Welcome to the Athlete Mindset podcast, hosted by Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC. This is the third installment of our three-part series with The True Athlete Project. Lisa is joined by Reem Abdalazem, a two-time Olympian in artistic swimming for Egypt (2008 Beijing and 2012 London). Reem is a World Aquatics-certified expert coach and a former collegiate All-American at Lindenwood University, where she captained the team to its first national championship. With over a decade of coaching experience, Reem has led teams to consecutive titles, coached the U.S. Senior National Team and South Africa’s duet to the Tokyo Olympics, and earned the first international Coach of the Year award in the USA. In this episode, Reem shares her journey from athlete to coach, her coaching philosophy of "impact over titles," and how she fosters mental well-being and resilience in athletes across cultures.

Key Takeaways from “The True Athlete Project Series: Coaching with Impact and Mindfulness with Reem Abdalazem”

• Reem’s Olympic journey: From representing Egypt to finding purpose beyond medals.
• Artistic swimming explained: A blend of athleticism, artistry, and teamwork.
• Transition to coaching: How a key mentor sparked her passion for holistic development.
• Coaching philosophy: Prioritizing impact, well-being, and success without trauma.
• Tips for coaches and athletes: Building self-awareness and empowering growth.

Credits: Athlete Mindset is part of the SportsE Media platform.
Produced by KazCM and featured on the QuietLoud Studios podcast network.

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Connect with the guest, host, and podcast production team:

• Reem Abdalazem: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC: LinkedIn | Instagram | website
• SportsE Media: LinkedIn | X

Related episodes to “The True Athlete Project Series: Coaching with Impact and Mindfulness with Reem Abdalazem”:

• The True Athlete Project Series: Building a Compassionate World Through Sport with Sam Parfitt
• The True Athlete Project Series: Embracing Identity and Purpose with Oz Marginean
• Charlie Swanson | This Olympic Gold Medalist's Persistence in the Pool

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