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Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're saving

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Speaker 1: the space after sharing our thoughts about Trump's call with

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Speaker 1: the US men's hockey team. If you know, you know,

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Speaker 1: But if you don't check out yesterday's episode or my socials,

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Speaker 1: just watch out for the CNX Tuesday and Piggy comments

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Speaker 1: undoubtedly dotted.

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Speaker 2: Throughout my mentions. It's Thursday, February twenty sixth.

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Speaker 1: Then on today's show you'll hear from a pair of

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Speaker 1: Team USA athletes we chatted with in Italy I Stanser,

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Speaker 1: Madison Chalk and speed skater Aaron Jackson. Chalk talks about

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Speaker 1: the change in training that got her and her husband

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Speaker 1: Evan Bates to their fourth Olympics, how she navigates the

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Speaker 1: Olympic letdown, and who gets even more nervous for her

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Speaker 1: performances than she does. Then Jackson discusses the pressure of

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Speaker 1: being a defending champion, how unforgiving her sport can be,

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Speaker 1: becoming friends with pain, and whether or not she's got

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Speaker 1: sucks on under those skates. Plus the PWHL gets the

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Speaker 1: Olympic bump, a Paralympic boycott, and we're literally going to

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Speaker 1: the cottage.

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Speaker 2: And you can too, it's all coming up right after

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Speaker 2: this Welcome back slices. Here's what you need to know today.

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Speaker 2: Let's start with hockey.

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Speaker 1: After a pause for the Olympics, the PWHL is back baby.

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Speaker 1: The fourth place New York Sirens take on the third

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Speaker 1: place Montreal Victoire tonight at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

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Speaker 1: The Sirens had six players competing at the Games, including

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Speaker 1: three silver medalists for Canada and one bronze medalist for Switzerland.

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Speaker 1: The Victoire had nine players over in Italy, including five

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Speaker 1: silver medal winning Canadians and one Olympic champ rep in

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Speaker 1: the US and Hailey Skimura. No word yet on the

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Speaker 1: game status for Canada captain Marie Filiop Pulen, who gutted

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Speaker 1: through injury in the gold medal game. Puck drops tonight

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Speaker 1: at seven pm Eastern. You can watch on TSN or

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Speaker 1: as always, for free on YouTube. It's been about a

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Speaker 1: month since the PWHL paused for the Games, so here's

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Speaker 1: a reminder of where teams stand. About halfway through the season,

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Speaker 1: Boston Fleet topped the standings with ten wins, followed by

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Speaker 1: the Minnesota Frost and Montreal Victoire. Then the New York Sirens,

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Speaker 1: Ottawa Charge, and Vancouver Golden Eyes, with the Toronto Scepters

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Speaker 1: and the Seattle Torrent rounding out the bottom. The New

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Speaker 1: York Montreal game is the only one tonight, but we

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Speaker 1: got more teams back on the ice throughout the weekend

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Speaker 1: and hopefully all the barns will be full for those contests,

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Speaker 1: because according to our friends over at the GIST, the

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Speaker 1: old Olympic bump is coming through. Following the gold medal

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Speaker 1: game in Milan, stub Hubsaw PWHL ticket searches jump almost

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Speaker 1: fifty percent overnight above the January baseline and two hundred

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Speaker 1: and sixteen percent compared to during the Olympics. Find a

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Speaker 1: game near you and get your tickets. We'll link to

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Speaker 1: the Takeover Tour schedule in our notes as well, because

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Speaker 1: even if you don't have a local team, you might

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Speaker 1: have some PWHL action come in your way to basketball.

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Speaker 1: The fourth and final week of the twenty twenty six

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Speaker 1: AU Pro Basketball season got underway yesterday at Nashville Municipal Auditorium,

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Speaker 1: with Odyssey Simms three hundred and twenty two points ahead

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Speaker 1: of Rebecca Gardner for the points lead in three of

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Speaker 1: the first four seasons of AU Pro basketball, the player

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Speaker 1: who entered the final week of the season in the

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Speaker 1: lead has gone on to win the league title, but

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Speaker 1: five players are in striking distance of the top of

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Speaker 1: the leader board. Week four games continued tonight before the

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Speaker 1: season finales on Sunday afternoon to vibes where the six

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Speaker 1: Love Pro Volleyball teams are making their way through week

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Speaker 1: eight of the thirteen week season. Tonight at eight Eastern

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Speaker 1: Love Nebraska will visit Love Houston. We're recording this before

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Speaker 1: Wednesday Night's game between Salt Lake and Austin, but as

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Speaker 1: of now, Salt Lake leads the standings with eight wins,

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Speaker 1: followed by Houston with seven, in Atlanta with five. Austin,

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Speaker 1: Nebraska and Madison round out the bottom half of the rankings.

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Speaker 1: Some more Vibs news. This week's sports event company GS

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Speaker 1: Sports announced the first annual Paradise Invitational, a fall volleyball tournament.

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Speaker 1: Following the model of many of the early season women's

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Speaker 1: basketball destination events.

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Speaker 2: It'll be a.

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Speaker 1: Four team NCAA women's volleyball showcase, bringing together one elite

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Speaker 1: program from each Power four conference to compete at the

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Speaker 1: Grand hiyat.

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Speaker 2: Bahamar in the Bahamas.

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Speaker 1: The first iteration of the tournament will feature Houston, Kentucky, Purdue,

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Speaker 1: and SMU September eleventh through thirteenth to the Paralympics, which

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Speaker 1: officially get underway with the opening ceremony on March sixth.

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Speaker 1: Ukrainian athletes will compete at the Games, but Team Ukraine

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Speaker 1: officials will not be at the opening ceremony or any events.

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Speaker 1: They've announced their boycotting after the International Paralympic Committee, which

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Speaker 1: operates separately from the International Olympic Committee, announced that they

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Speaker 1: would allow a handful of Russian and Belarussian athletes to

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Speaker 1: compete under their flags. The decision is a marked departure

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Speaker 1: from that of the IOC, who permitted a limited number

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Speaker 1: of athletes from those two countries to compete at the Olympics,

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Speaker 1: but as individual neutral athletes without national flag colors or anthems.

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Speaker 1: European Commissioner for Sport Glenn mccaliffe said he would also

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Speaker 1: not attend the Paralympics opening ceremony and called on others

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Speaker 1: to quote take the same stand to the la Olympics

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Speaker 1: and an update on a story we mentioned in a

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Speaker 1: previous show about athletes and artists departing the Wasserman Agency

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Speaker 1: in the wake of founder Casey Wasserman's inclusion in the

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Speaker 1: Epstein files. As the fallout continues, Wasserman has announced he's

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Speaker 1: putting the talent agency.

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Speaker 2: And marketing firm up for sale.

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Speaker 1: In a memo to staff, he wrote, in part, quote,

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Speaker 1: I have begun the process of selling the company, an

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Speaker 1: effort that is already underway. During this time, Mike Watts

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Speaker 1: will assume day to day control the business while I

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Speaker 1: devote my full attention to delivering Los Angeles and Olympic

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Speaker 1: Games in twenty twenty eight that is worthy of this

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Speaker 1: outstanding city.

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Speaker 2: End quote. Yes, the twenty twenty eight Olympic Games.

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Speaker 1: Despite calls for Wasserman to step down as chairman of

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Speaker 1: LA twenty eight, his status was reaffirmed by a vote

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Speaker 1: from the board, per a Dakota Smith's story in the

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Speaker 1: LA Times. Quote, so far, the Olympics Committee has backed Wasserman,

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Speaker 1: with allies saying he's a strong leader and prodigious fundraiser.

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Speaker 1: His supporters say LA needs to keep him on the job,

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Speaker 1: in part because taxpayers are responsible for paying any cost

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Speaker 1: overruns or budget shortfalls from the seven point one billion

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Speaker 1: dollar games. End.

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Speaker 2: Quote meantime, La.

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Speaker 1: Mayor Karen Back among those calling for him to step down,

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Speaker 1: calling the board support of him quote unquote unfortunate.

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Speaker 2: We got to take a quick break.

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Speaker 1: When we come back, same surface, different skates, we'll talk

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Speaker 1: to two of Team USA's best on ice next.

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Speaker 2: Joining us now.

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Speaker 1: She's a four time Olympian, a two time gold and

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Speaker 1: one time silver medal winning ice dancer. She and her

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Speaker 1: husband and skating partner, Evan Bates, took silver and ice

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Speaker 1: dancing at these games and helped the US to team gold.

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Speaker 1: She designs not only her own costumes, but the costumes

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Speaker 1: of several of her opponents. Are Rodondo Beach, Native Poodle

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Speaker 1: Mom and artist. It's Madison, Chuck. Madison, so great to

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Speaker 1: talk with you. You've been doing a whole lot of

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Speaker 1: interviews and appearances since your competition ended. Have you gotten

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Speaker 1: any sleep or gotten to go to any fancy dinners

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Speaker 1: in Milan?

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Speaker 3: Actually, sleep has been decreasing for me since finishing our competition,

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Speaker 3: but that's fine because the stress of the physical toll

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Speaker 3: and mental toll has also decreased. So we've just really

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Speaker 3: been enjoying our time getting recharged with family and friends.

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Speaker 3: It had been a while since we really hung out

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Speaker 3: with them and just enjoyed company because we've been so

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Speaker 3: locked in and focused on skating and getting to the

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Speaker 3: Olympics and performing our best.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, two metals for you and your husband and partner

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Speaker 1: haven't taken home gold and then pair silver? How are

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Speaker 1: you feeling about your competition in this twenty twenty six Games.

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Speaker 3: We have, honestly just had such a wonderful Olympic experience.

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Speaker 3: It's a dream come true to bring home an Olympic

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Speaker 3: medal let alone too, and we couldn't be proud of

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Speaker 3: how we performed and how we managed our energy throughout

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Speaker 3: the week. We competed four times within six days, which

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Speaker 3: is very rare for our sport, and it was a

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Speaker 3: mental and physical marathon, one that we were excited to

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Speaker 3: take on at the beginning of the season. Knowing that

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Speaker 3: we would have the opportunity to compete twice at the

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Speaker 3: Olympics was incredible and one that we really wanted to

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Speaker 3: take advantage of.

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Speaker 1: What was your reaction to hearing all the complaints about

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Speaker 1: the judging that followed the pairs competition.

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Speaker 3: You know, we actually received so much support, so much love.

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Speaker 3: I think more than we ever have at any competition previously,

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Speaker 3: and we were just so grateful to the people who

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Speaker 3: supported us and sent us love. I think Evan and

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Speaker 3: I are going to go home feeling incredibly proud of

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Speaker 3: what we have accomplished here in Milan. We put out

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Speaker 3: four of our best performances and I wouldn't change a

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Speaker 3: single thing about how we prepared, how we performed. It's

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Speaker 3: really the epitome of the Olympic dream is to go

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Speaker 3: to the Olympics, be prepared mentally, physically, be at your

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Speaker 3: very best and lay down the performance that you want

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Speaker 3: to have. And we got off the ice feeling like

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Speaker 3: we had done exactly that, and it was just the

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Speaker 3: best feeling in the world.

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Speaker 2: I'm so happy to hear that.

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Speaker 1: That's my favorite thing all Olympics long, is seeing people

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Speaker 1: show up and do their best at that moment, and

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Speaker 1: then you leave happy and satisfied, even if the result

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Speaker 1: isn't exactly what you wanted. Do you know that you

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Speaker 1: put out the performance that you could be proud of.

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Speaker 2: Yes, And you know it's normal in.

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Speaker 1: Ice dancing and figure skating in general to share a

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Speaker 1: coach with your competitors, but it's kind of weird to

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Speaker 1: those of us on the outside or those who have

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Speaker 1: played other sort of you know, average American sports. What's

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Speaker 1: that dynamic like in training but also in competitions when

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Speaker 1: you know very well the team sitting next to you

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Speaker 1: that passes you for gold and you are, you know,

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Speaker 1: presumably chatting with them as these complaints come in.

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Speaker 3: I think having that day to day competition right there

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Speaker 3: builds so much mental toughness and perseverance, and it really

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Speaker 3: just builds a lot of character as an athlete because

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Speaker 3: you are on your a game. You want to optimize

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Speaker 3: everything to your training on the ice and be maximizing

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Speaker 3: your recovery, which is something that we have really stepped

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Speaker 3: up our game in over the last eight years especially,

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Speaker 3: so we're so happy to be just encouraged other people

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Speaker 3: to take that step in their health because the pursuit

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Speaker 3: of better health is ongoing. And that's why I'm so

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Speaker 3: happy to partner with Lily because they also share that belief,

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Speaker 3: and I think it's so important to really prioritize that

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Speaker 3: when you're doing anything, whether it's pursuing sport or just

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Speaker 3: enjoying time with your family and friends, you want to

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Speaker 3: optimize your health. And I think that's the number one

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Speaker 3: most important thing you can do.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, you mentioned character too.

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Speaker 1: It certainly teaches you something to be in a great

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Speaker 1: relationship with the folks that you're competing against, because then

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Speaker 1: you can hold two things at once, which is your

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Speaker 1: desire for yourself and your desire for the success of others,

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Speaker 1: which can sometimes be difficult in highly competitive things. You

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Speaker 1: know you mentioned Lily, their Milestones into Meeting program means

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Speaker 1: that your Olympic achievements actually help expand healthcare access for communities.

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Speaker 1: What does it mean to you that your performance isn't

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Speaker 1: just about metals, isn't just about you and Evan pursuing

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Speaker 1: something for yourselves, but something much bigger than ice dancing.

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Speaker 3: It is so phenomenal actually too. Just embrace and share

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Speaker 3: with people what the Milestones Into Meaning program has to offer,

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Speaker 3: and to know that we have had an impact on

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Speaker 3: that and will contribute in a positive way to helping

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Speaker 3: other people pursue greater health is phenomenal. So I don't

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Speaker 3: know how much you know about the program, but each

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Speaker 3: medal that TMUSA wins, every single one, so both of

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Speaker 3: mine and Evans will contribute to that fund, which goes

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Speaker 3: to nonprofit organizations which promote health and well being and

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Speaker 3: just taking care of yourself, taking care of people. So

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Speaker 3: these metals have a lasting impact over time that will

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Speaker 3: affect people and ripple out and wellness into the community.

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Speaker 1: That's really cool, you know. Speaking of wellness, your mom

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Speaker 1: has been on a journey with breast cancer that you've

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Speaker 1: supported her duraling. I think we've loved watching the videos

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Speaker 1: of her and Evans mom bonding during the competitions.

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Speaker 2: What a funny duo. Who do you think is.

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Speaker 1: Actually more nervous for competitions? You and I or your mom's.

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Speaker 3: Oh, our moms one hundred percent are more nervous during competition,

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Speaker 3: There's no question. I have loved seeing the attention and

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Speaker 3: the love that they're getting. I would say arguably they

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Speaker 3: are more popular than we are because they had their

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Speaker 3: own media tour. We were having a media day, but

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Speaker 3: they were also having their own media day, and people

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Speaker 3: were so excited to speak with them and talk to them.

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Speaker 3: And I just love that because our moms mean so

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Speaker 3: much to us and have had such a huge impact

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Speaker 3: on who we are as people, how we've grown as

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Speaker 3: athletes and as people, and they just have had the

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Speaker 3: most lasting impact and I think everything that we have

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Speaker 3: had success in we can attribute right back to our moms.

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Speaker 2: They're really special.

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Speaker 1: We see a lot of those little packages about people's moms,

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Speaker 1: but those two could go on the road with that show.

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Speaker 2: I mean just.

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Speaker 3: Really, Oh they should absolutely.

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Speaker 2: I mentioned your mom's brest kids.

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Speaker 1: I'm wondering how that experience shaped the way you think

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Speaker 1: about resilience, caring for her, supporting for her both in

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Speaker 1: life and in sport, how resilient it's changed for you

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Speaker 1: as a result of her fight well.

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Speaker 3: In my life, my mom has been the true and

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Speaker 3: lasting pillar of strength. She has faced challenges that I

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Speaker 3: couldn't even begin to process or try to wrap my

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Speaker 3: head around. How she overcame those and to come out

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Speaker 3: stronger on the other end is just a testament to

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Speaker 3: her inner strength and her desire to live a healthy

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Speaker 3: life and support the people around her well in turn

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Speaker 3: being supported by the people around her. It is a

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Speaker 3: community of wellness and one that we are happy to

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Speaker 3: promote and share our experiences so people don't feel so

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Speaker 3: alone when they're going through something like that or something similar,

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Speaker 3: and just be pillars of the wellness community.

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Speaker 1: This is your fourth Olympics and I'm wondering how your

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Speaker 1: approach has changed physically and mentally as you've gotten older

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Speaker 1: to competitions.

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Speaker 3: Like this, since this is our fourth Olympics. Like you said,

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Speaker 3: our mindset has really shifted into prioritizing wellness and recover.

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Speaker 3: While we know being physically strong and capable of executing

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Speaker 3: our programs on the ice is also equally as important,

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Speaker 3: the mental aspect of things is really taking the driver's

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Speaker 3: seat over the last I would say eight years, especially

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Speaker 3: as you mature in sport and learn and grow about yourself,

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Speaker 3: it's really important to prioritize your mental well being because

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Speaker 3: having the strength to complete a program or complete a

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Speaker 3: RaSE is one thing, but then having the mental fortitude

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Speaker 3: to really know that you can do that and you're

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Speaker 3: well taken care of your supported, that all adds confidence

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Speaker 3: to your game, and so we've really prioritized that. Surrounding

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Speaker 3: ourselves with people who also share those values, our families,

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Speaker 3: our friends, Lily, it's just been foundational to our well

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Speaker 3: being and how we've achieved all of our goals and accomplishments.

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Speaker 1: In I stands, there's just such incredible pressure on any

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Speaker 1: figure skating of and I think all of the mental

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Speaker 1: prep you can do might not still prepare you for

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Speaker 1: the feeling of needing perfection in the one moment of

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Speaker 1: the couple minutes that you're out on the ice. And

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Speaker 1: we saw that with Iliam Allan, and how is it

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Speaker 1: for you as part of the team to see that

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Speaker 1: and to understand how he seemed so confident and so

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Speaker 1: ready for the moment, and how that can feel so

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Speaker 1: different when the moment comes.

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Speaker 3: Well, I think that can be a major trap that

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Speaker 3: many athletes have fallen into, if not all at a

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Speaker 3: certain point or another. It's the pursuit of excellence instead

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Speaker 3: of perfection. You can never truly be perfect, and pursuing

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Speaker 3: perfection will ultimately be a downfall. Our pursuit of excellence

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Speaker 3: and well being has served us well, and something that

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Speaker 3: we have really learned in our journey as athletes is

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Speaker 3: you want to be the best person you can be

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Speaker 3: on and off the ice, and you want to pursue

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Speaker 3: excellence in all aspects of your life in order to

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Speaker 3: help lift you up to achieve your goals. And I

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Speaker 3: think just focusing on becoming the best person, the best

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Speaker 3: athlete you can be, is really what gets you to

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Speaker 3: the next stage in your development.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, perfection is not a goal that anyone can reach,

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Speaker 1: so if we put it too far out, it can

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Speaker 1: slow us down. You know, a lot of people talk

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Speaker 1: about the Olympic letdown. Have you or Evan ever felt that,

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Speaker 1: whether after great success or after disappointment, and how have

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Speaker 1: you handled it alone and together?

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Speaker 3: Absolutely, I would say the Olympic letdown is real. After

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Speaker 3: every high, there is a low, and luckily we have

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Speaker 3: each other to support one another, and we have a

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Speaker 3: wonderful team of people around us. We will be absolutely

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Speaker 3: prioritizing our recovery as we come down from the Olympic Games,

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Speaker 3: whether that be leaning on each other for support, leaning

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Speaker 3: on the team around us, but also continuing to take

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Speaker 3: care of ourselves physically, eating well, continuing to exercise, just

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Speaker 3: to create some stability in our life as we transit

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Speaker 3: through this Olympic letdown.

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Speaker 1: Speaking of transitioning after taking silver, you've said this might

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Speaker 1: not be your last Olympics after all. What are the

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Speaker 1: things that you and Evan are discussing as you're or

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Speaker 1: maybe will discuss. Hopefully right now you're just enjoying yourselves,

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Speaker 1: but maybe we'll discuss in the coming months as you're

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Speaker 1: deciding whether or not to continue competing. What are some

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Speaker 1: of the elements that you'll be talking about.

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Speaker 3: I think we'll have a lot of reflective time over

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Speaker 3: our career in the coming months, just to see how

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Speaker 3: we feel and what the next steps will be for us.

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Speaker 3: We have some skating tours coming up. We are doing

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Speaker 3: Art on Ice in Switzerland, Stars on Ice, Japan, Stars

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Speaker 3: on Ice Us Nice. I think we will never truly

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Speaker 3: leave the ice because we are so passionate about skating

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Speaker 3: and want to keep skating in our lives as much

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Speaker 3: as possible and give back to the skating community as

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Speaker 3: they have given to us through our entire career. So

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Speaker 3: whatever form that takes, whether I might maybe another competition

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Speaker 3: here there, or are really just re entering the competitive

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Speaker 3: space just to help athletes achieve and realize their goals.

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Speaker 1: You and Avin do two of the things that are

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Speaker 1: triggers for couples, work together and travel together. So what's

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Speaker 1: the thing you fight about the most when you're traveling together.

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Speaker 3: When we're traveling, I would say, well, we honestly, we

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Speaker 3: get along quite well if we're not hungry and super tired,

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Speaker 3: but traveling I think for me, I get a little

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Speaker 3: anxious when we travel, just to be on time and

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Speaker 3: through security and everything. And I think that comes from

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Speaker 3: my parents both working in the airline industry, and they're

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Speaker 3: always warning me, Okay, you have to be super early

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Speaker 3: to the airport. If there are any delays, you need

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Speaker 3: to make sure you're checking your flight, send us your

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Speaker 3: flight number.

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Speaker 2: So I just have this.

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Speaker 3: Slight anxiety about traveling where I'm like, Okay, I have

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Speaker 3: to be here at this exact time and here and here,

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Speaker 3: and I do have my passport of my ticket. So

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Speaker 3: I really take my traveling seriously and it is my

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Speaker 3: probably one of my greatest fears is to just miss

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Speaker 3: a flight just due to not being there on time.

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Speaker 1: Well, i'd imagine Evan chills you out on that and

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Speaker 1: also stresses you out with his chill approach to everything.

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Speaker 3: No, it's great. He is the zencom I need when traveling.

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Speaker 2: Last question for you.

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Speaker 1: I know I mentioned earlier that you design the costumes

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Speaker 1: for some of your fellow figure skaters.

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Speaker 2: You have your own line.

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Speaker 1: Is that something you imagine being a full time thing

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Speaker 1: if skating starts to not be as much of a focus.

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Speaker 1: Is it something beyond even ice dancing costumes that you'd

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Speaker 1: like to design.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I would love to love to do more costume design.

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Speaker 3: And I love helping people feel their best when they're

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Speaker 3: on their ice, and so whether that's through costume design

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Speaker 3: or being a mentor and encouraging them to just be

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Speaker 3: their best on and off the ice, that would be

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Speaker 3: That would be the greatest, the greatest accomplishment for me.

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Speaker 2: Thanks so much for the time.

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Speaker 1: Congrats on an incredible game and being just such a wonderful,

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Speaker 1: beautiful inspiration for a lot of people back home.

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Speaker 3: Thank you so much. It was lovely speaking with you.

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Speaker 1: I love chatting with Madison and I loved seeing her

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Speaker 1: compete live in Italy. I'm telling y'all, figure skating hits

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Speaker 1: so different in person. Right after I talked with Madison,

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Speaker 1: I hopped on the line with Team USA speed.

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Speaker 2: Skater Aaron Jackson. Take a listen, joining us now.

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Speaker 1: She's a speed skater, the first black woman to win

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Speaker 1: a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport in

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Speaker 1: the first Black American woman to medle in speed skating.

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Speaker 1: A Florida native, she took up speed skating in just

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Speaker 1: twenty sixteen and qualified for the twenty eighteen Olympics with

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Speaker 1: four months of on ice training. By twenty twenty two,

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Speaker 1: she won the gold medal in the five hundred meters

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Speaker 1: in Beijing. A team flag bearer for the US at

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Speaker 1: these Milan Courtina Olympics, it's Aaron Jackson.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us erin.

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Speaker 4: Oh yeah, I'm super excited. Thanks for having me.

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Speaker 1: Let's talk about these games. So you finished fifth in

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Speaker 1: the five hundred meter race, the race in which you

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Speaker 1: earned gold at the last Games. Take us through the

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Speaker 1: race and how it went for you.

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Speaker 4: Yeah. I went to the line feeling really ready to go,

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Speaker 4: really excited, really confident, just smiling and waving when they

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Speaker 4: announced my name. And then from the beginning I got

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Speaker 4: off to a really good start. It was the fastest

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Speaker 4: hundred meter opener I've ever had by quite a bit actually,

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Speaker 4: so I was really really stoked on that. And then yeah,

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Speaker 4: I went through the first corner still feeling pretty good.

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Speaker 4: Then my backstretch of the race, I was just I

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Speaker 4: don't know, not my best skating for sure. My feet

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Speaker 4: were kind of getting away from me. And then I

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Speaker 4: had a bit of a stumble, just kind of from

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Speaker 4: the not great skating I was doing on a backstretch.

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Speaker 4: And then yeah, from there, just finishing the race as

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Speaker 4: strongly as I could. And yeah, the backstretch I think

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Speaker 4: really cost me a podium placement because I finished just

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Speaker 4: zero point zero five seconds off the podiums. That's five

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Speaker 4: hundreds of a second. So our sports really you have

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Speaker 4: some really really tight margins, so you have.

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Speaker 2: So unforgiving Yeah.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, you know afterwards you said you were disappointed with

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Speaker 1: the little stumble that kept you off the pode.

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Speaker 2: How do you tend to deal with disappointment in sport

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Speaker 2: in general?

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Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean it's just it's part of it. You know.

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Speaker 4: It's like I can't get what I want all the time.

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Speaker 4: I mean, that would be amazing, but yeah, sometimes things

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Speaker 4: like that happen, and I mean I'm sure there have

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Speaker 4: been tons of other times where someone else's stumble got

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Speaker 4: me on the podium. So it's just, yeah, it goes

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Speaker 4: both ways. And I'm just always really happy to be

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Speaker 4: out there and competing. So yeah, it just wasn't my day,

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Speaker 4: but I'll be back.

440
00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:27,640
Speaker 2: God, I love that perspective.

441
00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,840
Speaker 1: I'm one of those people that gets really into neuroplasticity

442
00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,479
Speaker 1: and how our brains can change with intention, and like

443
00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,760
Speaker 1: being gratitude seeing a different angle and the idea of

444
00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,320
Speaker 1: your brain automatically going to Yeah, and I've also benefited

445
00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:40,360
Speaker 1: from other people's stumbles.

446
00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:41,200
Speaker 2: That's how it works.

447
00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,960
Speaker 1: Is such a great way to stay able, to be

448
00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,720
Speaker 1: present in the moment and accept the results, good or bad,

449
00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,040
Speaker 1: because you're not going to win every single time, and

450
00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,280
Speaker 1: it's hard. It's really hard to do that, especially because

451
00:22:51,359 --> 00:22:54,639
Speaker 1: for this games, expectations were very different for you. You know,

452
00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,000
Speaker 1: twenty eighteen is holy cow, how did I get here

453
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:57,400
Speaker 1: so fast?

454
00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:58,840
Speaker 2: Twenty twenty two is oh my.

455
00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,640
Speaker 1: God, I just won gold and now you've got pressure

456
00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,439
Speaker 1: of trying to defend. So how different was it for

457
00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,199
Speaker 1: you showing up here with that sort of target on

458
00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:08,880
Speaker 1: your back as the defending champ in that event?

459
00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,080
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, it was super different. As you said, all

460
00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:15,560
Speaker 4: of my Olympic appearances have been just entirely different, and

461
00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,200
Speaker 4: it's been just an amazing journey the whole way. But yeah,

462
00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,119
Speaker 4: I feel like the pressure is actually what really pushes me.

463
00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:24,680
Speaker 4: I'm kind of weird on that front where I don't

464
00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:27,600
Speaker 4: really get nervous or anxious or anything like that. It's

465
00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:31,560
Speaker 4: more like I get excited and I normally feel just

466
00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:34,680
Speaker 4: really calm. So I'm the person who's super relaxed, super

467
00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:37,359
Speaker 4: laid back, and I need the pressure to get me

468
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,520
Speaker 4: a bit more amped up about the competition. So yeah,

469
00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,080
Speaker 4: I'm a little bit backwards, but yeah, I feel like

470
00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:44,359
Speaker 4: it's better than the alternative.

471
00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:46,480
Speaker 2: I don't think you are backwards.

472
00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:48,760
Speaker 1: Over the course of this Games, the number of times

473
00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,240
Speaker 1: we've either personally talked to metalists or heard about metalists

474
00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:55,280
Speaker 1: that are sort of the coolest, a cucumber type that

475
00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:59,679
Speaker 1: are almost like strangely unaffected by the big moment are

476
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:01,960
Speaker 1: the ones that find success. And it's got to be

477
00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,840
Speaker 1: something people study and tap into because it seems to work.

478
00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,800
Speaker 2: And I saw an interview with you where you said,

479
00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,200
Speaker 2: not only do you like pressure, you like pain. Tell

480
00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:09,600
Speaker 2: me more.

481
00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:11,879
Speaker 4: I wouldn't say I like pain, but I know that

482
00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,720
Speaker 4: pain is a really big part of my sport, and

483
00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:18,240
Speaker 4: it's just, yeah, you have to be able to deal

484
00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,960
Speaker 4: with the pain to kind of reach your new heights.

485
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,760
Speaker 4: So yeah, it's just that that burn in your legs.

486
00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:27,760
Speaker 1: Yeah, speaking of pain, recovery is a huge part of

487
00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,440
Speaker 1: any athlete, and you are working with the Team USA

488
00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:34,040
Speaker 1: Athlete Recovery program in partnership with Lily. Tell me about

489
00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,280
Speaker 1: how you have to be so thoughtful about what comes

490
00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:38,159
Speaker 1: after the race as much as what comes before.

491
00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:40,800
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, what comes after is super important and finding

492
00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:45,040
Speaker 4: that recovery physically and mentally. So for me that's been

493
00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,639
Speaker 4: you know, spending time with my family has been just

494
00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:51,120
Speaker 4: a really awesome part of my recovery and the recovery

495
00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,240
Speaker 4: program that Team USA is doing with Lily. I mean,

496
00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,119
Speaker 4: I yeah, I know firsthand about all the recovery things,

497
00:24:57,160 --> 00:24:59,280
Speaker 4: just with the injuries I've been dealing with. So I

498
00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,920
Speaker 4: think it's just it's awesome what they're doing to support

499
00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,359
Speaker 4: these athletes. And you know, we got to get on

500
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:06,520
Speaker 4: the top of the podium, so it's really cool to

501
00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:08,879
Speaker 4: be with the companies who's doing all that.

502
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:11,480
Speaker 1: Yeah, because you've also you've faced injuries, You've had to

503
00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,159
Speaker 1: be patient in recovery. You've also suffered personal loss, like

504
00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,080
Speaker 1: the death of your mom when you were in high school,

505
00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:20,720
Speaker 1: ups and downs. The ability to process the realities of

506
00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,359
Speaker 1: life and reapply yourself to the next challenge is a

507
00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,959
Speaker 1: big part of your success and the way you've managed

508
00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,520
Speaker 1: to go from roller skating to inline skating to speed

509
00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:34,000
Speaker 1: skating to Olympic champion. How have all those experiences sort

510
00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:36,159
Speaker 1: of shaped the way you approach mental health, both in

511
00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,639
Speaker 1: life and also when it applies to such an up

512
00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:39,560
Speaker 1: and down sport.

513
00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:42,439
Speaker 4: Right, Yeah, I think all of those experiences have shaped

514
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:46,600
Speaker 4: who I am and how I perform as an individual.

515
00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,800
Speaker 4: And yeah, I feel like it's tough, but I think

516
00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:54,400
Speaker 4: it really adds perspective to everything, and I think it's

517
00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:58,199
Speaker 4: really helped with my mindset around performance and just knowing that,

518
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,400
Speaker 4: you know, at the end of the day, like I'm

519
00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:04,120
Speaker 4: doing what I enjoy doing, I'm doing what I love

520
00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:08,520
Speaker 4: and loss isn't a failure, Like as long as everyone's

521
00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,320
Speaker 4: still you know, as long as everyone's still kicking it,

522
00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,800
Speaker 4: then it's just a bad day sometimes. But yeah, I

523
00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:16,840
Speaker 4: feel like it really helps put things into perspective and

524
00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:20,320
Speaker 4: just knowing that I'm not wrapping up my self worth

525
00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:22,480
Speaker 4: in my performance and that I'm just a person out

526
00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:23,560
Speaker 4: here doing what I love to do.

527
00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:26,320
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's such a huge thing for athletes is making

528
00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,320
Speaker 1: sure their identity is beyond the thing that they compete at.

529
00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:34,400
Speaker 1: You know, you're an incredible, incredible representation for little girls

530
00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,480
Speaker 1: out there, especially little black girls, at a sport that

531
00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,560
Speaker 1: hasn't seen a lot of diversity.

532
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:40,840
Speaker 2: That must feel wonderful to you.

533
00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,440
Speaker 1: I'm sure you hear plenty of stories of folks either

534
00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,359
Speaker 1: starting out at the roller rink or maybe even starting

535
00:26:45,359 --> 00:26:46,439
Speaker 1: out on the ice because of you.

536
00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:48,200
Speaker 2: Does it ever feel like too much?

537
00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:50,880
Speaker 1: Is it ever pressure to be perfect all the time

538
00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:52,520
Speaker 1: or to be a role model when sometimes you just

539
00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:53,720
Speaker 1: want to be a human being?

540
00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,760
Speaker 4: No, I don't think so, just because I feel like

541
00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:59,240
Speaker 4: I'm always trying to be a good example or a

542
00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,960
Speaker 4: good role model no matter what. So yeah, I just

543
00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,720
Speaker 4: want to kind of keep that going, and it's it's

544
00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,200
Speaker 4: definitely something that that I appreciate it. It's cool to get

545
00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,359
Speaker 4: those messages from the parents or sometimes even the kids

546
00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,480
Speaker 4: themselves just saying that, you know, they wanted to get

547
00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:15,600
Speaker 4: out and try these sports, try skating.

548
00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:17,840
Speaker 2: So it's been really cool to experience that.

549
00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:18,880
Speaker 4: All right.

550
00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,280
Speaker 2: So that's where our conversation got cut off.

551
00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:23,720
Speaker 1: Aaron was in Milan and I was up in the

552
00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:26,679
Speaker 1: mountains in Valle Dicadori and the Wi Fi failed me

553
00:27:27,119 --> 00:27:29,840
Speaker 1: just up in conked out mid convo, so we didn't

554
00:27:29,840 --> 00:27:32,480
Speaker 1: get to finish our chat. But a couple of days later,

555
00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,480
Speaker 1: our producer, Alex and I were back in Milan to

556
00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,160
Speaker 1: watch Britney bow Skate and we ran into Aaron in

557
00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:39,080
Speaker 1: person at the event, so I asked her if we

558
00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:42,080
Speaker 1: could do a little off the cuff clothes. So here's

559
00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,439
Speaker 1: that little second half of our chat. Okay, so the

560
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:49,119
Speaker 1: impromptu second half of our interview. The question all of

561
00:27:49,119 --> 00:27:51,639
Speaker 1: our listeners want to know is it common for speed

562
00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:54,479
Speaker 1: skaters to not wear socks? And what's the deal with

563
00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:56,480
Speaker 1: that whole sock no sock situation.

564
00:27:57,119 --> 00:27:59,639
Speaker 4: I don't know a single long track speed skater who

565
00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:03,679
Speaker 4: wears so. Our boots are custom molded to our feet

566
00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:05,880
Speaker 4: and yeah, I don't know. I feel like socks would

567
00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,520
Speaker 4: be weird because they might move around inside the boot

568
00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:10,600
Speaker 4: or just like not create a tight fit. So yeah,

569
00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:12,880
Speaker 4: none of us were socks. I came from inline skating

570
00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:15,480
Speaker 4: and I used to wear socks with my inlines and

571
00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,320
Speaker 4: I'm like, cable came over to ice, my coach was like, yeah,

572
00:28:18,359 --> 00:28:19,639
Speaker 4: we don't do that over here.

573
00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,399
Speaker 2: No blisters, no, no blisters, no, okay.

574
00:28:22,520 --> 00:28:24,640
Speaker 1: And then last question for you, just to close it out,

575
00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:26,800
Speaker 1: what's gonna be the predominant feeling for you as you're

576
00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:27,800
Speaker 1: leaving these games?

577
00:28:28,359 --> 00:28:32,720
Speaker 4: Predominant feeling? I mean, let's see, I guess relief because

578
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:35,919
Speaker 4: there's just just this big build up over the years

579
00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,280
Speaker 4: to get you to this one really big moment, and

580
00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,520
Speaker 4: then when it's over, you can take a little breath

581
00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,400
Speaker 4: and just relax. And for me, it's eating whatever I

582
00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:46,040
Speaker 4: want and go going to do whatever I want. And yeah,

583
00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:47,560
Speaker 4: I don't know, it's a big relief.

584
00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,320
Speaker 2: Do you still inline skate just for fun?

585
00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:49,560
Speaker 4: Ever?

586
00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:50,480
Speaker 2: I do?

587
00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,760
Speaker 4: Yeah, I was inline skating last summer, so yeah, I'll

588
00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:54,760
Speaker 4: probably get back into it.

589
00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,240
Speaker 2: Yeah cool, Thank you so much, of course. Hmmm.

590
00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,640
Speaker 1: So our short track skate crit Stoddard said you gotta

591
00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:04,239
Speaker 1: wear socks or else you get stinky boots, but our

592
00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:07,720
Speaker 1: long tracker Aaron says, no socks, no problem.

593
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,440
Speaker 2: Mystery solved, Mission accomplished.

594
00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:15,080
Speaker 1: Thanks again to Madison and to Aaron for taking the

595
00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:18,320
Speaker 1: time twice. We got to take another break when we

596
00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,720
Speaker 1: come back. While the US men's hockey team can kick rocks,

597
00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:32,480
Speaker 1: our love for fictional hockey players lives on. Welcome back,

598
00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:34,360
Speaker 1: Slagh says, we love that you're listening, but we want

599
00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:35,920
Speaker 1: you to get in the game every day too. So

600
00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,840
Speaker 1: here's our good game play in the day. Watch the PWHL, y'all.

601
00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,320
Speaker 1: It's literally free on YouTube and it's just as entertaining

602
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:45,160
Speaker 1: as what we just saw go down at the Olympics.

603
00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,000
Speaker 1: In a recent episode, producer Alex reflected how back in

604
00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,320
Speaker 1: twenty twenty two she wished there was somewhere we could

605
00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:53,480
Speaker 1: all watch our hockey heroes after the games. Well now

606
00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,840
Speaker 1: there is, so get to it. Yeah, we always love

607
00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:58,560
Speaker 1: to hear from you, so hit us up on email.

608
00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,360
Speaker 1: Good game at Wonder Media Network or leave us a

609
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,280
Speaker 1: voice smail at eight seven two two four fifty seventy,

610
00:30:04,760 --> 00:30:05,560
Speaker 1: and don't forget to.

611
00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:09,560
Speaker 2: Subscribe, rate and review. It's easy. Watch you me.

612
00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,880
Speaker 1: Everybody going to the Cottage rating eight out of eight

613
00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:18,640
Speaker 1: burgers already heating up the grill review. About two hours

614
00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:21,560
Speaker 1: and twenty minutes north of Toronto lies the scenic hamlet

615
00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:26,520
Speaker 1: of Torrents, Ontario, where the famed Cottage from Heated Rivalry stands,

616
00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,480
Speaker 1: and beginning March third, it'll be open for you and

617
00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,840
Speaker 1: all your horny friends to rent out on Airbnb.

618
00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,320
Speaker 2: Your horny dogs too, because pets are allowed.

619
00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:37,800
Speaker 1: A Toronto Tempo home game plus a weekend at the cottage.

620
00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:39,040
Speaker 2: Say less.

621
00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:42,520
Speaker 1: Now it's your turn, y'all, Rate and review, Thanks for listening,

622
00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:43,440
Speaker 1: See you Tomorrow.

623
00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:45,920
Speaker 2: Good Game, Madison, Good Game Aarin.

624
00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:49,320
Speaker 1: You your favorite shoes getting stinky because you don't wear

625
00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:50,040
Speaker 1: socks with them?

626
00:30:50,400 --> 00:30:52,480
Speaker 2: Can we get an Odor Eater sponsor? Up in here?

627
00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,440
Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an ihear Art women's

628
00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,440
Speaker 1: sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment.

629
00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:06,720
Speaker 1: You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

630
00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:10,240
Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network,

631
00:31:10,440 --> 00:31:13,840
Speaker 1: our producers are Alex Azzi and Bianca Hillier. Our executive

632
00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:17,440
Speaker 1: producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder.

633
00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:20,600
Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rutterer, Lucy Jones, Britney Martinez and

634
00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:24,160
Speaker 1: Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your

635
00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:25,240
Speaker 1: Host Sarah Spain