A captivating conversation with Team Fiji Olympic athlete Danielle Alakija, as she shares her remarkable journey from childhood running superstar to becoming an Olympian at just 16 years old. Beyond the track, we delve into Danni’s passion for climate advocacy, particularly her efforts to amplify the voices of the Global South in discussions around climate change solutions. She's reimagining the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure inclusivity and fair representation, addressing historical inequalities and uplifting marginalised communities through her passion project - SOLI.  And here’s our call to action for athletes and listeners passionate about climate advocacy - you can get involved with her latest project - SOLI - by sharing letters and information about personal experiences of climate change.  Email: danielle@soli.earth  Social Media (Instagram, etc): @daniellealakija Web: www.soli.earth  Throughout our discussion, Danielle's creativity, resilience, and commitment to making a difference shine through, inspiring us all to pursue our dreams and create positive change in the world.  And, of course, stay tuned until the end to hear Danni’s definition of success and personal experiences of resilience in her own world. 🌍✨ Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message  Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk  Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/  Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK  Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru  Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) Connect with Abigail and the podcast:Show Noteshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson is a Canadian Olympian and a Performance Lifestyle Advisor with the UK Institute of Sport, working with British Athletics and British Shooting World Class Performance Program athletes.  The second key conversation of the 2024 season with Define Your Success is between host Abigail Irozuru and Erika, a member of the elite high performance team.  Key Discussion Points: Athlete and Sport Engagement with Performance Lifestyle Teams: Delving into the significance of athlete engagement with Performance Lifestyle Teams, Erika sheds light on how these teams play a crucial role in supporting athletes throughout their careers. Transition and Mental Health Support: Drawing from her own experiences transitioning from elite sport, Erika compares the support systems in the UK and Canada, highlighting the need for robust mental health resources tailored to athletes' diverse needs. Six Pillars of High Performance: Erika outlines the six pillars integral to developing a well-rounded, high-performance athlete, emphasizing the importance of addressing various facets of athletes' lives beyond their athletic endeavours. Transitions Beyond Retirement: The conversation expands to encompass transitions beyond retirement, demonstrating that transitions are not limited to exiting the sport but encompass various life changes. Personal Journey with Mental Health Advocacy: Erika shares her personal journey with mental health challenges, which spurred her advocacy efforts and led her to pursue a Psychology degree, ultimately shaping her current work at the UK Institute of Sport. Self-Directed Development Strategies: Offering valuable insights, Erika discusses self-directed personal development and transition support strategies for athletes who may not have direct access to elite programs, catering to both developing athletes and those at higher levels. Coaching and Mentoring Models: Exploring coaching and mentoring models, the discussion underscores the importance of athlete buy-in when collaborating with Performance Lifestyle practitioners. Useful Resources Discussed: More To Me Initiative: https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/article/eis-helps-athletes-expand-coaching-skills-through-more2me-initiative/ A program aimed at expanding athletes' skills. UKSI (UK Sports Institute): https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/ Providing comprehensive support for elite athletes. TASS (Talented Athlete Support Scheme):  https://www.tass.gov.uk/ Supporting young, developing athletes. NGB (National Governing Body) - UK Sport: https://www.uksport.gov.uk/ Focusing on Olympic and Paralympic high-performance goals. --- Social Media / Email  Podcast Link - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success // Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7ntkYxL444R6mOtlyQmcYn // Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/define-your-success/id1595377040  Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message  Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk  Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/  Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK  Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru  Credits Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

Second of the two-part conversation hosted by Olympian, Abigail Irozuru with Team England Commonwealth Games' rhythmic gymnast, coach and business-owner Mimi-Isabella Cesar. Key takeaways from the conversation include: 1. Aesthetic sports like gymnastics involve subjective judging based on the athletes' appearance and execution. 2. Collaboration with experts in various fields is crucial for athletes' holistic development. 3. MIC Gymnastics offers tailored training programs and a supportive community for athletes of all ages and levels. 4. Mimi's multifaceted career includes coaching, commentating, and aspirations in media, property, and investment. 5. Embracing challenges and using personal experiences to drive positive change is essential for growth and success. Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message  Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk  Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/  Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK  Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru  Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US  Show Notes --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

The first episode after a year-long hiatus (sorry - I went AWOL!) Conversation with 2 x Team England Commonwealth Games representative in rhythmic gymnastics, Mimi-Isabella Cesar.  In this first part, we speak about the highs and lows of Mimi’s competitive career and lead into her journey into entrepreneurship, inspired by righting the wrongs she experienced to be a better coach and leader to the next generation of rhythmic gymnasts.  Some topics explored: Suffering emotional abuse about her body weight and shape, and subsequently her age The best feeling of rhythmic gymnastics - the silent moment Top highlights in the sport I’ve never felt enough Holding sports leadership to account - coaches, judges, key decision makers Recognising abuses of power and what that may look like in those you love - parents and guardians  The hope with a new coach - Australian coach and sports psych - helping her gain confidence and rewrite the decade-long narrative  At the end of the episode, we lead into what the second part will feature - introduce MIC and entrepreneurship, her growth and how MIC started during COVID, her global reach and extensive support network for gymnasts of all age ranges on MIC, her media and broadcasting work, and her vision for the future. Hot Pepper by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons / Attribution 3.0 Unported License (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Get In Touch! Stay Connected... Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk  Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/  Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

A quick dose of inspiration and some practical challenges from Olympian, Abigail Irozuru for you to try to apply to have a great week and ‘achieve greatness’ in your own life! Share your thoughts on this episode on Instagram @definesuccessuk https://instagram.com/definesuccessuk or email info@defineyoursuccess.uk . You can even send in a short voice message with your thoughts! Https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode with 4 x Olympian from Trinidad and Tobago, Mikel Thomas, we discuss: his Olympic experiences (the athlete’s perspective) from Beijing 2008 to London 2012 to Rio 2016.  his Masters program in Lausanne, Switzerland at the International Academy of Sport, Science and Technology and the doors of opportunity this opened, including being amongst FIFA, UEFA, and the global sporting ecosystem  his current work at Visa in Strategic Partnerships and how other Olympians and Paralympians can get involved, particularly those in North America!  This is the final part of a two-part conversation with Mikel Thomas.  Subscribe so you can be notified immediately when the next episode drops! You won’t want to miss it! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode with 4 x Olympian from Trinidad and Tobago, Mikel Thomas, we discuss: — his origin story - how did he get involved in athletics and bobsleigh? — the challenges he’s faced reaching 4 Olympic Games (3 Summer, 1 Winter) — his response to these challenges - choosing peace; trusting God even in the silence and his growing faith and how he hears God. The second part features: — his Olympic experiences (the athlete’s perspective) from Beijing 2008 to London 2012 to Rio 2016. — his Masters program in Lausanne, Switzerland at the International Academy of Sport, Science and Technology and the doors of opportunity this opened — his current work at Visa in Strategic Partnerships and how other Olympians and Paralympians can get involved! This is the first part of a two-part conversation with Mikel Thomas. Subscribe so you can be notified immediately when the next episode drops! You won’t want to miss it! Connect with Mikel Thomas Instagram: @mikel_thomas https://instagram.com/mikel_thomas LinkedIn: MIKEL THOMAS https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelthomasoly Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a short voice message with your definition of success or thoughts on your favourite episode and why you loved it - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode with sports scientist (specifically as a biomechanist), Dr Philip Graham-Smith, Head of Biomechanics and Innovation at Aspire Academy, we discuss: his beginnings in sports working at Salford University and Liverpool John Moores with horizontal jumpers the basics of biomechanical science that we can employ in training - e.g. video support the in-depth additional analysis provided by biomechanists - speed, strength, power characteristics measurements against normative and an athlete’s historical data the motivation challenge of maintaining engagement in sport for the boys at Aspire Academy, Qatar separate case studies of a long jumper and high jumper progressions at Aspire, including mention of Mutaz Barshim, a well-known past student of Aspire. data points for elite male and female long and triple jumpers - aspirational numbers for developing athletes! maintaining the perfect balance between being data-driven and movement-driven for coach, biomechanist and athlete. Phil’s definition of success I hope you enjoyed today’s episode! Subscribe so you can be notified immediately when the next episode drops! You won’t want to miss it! Connect with Dr Phil Graham-Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-graham-smith-51a6a462 Twitter: @philipgrahamsm2 https://twitter.com/philipgrahamsm2?s=21&t=MxgRWFgOPUwiJoph7rPYXQ Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a short voice message with your definition of success or thoughts on your favourite episode and why you loved it - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode, I sit down with 2 x Winter Olympian, Lloyd Wallace. I was initially intrigued about his family legacy (he is the 5th Olympian and 3rd generation of Olympian in his family, beginning with Grandad Peter Curry in 1948). We discuss this and the other legacy he hopes will ‘last for years’ beyond sport. In this final part, we discuss: - A semi-retirement and the importance of taking breaks to refresh your career - Flexible working for the working-athlete with Sportsphere, Athlete Management - Post-Olympic Blues: What it is, causes, symptoms and solutions - The Wallace Family Olympic Legacy - The London Marathon fundraiser Oct 2022 with War Child UK - https://www.warchild.org.uk/ - and the unexpected challenge of the final 6km ! - Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Games - Being in a coma 6 months before the Games and how he got back to the top of the slope to compete - Lloyd’s simple, powerful definition of success This is the final part of a two-part conversation with Lloyd Wallace. Subscribe so you can be notified immediately when the next episode drops! You won’t want to miss it! Connect with Lloyd Wallace Instagram: @lloydwal https://instagram.com/lloydwal Twitter: @lloyd_wallace https://twitter.com/lloyd_wallace Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a short voice message with your definition of success or thoughts on your favourite episode and why you loved it - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/ // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode, I sit down with 2 x Winter Olympian, Lloyd Wallace. I was initially intrigued about his family legacy (he is the 5th Olympian and 3rd generation of Olympian in his family, beginning with Grandad Peter Curry in 1948), but you’ll have to wait to Part Two to hear all about that and the other legacy he hopes will ‘last for years’ beyond sport.  In this first part we discuss: Aerial skiing - what it is and how it originated; the ‘relaxed’ culture; the technical language and the more colloquial terms used by these athletes, such as The Big Daddy for their moves; what a training year looks like (summer, winter, off-season, world-cup tours, etc.), including ‘interesting’ Eastern European World Cup destinations, such as Russia and their response to waking up to the new that Russia had invaded Ukraine whilst they were in Russia!  Athlete Management & Coaching  Tips / Advice for athletes looking for sponsorship  Retirement / taking a break from sport and how to strike the right balance between work, working out and recovery  Planning for life beyond sport - practical guidance from his own experience  This is the first part of a two-part conversation with Lloyd Wallace.  Subscribe so you can be notified immediately when the next episode drops! You won’t want to miss it! Connect with Lloyd Wallace  Instagram: @lloydwal https://instagram.com/lloydwal Twitter: @lloyd_wallace https://twitter.com/lloyd_wallace   Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a short voice message with your definition of success or thoughts on your favourite episode and why you loved it - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message  Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk  Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/  Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK  Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  //  Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode with Olympic history-maker and 2x Olympian, Montell Douglas, we discuss: Her Olympic experiences - Summer and Winter Olympic GamesBeing one of only TWO people in the WORLD to attend both the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic gamesBeing a history-maker in her family - first university graduateHer ‘whirlwind’ first Olympic experience2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games and the major surgery that is career-ending for many and her ridiculously rapid recovery to reach the Games as a reserveHer faith in God that allowed her to persevere another 4 years to Beijing 2022The warrior mentality that is within us allBeing an ‘over-achiever’The power of a resolution at any time of the year - just do. This is the final part of a two-part conversation with Montell Douglas. Subscribe so you can be notified of future episodes. I’m excited to share more powerful conversations with you each week! Connect with Montell Douglas Instagram: @montytrackstar https://www.instagram.com/montytrackstar/ Twitter: @montytrackstar https://twitter.com/MontyTrackStar Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a short voice message with your definition of success or thoughts on your favourite episode and why you loved it - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode with Olympic history-maker (listen to find out why) and 2x Olympian, Montell Douglas, we discuss: Her definition of success (one of the most intriguing responses yet)Her sporting origin storyHer multi-faceted career in schools’ mentoring, professional services, athletics’ coaching, charitable work and her own great sporting achievements!Olympic cycles vs ‘Real world’ seemingly unstructured timelines and the transition from one to the otherOne of the worst questions to ask an Olympian post-Games… and our suggestions of what a better question may be.Becoming a Summer and Winter Olympian & The Olympic Experience (teaser) This is the first part of a two-part conversation with Montell Douglas. Subscribe so you can be notified immediately when the next episode drops! You won’t want to miss it! Connect with Montell Douglas Instagram: @montytrackstar https://www.instagram.com/montytrackstar/ Twitter: @montytrackstar https://twitter.com/MontyTrackStar Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Send us a short voice message with your definition of success or thoughts on your favourite episode and why you loved it - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Definesuccessuk - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/   Twitter - @airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

A conversation where host, Abigail guested on Sporting for His Glory ( a podcast hosted by previous DYS podcast guest, Karé Adenigan) We discuss: Connecting at the Commonwealth Games and through the Womens’ Sports Trust Unlocked Programme We started the podcast with a prayer, which is such a beautiful and powerful way to start off any project, but particularly one with the title - Sporting For His Glory. https://linktr.ee/sportingforhisglory 3:33 How did your sporting journey begin? Multiple sports background; ATC (Air Training Corps) and Ian Wiltshire, my first Jumps’ Athletics Coach. 5:44 When did you become a Christian? Has faith always been a big part of your life? Growing up in a Christian home; Kids’ Church; Online Church whilst travelling 7:25 How does your faith impact what you do as an athlete? Faith as an anchor; knowing my value and identity beyond wins or losses. Enjoyment. 10:07 How do you navigate your competition and those you compete against, as a Christian? Starting with prayer; the parable of the Talents - Matthew 25:14-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025%3A14-30&version=ESV Friendship with and competitive drive against my competitors. 14:09 Joshua 1:9 ‘Be Strong and Courageous’ - What resonates strongly with you about this verse? Transition of leadership; transition between seasons. 19:35 Tell us more about your journey of resilience and overcoming? The three parts of my athletics’ career to date - 2005-2012 / 2012-2016 / 2018 - 2022 26:40 - How did you get involved in coaching and what is it like being a coach? Passion for education since 2007; Growth Mindset; Upskilling my tutors; business coaching; Certifications - NLP, CBT, ILM… 31:05 Can you coach yourself through the knowledge you have? Yes and No! You can only go so far alone. My current mindset coach - Iris Van Ooyen (https://2brighteyes.com/ ) Clarifying, ‘aha’ moments working with a coach. 33:28 How important is church? What’s the impact of having a church? Community. Vulnerability, even in large churches through small groups. 36:30 What encouragement would you give to christians in the health and fitness world? It’s all individual. But… The joy of the LORD is your strength. Praise and worship is speaking God’s word back to him and strengthening. 39:38 Do you have anything else on your heart to share? Thanks and plugged the DYS Podcast! Connect with us Send us a voice message - https://anchor.fm/define-your-success/message Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Defineyoursuccess.uk - https://www.instagram.com/defineyoursuccess.uk/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode, hear various short clips of how Britain's best athletes and coaches define success.  Long form definitions of success and the more challenging narrowing it down to three words.  How do you define success?  Before listening to their responses, why not define success for yourself first and share it with our listeners!  Send in a voicenote with your definition to info@defineyoursuccess.uk or send a voice message.   Featuring: Jodie Williams; Richard Whitehead MBE; Benjamin Williams; Martyn Rooney; Dan Greaves; Cindy Sember; Tiffany Porter; Laviai Nielson; Stef Reid; Beth Partridge; Kare Adenegan; Curtis Beach; Daryll Nieta; Louise Bloor; Aston Moore MBE; Leon Baptiste; Dr. Rob Miller; Morgan Lake.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this episode of #DYSPodcast, hear the wisdom and joy Tiffany Porter (ex-Team GB 100m Hurdler) shares around athletics,retirement from sport,motherhood, including training and competing whilst breastfeeding and (all in 2021, post-baby) winning European Indoor Bronze, becoming British Champion and representing Team GB at the Tokyo Olympic Games - all whilst being a mother to her Rainbow Baby, Chidera. Listen to this conversation around Tiff’s illustrious athletics career; retirement from sports; and family including being a Rainbow Mom. Social Media Twitter - @tiffofili - https://twitter.com/tiffofili Instagram - @tiffofili - https://www.instagram.com/tiffofili Website & Blog - www.tiffofili.com Tiffany’s Honours - https://worldathletics.org/athletes/great-britain-ni/tiffany-porter-14318196 Tiffany’s Retirement Announcements - World Athletics - https://worldathletics.org/news/news/tiffany-porter-hurdles-retirement Run Blog Run by Stuart Weir - https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/03/tiffany-porter-reflects-on-retirement-and-life-after-hurdles-part-2.html Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @DefineSuccessUK - https://www.instagram.com/definesuccessuk/ Twitter: @ DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @ absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @ airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

Vertigo - what is is (symptoms) and its causes Storytime - how it happened “Health issues seem to be quite common in athletes and not as understanding as injuries, it seems.” - a quote from a friend that prompted me sharing this episode Baseline - balance and proprioception work whilst brushing your teeth Baseline for your holistic health Achilles Tendon Rupture Recovery - Knee-to-wall Baseline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9y62vwzYk&ab_channel=ABIGAILIROZURU - what it is Resting HR Baseline and how tracking this can help you navigate training intensity, the onset of and recovery from illness Achilles tendon stages for recovery mentioned - https://abigailirozuru.com/2016/07/15/sports-an-achilles-tendon-rehab-program-videos-week-8-post-op/ Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Defineyoursuccess.uk - https://www.instagram.com/defineyoursuccess.uk/ Twitter: @ DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @ absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @ airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

In this second part of the conversation with USA Track and Field Paralympian, Lacey J Henderson, we discuss: the instability of the contracting life, self-employed status that we all take on as athletes;the unfairness of the broad range of disability categories for Paralympians and what Lacey is doing to challenge and change that for the better.Lacey’s Sports Psychology Masters’ degree: how we might manage and overcome stress responses after trauma, particularly sexual assault in sport. Content Advisory: There is some swearing in this episode + mention of sexual assault. Connect with Lacey: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laceyisyourfriend/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/lacesyourfriend Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Laceyjhenderson/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/laceyisyourfriend LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/laceyisyourfriend Connect with Abigail and the podcast: Email - info@defineyoursuccess.uk Instagram: @ Defineyoursuccess.uk - https://www.instagram.com/defineyoursuccess.uk/ Twitter: @ DefineSuccessUK - https://twitter.com/DefineSuccessUK Abigail - Instagram: @ absisdabest - https://www.instagram.com/absisdabest/  // Twitter - @ airozuru - https://twitter.com/Airozuru --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

Originally published 15th November 2022. British Athletics' Strength & Conditioning Coach   A conversation with S&C Coach, Rob Miller Rob is co-owner of Informed Performance, alongside Michael Johnston (MJ).  https://www.informedperformance.co.uk/  Both work at British Athletics as part of the Strength & Conditioning Performance Team. https://www.britishathletics.org.uk/  Discussion Points -  The opening / warm up convo - COVID Lockdown Training Diaries (gym kitted out by Blk Box Fitness - https://www.blkboxfitness.com/ ), which is a reminder of the importance of accountability to produce positive results, and also the convenience benefits of ‘100 rep sessions’ - not for high performance, though!‘The deep stuff’ - from approx the 10 minute mark onwards Coaching Philosophy, highlighting the importance of trust and buy-in in any coaching relationship, not just the theoretical and technical knowledge of the coachS&C Philosophy, including how Rob structures a training program, his perception of ‘technical excellence’ and his tips for anyone looking to improve their Olympic lifts, specifically cleans and snatchWorld-class lifting numbers in the track & field world (how does your PB match up against Britain’s best athletes in the power clean?) Hobbies (jiu jitsu, cooking and music - singing and guitar) PhD on Muscle Morphology for Elite Sport Running, which was funded by British Athletics and, in year one, by EIS (the English Institute of Sport) https://eis2win.co.uk/ Definition of Resilience and Success.  Social Media Handles  Instagram  @Robem10 - https://www.instagram.com/robem10  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-miller-726844b0/?originalSubdomain=uk  Twitter - https://twitter.com/robem10  Informed Performance - https://www.informedperformance.co.uk/  PhD - https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/thesis/The_muscle_morphology_of_sprinters/19722865 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33009196/  Article on PhD by the National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine - https://www.ncsem-em.org.uk/2020/10/02/buttock-size-matters-researchers-reveal-a-large-gluteus-maximus-is-key-for-sprint-speed-and-performance-after-examining-the-anatomy-of-elite-athletes/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

Part One of a 2-Part Conversation with Lacey Henderson, Team USA Paralympic Athlete & Performance Psychology Consultant  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laceyisyourfriend Performance Psychology Consultant @parallelperformanceconsulting LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/laceyisyourfriend This episode is for you if you’re grieving the loss of a job, a role, a life; if you’re looking for some practical sports psych tips or if you just want a laugh. Conversation centres on her Sports Psychology Masters, USOPC (US Olympic & Paralympic Committee), the mental health toll of high performance sport when athletes are seen as or at least made to feel as disposable by their federations ; dynamic identity - how we face and journey through grief and loss - the healthy and unhealthy ways from our experiences and from a trained psychologist’s perspective on the best way through. Fun fact: Lacey's Sports Psychology Masters is led by Team GB Rio 2016 Olympian, Lennie Waite - https://twitter.com/lenniew8  A favourite quote on this episode - 'everything waits for you’. Finally, full disclosure - there are a few swear words dotted through this conversation, but they’re few and far between so don’t let that dissuade you from listening. Subscribe to be notified of Part Two when the episode drops next Tuesday --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message

Kare Adenegan has so many medals to her name, I don’t even know where to begin- She has won medals at every major championships: British, European, Commonwealth, World and Paralympic Games - and she achieved these great feats alongside her studies, most recently having graduated from the University of Warwick. Congratulations! As we warm up into this conversation, things get a little deep. Equality in diversity -  specifically between non-disability and disability sport as we saw exemplified at the CWG - that oneness and cohesion of the team; the superhuman Paralympic trope and her perspective on that vs the real daily struggle of a disabled person, athlete or not; her faith; and her tips for future Paralympians in any sport, not just on the track. I also ask, how do we get more coaches involved with para sport to increase access to sport for disabled people. Finally, as a Black-British female wheelchair athlete, she may have experienced racism; but she says ableism features more profoundly in her life as a form of discrimination than anything else. So… What is ableism? And how can we ensure we aren’t complicit, passive bystanders or even instigators to this form of discrimination? Please listen up and let me know your thoughts on this enlightening and informative conversation. Kare on Twitter - @adenegank  Instagram - @kareadenegan Email: info@defineyoursuccess.uk  Twitter: @definesuccessuk Instagram: @defineyoursuccess.uk Kare mentions under-eating and its connection with RED-S which refers to relative energy deficiency syndrome. Unfortunately, I didn't explore this topic further with her, but you can find more info on it here - https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/health/a33589189/red-s-relative-energy-deficiency-running/  P.s. I use the term 'able-bodied' and have recently learned this isn't a term some will be comfortable with, so I apologise if I have offended you. Please share your preferred terminology, so I can make the right changes! Also rather than editing this term out, I wanted to keep this an example of the fact we all have lessons to learn to be less discriminatory and more inclusive in our language and behaviour re disability! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/define-your-success/message