factors that come into play while competing. Laura explains that there are a few different ways to visualize, including first and third-person versions, which contribute different effects and should be used in conjunction with each other. She also points out the importance of engaging all your senses while visualizing to better immerse your brain and make changes more easily. Laura then shares some how-to basics for those wishing to start visualizing, from giving yourself a set amount of time to practice, to making sure you have a quiet place to visualize in, and starting with the approach that comes most naturally to you. And finally, Laura finishes the episode with some tips and tricks for beginners, including practicing frequently and consistently, mixing things up every day, and using video study to enhance your visualization. Episode Highlights: Laura's personal experience with visualization What visualization is Types and elements of visualization How-to visualizing basics Tips and tricks for getting started with visualization Quotes: “When I burst onto the scene winning an unexpected Olympic victory—well, unexpected to everyone else—the story that was being told was centered around me having shattered my foot before the Olympic trials and being unable to physically train. So I visualized, and that not only helped me make the Olympic team, but I consider it a big part of the reason that I was able to stand atop the podium and listen to my national anthem play.” “The more senses that you engage, the more your mind starts to believe that you're really doing the activity. You're actively rewiring your brain on how to fire and react when you're doing specific movements and techniques. So the more real it is to you, the more real it is to your brain, and the more effective changes you can actually make.” “People say practice makes perfect, but really, practice makes permanent. So if you're practicing or thinking about or visualizing the wrong actions, that's what you are making into concrete in your brain. So you really want to make sure, as you're visualizing, that you take the time to think about doing all the things, all the tiny, little details, correct because that's what you are programming in your brain.” “These visualizations of the competition scenarios, it just allows you to put yourself in so many different situations that maybe you don't have the actual time to be going out and doing the thirty different competitions against the same people to see how you would stack up in different scenarios. But you can do that in your mind.” “Make sure that you're keeping this positive. This is not a place to beat yourself up or to get frustrated. This is a place to learn, to experiment, and to see yourself doing all these awesome and amazing things that you've dreamed of doing.” Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global Links: The Pursuit of Gold 1-on-1 Coaching with Laura The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

Dealing with mental blocks is something athletes in every sport can struggle with. Today Coach Rebecca Smith speaks with 3x Olympic diver Laura Wilkinson about her tips, tricks, and hacks to a better mental game.

Need some inspo? This episode is one of our all-time faves so we are bringing it back this summer to encourage you. Laura is a 3-time Olympic diver, Olympic gold medalist, World Champion, and has been inducted into 5 Halls of Fame. After 9 years of retirement and with 4 kids in tow, she returned to the sport she loves and at 43 years old qualified for the finals of the 2021 Olympic Trials. Her passion to face challenges head on and overcome every obstacle that stands in her way will motivate any audience to rise up and discover their own greatness. She also hosts The Pursuit of Gold Podcast which seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olympic athletes, sports professionals, coaches, and experts. Laura is also a motivational speaker and has been a broadcaster for NBC. Laura has pushed through the pain, fought hard, and come out victorious and we are so excited to learn from her in this episode. We love connecting you with resources, so we pulled some of our faves based on this podcast episode. We hope they encourage, inspire and challenge you.  Enjoy! Connect with Laura @ laurawilkinson.com The Pursuit of Gold Podcast: laurawilkinson.com/podcast More Collide Resources: Our Personal and Powerful Bible study reminds us that God is able to intersect with our lives in both personal and powerful ways.  The Women of Impact Online Course provides teaching and inspiration from women making a huge impact in the world as they tap into God's purpose for their lives in the sectors and spaces they've been called to. Get inspired and equipped to make an impact with YOUR life. The Insight Journal is a free tool to help you pause and take stock of all that you've been through, all that you've learned, all that you want to leave behind, and reflect on lessons learned in hard times to take with you on the journey ahead. We all have big dreams and big goals, but we often get held back by our own self-doubt. But God wants to use you just as you are. Dig into our amazing resource, 5 Exercises to Help you do Amazing Things to help you confront the fear that holds you back, and to say “yes” to God doing amazing things in your life. 

We're changing things up this week with a slightly different episode from usual, in which our host, Laura Wilkinson, answers some questions gathered from our Instagram followers. The questions cover topics including starting sports at an older age, dealing with injuries and mental blocks, epic advice that Laura's received, being an underdog versus a favorite, and having purpose. Laura kicks things off with the story of finding her way into diving at the age of fifteen after quitting gymnastics and how that eventually led to the fulfillment of her Olympics dream. And the final question rounding out the episode asks where Laura finds purpose after having achieved so much and what keeps her going every day. Her response is that she's always been very goal-oriented and focused on pushing the envelope of what she is capable of, so she continues to find purpose and fulfillment in setting huge goals and being determined and consistent in pursuing them. But you might be surprised at what directly follows that answer. Episode Highlights: How Laura got into diving at an older age Is it ever too late to start diving and compete? The best advice Laura's ever received Being the underdog vs. the favorite Moving forward from a loss Laura's favorite and least favorite dives How Laura feels watching her kids play sports Using injury time as an opportunity Dealing with mental blocks Setting goals and having purpose Quotes: “I wanted to continue learning and pushing boundaries and trying things, and I just kind of realized it was time to move on. But that dream of the Olympics was still in the back of my mind. I just recognized at that point I needed to find a new sport.” “I'm not sure if it was ever that I recognized my own potential. I just wanted this thing so badly that I was going to pursue it. Whether it was switching sports or, you know, I was just going to pursue it no matter what. I was going to find a sport that I could go to the Olympics, and I was going to find a way to the Olympic Games.” “If you are interested in diving and competing at any age, give it a whirl. I think, at the very least, you're going to try something new, you're going to learn something, and you're gonna have a blast.” “Soak it in. You're at the Olympics, you're in your dream, you're getting to do all these things, just live it up. But when it's your time to dive, when it's your time to compete, that's when you just let all that go. And at that point, you're just at another diving meet against competitors you've competed against so many times, doing dives you've done a thousand times, you know exactly what you're doing.” “When I was kicked off my high school diving team for being a waste of space, yes, obviously, it still gets under my skin today, but I am so glad I was told that because it lit a fire. And sometimes, we need that kind of fire lit under us.” “We want adversity, we want obstacles because that's when we rise to the occasion. So I don't think being labeled an underdog is a bad thing. I think fighting for something, it gives you that fuel—it's just such a perfect description—that fuel to push forward and to overcome. Because you want this thing, and you're fighting for it.” “It's okay to be sad, it's okay to be angry, it's okay to just lose it, and just kind of want to cry or vent or whatever, like, make sure you are allowing yourself to experience that emotion. If you are stuffing it in and trying to avoid the emotion of what happened, it will come out later in a much uglier way.” “Don't sit in the grief for, like, forever, you know, but give yourself a few days, a few weeks, whatever the timeline is, a little bit of time to process it. Then begin to create a new game plan and analyze and work on what happened and what is going to come next.” “My other kids are still kind of figuring out what it is that they're going to do. One has said she is not an athlete, she is an artist, and I respect that, although she will run sprints with me, and so that's really cool, maybe one day she'll go for track. But you know, I love, I love, absolutely love watching them find the thing that lights them up the way that I feel like diving lights me up.” “Don't be afraid to get more than one opinion on what your injury is. You know, one doctor doesn't always have the answers or may not pick up everything, like, it's okay to get two or three opinions on things to make sure you're making the right choice.” “When you have injuries, this is the number one thing I will tell people to do: take care of your injury and then train mentally. Everybody says sports is 90% mental, but no one trains that way. Not one. I can pretty much guarantee you that.” “When you close your eyes as you start implementing all of your senses, you're not just seeing it with your eyes, you can actually feel what you're doing. You're actually firing muscles, like, from the neurons in your brain, you're starting to react with the right muscles that are going to be doing all of these skills. You'll be blown away by what you can do if you do this consistently in that time.” “A lot of times, the issue is not starting in the pool or in the gym. Sometimes, the issue is starting at home or in your personal life. We have this way of carrying stress and anxiety, and it begins to burden us so badly that it comes out in our sport, looking like mental blocks and things like that, or this ultimate fear that is overwhelming. And it's actually not coming from your sport.” “A lot of times, our sport, even if you're a sprinter, the whole process is a marathon, not a sprint. So have that long-term vision and hang on to that.” “I'm very, very goal-oriented. And so, even when I've done really awesome things, I've always wanted more. I've always strived for more, like, my whole goal wasn't… I mean, I wanted to win the Olympics, but I also wanted to find out what I was capable of, how good can I be, how hard of dives can I do and do them really, really well, for like nines and tens.” “I love training as much as I love competing. Competing is exciting and it's fun. But the hunt to get there is almost better. Like sometimes, when you get to the meet, you're like, man, I kind of wish it wasn't here because I love that process. And that hunt. And that work. There's just something so fulfilling about that to me.” “My purpose doesn't just lie in having goals. And it's not just in what I'm doing. I know that I have worth and value because God created me, and he told me that. And, you know, for me, diving has always been a beautiful way to feel really connected with God. Because that is a gift I know he gave me, and when I do it with everything that I am, it feels like worship. And it feels beautiful and completely fulfilling to me.” “I'm still learning how to not just juggle all these things, but how to, you know, shift my priorities to where diving isn't my number one priority, my family is, and then diving will come after that. And learning that I don't have to be so intense all the time, but I can actually just fully embrace it and enjoy every step of the way.” Pursuit of Gold Podcast is brought to you by Kaatsu Global Links: The Pursuit of Gold The Confidence Journal Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook

The average American throws out 4.5 pounds of trash every single day. It may not seem all that much, but with over 300 million people in the United States, that is roughly 728,000 tons of daily garbage. What makes this bad is over 70% of what goes into landfills could be recycled or used for compost. Composting is the speeding up of the natural process of decomposition. The goal is to improve soil composition by returning useful waste back to your garden. Today many cities have prohibited green waste from your garbage. Now is the best time ever to learn the basics of composting. Laura Wilkinson is a Master Composter, and she is joining us this week for a webinar. She is going to cover the basic how-to of composting. She will also cover hot or cold composting. Bokashi and vermiculture will be discussed too. Hear updates on composting in your yard, your green bins, and how vermiculture composting is a natural insect repellant and fertilizer. During this session, you will learn: The basics of how to compost What are some advanced techniques to use If bokashi or vermicomposting fits your garden Where to find valuable resources to make sure your garden waste is turned into garden gold

Dreamchaser Laura Wilkinson is here to tell you what's possible in life once you've learned to find joy in the process of the hard work you're putting in, and accepting that failure is a part of that process. Laura is a 3 time Olympian, Olympic gold medalist, World Champion, and has been inducted into 5 Halls of Fame. After 9 years of retirement and with 4 kids in tow, she returned to the sport she loves and at 43 years old qualified for the finals of the 2021 Olympic Trials. Laura tells us about the stuff that happens between the perfect moments - everything from breaking bones and neck surgery, to feeling hopeless, to feeling blessed beyond belief. She'll explain how she learned to let go and surrender to divine timing. Her passion to be a mom while diving into challenges head-on to overcome every obstacle will inspire and motivate anyone to rise up and discover their own greatness.Laura says knowing your definition gives you better self-worth. We'd love for you to share your definition of success with The Juice. Reach out to us at:  thepamchristiangroup.com/contactFor Laura's podcast:Laurawilkinson.comPursuit of Gold Podcast

On today's episode, Jane Figueiredo joins Laura Wilkinson to discuss her long standing career as a one-time Olympian and diving coach for the British and Russian Olympic teams and the University of Houston. Among her many accomplishments, Jane was named the NCAA Diving Coach of the Year four times and has coached a number of international divers, including multiple divers, including Tom Daley, to Olympic medals. She opens the episode by recounting how she made the leap from her home in South Africa and Zimbabwe to Houston, as well as her experience of becoming a diving Olympian for team Portugal before becoming a coach.  Jane goes on to discuss her coaching career, attributing much of her success in this field to being in the right place at the right time. She also highlights what she learned by working with the Russian Olympic Diving Team, and also by working with Tom Daley. Taking a note from Laura's book, Jane notes that she has started valuing the importance of mental preparedness more, and encouraging her athletes to focus less on medals, and more on striving to be the best they can. This fascinating interview draws to close with Jane sharing her plans for the future.  Episode Highlights:  Growing up in Zimbabwe Coaching at University of Houston  Olympian for one year on Portugal's team International presence The importance of being in the right place at the right time Figueiredo's time working as a coach for the Russian team Lessons learned from team Russia  Presently coaching British team Tom Daley and his strong work ethic and need for planning How Tom made her a better listener Tom's lack of success in Rio Confidence going into Tokyo The importance of mental preparedness  Focus on being the best you can be; not gold medals   Jane plans to return to London to prepare for Paris Olympics Quotes:  “Obviously, I was born and raised in Southern Africa. And we had, believe it or not, a deep history of diving. Most of the divers that ever came out of Zimbabwe, all dove in the States on scholarship.” “There is certainly an extra drive, because you've got to understand, a lot of them… they live with their parents for many years into their adult life. So they don't have the same opportunities that American kids have. So yes, the drive is certainly there to try to better themselves in a different way.” “My technical knowledge exploded because once I started coaching Vera Ilyina I understood they coached me on twisting technique. Because I would ask a lot of questions.” “In the US, we never had trials, and nobody used dry land, whereas in the Russian system, it was 80% dry land. And that's where they develop their divers, in dry land. And then the other 20% was, ‘Okay, let's have a look in the pool.'” “Tom called me and said, ‘Hey Jane, I want to come over and chat with you. Can I come train with you?' I said, “Sure, you can come.” And– I thought he was coming in two weeks. He said, ‘I'll be there tomorrow morning.'” “I'm pretty satisfied with my career and the college thing had gone really, really well, and I was okay. I was happy with myself, and then he came along, and I was just like, ‘Oh, my God, this is just, Oh, my God, he's got me.'” “I'm happy to admit that as an elite coach, we become quite controlling, because we want to try to control all of it. Sure. We want to try to control the mindset, the physicality, the emotion, the private, because all of it contributes to whether you're successful or not. And then I had to really just let some of it go.” “We talked too much about winning the gold medal, and I think that puts so much pressure and expectation on you. And that when you don't deliver, it's like you go below the surface. It's like the iceberg below the water. And so we decided, I don't want to hear a word about it.  Don't let me hear you, in any interview, talk about a gold medal. I don't want to hear about it. Do not say a single word.” “Life does not go exactly to schedule. So you know, maybe the event gets postponed, maybe you're up there getting ready to do front, four and a half. And they blow the whistle just as you're running because something's fallen in the pool. I said, ‘Tom, I'm going to schedule this out. But the only thing that I want you to always remember is that things can change.'” Links: The Pursuit of Gold Website Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson Designs- Shop Buy Laura a Coffee Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook Jane's Social Media: Jane's Instagram

Laura WilkinsonLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurawilkinsongold/Website:https://www.laurawilkinson.com/Twitter:https://twitter.com/Lala_the_diverInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/Facebook:https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/Podcast:https://www.laurawilkinson.com/podcastYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLauraWilkinsonMy social media links:Podcast:https://podcast.app/day-in-day-out-p832991Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/muui23LinkedIn page:https://www.linkedin.com/company/day-in-day-out-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueYouTube:https://bit.ly/2UVszCm

2000 Women's 10 Meter Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson.  Please enjoy hearing her story and her struggles with injuries. Along with her journey back into the sport.  What an inspiration!

Olympian Laura Wilkinson joins host Tara Hutton to discuss her book, "Life at Ten Meters, Lessons from an Olympic Champion, overcoming adversity as an athlete, and how what she learned on the diving platform has helped her as a parent of kids from hard places. For more on Laura visit: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/ Order Laura's book Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic champion here https://www.laurawilkinson.com/book https://www.anchoredinhoperetreat.org/ ______________________________________ Join the Mamas Well Community for the latest podcast releases, useful resources and Wisdom From The Well Cards HERE: https://www.mamaswell.com/community​​...​ To download this week's Wisdom from the Well Card, as well as the cards for all past and future episodes.. https://mamaswell.com/wftw-sign-up/​​​​​ Subscribe to Mamas Well YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5B52aJ6...​... Subscribe and listen to Mamas Well on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...​... Mamas Well on Socials Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamaswelll​​...​

Sometimes you just have to keep walking until your steps are guided in the right direction We discuss with a 3-time Olympian and a Gold medalist, the first American woman since 1964 to win a Gold Medal in platform diving and an author of the book named "Life at 10 Meters". Be inspired from Laura's inspiring and amazing career! Key Takeaways: [2:49] Laura's background and how she got started in Diving [4.09] Retired from the Olympics at the age of 30 in 2008 after representing her country thrice. Her comeback was accidental and more than that because of her family's support and belief in her [6.18] How Laura trained throughout the Pandemic and recovered from her injuries [7.55] The struggle of making a comeback and a fear of whether you will be as good as you were before and why it is OK to be vulnerable [10.45] Mental health and readiness are important (in every pursuit we aim for). It is important is to have people to back you up - your family, mentor and friends [12:42] Managing an athletic career alongside being a mom to 4 children. How? You just have to have that leap of faith! [14.48] What's next for Laura? Follow us on Instagram // Spill the Tea Podcast Website Connect with Laura Wilkinson: Website // Instagram Mentioned in this episode: Pursuit of Gold Podcast Olympic snippet clip from Team USA

Laura Wilkinson is an American diver, 3 time Olympian, and Olympic gold medallist. She is the first woman to win the three major diving world titles.[1] Wilkinson retired in 2008. After nine years of retirement, she returned to competition in 2017 and placed 2nd at Nationals. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fear. Anxiety. No matter who we are or what we do during our days, we feel it. Now more than ever. So how do we fight back? That's what we are going to learn from today's guest, World Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist and mom of 4, Laura Wilkinson. Laura is my actual favorite Olympian ever, and I guarantee you are going to adore this episode. Not only is her story amazing and inspiring but she shares SO many practical tips of fight fear and trusting God. Cheering you on, ❤️  Kat Lee   LINKS: Laura Wilkinson's Book Laura Wilkinson's Website Pursuit of Gold Podcast Laura Wilkinson on Instagram Download the 3 Minute Morning Kit here. Add Jen Stanbro's song God Day to your Music Library.  The Hello Mornings Podcast is hosted by Kat Lee, author of the Hello Mornings Book and founder of HelloMornings.org.

Welcome to the Pro Sports Podcasters Podcast! NEWSLETTER SIGN UP !!! https://captivate.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=48d148e91bacee63c8f63fe3c&id=73ef4ebbc5 (https://captivate.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=48d148e91bacee63c8f63fe3c&id=73ef4ebbc5) - Nii and Cobe speak with Olympic Gold medalist in the 10 metre Laura Wilkinson. -Laura goes into detail about her journey to becoming an Olympic Gold medalist in High Diving. -She also provides us with her reactions to the ultra competitive divers at the recent Tokyo Olympics! Then we talk about some of her endeavors outside of the pool, and what she is doing now. LINKS https://pro-sports-podcasters.captivate.fm/ (https://pro-sports-podcasters.captivate.fm/) https://www.youtube.com/c/CobeLife (https://www.youtube.com/c/CobeLife) http://www//twitter.com/PPodcasters (http://www//twitter.com/PPodcasters) https://www.patreon.com/prosportspodcasters (https://www.patreon.com/prosportspodcasters) #NoSportLeftBehind #prosportspodcasters Intro music by Dave Misener Audio mastered by Corbert de Ronde

Find out what Laura is talking about when she continues her conversation with George and how working together to progress the cannabis movement will benefit the industry.PVTV OFFICIAL- Like

You do not want to miss part 1 of 2 with Laura Wilkinson Sinton! We talk about her career transition from the broadcast industry into cannabis, the legalities of cannabis in the different counties of California, her passion for cannabis education and counseling for cannabis start-ups! Tune in for this educational, informative and of course, entertaining episode!PVTV OFFICIAL- Like

Today's episode features Olympic gold medalist, Laura Wilkinson. Besides sharing some of the backstory to winning Olympic gold, she discusses what it takes to be a mom of 4 and a world-class athlete. She shares her ideas on creating a winning mindset and being your best, no matter what obstacles are in your way.   Her bestselling book, Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion, is available on Amazon. And you can connect with Laura at laurawilkinson.com.   Laura's Wilkinson:   Beating what many said were impossible odds in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, Laura, starting in eighth place and with a broken foot, came from behind to win the 2000 Olympic platform gold medal. Laura has also won the 2004 World Cup and the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first woman in history to win all three coveted world titles in platform diving. Along the way, she has won 19 US National Titles, been voted by the American public the 2000 US Olympic Spirit Award winner and was nominated for an ESPY award. Laura has also been inducted into five different Halls of Fame including the International Swimming Hall of Fame. People always notice something that sets Laura apart from her competitors, her smile. She smiles during the most pressure packed and fierce competitions, almost like she's removed from the situation, acknowledging her family and teammates in the stands. Laura explains, “I smile because I love what I do. I make a commitment before the competition to enjoy the experience however it turns out.” Laura attended the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games as a reporter and analyst for NBC. In 2017, following a nine-year retirement, Laura returned to competition. She is now currently training full time with her eyes set firmly on a fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. Laura launched her own podcast in 2020- The Pursuit of Gold. Her show seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olympic athletes, sports professionals, coaches, and experts. In these conversations, Laura and her guests unlock the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that shape the whole athlete and generate peak performance. She also created an online course called Confident Competitor to help eliminate performance anxiety and help athletes approach competitions with confidence. Laura is also wife to Eriek Hulseman and mommy to four amazing children by birth and adoption.  

Yes, Simone Biles, there is life after the Olympics. Life after years of dedication to one goal. Life after pushing your body and your mind to the limit.And yes, you are "more than your accomplishments and your sport". Just ask Laura Wilkinson.The 3-time Olympian and Olympic gold medal-winning diver is still inspiring us more than 20 years after standing on the podium. Incredibly, she competed at the 2020 Olympic trials as a 43 year-old mom of four. Inspirational for sure. But that's not the half of it.It's how she has charted her post-Olympics path that impresses and inspires at every turn.The wisdom she shared with the Our Voices Matter Podcast audience a couple of years ago rings even more true today. So, as we wind down from this year's Olympics, enjoy this encore presentation of my conversation with Laura.You will see that, indeed, one can build a rich and meaningful life after the Olympics. And Simone, Laura and I, all of your fellow Houstonians, and millions of fans around the globe, are supporting and cheering you on!Support the show (http://patreon.com/OurVoicesMatterPodcast)

Step up the start line and get ready to go for gold because in this Faith Adjacent episode we're deep-diving the Olympics. We'll go faster, higher, and stronger together as we unpack the ancient origins and modern resurgence of the Olympics, explore the use of athletic metaphors throughout scripture, and hear interviews from actual Olympic gold medalists Laura Wilkinson and Bryan Clay in our most athletic episode yet! MENTIONSWhere to Watch: NBC | Peacock | YoutubeTVInvestigative Journalism: An Oral History of Bob Costas Having Pink Eye at the Olympics Laura Wilkinson: Website | Instagram | Book - Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion | Watch her win goldBryan Clay: Twitter | Instagram | Book - Redemption: A Rebellious Spirit, A Praying Mother, and the Unlikely Path to Olympic Gold | Watch him win goldKerri Strug: Website | Instagram Watch: National Geographic History of the OlympicsListen: Season 9, Episode 4: ConstantineChristian History: Revisiting the Pagan Olympic GamesFather of Modern Olympics: Pierre de Coubertin Deep DiveGym Bros: History of the YMCABible Sports Metaphors: 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 | 2 Timothy 4:6-8 | Hebrews 12:1-3 Galatians 2:2 | Philippians 2:16 Read: The Great Divorce by C.S. LewisSha'Carri Richardson: Read more here | InstagramBible Scholar Resources: The New Testament in its World by N.T. Wight | The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible | Perseverance in Gratitude by David A. deSilvaOlympic Scholar Resources: The Games by David Goldblatt | Ancient Greek Athletics, by Stephen G. Miller | A Brief History of the Olympic Games by David C. Young YOUR HOSTResident Bible Scholar Erin Moon is a Bible study editor and Senior Creative/Producer at The Popcast Media Group from Birmingham. Find her on Instagram. BIBLE BINGE SEMINARYOur Patreon supporters can get full access to ad free Bible Binge Classic episodes, Bible Scholar QTNAs, monthly Sacred Cinema episodes, Faith Adjacent book club, and more! Become a partner. SHOW SPONSORSFaithful Counseling: Faithful Counseling wants you to start living a happier life TODAY. Visit FaithfulCounseling.com/biblebinge to join the over 500,000 people taking charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional and get 10% off. Policygenius: Head to Policygenius.com and in minutes you can compare personalized quotes to find your best price on life insurance.THE POPCASTCheck out our other podcast: The Popcast with Knox and Jamie.It's a weekly show about pop culture where we educate on the things that entertain, but don't matter. Here is our suggested Popcast starter playlist.Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter: thebiblebinge.com/newsletterShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/thepopcastFollow The Bible Binge on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laura Ann Wilkinson is an American diver, 3 time Olympian, and Olympic gold medalist. She is the first woman to win the three major diving world titles and the author of, "Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion".

Today on The Championship Mindset Podcast we speak with World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Laura Wilkinson. Laura began her athletic career as a gymnast before switching to diving as a teenager. Six months before the 2000 Summer Olympics, Laura suffered a serious foot injury in training that kept her off the platform for several months. During that time, Laura used visualization to practice her dives and prepare for competition. She would compete and win the US trials just a couple weeks after returning to practice and would go on the win gold despite not being fully healed. In 2017, after nine years of retirement, Laura returned to the platform and placed 2nd at the US Nationals. We caught up with Laura as she was preparing for the US trails and hopefully a spot on her 4th Olympic team. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Laura Wilkinson.

Once again this week, things are a little bit different as today's episode features Laura being interviewed by former Special Forces Green Beret, Fran Racioppi, on ‘The Jedburgh Podcast'. Touted as ‘a conversation with prominent visionaries, drivers of change, and those dedicated to winning', this podcast is a natural and timely fit for Laura, as she participates in the Olympic Trials this week and next in her bid to compete in her fourth Olympic Games. Be sure to tune into the Olympic Channel and NBC and join Fran in cheering her on in her attempt, and enjoy this interview here today which outlines precisely just what it takes to reach similar success in your own life.   Laura and Fran begin by looking at what it takes to reach elite levels, and then discuss Laura's career from her start in high school to present day. Along the way, they explore her perspective on failure and fear, the need to take ownership of your performance, her Sydney Olympics experience, and her Dream Chaser philosophy. They also delve into Laura's neck surgery and recovery, her preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, and her take on finding balance in life and achieving longevity in sports. The interview concludes with her thoughts on channeling the pressure of the moment, ‘The Pursuit of Gold', the 3 things she does every day, and the elite performance characteristic that Laura most exemplifies – drive. As Laura heads into the Trials which will determine her immediate Olympic future, today's sweeping examination of the many components which have brought her to this moment could not be more relevant – listen in and prepare to be inspired. Episode Highlights:       What it takes to reach elite levels Laura's high school diving experience and her ‘call to action' Her perspective on failure Taking ownership of your performance Laura's performance at the Sydney Olympics, the events leading up to it, and the pep talk she gave herself Dream Chaser Her neck surgery and recovery Laura's thoughts on fear and moving past it Preparing to qualify for Tokyo Dealing with the ‘uncontrollables' Her thought on finding balance in her life Achieving longevity in sports Channeling the pressure of the moment Her ‘Pursuit of Gold' podcast Laura's next couple months The 3 things Laura does every day to be successful The elite performance characteristic that Laura most exemplifies Quotes:    “Faith and determination separate the good from the great.” “Just because somebody tells you you can't, doesn't mean it's true.” “Failure is part of success. And the concrete actions that you take from the moment you accept that you failed are what defines you as a leader and as an elite performer.” “I'm not afraid to look like a fool.” “When we talk about the development of elite talent, there's a requirement to be humble and show humility.” “How can I become better? How can I fix that? How can I move forward?” “It doesn't matter how old you are, doesn't matter what station you have in life, you can really make a difference for somebody just by being there for them.” “This pressure that you felt became a power.” “I realized that there were so many people that probably would never have the opportunity that I was in at that moment.” “The task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you.” “I absolutely loved it, because it wasn't about me in that moment...it was about something so much bigger.” “So it's about the pursuit, it's about the hunt. It's about who you become. And I think that's what I really mean by Dream Chaser.” “You have to have this done just to be a mom because if you trip down the stairs, if you have a small car accident, like, that could lead to a quadriplegic.” “A lot of times we're scared of the unknown…fear is a lot of times a liar.” “To wholly stay in the moment is really the biggest key…and you have to practice that in practice.” “I think really breaking my foot back then was such a gift because it gave me that opportunity to focus on visualization, to go through so many competition scenarios in my mind with so many different athletes.” “Adversity makes you stronger.” “The challenge in front of you sometimes becomes the blessing that you needed.” “I have learned this last year is that I can just tear my plans up, throw them out the window, because I've got to roll with it. And I'm not good at that.” “I think one of the best things COVID taught me was that I need to have my kids be part of what I'm doing.” “They saw the sweat, they saw the tears, they saw the frustration, they saw how many times a day I was having to do this stuff and how hard I was working, all just hoping to get back in the pool. So it provided a lot of really good conversations for us.” “The best people you see doing this are beginners at some point, like, you have to start somewhere.” “I've had a lot of times where I'm like, you know, God, I'd be okay, if He closed the door, and we're done with this. But He's made it very clear, this is where I need to be, and He's made a way, and then that fire is back, and that fuel is back.” “I've learned not to be scared of my emotions. I've learned how to use them and how to direct them.” “And it's not about the pressure, or the expectations, or all these other things, just let that go. And it's just about me enjoying the moment.” “This is actually my way of finding the resources and giving them to other athletes.” “Learning those lessons from people and taking that with me, I think makes me not just stronger mentally, but emotionally and spiritually.” “There's this need for achievement and growth mindset - be better today than you were yesterday, continuous self improvement - that you display that has set you apart from all of your competition.” “For all the people who maybe think they're too old to do something they love to do, don't let society or culture decide that for you. If you love something, do it.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold Homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                   Laura's Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page  The Jedburgh Podcast: The Jedburgh Podcast Website The Jedburgh Podcast on iTunes The Jedburgh Podcast Instagram The Jedburgh Podcast LinkedIn

“The task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you.” Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson, shares her “#DREAMCHASER” journey to compete in her fourth Olympic Games in 2021. Laura joins host Fran Racioppi to provide her lessons on facing fear, the unknown, the pressure of the moment and the drive to not only win, but also to become better versions of ourselves. Laura is the first woman in history to win Olympic Gold, World Cup Gold and the World Championships in 10 meter platform diving. Motivated to reach for her dreams after being cut from her high school team, she won the gold medal on a broken foot. Get ready to be inspired by Laura's story of courage, determination and longevity at the top.Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.Highlights:-The mentality of an Olympic athlete-The need for elite performers to focus on the fundamentals -It is not about being special; it is about doing the basics better than everyone else-Laura's high school diving experience and her ‘call to action' after being cut from the team-Failure as a needed part of success-The humility needed to accept failure and the path to improve-Taking ownership of your performance-Winning the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, Laura's pep talk she gave herself, and how suffering the broken foot was the catalyst to winning the gold-Dream Chaser mentality and the drive to push towards our dreams-Her neck surgery and recovery during her return after nine years in retirement-Laura's thoughts on fear and moving past it-Preparing to qualify for Tokyo-Dealing with the ‘uncontrollables'-Finding balance in life-Achieving longevity in sports-Channeling the pressure of the moment-Laura's ‘Pursuit of Gold' podcastQuotes:-"Fate and Determination separate the good from the great"-“It's not comfortable. It's not easy. And it may take time. People don't want to do that. But that is how you move past fear.”-“Every time I fail, it gives me the opportunity to learn.”-“If you are not humble enough to receive corrections, you are never going to accept what you need to do to make a change to become better.”-“It's about the pursuit. It's about the hunt. It is about who you become. If you have these dreams, chase them.”-“The challenges that we face are what equip us for what's ahead.”Laura's Three Daily Foundations of Success:-Love your family-Be active and move your body-Stay hydrated

Today’s episode is a little different in that Laura is actually a guest on another podcast, and is interviewed by veteran broadcaster, Bill Houston and former LPGA Pro, Tracy Hanson, from the Power Up Sports Ministry, an outreach of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Listeners may remember Tracy as a guest on Episode 20 of Pursuit of Gold where she very vulnerably opened up about recognizing and overcoming abuse. As you will hear, this week’s episode is an extra special one for Laura as she shares so much that is close to her heart, but that she doesn’t always get a chance to discuss in other arenas.   She begins by briefly reviewing her personal and professional lives, and then delves deeply into her spiritual journey, including a moving account of the moment her life changed and she started fully trusting God with it. She also describes how she brings her faith into her competitions, the impact that the Tokyo Games postponement has had upon her and her training, her experience of returning to diving after neck surgery, and how she approaches sharing her faith with others. Laura concludes by offering her perspective on ministering to other athletes, as well as details regarding her wonderful family, and what she has learned about herself in her quest to return to the Olympics. Laura truly loves ‘just being able to be open and honest about Jesus and sports’, and that is precisely what she does today in this enlightening and thoroughly inspiring interview. Episode Highlights:   A brief history of Laura’s personal and professional lives Laura’s spiritual journey and the moment her life began to change Trusting God with her life Taking her faith into her competitions The impact of the Olympic postponement on Laura Returning to diving after her neck surgery Sharing her faith with others Her perspective on ministering to other athletes Laura’s family What Laura has learned about herself Quotes:    “I was told I was a waste of space… fortunately for me, it lit a fire.” “I had reached out and I kind of realized that I had taken the reins of my life and I'd made a mess of things, but I was reaching back out for God.” “I just remember thinking that God was saying, “Look, when you trust Me with your life, I have plans for you. I have a purpose for you.” “You are probably impacting people's lives all over the place and you don't always see the fruit of that. But you've got to know when you're trusting God and you're doing what He's asking you to do, like, waves will be made, seeds will be planted, you know, and the harvest will come.” “I was much better at staying in the moment because of Him, because I was focused on Him.” “God always gives you these challenges that you're like, ‘No, I don't want to go through this’, but he uses those to equip us in ways that we can't even fathom to help us for something bigger that’s coming ahead.” “You have to be able to meet people where they are and talk to them where they're at.” “I think for athletes just constantly, constantly reminding them that, like, you are not the sum total of your score or your place at the end of the competition. Like, you are far more valuable than that. And if you get injured and you can't go on tomorrow, you still have value and purpose and you were created for that purpose.” “I've gotten really good at juggling, and I have an amazing husband who is very supportive. Without him, I mean, honestly, none of this would have happened.” “The older I get, the more I realize I don't know.” “Having kids, they kind of make you really not eat your words, but live up to your words.” “I think athletes and sports ministry leaders alike can learn from what you're putting out there with the guests that you're having.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days                   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page Tracy Hanson's Pursuit of Gold Episode Power Up Podcast Power Up Facebook Power Up YouTube

“God always gives us challenges to equip us for something bigger that’s coming ahead.” Those words are from three-time Olympic diver and 2000 Gold Medalist, Laura Wilkinson. This conversation will offer insight into the athlete’s view of ministry and competition. Join with us as we encourage, equip, challenge and train the men and women of sport as we Power Up together for God’s glory.    Guest Bio: Laura Wilkinson is an American diver, 3 time Olympian, and 2000 Olympic gold medalist. She is the first woman to win the three major diving world titles. Wilkinson retired in 2008. After nine years of retirement, she returned to competition in 2017 and placed 2nd at Nationals. Currently she is training for a fourth Olympic Games (2021). Laura Wilkinson and husband, Eriek, are parents to two adopted children and two through natural birth.   Links/Books/Resources mentioned in the show: https://www.laurawilkinson.com/ https://www.laurawilkinson.com/podcast Join Power Up Family here on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerupsports/ Join Power Up You Tube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo84-tdih-z0PcqAh7lvbZQ The Heart of an Athlete 30-Day Devotional PDF: https://file.ac/UvlI0UtgjKE/     MB01WYARNHRMKWW

The inspiration for today’s episode can be found in a team meeting that Laura’s coaches called recently. The meeting was all about goals, and included an exercise where each member shared their own goals with the others. Even with her years of experience, Laura still found this a little uncomfortable and even a bit intimidating, but also incredibly powerful and beneficial for herself and her teammates, and definitely important enough to share with listeners today.   She starts this solo episode by highlighting the need to set big goals, and the value of writing down and sharing them. She recounts the role that healthy competitiveness plays in making teammates better, emphasizes the importance of being specific about goals, creating a plan involving both short and long term goals, and explaining the difference between goals and expectations. She finishes up by looking at the importance of having and knowing your ‘why’ and by reviewing today’s main takeaways for listeners. Blessed with wisdom gained through experience and reflection, Laura expands upon a key coaching strategy for elite athletes and eloquently translates it for athletes and non-athletes alike in this relatively brief but hugely impactful episode. Episode Highlights:   Setting a goal out of your reach Writing down and sharing your goals Employing healthy competitiveness to get better Being specific with goals and creating a plan to get there Setting short and long term goals The difference between goals and expectations Avoiding the ‘expectation trap’ The importance of your ‘why’ Takeaways from today Quotes:    “If you’re setting a goal that you know you can already achieve, it’s not a goal.” “If you share it with someone, you are 77% more likely to accomplish it.” “It’s now real because somebody else knows about it, and they can hold you accountable in a number of different ways.” “The better your teammate’s getting, that’s just going to push you to get better.” “It’s important to recognize that expectations tend to have very emotional roots and responses.” “At some point you’re not going to be able to keep up with that growing expectation because it’s not a tangible result.” “When you have purpose, you can become capable of so much more than you ever thought possible.” “You’ve got to start acting like you are the person who is going to achieve that goal.” “I grew as a person. I grew as an athlete.” “You are capable of doing great things.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page

One topic that Laura has been receiving a lot of messages about lately is that of dealing with injuries. There seems to be some worry, frustration, and uncertainty expressed by more and more athletes when it comes to feeling productive while they’re sidelined for weeks, months, and even longer during their recovery. Definitely no stranger to the world of injuries, Laura draws upon her own experiences, and those of previous podcast guests, to address all of these concerns and share some valuable advice.   Laura begins by recounting some of the injuries she has sustained during her career and how she and her coach responded to them. Throughout these stories, she highlights the importance of being ‘all in’ on your recovery plan, learning from these injuries and carrying those lessons forward, the power of mind, mindset, and perspective, as well as working through the many resulting emotions. Laura also reviews the stories of some past guests of the podcast whose journeys through injury and illness are both inspiring and enlightening, and she concludes the episode with her advice on ways to deal with injuries, how to use the time while on the sidelines, and just how critical it is to really take the time to assess your injury and recovery before choosing wisely on how to move forward. As you will hear, today’s topic is one with which Laura is greatly familiar, and the knowledge and wisdom she shares here is drawn not only from her own experience but from others in the world of high level sports. This is, truly, an important listen for all athletes, and really, for anyone who may suffer perceived setbacks in achieving their goals in life. Episode Highlights:   Some of the injuries that Laura has sustained throughout her career and how she and her coach responded to them Believing in what you’re doing when coming back from injury Learning from injuries and recovery and carrying those lessons forward The importance of our mind, mindset, and perspective Working through your emotions Inspiration to be drawn from past podcast guests Laura’s advice on ways to deal with injuries and what you can do while sidelined The power of nutrition, video study, visualization, mindfulness, coaching others, and restructuring goals Choosing your response to injuries wisely Quotes:   “Obviously, hindsight, I wish we would have pressed for X-rays anyway, but my coach and I were just hoping that, you know, it wasn’t a big deal.” “That first week, I still had all those mix of emotions that you get when you feel like your world is caving in on you.” “We’re not going to look back and say, ‘What if?” and ‘Could I have?’, we are only going to look forward with a new plan.” “I have to tell you that believing in what you’re doing - as crazy as it might appear to anyone watching - if you believe in what you are doing, you’ve got to be all in.” “I would not have stood on that podium if I had not broken my foot.” “They basically took two of the discs out in my neck and fused the bones together.” “You can come out the other side even stronger.” “If your goals have changed and you don’t want to be in your sport anymore, you don’t always have to use the injury as an excuse.” “Sometimes these injuries turn into something more beautiful.” “These injuries, they can break you if you let them, or they are something that can turn you into an entirely new athlete with a new purpose.” “I encourage you to even check out the small injuries.” “Take your physical therapy seriously.” “Be smart. Know when to go slow. Know when to push forward.” “There is so much you can do while you’re sidelined.” “The mind is powerful. You need to learn how to use it.” “Don’t underestimate the power of coaching. Even if it’s some younger kids that are around you, it can be really, really beneficial.” “It all truly comes down to how you chose to look at it…choose wisely, friends.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page   Previous episode links:   Robert Paylor, episode 38   Chanelle Price, episode 37   Allysa Seely, episode 29   Dr. Ben Houltberg, episode 27   Abby and Jacob Cooper, episode 23   Chaunte Lowe, episode 18   Apolo Ohno, episode 16   Amy Dixon, episode 14   Brad Snyder, episode 12 Susie Parker-Simmons, episode 7

We're on a boat! Not really, but we're talking sailing this week. Americans Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea join us to talk about how the Olympic 49erFX class works, what the water in Tokyo is like and what it's like to try to consume five to six liters of water a day. Follow Stephanie and Maggie's endeavors on their website. On social they're on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobleSheaSailing/  Insta: https://www.instagram.com/roblesheasailing/ Speaking of sailing, it's our Atlanta 1996 moment this week, as we continue celebrating the 25th anniversary of these Olympics. If you want to talk about a city going all out to make this event an experience to remember, talk about Savannah. What are our TKFLASTANIs up to this week?  Laura Wilkinson had a nice write up in the Miami Herald. Josh Williamson Clare Egan Erin Jackson, who was featured on Forbes.com. Andrew Maraniss (affiliate link) Kelly Claes We also have Games Updates from Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022 and Milan-Cortina 2026. Check out Milan-Cortina's logo competition and join its fan team at its website. And it's time for another International Olympic Committee Session meeting, so we have a report on the first day of proceedings (and Zoom rooms). Thanks so much for listening, and until next time, keep the flame alive!   Photo courtesy of Roble/Shea Sailing.

Due to the winter storm that hit Texas recently, and the ensuing power outage, Laura has had to postpone some of the fantastic interviews she had lined up for the podcast. However, today’s episode proves equally fascinating as she delves into something which we all experience, and about which she is asked all the time: fear. While no one is immune from it, there are ways to manage it rather than let it spiral out of control, and today, Laura breaks it all down for you.   She begins by defining what fear actually is, how healthy fear works and can help, the relationship between fear and control, and the only way to overcome fear. She also discusses the need to change the way we talk and think about fear through refocusing and reframing, the gift of gaining courage through fear and commitment, and then finishes with an offer to participate in her ‘Free 5 Day Fear Challenge’. This is a topic with which Laura possesses a vast amount of experience, and her insights and advice here today, once again, go far beyond the world of sports and into each of our daily lives, making this yet another ‘must listen’ episode of ‘The Pursuit of Gold’. Episode Highlights:   Defining what fear actually is Healthy fear Fear and control Overcoming fear Changing the way we talk and think about fear Refocusing and reframing Gaining courage Commitment Laura’s Free 5 Day Fear Challenge Quotes:   “Fear is huge in my sport…I am no stranger to fear.” “Fear basically boils down to a strong feeling.” “A healthy fear should not be absolutely paralyzing.” “However big your fears are, you are not powerless against these fears.” “Fear has no actual control over you, it’s only making you feel a certain way.” “When we ignore our fears, they don’t get smaller, they begin to grow.” “When we’re trying to push our fears away, we’re actively interacting with them.” “The only way to overcome fear is to face it.” “We have to begin trusting ourselves and our knowledge and what we know will help us.” “You cannot have courage or be brave unless you are first afraid.” “The most important ingredient to becoming courageous is commitment.” “It’s normal to freeze up and get scared just before a big, important moment. That just let’s you know how important it is to you.” “You can’t dip your toe in from the 10m to see if the water feels nice.” “The thing on the other side of fear is more important to me than the fear itself.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days   Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   Laura's Instagram Facebook:   Laura's Facebook page

Today’s episode is a little different as Laura doesn’t interview a guest, but instead addresses head-on an issue that is impacting athletes throughout the world. There is a sense of weariness and exhaustion that Laura is observing in many athletes as they deal with postponements, cancellations, and what feels like an eternal holding pattern in their lives as this pandemic drags on. With her vast amount of experience, Laura possesses a great deal of wisdom and she shares it here today to help you navigate these ever changing circumstances and continue moving forward to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.   She starts by sharing her own recent history and current situation, reviewing the pandemic’s impact upon herself and other athletes, and explaining what it means to train with a moving target as well as how to accomplish it. Laura also stresses the importance of staying in the moment, looking at this unusual time as one of life’s precious opportunities, and offers a stirring analysis of the greatest gift you can give yourself. Laura sugarcoats nothing in today’s episode, demonstrating that life is filled with difficult patches to navigate, that it is up to us to decide who we want to be as we face these difficulties, and also passionately reinforcing the fact that we do, indeed, have the potential to not only get through all this but to thrive in the process. Episode Highlights:   ·   Laura’s recent history and current situation ·   The pandemic’s impact on athletes ·   Training with a moving target ·   Staying in the moment ·   This precious opportunity ·   ‘Cool Runnings’ ·   The greatest gift you can give yourself ·   Who do you want to be? Quotes:   “I actually have a nice titanium plate and 6 screws in my neck now.”   “It was devastating to so many athletes on different levels.”   “Now there’s pretty much nothing on our schedule until the Olympic trials in June.”   “Even though the target may be shifting and moving around, you’re aiming for that bullseye, and that has not changed.”   “We are going to have to adapt.”   “You are capable of getting through this and thriving.”   “You could handle anything as long as you stayed in the moment and gave it everything that you had.”   “They get back up and try again.”   “Instant gratification is actually not normal.”   “If it’s important to you, it is worth fighting for in that long term.”   “We need to remember that there’s so much more that goes on than just what we’re seeing in that little clip.”   “A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one.”   “Those moments magnify your character for better or for worse.”   “I have not only won all those things, I have failed miserably at all of those events as well.”   “I choose to be a champion both in character and in integrity.”   “If I may lose, let me stand by the road and cheer as the winners go by.”   “What can you do right now in this moment to the very best of your ability to help you continue working toward that goal?”   “It will give you peace.” Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:  http://thepursuitofgold.com/  5 Smart Strategies to Confidence:   https://www.laurawilkinson.com/learn  Laura’s Social Media: Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver   Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson  References: Episode 27 with Dr. Ben Houltberg

In today's episode, Carrie and Jamie talk to Laura Wilkinson, a wife, mother, and gold-medal Olympic diver. Laura discusses leaving retirement to compete in the Tokyo Summer Games, what it's like to be an elite athlete at the top of her game, and how diving prepared her to face some of her most daunting challenges off the platform. To find out ore about Laura, check out her website . You can also listen to her podcast The Pursuit of Gold for some fascinating conversations with other elite and Olympic athletes and coaches! We hope you enjoy the conversation!We would love it if you would you take a moment to leave us a Rating and Review! It's not as much about hitting it big on the charts as much as it is about helping us beg itunes not to hide us. If you enjoy this podcast and would like to support us by making a $1, $3, or $5 contribution to go towards our production costs, you can visit our Buy Me A Coffee page! WWQ on InstagramWWQ on Facebook  

Enneagram 8s are called The Challengers. They are motivated by the desire to protect themselves and their loved ones at all costs. They also feel a strong pull to remain in control of their own lives and trajectories, and this makes their basic fear of being controlled by others to be hurt by others.8s are the highest energy number on the Enneagram, and they get much of this energy from confrontation. They are quick-thinking and take a direct approach to everything, and they REALLY appreciate it when others take a direct approach with them as well. They are less relational and more resourceful than other numbers on the Enneagram, which gives them a unique perspective of seeing things logically AND being motivated to do something about it.All of this is why they make amazing adoptive moms! They protect their people with fierce loyalty and they seek to keep the world a safe place for those in their care. Adopted kids need this kind of protection and safety in their lives! Here to chat with us all about being an adoptive mom and Enneagram 8 is is the one and only Olympic gold medalist, Wheaties box alumni, and incredibly awesome human being all around, Laura Wilkinson! If you want to listen to Laura's complete adoption story, you can check out episode 67, but today, we're talking all about being an Enneagram 8 on this crazy adoption ride we're on as adoptive moms.... https://theadoptivemompodcast.com/blog/laurawilkinson2

Olympic gold medallist Laura Wilkinson, ‘The Comeback Queen’, join Pam and Sarah this week to share her inspirational story. Laura competed for the USA at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympic Games, retiring at age 30 to start a family. When the world had watched the best of pro diving, Laura announced her comeback, making a bid for the 2020 (now 2021) Olympics in Tokyo. Since Beijing, Laura has expanded her family, adding four children into the Wilkinson tribe; two of whom were adopted. Laura grew up inspired to one day go to the Olympics. She recalls watching the famous gold medal win for Mary Lou Retton at the 1984 Olympics and quickly fell in love with the sport of gymnastics. By the time she was 13, Laura realized that this sport was not going to be the one that took her to the Olympic Games and decided to find another sport. This is when she discovered diving.A rising star in the sport within two years she had won senior nationals. Even after decades in the sport she still gets nervous jumping in the pool the regular way but somehow diving in headfirst does not rattle her. Laura’s career highlight was her epic rise to Olympic glory, winning gold in the 10 meter board at the Sydney Olympics, having broken her foot that season and getting her cast off less than three weeks prior to the Olympic trials. The mental training and visualization work was her secret weapon, as she was forced to build up the mental resiliency she would need to climb from eighth in the final to first.  So that is exactly what Laura did…and it worked.We hear about her adoption of two children, her two pregnancies, the ups and downs through her second pregnancy and how her perspective has changed now competing as an athlete with a large, young family.The major takeaways from the interview:- sport is 90% mental, but no one trains 90% on their mental ability;- we are not superwoman, even though we wish we were;- let your kids hold you accountable.Laura also hosts her own podcast—The Pursuit of Gold—where she hosts variety of guests from Olympic medallists to coaches and sports journalists. If you enjoyed this episode, you will love Laura’s podcast.Hosts: Sarah Newberry Moore & Pam Relph JonesPodcast length: 54 minsMusic: Paredes Invisibles by Paula van HissenhovenSubscribe to WiSP Sports or WiSP Sports Mum's the Word on your podcast app.For more information, links and resources plus conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s First and Only Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 60 hosts, 1300+ episodes across 50 shows and over 7 million plays and downloads. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Write to us at info@wispsports.com.

Olympic gold medalist Laura Wilkinson, ‘The Comeback Queen’, join Pam and Sarah this week to share her inspirational story. Laura competed for the USA at the Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympic Games, retiring at age 30 to start a family. When the world had watched the best of pro diving, Laura announced her comeback, making a bid for the 2020 (now 2021) Olympics in Tokyo. Since Beijing, Laura has expanded her family, adding four children into the Wilkinson tribe; two of whom were adopted.  Laura grew up inspired to one day go to the Olympics. She recalls watching the famous gold medal win for Mary Lou Retton at the 1984 Olympics and quickly fell in love with the sport of gymnastics. By the time she was 13, Laura realized that this sport was not going to be the one that took her to the Olympic Games and decided to find another sport. This is when she discovered diving. A rising star in the sport within two years she had won senior nationals. Even after decades in the sport she still gets nervous jumping in the pool the regular way but somehow diving in headfirst does not rattle her. Laura’s career highlight was her epic rise to Olympic glory, winning gold in the 10 meter board at the Sydney Olympics, having broken her foot that season and getting her cast off less than three weeks prior to the Olympic trials. The mental training and visualization work was her secret weapon, as she was forced to build up the mental resiliency she would need to climb from eighth in the final to first.  So that is exactly what Laura did…and it worked. We hear about her adoption of two children, her two pregnancies, the ups and downs through her second pregnancy and how her perspective has changed now competing as an athlete with a large, young family. The major takeaways from the interview: -   sport is 90% mental, but no one trains 90% on their mental ability; we are not superwoman, even though we wish we were; let your kids hold you accountable. Laura also hosts her own podcast—The Pursuit of Gold—where she hosts variety of guests from Olympic medallists to coaches and sports journalists. If you enjoyed this episode, you will love Laura’s podcast. Hosts: Sarah Newberry Moore & Pam Relph Jones Podcast length: 54 mins Music: Paredes Invisibles by Paula van Hissenhoven Subscribe to WiSP Sports or WiSP Sports Mum's the Word on your podcast app. For more information, links and resources plus conversations from the world of women’s sport including articles, blogs, videos and podcasts visit wispsports.com. WiSP Sports is the World’s First and Only Podcast Network for Women’s Sport with more than 60 hosts, 1300+ episodes across 50 shows and over 7 million plays and downloads. WiSP Sports is on all major podcast players. Follow WiSP Sports on social media @WiSPsports. Write to us at info@wispsports.com.

This week’s episode is a little different, because today is Laura’s birthday! And to celebrate, she has a very special guest who will be asking the questions – her oldest daughter, Arella. Many of the questions that Arella will be asking Laura have been submitted by listeners, and she has also added a few of her own. Towards the end of the podcast, Laura turns the tables and asks Arella a couple questions as well. You will quickly discover that Arella is an excellent interviewer who might just be ready to host her own podcast someday, and you’ll also learn a lot more about Laura, her sport, her faith, her physical and mental training, and, of course, her Olympic experiences. Today’s episode is an excellent opportunity to learn so much about the life of an Olympian and her family, and if there is more you would like to know, be sure to send in your questions to Laura and they might just be answered on a future episode! Episode Highlights:   Questions for Laura:   How do you set your goals when everything is changing? Since you compete all over the world, and you have met lots of different people, has it ever given you the opportunity to share your faith with a fellow athlete? Why do you love ‘Learning to Fly’, the song by Petty so much? Is it inspirational or is it just because you think it’s a cool song? Coaching mental and physical abuse – how can we combat this as athletes? Recovering from intense diving practices How do you overcome the feelings of personal failure? Why do some divers wear swim caps now? What Gym did you go to gymnastics at before you did diving? Who are some of your mindset coaches or influencers at this point in your life? What dive has caused you to have the largest mental block, and how do you overcome it? What made you want to go to the Olympics? What are your chances of qualifying for Tokyo? How did you get into diving? How many medals do you really have? How many sports did you do before you did diving? How many times have you gone to the Olympics? What is your hardest dive ever? What’s your easiest dive? Questions for Arella:   What was the first sport that you did? What did you do after gymnastics? How do you get bored in gymnastics? Why do you enjoy Ninja Warrior so much now? Do you have any big goals for Ninja Warrior? Are there any lessons that you learn while you’re training for Ninja Warrior that help you in your everyday life? What is your new dream that you just came up with that you want to be when you grow up and why? Do you want to talk about the workout that you created during homeschool after you watched the Navy Seals? How has homeschooling been going? Quotes:   “Your ultimate goals don’t need to change…what changes is your path to get there.”   “Research what other athletes in your sport are doing out there right now, like, stalk Instagram or Facebook or YouTube.”   “Obviously, the biggest part of being able to share your faith is starting relationships with people. That has to come first.”   “That’s really when you get a chance to show people what your faith is, what it means to you, and begin to have those discussions if they’re open to that.”   “’I’m going to free fall out into nothing. I’m going to leave this world for a while’, and to me, that just encapsulates what it feels like when I’m diving 10 meter, and I’m just in my happy place, and I’m in my zone, and it kind of feels like a place of worship for me because I’m using the gifts that God has given me.”   “Episode 11 with Kaillee Humphries, she talks about mental and verbal abuse…from one of her coaches…and also in Episode 20, with Tracy Hanson, there was kind of a very long term abuse going on there.”   “It’s kind of like a small car accident every time.”   “Sometimes it’s not your body that’s wearing out, it’s your mind…if that’s the case, go play.”   “If you’re not failing, you’re not going to succeed.”   “It’s to keep the chlorine from absorbing into their hair.”   “Mostly, ‘Flips’ was my home gym.”   “The Bible has just been, kind of, my firm foundation since I gave my life to Christ.”   “If you’re ever going through a really hard time, Psalms is a wonderful place to go.”   “It really broke a barrier for me to all of a sudden, I could do anything.”   “I tried a bunch of sports until I finally found diving.”   “My biggest challenge is really getting my body back to the point where I can get my entries clean again.” “I didn’t give up just because I had a bad dive…I came back and I won the competition.”   “In 2000, it was in Sydney, Australia. In 2004, it was in Athens, Greece. And in 2008, it was in Beijing, China.”   “The back 3½ somersault pike just felt really, really, really hard.”   “Sometimes, the simple ones are the hardest.”   “My easiest dive is probably just, like, jumping in the water…a pencil dive.”   “My first sport was gymnastics.”   “I did soccer and now I’m a Ninja Warrior…I did diving…before soccer.”   “The trapeze bar is probably my favorite.”   “I keep trying over and over again until I finish the route.”   “I want to be…the first woman to be a Navy SEAL.”   “I like hard and challenging things.”   “I started working out while I was doing my Math.”   “I really like homeschooling – it’s really fun!”   “I think we should make another episode.”   Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage:   http://thepursuitofgold.com/  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

Laura Wilkinson has represented the US in diving at three separate Olympic games, and won a gold in Sydney in 2000. Laura is currently attempting a comeback and has her sight set on her 4th games in Tokyo next summer. www.anygivenrunway.com

Olympic gold medal winning diver Laura Wilkinson joins #WhatsGood to talk about her return to the 10-meter platform with her eyes on the Tokyo Olympics. The 42-year old mother of four returned to the sport in 2017 after competing in three Olympic Games (2000, 2004 and 2008) and tells us what drew her back in. We look back on her epic gold medal win in Sydney despite a broken foot, what success looks like in 2021 and how she helped change the difficulty of diving in the 2000s. Plus, we discuss knowing when a dive isn't going to work out and what sort of toll entering the water at 35mph from 10 meters high takes on your body.

Whoop whoop! Two years of real organic podcasting! Will we stop? Dunno. Hereith beginith Season 3... with a lovely interview with author Laura Wilkinson.  An all day any day cava to celebrate ... and  dental nightmares, RIP Notorious RBD, dystopian fiction (is it?). Warehouse by Rob Hart.  The Social Dilema, just relax your jaw podcasts are better than social media here is one..https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/the-brighton-book-club/id1397838472?l=en... and meet creative maven Blake Worrell,  https://www.blakeworrell.com.  Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/210926/podcast/website)

I am joined by one of the most decorated USA Divers in history: Laura Wilkinson. An Olympic Gold Medallist, a World Championship Gold Medallist, and a 19 times USA champion. After competing in 3 Olympic Games. Laura retired from the sport for 9 years. But Laura has since come out of retirement and has her eyes set on her fourth Olympic Games and competing at the Tokyo Olympics. A great conversation focusing on the psychological and philosophical side of mindset and how it can help you in your pursuit of achieving your goals. We also discuss the Olympics, retirement, where the journey began, overcoming doubt, building confidence, and key habits to be the best in the world.

First, Jeremy is joined by Chris Hinton, a 7x Pro Bowler and father of two Division-I football players, to talk about the advocacy group that he and his wife, Mya, have founded: “College Football Parents 24/7.” Chris explains why it's important to him and all other parents that college football have proper safety protocols in place before they will allow their sons to play football this fall. Plus, the longtime TV play-by-play voice for the Twins, Dick Bremer discusses what it's like calling MLB games with no fans in attendance, and calling road games remotely from Target Field. Finally, a Gold Medalist in the 2000 Olympic Games, Laura Wilkinson talks with Jeremy about making a comeback to diving at the age of 42, how the postponement of the 2020 Games has affected her training, and what it's like training for the Olympics while raising 4 children. 

Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson Tells Her Story Today on The Neil Haley Show's Caregiver Dave Celebrity Segment, Caregiver Dave and The Total Tutor Neil Haley will interview Olympic Gold Medalist Laura Wilkinson Tells Her Story. Laura Wilkinson's first leap of faith from the 10 meter platform was at the age of 15. After being told by one of her teachers that she was too old to start a new sport, Laura plunged into diving anyway. Nine months later, she was kicked off of her high school diving team for being a “waste of space.” The next year, Laura won her first US National Title, made the US National Team, and earned a bronze medal at the World Cup. Laura overcame great obstacles to win her first major international gold medal, the 1998 Goodwill Games. She is the only American diver to ever win a gold medal at this prestigious competition. In 1999 after winning her second NCAA Division 1 title, Laura left her college scholarship behind to return home to chase her Olympic dream. Shortly before the 2000 Olympic Trials, Laura shattered her right foot in a training accident. But with a persevering heart, she was not deterred by this injury. Together, Laura and her coach, Kenny Armstrong, designed unique training methods to utilize the mental aspects of diving to keep Laura's “head in the game.” She had just three weeks back in the water to physically train prior to the Olympic Trials. The mental training began to pay off when Laura won the Trials making her first Olympic Team. Three months later, while wearing a protective shoe to walk up the ladder to the platform, Laura made history in Sydney, Australia.  

Olympic and World Champion diver, Laura Wilkinson seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olympic athletes, sports professionals, coaches, and experts. In these conversations we unlock the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that shape the whole athlete and generate peak performance.

American Diver and Sydney 2000 Olympic Champion Laura Wilkinson talks to me about the impact COVID-19 has had on her year and career!

Writing a book? Let literary agent Peter Cox and his friends from the publishing industry - and from Litopia Writers’ Colony - review your submission live! Make a Pop-Up Submission here: https://litopia.com/subs/ Featured on this edition of Pop-Up Submissions… "The Advent of Love" - women's fiction from Laura Wilkinson; "Homo Ex Machina" - science fiction from Kevin Yarr; "Twenty Sixty (2060)" - thriller from Darren Burgess; "Locked in the Wrong House" - upmarket thriller from Brian Willems; "Chasing Rainbows" - sci-fi/coming-of-age/horror from Colin Rice. Sara Grant's book recommendation is "Where The World Turns Wild" by Nicola Penfold. Andy Dickenson's book recommendation is "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud. Subscribe to Litopia's channel on YouTube and join us live in the Litopia chat room every Sunday at 5pm UK. Make Your Pop-Up Submission here! The winner of each show is immortalised here: https://litopia.com/winners. Watch Pop-Ups on YouTube Litopia is the net's oldest and best community for writers. For two decades, we've brought writers together from all over the globe. We serve each and every member's needs... social, business, professional and beyond. If you're serious about your writing, do join us.

Writing a book? Let literary agent Peter Cox and his friends from the publishing industry - and from Litopia Writers’ Colony - review your submission live! Make a Pop-Up Submission here: https://litopia.com/subs/ Featured on this edition of Pop-Up Submissions… "The Advent of Love" - women's fiction from Laura Wilkinson; "Homo Ex Machina" - science fiction from Kevin Yarr; "Twenty Sixty (2060)" - thriller from Darren Burgess; "Locked in the Wrong House" - upmarket thriller from Brian Willems; "Chasing Rainbows" - sci-fi/coming-of-age/horror from Colin Rice. Sara Grant's book recommendation is "Where The World Turns Wild" by Nicola Penfold. Andy Dickenson's book recommendation is "Understanding Comics" by Scott McCloud. Subscribe to Litopia's channel on YouTube and join us live in the Litopia chat room every Sunday at 5pm UK. Make Your Pop-Up Submission here! The winner of each show is immortalised here: https://litopia.com/winners. Watch Pop-Ups on YouTube Litopia is the net's oldest and best community for writers. For two decades, we've brought writers together from all over the globe. We serve each and every member's needs... social, business, professional and beyond. If you're serious about your writing, do join us.

Might Alison have found a distant relative? We're talking archery with Hannah Brown, the chair of officials for the Tokyo 2020 archery tournament. She tells us how an archery tournament is set up, and what she remembers from tournaments (hint: It's not who wins). She did the test event too, so she describes the Tokyo venue and how you can "have a go" if you have tickets to any of the archery dates at the Olympics. [If you do go, and you hear massive cheering for the officials, Jill's in the stands.] Also, this week's slice of TOFU with DeAnna Price, Clare Egan, Erin Jackson and Laura Wilkinson. Several countries have released their Tokyo 2020 team uniforms, and we have thoughts. Tokyo's got great plans for the Paralympic flame, and Tahiti has the French waves. Photo: Dominique Porte/FFTA, courtesy of Hannah Brown DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC. The Olympic Fever podcast is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

Laura Wilkinson is an Olympic diver who is well known for her amazing come back during the 2000 Olympic games, emerging from 8th place to win the gold. She recently came out of retirement and is training for the 2020 Olympics! Laura also co-founded a non-profit called Anchored in Hope, has a parenting blog, and hosts the Hope Sports Podcast where she talks with elite and professional athletes about finding purpose beyond performance. Laura is also a motivational speaker and has been a broadcaster for NBC. Laura has pushed through pain, fought hard and come out victorious and we are so excited to learn from her in this episode, and at our fall 2019 conference, Overcome.

www.TheAdoptiveMomPodcast.com Beating what many said were impossible odds in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, Laura, starting in eighth place and with a broken foot, came from behind to win the 2000 Olympic platform gold medal. Laura has also won the 2004 World Cup and the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first woman in history to win all three coveted world titles in platform diving. Along the way, she has won 19 US National Titles, been voted by the American public the 2000 US Olympic Spirit Award winner and was nominated for an ESPY award. Laura has also been inducted into five different Halls of Fame including the International Swimming Hall of Fame. Laura and I got to talk about her story and how she makes it all work with being an adoptive mom and dealing with the unique circumstances that come with that and training for the freaking Olympics (No big deal, right?). I love her heart for blending the aspects of her life together and including her children every step of the way.

So many of us mamas struggle with confidence postpartum and if you are struggling to find yourself again, you are not alone. Today's guest Laura Wilkinson is an Olympic Gold medalist in platform diving & mama of four (two from adoption.). As a budding diver and athlete who was often told NO, she went on to prove the masses wrong & then went through an 8 year emotional and life changing adoption journey.   Today Laura is going to share about: Grit, perseverance and the power of believing in ourselves How her four children have all helped her grow in some special way. The confidence mindset and how to harness it Why there is no such thing as balance.       Looking for like-minded Soul Mammas to connect with?   Are you like me, and it took you a while into motherhood to realize you were burning the candle at both ends and not taking time for yourself? You're probably ready to say YES to yourself and to sustainable self care in your life. I know I was. Took a community of mamas through this platform to help me realize just how important saying yes to our self care really is! Our next group coaching session is Tuesday August 15th at noon PST and we will be learning of ways to carve out time for our physical and mental health, plus we will all have time on the "hot seat" to share what has been coming up for us in our lives. Please email nicole@soulmammas.com to save your spot.    MORE EXCITING NEWS: Now offering one on one coaching! If you are feeling like you need to pivot or move into something more authentically you, but aren't sure what it is, are feeling depleted or deflated, consider coaching with me. With a background in life coaching and teaching, I am now offering 60 minute coaching sessions with me (al a carte and monthly options available on my website) via ZOOM. To find out more click the link below to set up a a free discovery call.  Coach With Me   Come chat with us! Come on over to the Facebook Group & hear happenings from our community and to meet like minded mamas like yourself!  Please support the podcast by following me on Instagram where you will also receive episode updates, photos & audio clips!        

It's Canada Day and Independence Day in the US this week, so we're celebrating by putting together a set of Lightning Rounds. We ask our Team Olympic Fever members five quick questions, and we love hearing how different everyone's answers are! In this edition, we've got sports psychologist Dr. Kristin Keim, Team USA's "Team Mom" Sherry Von Riesen and gold medal diver Laura Wilkinson. Who hooked Kristin on the Olympics? What does Sherry think of the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center's food options? What's Laura's favorite exercise? Find out on this week's show! DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC. The Olympic Fever podcast is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.  

Hey, readers. We've got another chat for you. This time, we wanted to know if y'all reread books and why. Before we get to that, however, we chat about that messy author who got in trouble for snitching, BookRiot's unusually bad romance take and whether or not it's a good idea to tag authors in negative reviews. (Tbh, I feel like that first story should answer that question. Don't be rude to people on social media, 'cause that shit can come back to bite you bad.) We also unload all our Avengers: Endgame feelings. If you want to avoid that and all the spoilers therein, skip 43:07 to 1:11:12. Thanks to everyone who participated in this month's chat! A majority of you said you did reread books, but a good number of you said you felt no need revisit stories you've already experienced. Check out your answers beginning at the 1:16:40 mark. Be sure to join us for our next read. We're going to discuss American Spy, by Laura Wilkinson.

“Life is like diving off a 30 foot platform. You can’t just stick your toe in the water. You have to dive in with both feet," Who better to speak that truth than Olympic Gold Medal diver Laura Wilkinson. Fearless and fabulous at 41, Laura is primed to once again jump in with both feet, coming out of retirement to train for the 2020 Olympics. As awesome and inspiring as that is, it’s her personal story of faith and family that will have you cheering for her as never before. It’s a story of embracing our differences, building bridges and finding our way to what really matters. Love."Support the show (http://patreon.com/OurVoicesMatterPodcast)

Key Links: Coach Matt Lindland YouTube Channel Instagram: @MLindland Facebook Twitter: @mattlindland ___ He’s an equestrian, business owner, politician, Olympic wrestler, video producer, MMA fighter, coach, husband, and father. It’s hard to imagine that one individual can wear so many hats, but Matt Lindland has proven time and time again that dreams are worth fighting for. He fell into wrestling in high school as a means of pursuing a more affordable sport than equestrianism. He fell in love with the sport and trained for several years before signing with the University of Nebraska. His career took off as he went undefeated in his first season in the NCAA and was invited to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The following years were rich with competing internationally, growing his family, and even taking an opportunity to coach and mentor younger athletes at his Alma Mater. His Olympic opportunity came in 2000, though not without its own struggles. A misjudged match led to a long judicial process that eventually ended with a Supreme Court ruling, a silver medal in Sydney, and a new nickname - “The Law.” With the satisfaction of an Olympic medal in hand, Lindland diversified his endeavors to include stunt work, MMA fighting, white water rafting, and even local politics. He opened his own gym, returned to his love of equestrianism via a horse ranch, and was appointed the coach for the US National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team. As a coach, Matt believes that character and leadership development is essential to the health and performance of his athletes. He not only challenges them physically, but also emotionally and relationally to be the highest character, most well rounded individuals possible. Learn more here: https://www.hopesports.org/in-the-ring-unafraid/ For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Check out Laura Wilkinson’s Master Class today! ___ Produced by Simpler Media

Laura joins us to tell us about her 5 trips to the Olympic Games, 3 as an athlete and 2 as a reporter. She is also going to be gunning for the 2020 Games, too! Laura tells us about winning the Gold Medal with a broken foot and how difficult but fulfilling it was! Laura has her own podcast and is releasing a Masterclass on how to stay mentally sharp!Here are all her links!Hope Sports Podcast: https://www.hopesports.org/podcast/ Confident Competitor: laurawilkinson.com/masterclass My website: https://laurawilkinson.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lala_the_diver/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLauraWilkinson/Here are ours!www.ourathletes.us@ourathletes.us for Instagram@ourathletesusa for TwitterThanks to Launchingpodcasts.com for allowing you to get $50 off with promo code MIKE!

Key Links: Twitter: @danjansen94 Instagram: @danjansen1994 The Dan Jansen Foundation ___ Legendary Olympic speed skater Dan Jansen joins Laura on this episode of the Hope Sports show. Dan grew up in Canada and, as the youngest of nine children, got his start in the sport by tagging along with his older siblings to the ice. He went to his first Olympics at age 18 in Sarajevo in 1984, recalling them as low pressure, enjoyable, and successful despite not making the podium. This was the first time he faced the reality of public perception, however, as he returned home incredibly proud of his fourth place finish even while the media expressed its disappointment. This pressure further mounted as Dan climbed the ranks of international success. He entered the 1988 Olympics favored to win, which only brought more scrutiny of his upcoming performance. The morning of his race, however, his older sister passed away from leukemia. Devastated and overwhelmed, Dan fell in both the 500m and 1000m races. Over the next few years, he would continue to have an incredible international presence, winning several World Championships and setting World Records one after another. The Olympic podium continued to evade him, though, until he raced the very final event of his career, the 1000 meters. Dan set a new World Record, stood at the top of the podium with gold, and closed that chapter of his life. His journey is one of perseverance and hardship, dedication and determination as he learned to be satisfied giving his best effort and be proud no matter the outcome. Learn more here: https://www.hopesports.org/one-last-race/ For more about our host, visit www.laurawilkinson.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Check out Laura Wilkinson’s Master Class today! ___ Produced by Simpler Media

It's Part 2 of our interview with diver Laura Wilkinson! She talks about earning the gold in Sydney while having a broken foot, then also about Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 -- and now her potential comeback for Tokyo 2020. Plus, Paris 2024 has announced the new sports it wants to put on the program -- this could b-interesting (if you know what we mean). And Indonesia wants to bid for 2032! Follow Laura online: Website Hope Sports Podcast Facebook Instagram Twitter Photo courtesy of Laura Wilkinson. DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC. The Olympic Fever podcast is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

We have a legend in the house this week! It's part one of our interview with Sydney 2000 gold medalist Laura Wilkinson. In this episode Laura explains how the sport works -- and something unusual that a lot of divers have in common. Follow Laura: Facebook Insta Twitter Website She also has her own inspirational podcast called Hope Sports where she interviews athletes about their journeys on and off the field, their successes and their struggles. We highly recommend it! We also talked about that epic moment from the Seoul 1988 diving competition, when Greg Louganis smacked his head on the board--and still won the gold. Plus some Tokyo 2020 mascot updates and a little slice of TOFU! Don't forget to support the show--it all helps to bring you a better podcast and more features leading up to Tokyo 2020! Photo courtesy of Laura Wilkinson. DISCLAIMER: OLYMPIC® is a trademark of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”). Any use of OLYMPIC® in the Olympic Fever podcast is strictly for informational and commentary purposes. The Olympic Fever podcast is not an official podcast of the USOPC. The Olympic Fever podcast is not a sponsor of the USOPC, nor is Olympic Fever associated with or endorsed by USOPC in any way. The content of Olympic Fever podcast does not reflect the opinions, standards, views, or policies of the USOPC, and the USOPC in no way warrants that content featured in Olympic Fever is accurate.

Olympic gold medalist diver, Laura Wilkinson, welcomes listeners to join her in discovering what gives elite athletes meaning beyond their sport. ___ Key Links: Hope Sports Website Podcast Website Laura Wilkinson Website ___ Our format is pretty simple: every week I’ll be chatting with a different elite athlete to explore their journey not only as a competitor in their sport - but also as a person. This isn’t a conversation about wins or losses. This is a conversation about purpose. The reality is - and I know it all too well - that as an athlete, it’s easy to feel defined by the milliseconds and micropoints that determine standings from one week to the next. But there comes a point when winning ceases to be fulfilling, and medals just aren’t enough. And that is where the pursuit of purpose begins. Each athlete on this Podcast comes with a unique story, filled with the particular twists and turns that brought them to where they are today. We’ll talk about what made them fall in love with their sport, who mentored them along the way, and ultimately, what brings them fulfillment outside of competition. Our guests might share about most memorable victories or notorious failures, but what we hope you hear is that through it all, these athletes are seeking meaning. They are powerhouses not only in their arenas, but also in their families, teams, and communities.. At Hope Sports we believe in purpose over performance and are so excited to share the stories of athletes who exude that truth on this podcast. ___ Produced by Simpler Media

We interview "late starter" author Keziah Frost whose debut novel "The Reluctant Fortune Teller" has just been published. We discuss the illustrious company she keeps, while our own late starter Nicola Cairncross reads from her first novel. Heather and Laura Wilkinson tell us what's on their respective bedside tables. Write Club The Podcast is a weekly show for aspiring writers, published authors and readers everywhere. Join Stephanie Rouse, Theresa Stoker, Heather Worsley, Linda Jackim Werlein, Pat Woolfe & Nicola Cairncross each week where they'll share celebrity guest author readings and interviews, along with what they're reading, what they're writing and what it's really like to be a writer. You can join in the weekly "Name the Novel" quiz and find out "What's On The Bedside Table?".

We interview "The Kindle King" Kevin Long, founder of Babysteps Publishing and also the author of "The Prosecco Effect" Laura Wilkinson about the pros and cons of self-publishing.  Heather reads from her "Work In Progress", Theresa discusses her "Word Of The Week" and Nicola shares what's on her bedside table. Write Club The Podcast is a weekly show for aspiring writers, published authors and readers everywhere. Join Stephanie Rouse, Theresa Stoker, Heather Worsley, Linda Jackim Werlein, Pat Woolfe & Nicola Cairncross each week where they'll share celebrity guest author readings and interviews, along with what they're reading, what they're writing and what it's really like to be a writer. You can join in the weekly "Name the Novel" quiz and find out "What's On The Bedside Table?".

Laura Wilkinson’s first leap of faith from the 10 meter platform was at the age of 15. After being told by one of her teachers that she was too old to start a new sport, Laura plunged into diving anyway. Nine months later, she was kicked off of her high school diving team for being a “waste of space.” The next year, Laura won her first US National Title, made the US National Team, and earned a bronze medal at the World Cup. Laura overcame great obstacles to win her first major international gold medal, the 1998 Goodwill Games. She is the only American diver to ever win a gold medal at this prestigious competition. In 1999 after winning her second NCAA Division 1 title, Laura left her college scholarship behind to return home to chase her Olympic dream. Shortly before the 2000 Olympic Trials, Laura shattered her right foot in a training accident. But with a persevering heart, she was not deterred by this injury. Together, Laura and her coach, Kenny Armstrong, designed unique training methods to utilize the mental aspects of diving to keep Laura’s “head in the game.” She had just three weeks back in the water to physically train prior to the Olympic Trials. The mental training began to pay off when Laura won the Trials making her first Olympic Team. Three months later, while wearing a protective shoe to walk up the ladder to the platform, Laura made history in Sydney, Australia. Beating what many said were impossible odds in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, Laura, starting in eighth place and with a broken foot, came from behind to win the 2000 Olympic platform gold medal. Laura also won the 2004 World Cup and the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first woman in history to win all three coveted world titles in platform diving.  Website: www.laurawilkinson.com Twitter: @lala_the_diver

Laura Wilkinson and Penny Schenk, librarians at the University of Oxford and members of the 23 Things Oxford Team, talk about their blog-based training programme to teach Web 2.0 skills to Oxford librarians.

#35: Wilkinson has won gold on every level. Check out her sites laurawilkinson.com and lwfound.org. The answer to the fan question is as follows: Christina Loukas, Kassidy Cook, David Boudia, and Kristian Ipsen.

Olympic diver Laura Wilkinson on diving, the Tour, and more