Mel once responded to a question I asked on her Instagram post. Was just a random question about an exercise but she was so nice about it. It’s a small thing but I’ve been a fan ever since
Of course her life would be different if it was Gold. She is a competitive athlete like all of us are. Second always stings. But as a career, she will be content when she looks back when she retires. I'm 56 and I coach grass and indoor now, and I have great insight and stories to tell my students of past Ws and Ls, traveling to events all over the country, sharing opinions and ideas with other coaches and many of the pros as well. I think John Candy stated it best in "Cool Runnings." Irv - Derice, a Gold Medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without one, you'll never be enough with one.
Food for more discussion thought: but what’s that sense of depression come from? Is it fueled by fact that athletes put everything into their athletic goals and then boom they achieve it (or don’t) and then you are staring at what to do next. If you win an Olympic medal maybe you get an endorsement deal and then you are “so proud” of what you achieved - being a brand ambassador and hopefully making great money but then if commercial opportunities don’t come knocking then it’s like - wow I did all that and no one really cares. Just a handful of athletes across the spectrum of Olympic sports will be on everyone’s mind and those viral few will get all the fame /financial opportunities/benefits but if brands don’t come knocking then it’s, well, back to the drawing board of what now and my guess THAT IS what is a hard pill to swallow
I think in most cases it comes from the expectations that winning Olympic gold brings with it. I heard a podcast with Kristina Vogel (17x World Champion, 2x Olympic Gold) who’s in a wheelchair after an accident and she basically said that at the time of the accident, she was mentally in the darkest place possible. She was training for Tokyo and everybody expected her to win gold. She didn’t even get congratulated by people anymore for winning because “of course she would” and when it was only a second place people made her feel like a failure.
@@SANDCASTPodcast thanks illl check it out. I grew up competing gymnastics throughout college and it’s a small sport like beach so you eventually compete against everyone or at least meet everyone and yes we all went through a sense of depression and especially the athletes at the highest levels. I have many friends who made the us national team and many international and domestic olympians and I can say everyone goes through this end of career mental anguish but I’ll definitely check out the Phelps documentary. Thanks
I think the podcast would benefit from fewer interjections. The "yeahs", "rights", "mm-hmms" etc. are very distracting and come across like you're trying to rush Mel to finish her answer.
Mel once responded to a question I asked on her Instagram post. Was just a random question about an exercise but she was so nice about it. It’s a small thing but I’ve been a fan ever since
She's the best. Easy to see why she's so loved across all country borders
Mel does deserve everything!
We love Mel
Mel your a beast! You deserve everything!
Agreeeeed
Of course her life would be different if it was Gold. She is a competitive athlete like all of us are. Second always stings. But as a career, she will be content when she looks back when she retires. I'm 56 and I coach grass and indoor now, and I have great insight and stories to tell my students of past Ws and Ls, traveling to events all over the country, sharing opinions and ideas with other coaches and many of the pros as well. I think John Candy stated it best in "Cool Runnings." Irv - Derice, a Gold Medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without one, you'll never be enough with one.
Any and all Cool Runnings quotes are encouraged here
Interesting stuff. I haven't heard her on a podcast before.
We've had her on four or five times now actually
@@SANDCASTPodcast Darn, I need to do my homework!
Food for more discussion thought: but what’s that sense of depression come from? Is it fueled by fact that athletes put everything into their athletic goals and then boom they achieve it (or don’t) and then you are staring at what to do next. If you win an Olympic medal maybe you get an endorsement deal and then you are “so proud” of what you achieved - being a brand ambassador and hopefully making great money but then if commercial opportunities don’t come knocking then it’s like - wow I did all that and no one really cares. Just a handful of athletes across the spectrum of Olympic sports will be on everyone’s mind and those viral few will get all the fame /financial opportunities/benefits but if brands don’t come knocking then it’s, well, back to the drawing board of what now and my guess THAT IS what is a hard pill to swallow
I think in most cases it comes from the expectations that winning Olympic gold brings with it. I heard a podcast with Kristina Vogel (17x World Champion, 2x Olympic Gold) who’s in a wheelchair after an accident and she basically said that at the time of the accident, she was mentally in the darkest place possible. She was training for Tokyo and everybody expected her to win gold. She didn’t even get congratulated by people anymore for winning because “of course she would” and when it was only a second place people made her feel like a failure.
Have you seen Phelps' documentary, The Weight of Gold? Really, really good
@@SANDCASTPodcast thanks illl check it out. I grew up competing gymnastics throughout college and it’s a small sport like beach so you eventually compete against everyone or at least meet everyone and yes we all went through a sense of depression and especially the athletes at the highest levels. I have many friends who made the us national team and many international and domestic olympians and I can say everyone goes through this end of career mental anguish but I’ll definitely check out the Phelps documentary. Thanks
I think the podcast would benefit from fewer interjections. The "yeahs", "rights", "mm-hmms" etc. are very distracting and come across like you're trying to rush Mel to finish her answer.
Definitely not wrong