The Gifted?

Niraj chats with Olympian Alejandro Gomez! Alejandro and Niraj discuss how he was practically born in the water with his mother being an Olympic swimmer and his father, a water-polo athlete. They reflect on what it means to be a generational Olympian, having access to values of an Olympian right in the family and the influences it has while growing up. Alejandro also discusses his lows of missing out on the Beijing Olympics and the highs of qualifying for the London Olympics, and his aspirations of giving back to the sport and travelling the world.

Niraj chats with 3-time Olympian and ex-world #7 Alpine ski racer - Ana Jelušić! Ana and Niraj discuss what's it like to start the sport at the age of 2, becoming an Olympian at the age of 15, and becoming a three-time Olympian by the age of 24. Ana and Niraj also engage in the age-old debate of early specialisation vs late specialisation in sport. Ana reflects on having to cut her career short because of asthma-forced retirement at the age of 24, and then smoothly transitioning from sports to corporate life, something that many athletes struggle with. 

Niraj chats with middle-distance runner Olympian Brigita Langerholc! Niraj and Brigita discuss how Brigita used the power of visualisation to exceed her coach's expectations at the Sydney Olympics, and finished 4th in the finals, narrowly missing out on a medal. Brigita also reflects on overcoming severe asthma as a kid to become a runner, competing as a woman in Slovenia at that time, and her struggles with post-retirement depression. She also sheds light on how she used Yoga & Meditation to overcome depression and how she's teaching these powerful techniques to aspiring athletes.

Niraj chats with 2018 Winter Olympian - Anthony Watson! Anthony and Niraj discuss how an injury prevented a potentially successful Track & Field career for Anthony, and how his quest to be Olympian led him to the sport of Skeleton. Anthony also reflects on treading a fine line of competing in an expensive sport vs putting food on the table, his roller-coaster ride to qualify for the Olympics, setting history as the first-ever Jamaican to participate in the sport of Skeleton in a Winter Olympics, and his aspirations to now become the first-ever Puerto Rican to participate in Skeleton at a Winter Olympics.

Niraj chats with former world #1 triple jump athlete - Willie Banks! Niraj & Willie discuss how he picked up the sport of triple jump, the USA's decision to boycott the 1980 Olympics when Willie was at the top of his game, and missing out on medals in his next two Olympics. Willie also speaks on how the rhythmic clap was accidentally born and how he knew before his jump that he was going to break the world record in his next jump. A world record that he held for over a decade.

A new sports podcast by Niraj Mulani, premiering on Wednesday, March 17 2021. "The Gifted?" is a weekly podcast where I speak to elite athletes as I try and understand what it truly takes and means to be an athlete. All done with the purpose of debunking the myth that athletes are just some people who are gifted with special talent at birth. If you are an aspiring athlete, or, a casual sports fan, you’ll enjoy "The Gifted?".