Gracie & Alysha Newman on Pole Vaulting, Getting Banned, & Dating as an Athlete

Wow, and I worked with him every single week from was three years straight and we did I think over 62 EDM our sessions Damn, and he he was at the Olympics with his wife and kids and he he's the reason I got my medal Today's guest is one of the most accomplished polevolters in the world She's a three-time Olympian Olympic bronze medalist commonwealth games champion and Canadian record holder Having cleared in astonishing 15 feet and 11 inches higher than most one story buildings at the Paris Olympics She made history by becoming the first Canadian woman to ever win an Olympic medal in polevolting But what makes her story so much more compelling isn't just the medals It's overcoming the injuries the setbacks the self-doubt and having years of perseverance to get to where she is Today we're talking about resilience confidence, fear, pressure, and what it really takes to pursue excellence and one of the most demanding and intimidating sports on the planet Alicia Newman welcome to athletes after hours so hyped to be here. Hey girl Hey, how are you? We were literally just yapping for so long before this. I'm like, sorry, Wes We should probably you know get started, but I had the bloopers and I was like we have so much talk about And like we might as well to start recording. Yeah, how are you doing girl? I'm you know, it's like one of those things I'm just like good until I'm not yes, you know what I mean Like I feel like being an athlete's prepped you to be in a rollercoaster of emotions your entire life So there's like days that I'm like up no one can tell me anything and then there's just days like what am I doing with my life? The crashes are heavy, huh? And they're hard because it's almost like you feel like you dig yourself deeper and deeper and deeper Until you just like get that one sense of like boost of adrenaline or you feel successful or like you really like Switch your mindset. Yeah, and I remember whether it was an injury whether it was my band whether anything that I've ever done in my life It was like going back to basics allowed me to feel like I was winning So getting up and making my bed when I was at my lowest started to like simplifying life correct It like just repatterned my my pat my neuro pathways in my head. Wow. So it was allowing me to like Nothing's ever gonna be perfect nothing's ever you're never gonna be your best of all time every single day So if I learned how to get out of the lows. Yeah, I knew I was gonna be very successful And that's kind of what I've done with my life Okay, so much wisdom right out of the gate. Okay. Lily baby Yoda over here At least I'm like strapped like way. I'm so sad. I am so sad for this I am obsessed with you. We met so recently, which is so weird now. I feel like you're like a big sister to me That's what I said. I was like at your birthday. I was like I've known you for three weeks girl But I feel like you're my little sister or someone that I can like confine into. I love what you're doing I was like be so kind to yourself because I'm like So motivated by you. I can't wait to like log on to Instagram and see what she's doing next. Oh No literally she made me cry on my actual birthday. I'm like Girl you like struck such a nerve with me. I feel like there's something so sacred in girlhood. Yes And finding girls who genuinely are rooting for you and in your corner and just cheering you on along the way and like Do you feel like you've had that along your like Olympic journey? No, not really like I think people underestimate track and feel you're very isolated Yeah You're not like a part of a team in university when I was at university in Miami. I felt like I had a team But most were male because a lot of the polevolters were walk on men really yeah So I had when I was finishing my last year We had two girls come on but I think of the age difference. It didn't really connect as much. Yeah And then when you turn pro most of your best friends are your competitors like Sandy Morris and Nina Kennedy like they were the best of the best in the world But they live so far away. Yeah, I never competed with them and then the team Canada girls They're incredible humans and I think they're amazing in their own way, but they never really Wanted me to be great to ding down because it took their light away And I completely understand that because we're fighting for that spot So you guys are competing against each other at the end of the day like you yeah, how much can you really root for your competitor? Correct, but I have always been one that I've never bothered me if you beat me Yeah, and I want girls girl through and through It's bad. I think like honestly, I'm like I okay losing sometimes yeah when I like to see the bar being raised higher for my spore Yeah, I wasn't like that Kobe Bryant like mindset of being like Oh that person looked at me weird. Now I want to like beat them. Yeah, I'd be like oh she looks great today Period girl go your coach is like focus up and you're saying her ass because like honestly she got me today Do you know I was just so real with myself and what where I was at if I wasn't the best at that time like I never really felt like Everyone is so great Especially the top 10 women in pole vault in the world that it can be anyone's day and I've beaten all of them at least once Yeah, so it's like whoever comes together that day and jumps high You're just like excited for them and if it's me you hope that they're the same But there's not a lot of people like that. Yeah, that's where I kind of recognize that I was a little bit unique in that way And maybe I should be more intense No, keep doing you because it's clearly working. I mean shit. You're going for your fourth Olympics. I know you're you know a Canadian record holder You know that bitch you're you're Canada's sweetheart Yeah, I think people are like like they they're always like sweetheart But they never know what's like gonna happen. Yeah, no, so I'm like Canadian Taking time mom. Taking time mom what's gonna happen, but I'm just a little pocket rocket correct I like keep people on their toes, but I think I've also broken so many barriers down For so many female athletes and I've been that one that you know You could like take my name and drag drag it through the mud I've have such thick skin and I have no idea how I developed that but I just was like such a curious kid It wasn't like I was trying to be a rebel when I was younger, but if someone said like hey don't hit this button I would hit it anyway, but not because they said no Because I was like what happens. Yeah, why would you tell me not to hit it? I got to find out now Like tell me what tell me or I'm gonna hit it and if you didn't tell me I was gonna hit it So I did that through my whole life as well It was like well if I tried to Post this on social media people are like well athletes don't post that and I'd be like well what's gonna happen? Do you know like I'm just so curious and I was constantly like If you can't push yourself outside that box then your goals are only as limited as your experiences, right? Yeah, and I felt like I learned that very very young and I was like I need to have the most experiences the most failures and the most everything possible so I can actually make goals that relate to me that I feel passionate about Yeah, so that's was one thing I learned and it was like I took that to my soul So anytime I'm posting anytime I'm doing events anytime a lot of times it's like Alicia looks like she knows what she's doing But I'm really kind of seeing what sticks. Yeah, and where I feel like I'm elevated in certain situations And that's why when I moved to LA I was like I don't know what I'm gonna be like here And after meeting you and then pennies here and I have a couple track friends here I've never felt so Connected to myself and what I'm passionate about since I've met you. Oh, and I think it was just people elevating people And now I want to see you do great and you want to see me do great And I think that that has been so important for me is being in the right environment at the right time to excel I think what also is such a huge testament to you is like everyone always wants to know You know where do you get your confidence from and how do you hold yourself to such a high standard and carry yourself a certain way And I feel like your life hack is literally just being curious correct Because then you're never judgmental of yourself. You're always just learning. You're always yeah seeing what's next Oh, what's on the other side correct and that's a really interesting take and I've never really thought of Approaching life like that where you're like I'm just gonna show up to this event and just see what happens And like you never know you're gonna meet you never know what connections you're gonna make and like I think you being so open-minded To such a brutal change in your life. Oh my gosh. It was terrifying. Yeah, I was in a relationship and I was supposed to go to Arizona for a couple weeks And it ended and it was like all right Aussie where you want to go my dog. I was like yeah LA it is baby. Let's go get on the flight Let's go and I haven't left. I've been here since March like it's just wild how I could have sat there and I could have sat in my sorrows because I you know I was really in love with that guy and I was like gosh What what should I do you know like what should I do with my life? What has always been my dream? What do I know that that's not a part of my life anymore? Where do I go and I was like Where can I get track? Where can I work out every day? Where can I get health and wellness and where can I act and model? Yeah, like LA was my place. Yeah, and a lot of content creators are here too Which has been nice, but also like athlete content creators are more out here than any and then I met you Yeah, the first couple weeks and I was like oh my gosh. I probably moved here to meet you The universe is like so they have to become friends You have to go through the worst breakup of your life But don't worry you'll find a soul sister correct exactly. I was like my heartbreak turned into being mended by you So I do truly believe like god timed that perfectly for you because I think a lot of times we is Women but also as athletes. I think we always try to find a way to make things work Even if they shouldn't correct and I can completely relate to that like I Probably knew deep down the relationship wasn't working when I was like one and I love a challenge and unfortunately sometimes things just should not be challenged they should just be left alone and let it be and we'll move on right I think being an athlete especially to the caliber you competed it's like we don't know how to give up never and whether that's on a loved one whether that's on like a major goal of mine is to be a wife and a mother and to provide into nurture you know and so it's like well I have to invest into something to get that result yeah and if it's not great it's like me getting an injury you don't give up if you hurt your ankle you keep pushing through and I think some like couple therapy days everything's gonna be all right yeah some space you'll text me you know yeah and you recognize that you're like I'm not giving up on it but you're gonna just like nurture it and and watch it from a distance and hope that everything works out and then at one point you're just gonna be like did it really serve me yeah and that was the same thing with track and field it's like it always come back to it it's whether I make zero dollars or I make a hundred million dollars doing it it has always given me the sense of fuel and life and purpose and it all stems from me being historical I don't want eight hundred Olympic medals yeah I don't need that yeah but to know that I'm the best of all time at an event that I'm so passionate about that's what drives me every day so when I return to track it's gonna be how can I break the world record yeah you know how can I be the best of the best and it's like when I go down there I love when I'm like the best technical and I love when people say I love watching your technique how do you get upside down yeah that drives me not standing by yourself on an Olympic podium and be like hey I got this medal yeah you know as much as that is very historical for your country it's just this sense of the journey the hard work the failure and then doing something to the best of your billion knowing that you are the ceiling to that event yeah is what drives me it's so cool and like you being able to perfect your craft correct I can tell you're so passionate about your craft like you see your sport as like this clay that you can mold and you can you know form and I think it's so fascinating the way that you approach your sport especially because you have such a healthy approach as intense as you are like I know all of the grit in the grind that goes in behind the scenes like you getting PT and your nutrition and really being dialed on like your literal DNA like I remember you talking to your belly you get blood work all the time all the things and so like how did you but then you still like know how to have fun like we go events together we're the best time like we're gonna go concert together and like we you know we want to go travel and like how do you find a way to have that balance because as an athlete I never have that yeah I think for me because it's so mentally tough pull vault this is what I say I say like people could be on steroids people could be doing all this but you still got a plan to pull and the hardest part about pull vault is feeling uncomfortable like every time down I'm running down the runway it's a different jump and I'm sure gym was very much like that like every routine every bar routine like you you try to perfect it but it feels different every time 100% and I think that's what keeps us coming back right so when I would leave the track this sense of not being perfect happened I could go to this event and I wasn't like an a-lister right so I can just be my self I can be out there I can have a drink here I can do this and it actually grounded me a lot it was it was allowing me to be this perfect pull vaulter by day and this free carrying confident beautiful young lady by night you know that I love that it was like two worlds just like Hannah Montana yeah exactly like you have this like work hard play hard yeah and my dad I will never forget it's like anytime I would go out and my mom too if I would go out late with my friends in high school my dad would get me up in the morning like go for a run and he was just like trying to like train myself that if you want to play then you have to work hard too yeah and so that's why I work out every single day and like if I want to have an a weekend away and go to France for two weeks yeah and have drinks on the beach then I know the moment I get back like I'm up in the morning I'm back into my routine yeah but I allow myself to do that because then it drives me like I get more fuel to come back to it is just nothing like a routine yes right and feeling that your best self is not drinking and is not like going out every night though that's when I feel my best but the routine gets moment up but whoa - The routine. - Yeah, well, well. - Like seeing that the routine gets monotonous. - Monotonous? - Monoponous. (laughs) - Monoponous. (laughs) - Wait, why can't it? - Monotonous. - Monotonous? - Monotonous. (laughs) - We just had a stroke. - Monoponous. - Okay, well the routine gets really monotonous. (laughs) - It gets really like over, or like boring. - Boring, boring. - The routine can become boring. - Correct. - So I think what you do, that's really cool, is like you recognize that in order to not burn out. - Yes. - And to have longevity in your sport. - Yes. - You have to have balance. Or then you're gonna really regret and like, maybe resent your sport, 'cause it's taking you away from life. - Yeah, I mean-- - I honestly think that's what the band was for me. - The universe does really weird things. Like it's crazy to me, 'cause-- - Were you feeling here on the kind of brink of burnout before? - So right after Paris, I felt burnt, like, out completely. - As you should. - And I was like, you know, I said this to my mom and I'll never forget it. We were drinking, we were at a bar that closed down in Paris. And I said, "Mom, I'm gonna jump 2025." And 'cause I wanna like, bank off of the Olympic medal. - Yeah. - And then 2026, I'm gonna take the year off. And she was like, "Why?" And I was like, "Well, I just feel like I'm gonna need to step back from it." - So-- - You were gonna take off LA? - No, 2026. - Oh, it's 2026 right now. - Yeah, it's not done. - No, you're okay. So I was taking-- - Like, girl, mom. - Yeah. - I wanted to like, bank 2025, take off 2026, come back 2027 and compete 2028 in my last Olympics. And she was, okay, that's a weird way of doing it. Like, you know, separated. But I just didn't wanna be too far away from the sport. But 2025, I was having a hard time wanting to be there. Like, I mentally, and then my body was also being affected by it. Like, I would have like weird aches and pains. So like, we weren't vaulting as much. I didn't feel like I was ready to compete at a high level. So I tried competing up to like, May in 2025. And my coach looked at me and he was like, what are you striving for this year? And I was like, I'm trying to bank off of this. He goes, but really do you need to? And I was like, no, he was okay. You're gonna take the rest of 2025 off and you're gonna come back 2026. And you're gonna compete 2026, 2027, 2028. And that sense of relief just was like, oh, great, like I get goosebumps from that. I was like, I don't think gosh, he made that decision. 'Cause as athletes, you don't wanna give up. - Yeah. - And if I needed something that I respected to tell me, Alicia, you're taking off 2025. - Yes. So for the very coachable. - Yeah, I'm very what I need to do. - Correct. Like I can actually do it without feeling guilty. - Yes. - 'Cause you're like on nothing lazy. - Correct. - This is strategic. - Yeah, this is what I'm doing. - Yeah. - So fast forward. - Yeah, so fast forward to today. I get banned. - Yeah, we need to talk about this. - And but like, this is mine. And at the first, I was like, like I was so, I have videos of me crying. I have this like calling my mom. I flipped the table and my Airbnb that was in. And I was like, how is this happening to me? 'Cause what happened is we were trying to, we brought them to core and we tried to win the one Miss Tess and we lost. And I was like, this makes no sense. Fast forward. Now it's like, I had told myself two years ago that I wanted to take off 2026. And the universe now is like, girl, you said it. We're giving it to you. - Careful what you wish for, yeah. - Correct. And it's not that like, I'm like, all the universe said it. So I'm excited to be banned. It's not that. - No. - But you're trying to look at the silver lining. - I have to because if I see here and say like, I'm that perfect human and I'm gonna be on my A game all through till 2028. I was on my A game till 2025 and then I finally was like, okay, everyone said I could relax and then that's when I relax too much. And I just wasn't at the, I always say this to people. I wasn't at the right place at the right time. - Yeah. - You know for that situation. And so I think the band has opened my eyes, but I've never felt so angry and fueled in my life. And now I'm scared to go back because the girls are gonna be like, what happened to this girl? Like I've never been like, I don't care who's in my way. - You're coming back with a vengeance. - Exactly and not against them. - No, but against what happened because it was- - You've got some vision now. 100%. You're gonna be like, if you to everybody, I'm gonna make history again. So maybe this is the best thing that ever happened to you. - I have a feeling. - I have a feeling you're gonna look back in like 10 years and be like, thank God. - Yeah, yeah. And that's like a major thing. Like again, like my ex, he brought like faith back into my life and there was just so many monumental things that have happened through 2026 that I'm like, yeah girl, you need to sit down. - Yeah. - You're sitting in front of that right now and you just need to like take a deep breath and recognize you're doing too much. And that band really like switched like a switch in my head. - For those listening that don't know what happened. - Yeah. - Can you explain why you're suspended? - Yeah. So pretty much when you're part of the Olympics and assuming every protocol athlete when you compete, you have to submit, as a Canadian, you have to submit on a portal every single day and address you're gonna be for an hour. 365 days a year and I started getting tested at 16 years old and I'm 31 so let's say 15 years and it's up to your location every day every day and they allow they do it three months at a time okay but that's absurd girl my my address changes every day oh my god I also like I'll text you one day you're like sorry I'm in France yeah you're everywhere all the time like you're always doing you're like the side quest queen so a bitch is could be across the world in 24 hours correct and it's scary you can't tie her down you literally can't because it's just I find when you get an opportunity and you're like I'm just gonna go in this industry it's always last night we were just talking about an event and I was like they literally told me that this event is tomorrow and I have to be down in Orange County it's like this always happens and you're like I want to put my foot down but you're like this event looks like yeah but you're like fuck this would be really really cool to do and so you say yes yes so then when you said yes to these things and you forgot to update your location yeah they tried to drug test you and you weren't there so pretty much yeah my first one was my fault I ended up getting to drunk with my friends and I stayed at my friends house like a responsible person I didn't drive home or Uber I should could have Ubered home but it was far my houses outside the city and I woke up and they were there and so at those ones you're like you know yeah that was my fault and that was my first one but god god forbid a girl lives correct like god forbid a girl let's lose for a second yeah and this was this was definitely like a time where I was like so leaving it into the Olympics you isolate yourself a lot like you just are trying to conserve as much energy as possible and I only had the people that didn't take like didn't take energy for me and kept my battery like filled yeah your circle was really small correct there was like six people like that I would talk to every day or or in a week interact yeah and so now I'm like kind of trying to get out of that because that was me for almost a year which is so hard to believe because you're so social correct I'm like an I laugh I tell people I'm like an extrovert after 10 am yes two a.m. yes literally I'm like see you like Irish goodbye like I really should go well she left yeah um and then so I think it was hard for me because I really started to get my friendships back because I I lost a lot of friends I missed weddings I missed baby showers like there was just things I I remember my sister getting engaged now like the first thing I was like oh my god I'm so excited for her I was like when she put in the wedding you know like that's the first thing you think of and you to sacrifice so much and my sister and my family's the best they've sacrificed so much for me so she did it the year after the Olympics and she was like this is gonna be you know my summer I was like well obviously I was like that's for you yeah um and I was so happy I was able to be a part of it but she looked up my truck schedule even for 2025 and she was like okay you're off this week like that's how like serious people understand it right so letting loose is one thing you know and and you need to get that back because you're really not a normal human leaving it into the Olympics because you're also trying to like convince yourself you're like a superhero yeah right so like the original confidence is key right and when you're around people that don't feel that way you're like like yeah you're like stop you have to isolate correct you have to be in your own little law-law land for a little bit yeah so I started going down to Lulu Island yeah it has Lulu and I loved the Lulu Island yeah like you're like wait what and so it was it was good like I started dating you know I I had been in a serious relationship through the Olympics and it didn't work out so well um like he was an incredible human was there through the whole thing so consistent exactly what I needed yes he showed up for me for everything and now my bar was like so much higher for who I wanted to marry yeah um and then started dating and I had so much fun like just talking to people athletes non-athletes and and it just like opportunities kept coming because I wasn't competing and so the next one was on um I was on a TV show and it was family feud yes oh my god I was so excited my whole family were prepping all week for it and long story short I opened the door it's 830 and the drug testing people are there and I was like shit like I have to be on set by nine and they're like oh I was like come in I'm gonna try and give a partial if not you can come with me and there are rules that they're allowed to travel I think it's 20 kilometers okay which the studio is five kilometers from my place okay so I was like come with me they're like Alicia we don't like the CBC center so we're gonna like try we're gonna change it to 930 at night and we're gonna get approval I said I'm not leaving here until I get approval yeah long story short we got approval from the CCES that I could leave go to family feud and come back and provide a sample same day same everything I was just on set all day come back do my test got approval two weeks later I get an X and everyone's like what so this is the one we took to core yeah naturally because now there's a rule that if you don't even update the portal once things change they couldn't update it for you no you have to do it yourself so I got an X with approval leaving still provided a sample but I didn't update it in the portal saying I was switching my drug testing till 9 30 pm at night and that was the first time in my life that I was like okay I got it like take this serious yeah I'm at two now yeah and now I and third one you're out and the head of CCES told me that I could come back and I trusted them and I was vulnerable and I I was like you know what I provided my sample let alone in between the one that I met the first one in the second when I was tested three or four times yeah so I didn't miss those yeah and then between my second and third I was tested another two or three times yeah so it wasn't like I was running away from anything yeah I'm not failing yeah so nothing's failing nothing's coming up negative well then my last one I rushed overnight my mma had a fib I was in the hospital with her we ended up getting there like three or four a.m. at the hospital and they came that morning at 8 a.m. and I was true I was away yeah it was two hours away if you can make it back in the hour so that is they give you a window of an hour then you could have saved it but I was in my hometown and two hours away and so I didn't freak out was because we were in court trying to get the second one like I guess you could say like take it away yeah and when it came back that I that they said no that's that was on you you should have updated it or your assistant should have updated it or your team should have updated it and you knew the call times were different for family feud and all this stuff oh I'm living for you yeah I think at that point I just recognize that you can only depend on yourself in those things and it was one of those things it's like I really did feel for the first time I didn't even let myself down I felt like I like Canada down yeah and that's where I was sad because I was like I was already considered the like you know woman outside the box in Canada you know I'm not rebellious yeah like I'm out there being curious all the time and so people like love that I was pushing things and they're like of course Alicia fails a drug test you know or not fails a drug test but gets suspended for 20 months and so when they hear that you got suspended yeah the first thought is oh she's doing drugs and it's like that sucks so much that your reputation was questioned correct and your character was questioned from something that was so silly and trivial yeah that had nothing to do like you were being a good athlete and you were putting the right things in your body and you weren't being sketchy never never I think don't even take Tylenol do that actually like pisses me off for you so much yeah I was like no wonder why you're gonna be a little Tasmanian devil out there that's what I was saying I was like at this point I was like I'm just like so sad because I was like you were literally taking one of the best athletes off the mat for 20 months because you told her she could leave to get retested yeah this is why the system's broken it's not broken because they don't catch people it's broken because there's no like there's no room for error of beat human you know and like that's what like piss me off I was just like I was there I opened the door I said hi to the DOC I said come in I said come with me and they said no so like they put me in a place that tying my hands were family few says if you're late you won't be able to be on the show well we prepped for six months yeah so now you're just kind of like no one can see like what it's like to be human and I guess maybe put it be in an athlete and being an Olympian you're set to these high standards yeah and that's the first time that I was like okay I guess I just have to walk with a little bit more perfection perfectionism on my life yeah so but what's so frustrating is that you got punished for having shit outside of your sport correct and like why are we punishing that that should be celebrated that should be encouraged yeah because if you can do other things to amplify your brand yeah it only helps your sport 110% like now they're understanding the value in social media now they're understanding the value and doing commercials and being on billboards and doing family feud and shit like that like you're only trying to amplify your brand correct to then help your career and help Canada yeah so it's really frustrating that like that blew up in your face oh I know and you got punished for that what's the worst feeling because I'm building that 55,000 square foot indoor track right here too and we had to submit like An exemption for me to even be a part of my own legacy project. Why? Because I'm not allowed to coach. I can't train with any Olympians. I can't step on a track that has organized Olympic practices. So that's why I'm moving to LA and training at some public tracks has been the best thing for me. And now they're questioning if I can even be a part of my own project. Get the hell out of here. And it's fundraising, it's social media, it's me promoting it. And it's me giving a private first ever $10 million track and field program to Canada. And they are really trying to stop me from being a part of it. And so we're trying right now, we're in the middle of it. So I mean, TBD to what that is. But the best thing for me is to be here. So they know I'm not working on it there. Like I'm only, whatever I can do is right now have that on still stand and I have my co, I guess my co my co person helping me, which is my coach. So he's been running everything for you. Yeah, all full force for me. How are you feeling about that? That really pissed me off. Yeah. Because I'm only trying to help the sport. I'm also trying to give Canada what they deserve. We don't have a private track, an indoor track. Like the closest tracks between each other are like two, three hours from each other. That's insane. And so think about like hundreds of thousands of athletes trying to train in one track that's at a university. So there's university times and there's public times. Yeah, which is at York University. And then at UFT. And the next place is like wealth university, which is an hour and a half away. And so you can't go. The resources are just so slim. It's so slim. And like Canada's over here paying us athletes $21,000 a year. What? Yeah, with no with no facilities. So you're asking me why it took me three Olympics to medal. And you asked me why I left and went to university at Miami. Yeah. It's because I was trying to develop a career that I know I was going to be one of the best in the world at doing. Yeah. And I couldn't do it at home and I wanted to build a home that someone says I don't want to leave Canada. Where do I go? Yeah. You're going to go to this high performance center that I built. I build. And there's going to be full-time paid coaches. My coaches all volunteered. They don't get paid anything. That is so crazy to me too. Yeah. All your coaches are in Canada right across the board. All coaches are volunteer. That's a part of a university. Yeah, unless you're paid by the university. But the university, they still have to be a professor in Canada. So imagine your gymnastics coach at UCLA had to do teacher class and then come train you guys. Oh, my God. So that's what they are at schools now in university in Canada. That's insane. So this one will be full-time paid only like track coaches. Only track and field. Yeah. And then eventually we hope we'll bring it, you know, we'll bring it to like dry land for hockey players. Yeah. We're going to build it obviously phase four or five or six. Yeah. But right now my focus is solely on track and field athletes. And getting coaches paid because Canada has so many amazing athletes. And I just don't know why they haven't banked in on that and given us. Invested in it. Correct. And given us facilities that we deserve especially it's cold six months of the year. Yeah. And our long distance runners are running outside and we're wondering why we're injured every year. Yeah. Like it's common sense. Like everything matches. And so TBD on my facility, but it's going to happen starting June your feisty. So we're going to find a way to find a way. Well, my goal is to retire in my own facility. Right. And so I can start like training June 3rd. Yeah. 2027. So whether I go home and start training in my own facility then. But definitely 2028 it'll be built by then. And I'm going to train in it. And that's going to be kind of my legacy of what I leave behind. So I can like close the chapter of that story for that. Yeah. That's so beautiful. I love that about you that you think outside of yourself. You think beyond your generation because you know that there are so many incredible athletes that look up to you. Yeah. And that are even doing pole vault because of you. Yeah. Which is super cool. And you're like, okay, if I'm going to inspire you, I might as well provide a, you know, a facility for you to actually become great in. Yeah. And that's why I wanted to jump as high as I could because the higher I can jump, the higher everyone else will jump. And so I know I'm that person to walk through life and to imprint that for Canadians. Yeah. And so I want the bar to be as high as possible so that the girls look at me. Like, I'm going to break Alicia Newman's record. Yeah. And I hope I'm there that day that I'm like, yeah, girl, you did it. Yeah. You know, like I'm that girl. Like I'm like, yeah, go break those records. You know, that's what they're meant for. But that's what again is like such a great testament to your character because you are the type of person that's like, I hope you break my record. Yeah, I do. I'm not proud of anyone downfall bed. Like we're out here all elevating because if we, if I win, we all win. Correct. Like especially in female sports. Yes. We're already set back. We're already put at a disadvantage. Yeah. And so to be a light and be an inspiration for people to push themselves harder than they've ever been pushed. And like I think too with your sport because it's such a fascinating approach. Like y'all don't even know how high you're going to jump until that day. Correct. Which is so crazy to me. Can we talk about that? I know, girl, like a half of the time. How does that even work? I don't even train on the polls I can beat on. Like people are like people have no idea on that. Like I travel with 12 polls in my bag. And I probably in practice jump on four to six. Let's just say I'm like a good practice day. Yeah. But the last six polls are just so stiff. And they're so hard to jump on that you need like this like psycho adrenaline, the screws to be a little loose that day. What's that new song that's like, and he goes, ah, what's that song that apex? Oh, you know, you gotta finish before the runaway before the song ends and screaming like a bird. Literally, that's the psycho that you have to be on. Okay. When I am doing my EDMR with Dr. Aiman up in Newport, he literally, we trained to see myself on poll 11 and 12s. And poll 11 and 12s are to break the world record. And you haven't even touched those polls. There's one poll in my bag that's that I've never touched in my career. And that is my goal to be on that by the end of my career. That's a trip. So you not only don't hit the height ever until you try it in competition, but then you also never touched the poll. Correct. Correct. What if it feels weird? Oh, sometimes they like label it wrong. Yes. So you try to measure my perfectionism could never. I'm like, actually so, OCD, I'm like, I trust the hell out of what you mean. It's going to be different. Like I try to go to like lengths to like help my OCD and perfectionism on the runway. Like to a point where like, I will sit there and I'll like retake my poll. I will like make a mark with a smiley face. Yeah. I will like write a word on my poll to like trigger something in my head to be like, you're a bad bitch. Yeah. You better plant this poll. Or I'll even be like, do you remember that one time that ex-boyfriend said you were never going to be good enough? And I'm like, you go to a dark place. You should just see rad. You're like a fat guy. I'm like, this is your moment to show him, you know? Just like stupid things like that. We're so bad. You were like, actually, that works. Yeah, it works. It works. Yeah. To as simple as like, if you take this poll up, you get a glass of wine tonight. Period. And so there's just like things like, ever how you're feeling that day and that's has always been my secret. Like I'll be at the back of the runway sometimes not wanting to be there. And to like really push myself. Because really, you're running full force into a wall. Yeah. And if your steps aren't perfect and you're not on perfect. I can't attest to this very challenging. I tried it a few times. I do. I'm determined to get over eight feet though. Okay. You're so good though. Like even rewatching the video, I was like, damn, she really got upside down. I really tried it. I'm so proud. I mean, after one session, I was like, okay, I get the hype. And now I'm like, I'm in it. Yeah. Like I want to try it again. And like time went by fast. We were there for like three and a half hours. That was for us. We were burnt. I was burnt to a crisp. Yeah. And I was exhausted. Yeah. Like literally cooked. Yeah. But your sport is so mental. And I think that is something that I forget about it. Yeah. And then when you try it, you're like, why is my brain more fired than my body? Yeah. Like because you're only running for what? Few seconds. It's like a ball. It's like gymnastics ball, right? It literally is gymnastics ball. And so I kind of tried to like think of it like that. But obviously when it's so new, it's still your brain's just thinking about a million different things and you're like, I have this giant 12 foot pole in my hands. Like what the hell am I doing? And I have to plant it in this tiny little hole. And like somehow get over this bar. Like what the fuck? For you, obviously it's mental. But how have you ever had like a mental block? Girl, I have, I'm like known for mental blocks. Really? I'm the girl that ran through three times at the Olympics and boxed three times at the Olympics in Tokyo. Like I literally was on the biggest stage in my life. Well, I did have a concussion. But I ran through three times and then I don't want to be here. Olympic Games girl. It was, I was devastated because it was just a point in my career. A team candidate had put me on Anita Pressors completely messed me up. Oh my god. They were treating symptoms. They weren't treating the actual injury, right? And when I got off the mat, I knew I needed help. Like really bad. And that's when I reached out to Dr. Daniel Aiman up in Newport. Yeah. He completely took over my whole mental game and like got me off anytime. depressors, put me on natural vitamins, flew me down, got brain scanned, like really went deep-dived into like what's going on chemically in a nutrition human's brain and he saved my career. He actually wrote a book about me on my career and the journey from 2021 to the Olympic medal. Wow. And I worked with him every single week from was three years straight and we did I think over 62 EDMR sessions and he was at the Olympics with his wife and kids and he he's the reason I got my medal. Hundred and ten percent. I mean, my coach is obviously because they have been there since the beginning. Of course. But the sense of feeling like you had control over your mind. I knew exactly what I was doing. I knew exactly how to plant my poll. I saw it before it even happened. I knew I was going to medal before I entered the stadium. Wow. I just didn't know what color. And I think that that was something I've never felt in my career. I also gave up drinking for two and a half years. Wow. And that was really life changing. Just on like a personal level curiosity, curiosity, like what would happen? What would happen? How would I feel? Correct. And I felt completely bulletproof. Holy shit. Holy shit. I didn't have ADHD. I had like very strict tunnel vision and I was so isolated in a point that like no one could tell me something I never overthought anything. Because you're like, I know who the hell I am now. Correct. But even just because I was so healthy, like I was eating so many incredible things. I was on vitamins. I wasn't drinking. You were just being so meticulously intentional with your life. I had six people that I was interacting with. Yeah. So my environments were shaking. Like it was just done to a tee. And again, I feel like the bronze medal was something that like I was like, I knew I was going to get. But when it actually happened, I was like, this makes sense. It's the levels that you needed to go to to get that. Yeah. And I would do it all over again for sure. I will be. You might have to. Yeah. I don't know how much time do I have until I could give up drinking again. She's like, we can go out for another six months and then we can't. I'll go cool turkey with you. Girl, it's hard. I know. It's hard. You just need to find like, you know. You know, mocktails. Correct. Mocktails have been so, especially in LA. Our personality is like, we don't need a fucking drink. I don't need coffee. No. I don't know how. We're the energizer bunny and we're social as all hell. It's so funny. Like literally last night I had an event with ESPN and I was like, I'm just bouncing off the walls buzzing. Like the social butterflies been released. They're like, what is she on? You're like nothing. She's so worse than me. Yeah. But I think it's cool because once you know who you are and you know your worth and you know you've invested in yourself, that level of confidence is unmatched. Yeah. I know. You're like, I've done the work. I was going to say, you know you've done the work. Do you also know I think what's helped me with the confidence? I'm okay, people are hard on me but I'm harder than anybody. 100%. So like when people say mean things, I'm already saying that shit in my head. Yes. You know? So like when people are like, how do you like deal with like criticism or how do you deal with failure? I'm the most self-critical human. Correct. I'm already in the mirror. You better get your shit together. Yeah. You know? Or like, I'm already in the mirror. You show like you've been drinking a little bit too much. Yeah. You know? Like I'm always very self-aware and I put myself in my place. So that's I think a big reason where my confidence comes from is because I don't let myself be less than. Yes. To then put myself in a bad situation. And that happens sometimes. Yeah. But you learn from it. Yeah. You know what I mean? And then you're like, okay, yeah, that didn't work out. So let's just not do that again. But you've got to be able to live. And that's a hard part. Being an athlete. In front of the world. You're being on a massive stage under a microscope. Yep. Trying to test things, do things like me going to my swim week and auditioning. I can't believe how many news reports picked up me walking in the Victoria secret fashion. Yeah. Like those are big goals of mine. And I just like put it up just to like put it out there. Yeah. And people are like, this could change our career. If she does it. And it's like all this pressure is just naturally put on me because of what I've already done in the world. Yeah. And I love it. But people also need to remember that we are very much human. Yes. And we are already our biggest critics. So you don't need to be telling me that I've cellulite. Like I get it. I haven't trained in this way or that way or I haven't eaten right this way or that way. Like I already know. Also like none of your fucking business. Yeah. What is my body? Yeah. Have to do with you. Correct. And that's why I think that's the negative of social because you share so much. People feel like they have an opinion of your life, which they very much do when you put it to justify to have an opinion when it's like correct. No. Yeah. And I think that that's what I've learned that it's like whatever you share, A is going to be on there forever and will be criticized and will be criticized. But you know what? I've always very much gone through my, I guess my comments and gone through my social and my people, my followers have always been so positive. They're so supportive of you. They like have my back. You have the best community. They're amazing. And I first posted with you people were like, oh my god, Alicia and Gracey together. This is the best combo. I've got so many DMs. Same. How do you know her? I've been wanting to see this link. I was like, wait, what? Yeah, I'm like, why is she all tell us? I would have flown out to Canada months ago. I would have been here a week while you go. She would have loved her boyfriend for me. I'm 100%. Just for the bean blogs. Yeah, honestly worth every, every five. No, literally, I feel like that is 100% the hardest part about being in Olympia. Like I've seen it. And unfortunately, I mean, I get a little glimpse of it being on social media and representing a university. You probably get it more than me because you're doing it almost all the time. That's true. I do it all the good amount. You are very, you have this, which is why you're so cool, is like, you have this athlete athlete body mindset, like, powerhouse, but then you're influencing young women by doing what you do. Like that is something that is very hard and that's why you're so unique at it. And you're also, you're curious too, whether you like it or not, I know. But those sports you've tried, girl, I know what? When you retire, you can come join a sports club. I'm going to have to do another thing, just do like a world tour with you. Yeah. We have to literally. Before we have babies was like last, you know, last hurrah, yeah, seriously, before we settle down. I'm in. I'm so in. Oh, my God. I am so, I mean, I'm so devastated for you about the band, but selfishly, I'm very grateful. Because this honestly, this friendship has been such an incredible reminder to me that there are so many badass women out there that will continue to inspire you, continue to push you. Like, I feel like we push each other so well in such a helpful, supportive way. It's amazing. It's so refreshing. No, it's nice. And amazing. I love it. I think that, again, like we talked about like dating or whatever, but like when you're, when you really invest time on women that want to see you do great, I don't think it's ever about investment. Never. And when you know it's to the core, yeah, and that's what I'm realizing, you know, I'm turning 32. Oh, my God. I'm so excited to celebrate. I know. It's going to be so fun. I just have recognized that I've, I'm moving away even from Toronto, recognizing who actually have had my back, who's checked in on me, because I check on the people that I love very much. And it's like you start realizing when you get older, you're like, people actually maybe weren't in your life for the right reasons. Yeah. They're not in your corner. And I did lose a lot of friendships after the Olympics first or after I met old. I was shocked. Really? Just different people trying to get different things from you. And always, everyone's always trying to find this cloud, you know, and I've never really used my platform for cloud. If that makes sense. 100%. I mean, same. Like I don't ever do that shit with that in mind. Correct. And you're doing it because it's either your job or you're trying to make money or you're passionate about it. Correct. Like you're sharing your success. And so I had to really like re-evaluate, even my friendships, let alone my dating life. Yeah. Yeah. How's dating going? You know, it started getting better. But the only reason why it started to get better, and I'm going to tell if anyone else cares, but when I actually like went into it as like, I'm not scared to lose this person by being someone else. Does that make sense? Yes. So I really much put in my non-negotiables right away. Yeah. I put in my, like what my boundaries are, and if they have a problem with that, or they can't like think of it as like a good thing, then they're not my person. Yeah. And so I've gone on some pretty incredible dates, but they some of them haven't been willing to be like, oh, I can accept that or I can't, you know, they're like, wait, I don't understand why you think that way, or you know, a lot of people are like, oh, you want to do another Olympics and I was like yeah, they're like well like what do I do in those two years? I was like well you got to do What do you mean? What do you want to do? What do you mean? Support you know? So you think like The weeds the weeds up the ones that are the one and what you've been saying to you're like my husband would never my husband would never and that is my Favorite saying of all time isn't it the most I'm texting ever like my husband would never ghost me all the time I'm like want to put your name like right next to it. Well Gracie Cramer. Yeah literally wait that's hilarious Yeah, and they all go out at your right like life is in that a lot of them will message me back Be like you're right life is too short. I apologize and I was like damn I but at that time I'm kind of like I'm already out of it. I'm not even out But I like put a wall up towards you the boundaries are set correct because I'm not in this to play a game I'm not here to just like have fun and do all that like I'm that was like my 20s. Yeah, no, I'm 30 We're ready. I want babies in like three years So yeah, girls trying to try to sell down. Yeah, so for those listening that don't know what my saying This is basically like if I'm man does you dirty? Yes, it the easiest way to Move forward move on get out of it or also just see it from like a really healthy perspective and I don't know where I heard this But it changed my life is instead of getting upset and taking it personally Oh my gosh, that's the biggest thing because I think us as athletes we hold ourselves to such a high standard that we're like Wait, am I not good enough? Yes, because obviously deep down. We all think we're not good enough unless we're doing Spectacular things which is why we do the crazy shit that we do, right? So don't Don't hit that nerve. Yeah, let's look. I have to go to therapy now So yeah, don't trick me So instead when someone let's say they don't text you back or they cheat on you or they are just an awful human being deal We've all been through it Yeah, but the easiest way to get out of it and not justify their behavior is to be like my future husband would never yeah I agree and it's so simple and it reminds you that there is a person out there for you It gives you hope it also reminds you to hold your standard high because at the end of the day That's how you're gonna be treated for the rest of your fucking life. Yeah, do you want that? No My husband would never not pick me up from the airport with flowers. Oh my husband would never right exactly And even just like simple things mistakes like I remember hearing the saying I'm probably gonna watch this But it was like first times a mistake. Mm-hmm second time you have to say it's usually like a It's like more like a care character flaw. Yeah, and then third time. Well, you're just an idiot. It's intentional. Yeah, you know I mean so like if you if you're getting to like two or three Xs. Yeah, clearly. We don't like Xs Then you know you're like okay. Yeah, this is not good. Mm-hmm. So I really just doesn't like me that much Yeah, what do you mean wait? Well, that's the thing. It's like I give you one like for a mistake Yeah, this happens again then not that I don't want to see you agree great But like just take my name as your phone as future wife. Yeah. Yeah, you know And just like let's move on from it. But yeah, I think naturally. I've always Been so attracted to male athletes And I think it's the mindset It's the fact they have something going on. They get it They get it because you have such an extreme lifestyle It's really attractive to know that you can bond. Yeah, through that relationship And I get it. I've dated athletes too and like I've dated non-affleets and I mean definitely the athletes get it They get it and they don't question like oh, why are you eating that or why are you doing this? Why are you working out so much like they don't give you shit for it And they also support the dream. Yeah, and so I do think it's valuable When they don't have an ego They're like talking to this like they need their ego stroked and I think that that's where I wish male athletes could recognize If they didn't care so much about that. Yeah, how much more potential they could have I know because I remember Like how much more how much better I was being with a man competing than I was without something sense And there's only a and I'm gonna put it out there because the sense that I'm with somebody especially will me like when I'm with someone I'm with something I'm not looking anymore. Oh, yeah, no, we're locked in yeah loyal to a fault sometimes. Yeah, me to yeah sometimes too much And so I'm locked in and so I was really able to like redirect my attention to me. Yeah I'm very focused on me and then our relationship But when I was single and I'm starting to recognize that is like you could be talking to you know A and B, you know, it's a destruction and you're like trying to be like okay, am I do I really feel this way towards a? Do I really feel this way towards B like how does this feel and then you're you're having these conversation But at that time you could have been having this conversation. I'm like, okay, let me do another like wrap or I mean like it's an ocean. Yeah the end of the day, you know, it's pulling focus from what you should be focusing on correct And I wish male athletes would recognize that yeah because they could be at such a better level I never thought of it like that and I think there's both ways like obviously when I get like I mean look at Tara like Tara Davis Perfect example. They literally just posted together her and her husband. They're both Olympians And he posted a video where he's like coaching her and he's like I know you're tired But you're gonna do it anyway and I'm like that's the type of husband I want yeah, you need someone that's good but they push you and you respect them because they respect you Yes, and I think that a lot of what where I've found like the my male athlete relationships gone wrong Is a the ego looking looking for wandering eyes wandering eyes? Yeah, never satisfied some double tapping And then also the sense of being like not able to support your your female like athlete. Yeah, and I mean like Recognizing that this was potentially her time to shine. Yeah, not stealing the focus and not stealing the spotlight But not feeling it bad internally. It's so hard and I and I get it because it's a competitive like you're being competitive Both stars correct. Like how can you both shine? Yeah, so I bet you run into that like male a lot of male athletes can't get like insecure Yeah, or they just don't know how to put you on a pedestal in the way you want it Like they're not learning your level language at your highest level and at your worst And I think that that was really hard for my last relationship is I was at a point that I was taking a break from Training okay, because of the suspension yet because I didn't know when I was dating him But I was okay to like wake up at like 10 and then go to Pilates and get matcha And I think a part of him was like are you not into it like go work out go get great go get this and I was like I just want to metal last year. Give me a break. Yeah, I'm just enjoying my life Like I'm just gonna like go through it and I want to invest time into becoming a great wife and to becoming a great mother Like I wanted to start developing those characteristics like what's it like cooking for your teammates? Yeah, like cooking for a family like what does that entail? Yeah, and I think I think a lot of him thought that like I was just like ready to be a stay-at-home wife You're like little do you know, babe? I know and I was like that's not what I was doing I was just trying to see if I could tap into another characteristic of myself. Yeah, and We're exploring a different life out of curiosity Yeah, and I think that I felt bad daily being around him Like I wasn't accomplishing things and so that's where I recognized our relationship started to like he wandered You know wandered off and and I was like starting to feel insecure because of his wandering eyes Well, then you start feeling like okay. I'm not doing anything right now Yeah, and then you start having almost like short-term memory loss and you're like forgetting that you you are that bitch Right, and you know, he's getting all the attention because he's football and whatever and I was excited for him Like I was so invested. I was like I like I remember being at your spot when you're about to break through like your team is right there Yeah, and I was like you guys are gonna win. You're gonna win. It's coming And I just like I think that that was just that a relationship like that is could have been so incredible But it was just wrong timing. Yeah, and that it is what it is, you know, and so I obviously want to see them do great I'm like what's in the best but but movie not my husband He's not my husband and he's definitely one. I'm definitely somebody that he would have fumbled for sure Oh my god for sure you will be for every fumble You're the kind of girl that every every man probably stays up at night and it's like Damn it I can't believe I fumbled it That's nice. That's nice of you the facts You are the fumble girl we try we try always just trying you're the one that got away I probably did I aspire to be the girl that got away every time you 100% are the girl that got away Stop like I'm sitting there and I'm like who like who wouldn't want to put themselves in your life You know what I mean like I feel like you come from a great family Your girls we 100% are but I think that intimidates a lot of men. It does. I think women athletes again Women athletes are at a point in our careers where we're on the ups We're starting to get paid better. We're starting to have this confidence. We can provide for ourselves Yeah, we don't need a man and we don't need a man and I think women in life and I think men aren't adapting to what women are going to be like being able to be their own provider. Yeah This is where we're at in the world and you don't just have to be an athlete for this. Yeah I think just in general women want to go to work They want to make their own money because they want to have trips with their girls Yeah, do what they want to do. They want to have a life. Yeah They want to maybe have their chef for them. Yeah, so that they don't have to cook and men aren't adapting to that Yeah, it's not that we want to be better and we don't want a man Of course we want men. Yeah, relationships and we want marriage and we want to like bring up companion correct But we're just doing it different than our parents did and sadly our parents raised The women and the sons differently So now like when I'm gonna have kids I want to raise my son and daughter to know that they can have their own life And they can do their own things and they can come together as an equal. Yep. You know and I think recognizing To be a leader women are going to Like enhanceify what men bring to the table and being okay with that. Yeah If men's gonna bring you a house we make it a home. Yeah, they're gonna give us sperm We're gonna make a baby. Yeah, you know like we're just enhancing your lives. We're not enhancing - Is that a word? - No. - I'm gonna add it in there. - It's our now. - We're not in it in there. - We'll submit it. - At least here we don't call. - And hence the five from Alicia Newman. (laughing) - And I just find that we're constantly, and if men can realize that, that we're not in competition. - We're not threatening them. - No. - We are enhancing their life. - We're enhancing our life. - If we're making it easier for you, 'cause we also wanna provide. - And this economy, you don't want to income, you're gonna have to run with you. - You eat it in the country. - Get out of here. - And I think, we're trying to buy a home then. - Right. - Just to have a place. - Try to have a fun lifestyle, try to explore the world. Like, how could you think that there's anything negative about that? - No. - Like truly. - And I think that's our problem. - And you better go to therapy and work on yourself if I'm a threat to you. - Correct. - If I threaten your masculinity, because I make a little bit more money than you, or I'm more aspiring than you, or I'm more driven, then checker you go at the door, figure out a way to match my energy. And if not, then don't back a baddie if you can't date a baddie. - Correct. - Correct. - Sorry. - And you want us to put you on a pedestal, then you need to lead like a pedestal. - Yeah. - Or I'll put us on that pedestal that you want you lead. - We can be on the pedestal together. - Yeah, but it's not that deep. - It's like, I think women are, we don't need a pedestal to stroke our egos. I've never met a women. - We've always put our head down. - Correct. - And I've never met a woman that's like, I need you to tell me that like, I'm the best, that I haven't really met a lot of women like that. But I've recognized in my relationships, they need that. And that's fine. But then you better lead and put us in an environment for me to say that to you. - Yeah. - Because if you're doing things that don't make you a leader or a wife. - If you're not acting like a hubby, then why should I act like a wife? - Correct. - Ah, clock it, wow. - You can talk for it. - So much tea. - I know, I'm getting kind of hungry, I'm like, maybe she grew up lunch after this. - I know. - Ooh. - Okay, well, there's a little fun segment here on the show called Your Athlete. I mean, we've been giving a lot of really amazing advice. - I'm scared. - It's nothing crazy. - It's just advice for the younger generation. Tell me your deepest darkened secret. - What is my deepest darkened secret now? - Okay, first one. What advice would you give an athlete struggling with fear or self-doubt? - Hmm, it is kind of more rapid-fire than I'm just saying. - Well, yeah, I speak very a lot. - Okay, so fear or self-doubt, I would say fear is just like an emotion. It's like a social construct. - Yeah, so we call those ants and you need to put those self-doubt on the outside of where you are. So like, that is just like a protecting mechanism. - Okay. - Protecting you from growth. - Correct. - I love that. - Because your body likes to be comfortable. - Contribute self-doubt. - Yeah. - And so nothing great comes with being comfortable. - Yeah. - So trying to recognize that fear is actually like a tipping point of you becoming great. - It's limiting you. - Yeah. - Yeah, I would say piggybacking on that, like fear is all in your head. - Yeah. - It's what you identify, right? - Yes. - And I think there's so many times where you can reframe fear and be like, wait, is this anxiety or is this excitement? - Yeah. - Choose excitement. Odds are going to have a phenomenal competition, phenomenal experience, and you're going to get so much more out of it because you realize that you are in control and fear is literally just something that's kind of like a non-issue if you don't make it an issue, right? Like don't put power, don't give power to it because all it's doing is limiting you from your growth. - No, I love that. - Okay. - Second. - The clock hurts. - I'm like, should we be coaches? - Yeah. - Truth? - I'm in. I like love your truth. - I want to host an athlete retreat. - You would? - Okay, yeah, you need to. - Okay, we're going to. - With everybody that has been on the pod. - With everyone that's been on the pod? - Yes, girl. - Okay, we're going to do it. - Okay, we're going to go hide. - Yeah. - You're like more girlbossy than me, so maybe you can help you on the business side of the air. - Sure, I got it. - We'll host it at your. - Oh, yeah. That would be amazing. - This is true. - Okay, period. - Okay. - Any life hacks for calming nerves on competition day? - Ooh. - Low music, I do try to do slow music and then I do eight breaths, like eight, hold seconds in. - Eight, seven. - Wait, I do four seconds. - I do four seconds. - Eight. - So I go, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, hold. - Hold. - And then four out. - Mmm, I go opposite. - No, I go, yeah, I go opposite. - I learned four, seven, eight, so it's four inhale, hold for seven and then exhale for eight. - Yeah. - I mean, either way. - Breathe. - I do it, but I do it because it speeds my heart rate up. - Oh. - So it allows me to get ready, like, quicker. - Almost like familiarize yourself with feeling, yes, your heart rate up already. - But also, like, I'm putting myself in the zone to go, so it's almost a trigger. It's like, if you can do one thing every time to trigger you, then no, okay, it's game day. - Yeah. - Then your body starts getting used to it. So the eight in for me is like, almost the build up phase to my pool run. - Yeah. - And then the last three steps are fast, right? - Yes. - So I, like, breathe out fast. - Oh. - It's almost like, I guess you can say visualizing. - You're, like, emulating the tempo of your run. - My breath. - That's a trip. I wish I knew that about vault. I should have done that. - I mean, girl, I saw you vault. She don't need no breathing. (laughing) - I was, I was breathless. I was like, oh, she just chewed at your tank of double. - Yeah, that was frickin' insane. - Which clock it put it right. - Stay tuned for that sport swap. That's where we're gonna go live, like, right before this, so. - Oh, I can't wait. - You better go watch it. It's pretty fun. - That was the most insane day ever. - I had so much, no warmup. My neck was like-- - So much adrenaline. - Oh my God. - For too long. - But I didn't care. - I was like starting like this everywhere. - Yeah, next time we're gonna stretch. - Yeah. - You walk up properly, because we're not 21 anymore. - Backs. - Far from that. - And especially doing a skill that we haven't done in a very, very long time. - Exactly. - Okay, last question. - Okay. - How do you separate yourself worth from your performance? - Ooh. - I think I set my, I really do believe on like two different people. - Me too. - Me too, yeah. - When I'm repeating, I'm just Elisha Newman, the athlete. - You're Elisha fucking Newman. - Elisha motherfucker. (laughs) (laughs) - New and literally. And then when I'm like off the track, I'm like my soft girl, cancer, nurturing, loving, human. - I see that. - And I love that girl, they off the track girl. Even though I love my on track girl, but my off the track girl is just like. - I don't think your on the track girl would have a lot of friends. - I'd be a little intense. - She's intense, but in a way that it's just like people just, are like, they can't get to that mentality level. - Yeah. - I don't expect people to see it like that because it's not relatable. - Yeah. - 'Cause I don't even relate to her sometimes. - But you're like, you're like part the red sea when you walk. I can just see it. - I can't. - I can't. - I can't see it. Like you walk and everyone's like move, move, move, move. Like, she's coming, she's coming. I just need you and like my hype woman. - Girl, I'm walking out. I'd be like, "Tim can not hire me." I would literally just come to your needs and hide you the hell out. - So I'm putting it out there. The IOC needs to have you as a podcaster at the Olympic Games. - 100%. - In the Olympic Village. - In the Village. - In the Village. - Oh, I'd be so glad to talk to you. - Athletes after hours in the Village Edition. - After hours would be wild. Everyone coming, sitting down drunk. The amazing. You get like the honest true self of each athlete. - I'm getting like sued, left and right. They're like, "Don't release that." She was not in her right mind. (laughing) - But I just put a little like a PG. - Yeah. - Read it out. - Read it out, do not watch it. - For mature listeners on me. (laughing) - Please drink responsibly. (laughing) - Oh, thank you so much. That's all I have for you. - I really appreciate you. - I could go on for hours for you. - I know. I'm like, you know what, when we retire, we can watch our little podcast. - Girl, we watch it every day. - That has been podcasted. (laughing) - I'm so in. - I love you. - I love you. - Let's go get some lunch. - I'm ready. - I love you guys so much. Thank you for tuning in. And I'll see you next Wednesday. - Oh, and also go watch your sports walk. - Oh yeah. (laughing) - Okay, bye. - Bye. (upbeat music)