“You can either let challenges break you or use them to inspire the next generation.”

This belief drives Shelley Looney, a trailblazer in women’s ice hockey and a gold medalist at the first Olympics with women's ice hockey (1998). Growing up in Michigan, Shelley dreamed of playing at the highest level, but had no female hockey players to look up to. She became the role model she never had, scoring the game-winning goal in Nagano and cementing her place in sports history. “Not many people get to say that their dreams have come true,” she reflects on her Olympic triumph.

Shelley has witnessed the sport evolve from its infancy to the competitive powerhouse it is today. “I’d love to be part of it now,” she says, marveling at the speed, strength, and agility of modern players. Now a coach, she dedicates herself to fostering the next generation of players, from youth leagues to college athletes, ensuring every girl knows there's a place for her in hockey. “If you want to continue to play, there is a place for you,” she emphasizes. “You just have to find the right fit.”

Shelley also shares advice for athletes transitioning out of professional sports, an area she wishes she had more guidance in herself. “I wish I had broadened my horizons earlier and explored other interests while still competing,” she admits. Her mantra for athletes and beyond? “Take a deep breath, see what you’ve done, and be proud of who you are today.”

In this episode, Shelley shares her journey, from Olympic triumphs to her mission to grow the talent pipeline for women’s ice hockey. She reflects on the lessons she’s learned, including the importance of enjoying the journey and being present. “I wish I’d been more thankful and taken the time to appreciate the moment,” she says.

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Flame Bearers: UNEDITED, a new video and podcast series celebrates the journeys of elite women athletes from around the world at all phases of their journeys: seeking their first international qualifications, at the pinnacle of their careers, and after retirement. In this largely UNEDITED series, we'll meet more athletes than ever before, all at various stages of their paths. This series is different not only because we're broadening who we're featuring, but how we're doing so. In the spirit of bringing you MORE STORIES, the tradeoff is fewer bells + whistles (i.e. animations & fancy sound effects than we normally include in our productions). We think it's worth the trade off so we can elevate more women doing incredible work -- we'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Flame Bearers is a multi media movement, illuminating the unsung stories of elite women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events and have worked with over 250 Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries and counting.

For more videos about elite women athletes, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers

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