Pursuit of Gold with Laura Wilkinson

By Laura Wilkinson

Olympic and World Champion diver, Laura Wilkinson seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olym... more

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The podcast currently has 54 episodes available.

Pursuit of Gold with Laura Wilkinson episodes:

September 14, 2021S1E53 - Coming Back Stronger with Diving Olympic Bronze Medalist Krysta Palmer
Today’s guest made history in Tokyo this summer, becoming the first woman to medal in springboard diving at the Olympics since Kelly McCormick won Bronze 33 years ago in Seoul, Korea in 1988. Krysta Palmer made her first Olympic team this summer at the age of 29. Watching her smile and giggle at the podium with her Bronze Medal proudly hanging around her neck warmed hearts all over the country. Krysta’s positivity is infectious and her perseverance throughout her journey to get to the Olympic podium is absolutely inspiring. Today she opens up about the injuries that took her out of contention in the sport of trampoline, what it was like to start a brand new sport at the age of 20, and she walks us through her extraordinary adventure in Tokyo, from a close call in the preliminary round to the very moment she realized she had medaled. Krysta offers mindset tips all along the journey, and she shares with us her favorite way to process both the good and the bad so that she can keep coming back stronger.
Krysta begins with her unique journey in sports, and reflects on coming back stronger from her recurring injuries, as well as how she ultimately found diving at the age of 20. She talks about transitioning her skills from trampoline to diving, working with her coach, Jianli You, to change certain habits, and entering the 2016 Olympic Team Trials following her graduation from the University of Nevada. Krysta tells Laura about a training trip to China that served as a turning point in her path to becoming an Olympian, as well as how her own experience as a coach has helped her as an athlete, and what she learned from competing in the 2017 and 2019 World Championships (her first international meet). She explains how her mindset to learn and grow from setbacks has helped her through the pandemic, and shares the moving story of receiving her Olympic ring from Laura. You’ll hear about Krysta’s memorable experience at the Tokyo Olympics, how her faith keeps her grounded, and the surreal and exciting moment she realized she had medaled in Tokyo.
Krysta’s honesty and perseverance throughout today’s conversation are sure to motivate and inspire as she shares her incredible journey, and everything she has overcome to be able to do what she loves to do.
Episode Highlights:
Krysta’s journey in sports, beginning with gymnastics and trampoline at a young age
Coming back stronger from her heartbreaking injuries and finding diving at the age of 20
Transitioning her skills from trampoline to diving, changing certain habits, learning new dives on the fast track
Entering the 2016 Olympic Team Trials following her graduation from the University of Nevada
Her training trip to China in 2016, and how it brought her closer to becoming an Olympian
The difference between platform and springboard diving, and Krysta’s transition from platform to springboard
Supporting her athletic training after college through coaching, and how this has helped her become a better athlete
Her experience at the World Championships in 2017 and 2019
Learning and growing the most from disappointments or poor competitions
How this mentality helped her make the most of trials and tribulations brought on by the pandemic
Training through injuries and her family’s support throughout her career
Krysta’s very special memory of receiving her Olympic ring from Laura
Her unique experience at the Tokyo Olympics
The importance of Krysta’s faith
The surreal and exciting experience of realizing she had medaled in Tokyo
How Krysta continues to process her accomplishment and what the next season of her life looks like
Continuing her education and studying toward an MBA
Quotes:
“At the age of five, when I was young, I really really had this lifelong dream of being an Olympian one day.”
“You're always having to use your visual awareness to spot where you are. And make changes based on where you are. So I learned that through trampoline, and that actually really progressed well into my diving career.”
“I've had two big struggles in learning how to make a proper entry. And also learning how to get the rhythm and the timing with the springboard, because also trampoline is very quick - quick twitch muscle work.”
“I competed platform in the 2016 Olympic Trials because we weren't quite there yet with springboard. And my coach had always said, Give it time. Because springboard diving...you need time to develop the skill of it.”
“I came into the team mid-semester, so in January. And I had to learn all my springboard dives for 1-meter/3-meter before Conference in February.”
“I think the biggest thing was just trusting my coach [Jianli You], because I knew that she has the knowledge and the skill to teach me, whatever it is. I'm learning and I have the talent to try it. And it only takes me trying it to learn something new.”
“That was the trip that made me stronger as a diver and as a person.”
“I really gained a whole other level of respect for my coach at that time, because I really saw how respected she is amongst all the Chinese coaches and athletes.”
“For me, it really made me appreciate my sport and my country and our freedom to choose to be able to do sports.”
“I think that was the biggest takeaway for me from the trials is just feeling like I fit in. But I know that there's still more in me and I still need to learn more in order to get to that point.”
“We really did take a step back from platform at that time. Then springboard started to pick up, and I was competing in it at all the Nationals and getting better and better.”
“The springboard is very similar to trampoline, and I can do a lot of the same skills that I would typically do on a trampoline as well.”
“I was coaching our club team. And that's really the majority of where I got money in order to survive and make a living. And so I was starting to see things from a coaching perspective, which actually helped me as an athlete as well.”
“That's been a big learning lesson as I transition from a college athlete to now a professional athlete, is just to really pay attention to everything that surrounds me as an athlete, and what's going to help me achieve my dream.”
“My first ever international competition was the World Championships in 2017.”
“Coming back from that competition, I really had done a lot of processing and journaling, writing things down of what went wrong. What I learned was my mentality going into this event - I really learned that I had put a lot of pressure on myself. And nobody else did that. I was the one that did it to myself.”
“I really needed to learn from that. And not necessarily get dragged down by the failure of it. But stepping into, kind of, that failure and learning from it, and then growing from it, and taking the next step into the next chapter, and facing what happened… These competitions were actually the ones that I've learned and grown the most from.”
“I think my mentality through all my injuries really helped me through the pandemic, because it was really, Be stronger than you were before the injury. And coming into the pandemic, I could see it two different ways - I could see it as a disappointment and as a setback. Or I could see it as an opportunity and an area to grow, and another year of training, which is really beneficial for me because I’m still a new diver.”
“I really chose to look at it that way and took that mentality from the injury standpoint and said, Hey, I'm going to be stronger than I was before the pandemic.”
“For me, it's a performance. I love getting out there and just showing off what I love to do.”
“That was just a beautiful, beautiful moment for me to receive [my Olympic ring] from you. And you're telling the story - I'm still getting chills because it's special for me.”
“For me, what keeps me grounded is reading the Bible and getting my time with God.”
“At that point, [Coach Jianli You] knew that I had medaled. And so I gave her this big hug. And she just held me tight. And she just said, We did it. We did it. And so that's just - that was a beautiful moment.”
“I don't think this is my peak performance as a diver... I know that there's so much more that I still have left in me.”
Show Links
The Pursuit of Gold Homepage
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page
Krysta’s Social Media:
Krysta Palmer’s Instagram
Cheer for Krysta Facebook Page
Krysta Palmer’s Twitter @PalmerKrysta
...more
1h 22min
September 07, 2021S1E52 - Unwavering Belief with 2-Time Super Bowl Champ Tory James
With the start of the new football season upon us, the timing is perfect for 2-time Super Bowl champ, Tory James, to join Laura on the podcast. During his 11 season career in the NFL, Tory enjoyed great success with a few different teams, especially the Denver Broncos, and even earned a spot in the 2004 Pro Bowl. Tory’s resilience throughout this extensive career is very much a function of the influence his family had upon him, and, especially, the unwavering belief that he had in himself, and he discusses these factors and so much more here today.
He begins by sharing his early involvement in sports, his shift into football, his mom’s perspective on it, and both those who doubted and believed in his potential. He then goes on to summarize his playing career from high school to college to the NFL, the pivotal injury he suffered and his recovery from it, his ability to use fear to help him, and the source of his impressive longevity in the NFL. He finishes up by sharing the hardest and greatest moments in his career and what he does these days in retirement. Throughout this fascinating conversation, Tory highlights the role that family, gratitude, love of the game, and his unwavering belief played in his success, and his story as told here today will undoubtedly move and inspire all who listen.
Episode Highlights:
How Tory became involved in sports and football in particular
Listening to the one coach who believed in him
His feeling of unwavering belief
His Mom’s perspective on his playing football
Tory’s impact on those who doubted him
His transition for high school to college football
Getting to the NFL
The difference between the NFL and college football
His knee injury and recovery
Using your fear to help you
His return from the knee injury
What makes the NFL so tough
The source of his longevity in the NFL
Loving to play
The important role family plays
The hardest and greatest moments of his career
What Tory does in retirement
Quotes:
‘‘It hurts so bad. It hurts still to this day, because I still like basketball over football. But I was always good at football, so I took his advice and I started playing football.”
“So when I'm helping little kids, I tell them, ‘See it in your mind, you do it perfect in your mind over and over again until it becomes you and it becomes natural.’”
“For whatever reason, people put their fears on you, and I just never let it affect me.”
“I think you probably changed their entire outlook on how they saw the world, and I think that's huge.”
“That's, like, the joy when I think about playing football - how it made people feel.”
“The power of just having one person believe in you like that one coach when everybody else is saying ‘No’, it makes a huge difference.”
“It was really hard to mess up in Denver, they just had it down. That's probably one of the most professional teams I've ever played for, and it showed by us winning and everybody loved each other, and everybody helped each other. It was amazing.”
“We're all going to go through stuff, and it's how you handle it that's going to grow you as a person and your character and who you are the rest of your life beyond your sport, too.”
“Fear is feeling excited and ready.”
“Now today, what I do is I'm thankful for everything that happens.”
“Hard work, dedication, drive, and just willing to do what you have to do and just not ever giving up on your goal.”
“I hope everybody else that I'm playing with feels like they're the best because that's the type of players I want to play with.”
“You tell me I can't do it, I'm going to find a way to prove you wrong.”
“You made this choice to enjoy it and to have fun and playing the game the whole time.”
“The reason I'm playing is for family.”
“I learned discipline, hard work, to be honest, from my mom.”
“It turned out to be the best thing that happened to me because I think if I wouldn't have gotten hurt early on, I don't think my body would have held up as long as it did.”
“They always kept me grounded and humble, like, you know, and I kept that with me my whole football career.”
“I wanted to get 10 years and I felt like if I got 10 years and that's like my goal, that's like my gold medal.”
“I love your mental mindset. I love your passion, your gratitude, you're always so thankful for every opportunity, good and bad. I love that you showed us your purpose that's beyond yourself, your unwavering belief in your dreams.”
Show Links
The Pursuit of Gold Homepage
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page
...more
57min
August 03, 2021S1E51 - Connecting Sport, Faith and Life with Dr. Chad Carlson and Dr. Brian Bolt
Joining Laura on the podcast this week are Dr. Chad Carlson and Dr. Brian Bolt, two guys from rival schools who came together with a common purpose: to think deeply about sport and faith. They both grew up as competitive athletes and are now coaches and sports scholars, Brian as the Dean of Education at Calvin University, and Chad as a Professor and Director of General Education at Hope College. They have also teamed up to create the ‘Sport. Faith. Life.’ podcast which they describe as ‘a conversation that meets at the intersection of sport and faith’. After hosting the 2nd Global Congress on Sport and Christianity at Calvin University in October 2019, our two guests made a commitment to continue to explore the athletic world through the lens of Christianity, and that is precisely what they do hear today.
In today’s episode, Chad and Brian discuss the connection between sports and faith., concepts like forgiveness, and how sports can become a part of one’s identity. Together, they also delve into viewing sports as a form of play, how not everybody is drawn to the idea of competition, and how sports must be enjoyed at the moment. They conclude by exploring athletes’ mental health and the sense of loss they feel after certain events such as the Olympics, and by discussing how to view sports as a separate space from other things in life. Filled with ideas regarding how to lead with grace, call for truth, and be a light on a very diverse team, today’s conversation is enlightening, informative, and, above all, one you do not want to miss.
Episode Highlights:
Competition in sports: the good side and the bad side
Comparisons that people make while playing sports
Sports and their impact on one’s identity
How human beings are meant to be playful
Forgiveness and the concept of a community
Selfishness in sports and attributions people make for their successes or failures
Mental health and sports
Redemption in sports
Quotes:
‘‘And we see this, especially those who are in Olympic sports, where, you know, it’s not like you play Major League Baseball, where if you don’t do well, one day, you get a chance to the next day, right?”
“And what’s so interesting about athletes or successful people in some ways is that they attribute failure to things outside themselves.’’
“And so, from a faith perspective, I think it’s a reminder to us that when we watch our heroes, we’re watching real people with skin and flesh and people who are dealing with real everyday issues. That’s important for us to remember in the midst of our heroism - the way in which we worship athletes at times, for sure.’’
“And then we also need to take a step back with someone we trust - a coach, a teammate, somebody - and logically look at what happened without the emotion and learn from it instead of just blaming all the time. Because I’ve had teammates who blame judges, who blame this, that, and the other all the time.’’
“If you use your energy to fix what you're doing wrong, instead of blaming other people, you might actually be a better athlete.”
“There are experiences that we have on Earth, that may be glimpses of Heaven, and when we're at play, we're doing something because the joy of it is in the doing. We're experiencing that Kingdom at hand.”
“I have parents that ask me all the time, like, ‘How can I make my kid more passionate?’ and, like, you’ve just got to let them fail. Like, if he fails and he wants to keep going, like, he’ll find the passion.’’
Show Links
The Pursuit of Gold Homepage
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page

Connect with Brian and Chad:
Sport. Faith. Life. Homepage
...more
56min
July 29, 2021S1E50 - Worth the Risk with Aerial Skiing Olympian Emily Cook
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is 3 time Olympian and 6 time National Champion in Aerial Skiing, Emily Cook. Currently the manager of sport and human potential at Skullcandy, Emily also manages programming for the non-profit, Classroom Champions, coaches young athletes at the Utah Olympic Park through the US Ski Team’s Elite Aerial Development Program, and is an ambassador for Right to Play and Kids Play International. Throughout her career, Emily has routinely demonstrated her ability to overcome obstacles and elevate her game to new levels, and she shares her inspirational story with listeners here today.

In today’s episode, Emily discusses her commitment towards her sport, her experiences at the World Cup and the Olympics, and the multiple emotions she went through while training. She also delves into dealing with injuries, making difficult decisions, and compares being a coach to being an athlete. She brings the conversation to a close by sharing details about the important work she does these days. An inspiring model of perseverance, Emily has so very much to share here today that is sure to motivate all who listen.
Episode Highlights:
Emily’s realization of her love for aerial skiing
Dealing with injuries as an athlete
Her experiences at the Olympics
Emily’s work at The Speedy Foundation
How she had trust in her coach
Emily’s commitments in the sports sphere
Being a coach vs. being an athlete
Emily’s work outside the sports sphere
Quotes:
“So, I always determined before a training block, whether it was a three-week training block or something, what my negative thought stoppers would be, and, you know, exactly what mindset I wanted to be in on the hill. I use music a lot as well.’’
“And then, every once in a while, like, as humans, we’re just not reliable, we’re not reliable to our own commitments.”
“But regardless of who’s there watching, you know…you’ve accomplished something that you set out to do so many years earlier, and it’s an incredible feeling.’’
“And so, it was a daily choice, it was a choice of showing up and showing up 100% no matter what, no matter what my mood was, no matter what was going on around me.’’
“In the end of the day, knowing exactly what I wanted to accomplish, and then debriefing exactly what I did accomplish, so that I knew what I needed to change the next day in order to perform even better.’’
Links:
The Pursuit of Gold Homepage
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page

Connect with Emily:

Emily's Homepage

Classroom Champions

The Speedy Foundation
...more
56min
June 29, 2021S1E49 - Bouncing Forward with Paralympic Snowboarder Amy Purdy
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is the top-ranked female adaptive snowboarder in the U.S., Amy Purdy. Diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis at the age of 19, Amy has gone on to become a three-time World Cup para-snowboard gold medalist, the 2014 Paralympic bronze medalist, and the founder of Adaptive Action Sports, a nonprofit organization that helps youth, young adults, and wounded veterans with physical disabilities get involved with action sports. She is a professional motivational speaker who has been featured at both TEDx and Pop Tech, and is also an actress, model, dancer, clothing designer, and an experienced product spokesperson. In addition to all this, Amy was also the breakout star and a finalist on season 18 of 'Dancing with the Stars'. A true inspiration to us all, Amy shares her incredible story with Laura and her listeners here today.
Amy starts by discussing her love for snowboarding during her teenage years. She then discusses her struggle with her medical condition and how she rose above her hardships through her self-belief. As you listen, you’ll learn of Amy’s many accomplishments, such as securing brand deals and winning a bronze medal. Along the way, you’ll understand Amy’s positive contributions to athletes with disabilities/special needs, and the lessons you learn from this podcast will definitely inspire you to look at difficulties in a whole new way.
Episode Highlights:
Amy’s early days when she snowboarded with her friends
How meningococcal meningitis impacted Amy
Amy’s struggle with self-doubt
How Amy discovered a creative solution to help her snowboard
How Amy co-founded Adaptive Action Sports
Amy’s successes with snowboarding
How Amy’s injury complications changed her life
Amy’s experiences and how she connects with her audience
Quotes
“So yeah, so snowboarding really was my passion. That’s what pulled me through my darkest days. And then you know, who would have thought that it would become almost my purpose, right?”
“And when I woke up from this coma, a few days later, I still have this respirator down my throat. And so, I couldn’t talk. But I wrote out on a piece of paper that I was given a choice and I chose to stay.’’
“I was just hanging on, and also incredibly grateful, like to have the opportunity to hang on and fight. And so, gratitude became a big part of not just a practice, but to be honest, like a very natural organic thing for me, because every day I woke up and I was alive, I was grateful whether I’d lost my legs or not.’’
“And I remember at one point saying, ‘I don’t know if I can do this, but if anybody can, it’s going to be me.’ ‘’
“I needed a community of people who are like me, and it didn’t really exist and needed something to pull it together.’’
“It’s like going through the valleys of despair and like finding your way out and having these real realizations of what’s really important in life, and how do we get through challenges. And I’ve decided to share the journey along the way.’’
Show Links
The Pursuit of Gold Homepage
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days
Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page
Connect With Amy:
Bouncing Forward with Amy Purdy (Spotify)
Adaptive Action Sports Homepage
Amy Purdy on Instagram
Resources:
On My Own Feet: The Journey from Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life (2014)
...more
1h 11min
June 22, 2021S1E48 - How to Have a Championship Mindset with Chad Busick
Joining Laura on the podcast this week is Chad Busick, owner of Championship Mindset, an organization that works with both corporate and athletic teams. Chad is a Master Facilitator with Advance Sports Technology, working with college teams at the DI, DII, DIII and NAIA levels as well as high school and competitive teams across various sports. In addition, he is a certified trainer for The Power of Positive Leadership training with The Jon Gordon Companies. Chad is also the host of ‘The Championship Mindset Podcast’ as well as the author of his new book, The Rock Tumbler.

Laura begins by sharing some exciting information about her own new book, and then Chad details his background and his journey to the work he does now, including some of the principles and techniques he employs in that work. Along the way, he shares a number of excellent resources and examples of his philosophy in action, offers valuable advice to athletes and parents alike, and provides a glimpse into his new book. As you will hear, Laura resonates with so much of Chad’s work, and you will undoubtedly do the same with the many lessons revealed here today regarding the world of sport, and, indeed, life in general.
Episode Highlights:
Laura’s new book
Chad’s background and his journey to the work he does now
The Ten Principles of Entelechy and sports mindset
His Championship Mindset brand and company
The hardest part of achieving the championship mindset
Emotional safety
‘Taking change by the hand’ during the pandemic
Jon Gordon’s The Power of Positive Leadership
Mark Batterson’s Win the Day
Chad’s Championship Mindset chart and how to apply it
Working with a team vs. working with an individual
Chad’s The Rock Tumbler and his favorite lessons from it
His advice regarding parental involvement
Jessica Lahey’s The Gift of Failure
Quotes:
“It's the seven fundamentals of mental fitness. I've been a master facilitator with that for the last six or seven years, which has led me now to start my own company called Championship Mindset, and a lot of other things.”
“Whether we're working with corporate clients, whether we're working with athletes, coaches, teams, it's really just focusing on helping them be the best that they can be.”
“This championship mindset is the formula for success in all areas of our lives.”
“At the end of the day, it really comes down to our talent, our hard work, our attitude, our mental toughness, our teamwork, and our passion into everything that we do.”
“The things that I've learned through diving are the very things that helped me in my life outside of the pool.”
“I would say everything for me starts with culture, we have to have the right culture.”
“The first thing that we have to build is we have to build emotional safety.”
“Players don't care about how much you know, until they know about how much you care about them.”
“When we really think about what we've gone through this last 14 to 16 months, what we've really been doing is, we've been grieving.”
“Just be there for your students be there for your players in this moment.”
“It's okay to grieve the dream, but don't stay there.”
“Regardless of those tough events that we go through, we still get to choose how we respond.”
“How you do anything is how you do everything - and to me, that's the core of the championship mindset.”
“How we view the world and more importantly, how we interact with the world, greatly affects what you get out of the world.”
“If you have to go through it, you might as well grow through it.”
“Own your journey, it's your journey, own it to the best that you can.”
“We need to let our kids fail.”
“The most powerful thing that you can say to your athlete when they're done competing is, ‘I love watching you compete. I love watching you play.’ ”
Links:
The Pursuit of Gold Homepage
Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page

Connect with Chad:

Champion Mindset Homepage

The Rock Tumbler

Championship Mindset Linktree

Championship Mindset Podcast

Championship Mindset Twitter

Championship Mindset Facebook

Championship Mindset Instagram

Resources:

The Power of Positive Leadership

The Gift of Failure

Win the Day
...more
56min
June 08, 2021S1E47 - An Unstoppable Drive with Our Host, Laura Wilkinson, on the Jedburgh Podcast
Once again this week, things are a little bit different as today’s episode features Laura being interviewed by former Special Forces Green Beret, Fran Racioppi, on ‘The Jedburgh Podcast’. Touted as ‘a conversation with prominent visionaries, drivers of change, and those dedicated to winning’, this podcast is a natural and timely fit for Laura, as she participates in the Olympic Trials this week and next in her bid to compete in her fourth Olympic Games. Be sure to tune into the Olympic Channel and NBC and join Fran in cheering her on in her attempt, and enjoy this interview here today which outlines precisely just what it takes to reach similar success in your own life.

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

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page
The Jedburgh Podcast:
The Jedburgh Podcast Website
The Jedburgh Podcast on iTunes
The Jedburgh Podcast Instagram
The Jedburgh Podcast LinkedIn
...more
1h 21min
June 02, 2021S1E46 - 17 Scars That Paved the Way to Tokyo with Taekwondo Olympian Victoria Stambaugh
Joining Laura on the podcast today is Olympic Taekwondo athlete, Victoria Stambaugh. The daughter of a professional boxer, Victoria took to Taekwondo at an early age, made the US National Team in her teens, eventually joined the Puerto Rico National Team, and has since qualified to compete for Puerto Rico at the upcoming Tokyo Games. Having suffered a number of injuries and resulting surgeries over her career, Victoria has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and, through her faith in Christ, has persevered to achieve her dream of becoming an Olympian. In today’s conversation, she not only shares her inspirational story, but also turns the tables to pick Laura’s brain for some of her sage advice as well.

As with all guests, Victoria begins by sharing how she found her way to her chosen sport, and then she goes on to relate the story of her career to date. Starting with how she made the US National Team, Victoria proceeds to recount her battles with injuries over the years, how they have affected both her career and her emotional state, her transition to the Puerto Rico National Team, and how qualifying for the Olympics works in her sport. She also delves deeply into the role that her faith has played in her life and career, the impact of handing control over to God, her 17 scars and what they mean to her, and her work with Master Bang in preparing for Tokyo. Victoria concludes the episode by questioning Laura on her Olympic experiences and advice, and the role that her faith has played in her life and career. As you will hear, Victoria and Laura are very much kindred spirits whose personal, professional, and spiritual lives resonate considerably with each other, and also offer valuable lessons for all listeners here today.
Episode Highlights:
Victoria’s sports history and how she got into Taekwondo
Making the US National Team
How Taekwondo athletes are selected for the Olympics
Her knee injuries and surgeries
How Victoria’s faith has helped her
Her story of not qualifying for Rio and focusing on Tokyo
The times when God spoke directly to her heart
Transitioning from the US to the Puerto Rican Team
How Olympic qualifying works for Taekwondo and diving
Her knee injuries and surgeries while preparing for Tokyo
Handing control over to God
Qualifying for Tokyo
Her 17 scars and what they mean to her
Master Bang
Victoria and her fiance’s Taekwondo and Parkour studio
Laura’s best advice for someone competing at their first Olympics
What’s different for Laura now
Laura’s thoughts during the finals for her gold
How Laura’s faith has helped her throughout her career
Laura’s biggest goal when competing at the Olympics
Her upcoming trials
Laura’s thoughts on not being able to have family at the Tokyo Olympics
Quotes:
“When I saw Jackie Chan, Jet Li, I was like, ‘I want to be these guys’.”
“For the Olympics, only two weight categories can qualify, female and male, per country.”
“Deep down inside, I knew that my knee was never the same.”
“I know God put the right person at the right time that I needed to hear those words, ‘not to quit’ and to ‘come back’.”
“That started the process of three knee surgeries within a period of six months.”
“What I picture is kind of like God just wrapping His arms around me and giving me a hug. And at that moment, I was able to continue on and it was actually just the very next day where I was like, ‘Okay, I'm going to go for Tokyo’.”
“He had to take out the rest of the meniscus…in my mind, I was like, ‘You just took my whole career away from me’.”
“And then, sure enough, God always sends the right message, the right person, at the right time.”
“God has seen your tears and, and He's with you. Don't give up, keep going.”
“I was done emotionally, mentally, you know, physically, spiritually. I was just drained. And that's when I just released total control to Christ and let him handle it.”
“Christ was my confidence…and I qualified for the Olympics.”
“A reminder of everything I've been through and everything God has brought me out of. And what better reminder, really? It's basically tattooed on my body.”
“People get so lost in the aura and the bigness and the pressure of the Olympic Games. But, just, you’ve got to be able to let that go.”
“That's for Him to use this for my good and for His glory.”
“You don't have to have the lead if you have the heart to come from behind.”
“I've had a lot of big dreams that I've fallen very short of, but, in that moment, I was living it. And to me that was one of the greatest things that I got to take away.”
“Now I do want to boast about my weaknesses, because that's the chance for the power of Christ to rest upon me, and for the world to see, you know, exactly what He can do.”
“The biggest thing that I need to do is stay in the moment.”
“Maybe I can just really spend that time dependent with God.”
“You've got to kind of expect the unexpected, and just roll with it.”
Links:
The Pursuit of Gold homepage
5 Smart Strategies to Confidence
Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page

Victoria's Instagram
Victoria's Facebook
Victoria's Homepage
...more
1h 13min
May 25, 2021S1E45 - Ministry and Competition with Our Host, Laura Wilkinson, and Power Up Sports Ministry
Today’s episode is a little different in that Laura is actually a guest on another podcast, and is interviewed by veteran broadcaster, Bill Houston and former LPGA Pro, Tracy Hanson, from the Power Up Sports Ministry, an outreach of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Listeners may remember Tracy as a guest on Episode 20 of Pursuit of Gold where she very vulnerably opened up about recognizing and overcoming abuse. As you will hear, this week’s episode is an extra special one for Laura as she shares so much that is close to her heart, but that she doesn’t always get a chance to discuss in other arenas.

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

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page
Tracy Hanson's Pursuit of Gold Episode
Power Up Podcast
Power Up Facebook
Power Up YouTube
...more
31min
May 11, 2021S1E44 - How to Start Taking Action on Your Biggest Goals with Our Host, Laura Wilkinson
The inspiration for today’s episode can be found in a team meeting that Laura’s coaches called recently. The meeting was all about goals, and included an exercise where each member shared their own goals with the others. Even with her years of experience, Laura still found this a little uncomfortable and even a bit intimidating, but also incredibly powerful and beneficial for herself and her teammates, and definitely important enough to share with listeners today.

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

Laura’s Social Media:
Laura's Instagram
Laura's Facebook page
...more
21min

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