1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where we're writing 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: out twenty twenty five a bunch of times to train 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: our brains. It's always embarrassing to still be writing the 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: wrong date come March, so we're prevenent advance. It's Monday, 5 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: December thirtieth, and this week we'll be running back some 6 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: of our favorite interviews from twenty twenty four. No news, 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: no special segments, no plays of the day, no rate 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: and review, just good old fashioned conversations. Up first, my 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: conversation from August with American cross country skiing star Jesse Diggins. 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: I caught up with Jesse during the Summer Olympics to 11 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: get her thoughts on the pressure of competing on the 12 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: biggest stage in sports. 13 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 2: Now. These days, it's. 14 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: The height of Jesse's competitive season. The cross Country World 15 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: Cup is in full swing, and as of this recording, 16 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: our girl is currently leading the overall World Cup standings. 17 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:45,880 Speaker 1: By the time y'all hear this, Jesse will be in 18 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,919 Speaker 1: the middle of the grueling Tour to Ski, which features 19 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: seven stages in two cities during a nine day window. 20 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: We'll link to the full Tour to Ski schedule in 21 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:55,720 Speaker 1: the show notes, so you can tune in and watch 22 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: Jesse dor Thing make sure to wear some glitter and 23 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: solidarity that conversation than coming up right after this. 24 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 2: Stick around joining us. 25 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: Now a three time Olympic medalist, including winning the first 26 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: ever gold medal for the US and cross country skiing, 27 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 1: she's coming off the best ever seasoned by an American 28 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,000 Speaker 1: in the sport, highlighted by her overall World Cup title win. 29 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 2: She's the author of Brave Enough. 30 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: She's met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for 31 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: climate policy, and she's an ambassador for the Emily Program, 32 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: an organization that provides specialized treatment for eating disorders. Fun fact, 33 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: she wears glitter every time she races. It's Jesse Diggins, 34 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: what's up? 35 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: Jesse, Hey, Sarah, thank you for having me, Thank. 36 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: You for coming on. This was such a good idea. 37 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: This was actually producer Alex's idea, our Olympic Expert, because 38 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: we thought it would be really good to have an 39 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: Olympic athlete on who can talk about the Olympic experience 40 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: well at a safe distance from it. 41 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 3: Right. 42 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: So interviewing the athletes when they're about to leave or 43 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: when they're about to compete means they're in this very 44 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: specific and particular mindset, and we wanted some perspective that's 45 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 1: not clouded by training or nerves, or expectations or all 46 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: of the stuff that comes with trying to just get 47 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: through one of the biggest moments. 48 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: Of your life. 49 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: So you're in your off season technically, so we're getting 50 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: you at a good time to talk about the Olympics. 51 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: And I want to start with the basics, Like, what 52 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: do you think the number one thing is that fans 53 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: at home don't understand about the Olympics. 54 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 4: Oh gosh, I think this will be dependent on your sport. 55 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,800 Speaker 4: But for most of us, you wait for four years 56 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 4: for the world to watch what you're doing. But you 57 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 4: haven't stopped. 58 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 3: You haven't been. 59 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 4: Frozen in time from one Olympics to the next. So 60 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 4: you're still training, you're still competing all winter long, and 61 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 4: once every four years your country just goes ballistic and 62 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 4: everybody's watching and all the press of the world. 63 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 3: Is heaped on you. 64 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 4: And so like we raised, I raised thirty something times 65 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 4: every single season on the World Cup circuit. We have 66 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 4: World Championships, but in the US it's like the Olympics 67 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 4: or nothing. And so the amount of pressure and lights 68 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 4: and attention and eyes that are on you for this 69 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 4: one moment every four years. It is extremely hard to 70 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 4: perform under that. And when you can pull it together 71 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,640 Speaker 4: and perform in the one moment it matters, it will 72 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 4: actually change your life. 73 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 3: And so it is I mean, it's not an exaggeration 74 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:25,000 Speaker 3: to say. 75 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,919 Speaker 4: That it's life changing pressure that you're carrying on your 76 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 4: shoulders and you have to be able to relax and 77 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 4: do what you do underneath that. And so I think 78 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 4: that's just something that it's hard to describe that kind 79 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 4: of feeling unless you've been through it. And I think 80 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 4: it definitely changes games to games as well. So my 81 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 4: first Olympics in twenty fourteen, I was there. I was 82 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,040 Speaker 4: the baby of the team, and I kind of knew 83 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 4: in my sport you will have, probably if you continue 84 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 4: to train hard, have multiple Olympics. 85 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 3: So for me, I was there to gain experience. 86 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 4: Now, if you're a young gymnast, you might be eighteen, 87 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 4: really really young, but that may be your one chance 88 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 4: and you are expected to perform in that moment. So 89 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 4: I think it's also really interesting sport to sport. 90 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: I think it changes, well, it's not just performing in 91 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: that moment to change your life. But that's also when 92 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: all the interview requests come in, all the sponsors, So 93 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: like you're managing the busiest time of your life at 94 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 1: the time when anyone else would say, I'm going to 95 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: put those aside for a couple months and come back 96 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: to them once the work is done. But no, it 97 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: all has to happen at once. Sports are about muscle memory, preparation, training, 98 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: doing everything you can before the actual events so that 99 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: when you get there you can just focus on performance. 100 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 2: How hard is that to do at the. 101 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: Olympics, Like, how different is it competing there versus every 102 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: other competition. 103 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 4: I think in some ways it's no different, Right, It's 104 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 4: just another race. You do your same warm up, you 105 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 4: do your same process of ski selection and wax testing 106 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,719 Speaker 4: and all of that. It's all the same thing, and 107 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 4: then you find comfort in that routine, Right, mean, this 108 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 4: thing that I always do. I've done this since high school, 109 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 4: Like I put my skis on one at a time, 110 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 4: like I've always done it this way. Nothing is different, 111 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 4: just because I'm wearing a bib that has the Olympic 112 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,599 Speaker 4: rings across the chest, which is terrifying. But in many 113 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 4: ways there are a lot of different things. Like you said, 114 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 4: the media attention that asks the hype. All of a sudden, 115 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 4: you know, you go from feeling like ah, like nobody 116 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 4: is really watching, to like, wow, there's multiple cameras focused 117 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 4: on me at once at all moments, and that that 118 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 4: does change when you suddenly feel the eyes on you. 119 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: And I think a lot. 120 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 4: Of it is simply focusing on what you can control 121 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 4: and trying to not block out the noise. And this 122 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 4: is something that we've talked about in the sports psychology realm, 123 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 4: Like if I tell you do not think about an apple, 124 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 4: and under no circumstances think about. 125 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: It, thank you, it was really it looked delicious. 126 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 3: Think about it. 127 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 4: And what if I say, go ahead, think about an apple, 128 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 4: but still ask me your interview questions. 129 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:04,839 Speaker 3: You can do both. 130 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 4: But if you're so focused on trying to block this out, no, 131 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 4: I'm not thinking about it, I'm not seeing it, it's 132 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 4: not there. That's so much energy going towards blocking out 133 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 4: that noise that you don't want. 134 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 3: And so I think we've shifted. 135 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,239 Speaker 4: The model to yes, there's a lot of lights, Yes 136 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 4: there's a lot of pressure. Of course, there's a million 137 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 4: cameras and there's a lot of interviews, there's a lot 138 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 4: going on, and I. 139 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 3: Can still focus. 140 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 2: I love that. I love that. It's just like it's 141 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: just like meditation. 142 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: They'll always say, if you get a thought, don't try 143 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:37,479 Speaker 1: to push it out. 144 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: Just let it float by like a cloud. You see it, 145 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 2: but it's not for now, and you let it float away. 146 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: I love that's such a good perspective for literally anything, 147 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: not just competing in the Olympics. 148 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 2: Like, I love that. 149 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: What is it like watching the Olympics versus competing in them? 150 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: Because I lose my mind, I cry, I tense up 151 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: my hands. I realize that my body hasn't moved from 152 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 1: like a position for like thirty minutes because I'm nervous. 153 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,960 Speaker 1: And that's just watching like you're actually able to empathize 154 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:06,719 Speaker 1: so much better with what they're going through. 155 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: So how does it feel watching? 156 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 3: Oh? Man? 157 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 4: I mean I was in tears watching both gymnastics teams, 158 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 4: the women's and the men's, and seeing especially seeing how 159 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 4: hype the men were for each other, just this genuine 160 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 4: like jumping up and down and the amount of pressure 161 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 4: on I almost called him Clark Kent because. 162 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 3: Of the classes. But you're under pressure. Our last guy 163 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 3: to put. 164 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: Stephen Kornaky look alike. He's getting a lot of comparisons 165 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: Clark Kent, Stephen Kornaki, He's getting a lot of them. 166 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I love it, But like, thinking about that, 167 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 4: it was funny because I was talking to my husband 168 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 4: and I was recapping the whole thing because he couldn't 169 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 4: watch while he was at work. 170 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 3: And I was telling you, like, man like Steven had 171 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 3: to sit there and. 172 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 4: Wait and no, like I've been brought here to do 173 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 4: one thing and I'm the last guy to go. 174 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 3: And my team is counting on me. 175 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 4: My whole country's watching, the whole world is watching, and 176 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 4: I have to perform in the one moment it matters. 177 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 4: And then he did it, and it brought me to tears, 178 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 4: Like I was jumping up and down on the couch. 179 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 4: And it was funny because Wade was like, well, you 180 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 4: had to do that too in twenty eighteen, like you 181 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 4: were anchoring the team. It was the one moment it mattered. 182 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 4: The whole country was watching it. And I was like, yeah, 183 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 4: but it's not the same, and he was like, yeah, 184 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 4: it is the same, but like when you're watching. 185 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 3: It, it feels like how in the world. Do they 186 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 3: do that? How is this possible? How can they make 187 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 3: this happen? How do they pull this off? 188 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 4: That kind of pressure must be crushing. But then when 189 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 4: you're in the moment, when I made myself be like, oh, 190 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 4: he's right, Like I thought back to when that was 191 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 4: me having to perform under that kind of pressure, I 192 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 4: wasn't thinking about the pressure. I wasn't thinking about metals, 193 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 4: was not thinking about results. All I was thinking about 194 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 4: is my process? How do I ski as fast as possible? 195 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 4: And I think if I had stopped to think about, 196 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 4: oh my god, my teammates, hopes and dream for our 197 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 4: entire career on the line here, I probably would have cracked. 198 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 4: But that's why I would just focus on how do 199 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 4: I ski? Like what technique cues? How do I do this? 200 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 4: And so I think being incredibly process focused and only 201 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,320 Speaker 4: thinking about the things that are within your control is 202 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 4: so so helpful. And like you said, it's for life, 203 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 4: not just for the case. 204 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. But well you mentioned control though, and I think 205 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: that's part of it too. It's like, as the athlete, 206 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: we've been in those positions and all you're thinking about 207 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: is I'm in control of what I'm doing. 208 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 2: Now and what can I control. 209 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: It's do I do all the things I've prepared correctly, 210 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: Do I put my best effort forward? And then as 211 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: an athlete, you know, sometimes that means you win at 212 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: sometimes it means you don't. When you're watching zero control, 213 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,760 Speaker 1: zero control over anything, you can't do anything but watch 214 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: and hope, and that feels so much more tenuous than 215 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: when you have the power to do it. Even though 216 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: people who aren't athletes would be like, that's crazy. The 217 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: pressure's on you, but you're not thinking about it. You're like, 218 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: here's what I do and I'm gonna I'm gonna do it. 219 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 1: I also love what you said about the emotions that 220 00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: the mail j has had for each other. There's a 221 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: great episode of Welcome to Wrexham. I don't know if 222 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: you watch it, but they get into detail about how 223 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: sports are one of the few places where men are 224 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: allowed to feel all of the emotions. 225 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 2: We let them cry. 226 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: We let them hug each other, we let them support 227 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: each other, we let them butt slap each other without 228 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: being weird about it. We let them like support and 229 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 1: be angry and be sad and be defiant and be supportive. 230 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 1: Like it's just really cool when we think about the 231 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: ways that we do limit men in ways that we 232 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: often talk about with women but don't with men, and 233 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: how sports is a space that we can stop doing that, 234 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 1: which I just when I was watching that gymnastics team, 235 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: I was thinking the same thing, which is so cool. 236 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 3: On that note, I have a question for you. 237 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 4: Do you think we allow women to experience the full 238 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 4: range of emotions in sport as well? 239 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 2: I think it depends on who's watching, right. 240 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 1: I was thinking about that with Mikayla Maroney and how 241 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 1: she went like viral for being disappointed in her metal 242 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: and making a squirmy, you know, kind of smirky face, 243 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: and how when men are disappointed, we're like, he's so competitive, 244 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 1: he'll settle for nothing but the best, And when women 245 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: do it, we're like, she should be grateful that she's 246 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: got a medal, She should smile, You should smile more so. 247 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I think there's a range of dumb shits 248 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: and cool people who will let any kind of person male, female, 249 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: non binary be the full expression of themselves, and then 250 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: there are people who are going to be assholes either way. 251 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: But I do think at least we're really trying to 252 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: acknowledge how we do that to women in ways that 253 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: have changed society, and we're not quite there, I think 254 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: in talking about allowing men to feel those things in 255 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: ways that you know aren't restrictive. 256 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, because that it just it made me think a lot, 257 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 4: like we don't allow men to cry normally, and in 258 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 4: sport it. 259 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,439 Speaker 3: Is okay, even fans self allow. 260 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 4: Women to be aggressive competitive and in sport it's sometimes 261 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 4: okay yeah, but not always. And I think it's just fascinating. 262 00:11:57,960 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 4: I think we have a long way to go in 263 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 4: both ye, in both sides of the equation, like greed 264 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 4: to allow people to express their full range of emotions 265 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 4: and sports should be a safe place to do that. 266 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 4: And I think we can still work on that. And 267 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 4: so I think absolutely on both sides, on both. 268 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 3: Sides, and that's something that the Olympics can help with. 269 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 1: We got to take a quick break plenty more with 270 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: Jesse Diggins coming up right after this. In your experience 271 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 1: at the Olympics, how much do the athletes talk to 272 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: each other, either comparing their experience in terms of like 273 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: demands of the sport or timing of their events, Like, 274 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: oh man, you get to go first week and then 275 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: spend the rest of the time partying, or oh, my 276 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: events last and I have lots of time to get 277 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,080 Speaker 1: settled and prepare and get on the time schedule. Or 278 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: you got to walk in the opening ceremony, Oh I 279 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: didn't because my event was at the same time, Like 280 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,479 Speaker 1: how much is that sort of like comparing? 281 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 4: I mean, to some degree, there's I mean, for me anyway, 282 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 4: I can't talk for anyone else. But our sport is 283 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 4: very interesting because we compete the very first day and 284 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 4: the very. 285 00:13:09,559 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 3: Last day and many days in between. 286 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 4: Right, So we have six different events, everything from a 287 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,959 Speaker 4: sprint to a marathon, and the marathon's last and the 288 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 4: scathons first, and so for us, a lot of it 289 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 4: it's like maybe you don't get to go in opening 290 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 4: ceremonies if you race and compete the next day. And 291 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 4: that's for a lot of athletes, so you know, like, Okay, 292 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 4: I'm not the only one in this boat. 293 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 3: I'm not the only person. 294 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,079 Speaker 4: So in that way, it's helpful to compare, like I'm 295 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:36,959 Speaker 4: not the only one going through this. Like, yes, I 296 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 4: would love always march and opening ceremonies. It is the 297 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 4: experience of a lifetime, and I'm glad I went when 298 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 4: I was young and I could because I probably won't 299 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 4: be able to do this next games. 300 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 3: But I'm not going to be the only one. 301 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 4: And at the same time, you also see athletes being 302 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 4: able to go to all these different events and cheer, 303 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 4: and I just felt happy that they were able to 304 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 4: do that. On the one hand, I felt so lucky 305 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 4: that I was able to come in so many events. 306 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 3: What an absolute gift. And of course, this little part 307 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 3: of me is like I. 308 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 4: Would love to someday experience the Olympics when I'm not 309 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 4: happy to focus every single second of every single day 310 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 4: for three weeks straight. 311 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,080 Speaker 3: But I'll get there. Someday. 312 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,320 Speaker 4: I'll go as a spectator and I will experience it 313 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 4: to my heart's content, and I'll go to every event 314 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 4: and cheer for everyone. And I can have that experience later. 315 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 4: But right now, I have to lock it in, and 316 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 4: I have to lock it in for three weeks straight, 317 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,920 Speaker 4: and so I think a lot of it. Instead of comparing, 318 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,080 Speaker 4: it's more like this is just what I have to. 319 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 2: Do right now, just the reality of it. I do love, though, 320 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 2: Like your dream is. 321 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: To go to the Olympics as a spectator, it's a 322 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: lot easier to do than what you're doing, which most 323 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: of us will dream of and never get to do. 324 00:14:43,840 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: You know, I want to ask you about the post 325 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: Olympic letdown because for people, even when they win, even 326 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: gold medalists, will say that they have this feeling after 327 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: the Olympics that they can't shake. And for those who 328 00:14:58,320 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: are of course seconds off of the podium or don't 329 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: achieve the things they want, that's more understandable. 330 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 2: It's still heartbreaking but understandable. 331 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: But can you explain to us the psychology or help 332 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: us try to understand why even those who achieve their 333 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,720 Speaker 1: dream and win it all still sometimes have that feeling. 334 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, so even when I was a little kid. 335 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 4: You remember, like when you're a little kid and you 336 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 4: go to you're like your best friend's birthday party and 337 00:15:21,160 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 4: it's a sleepover, and you get really excited and you've 338 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 4: been looking forward to this. You stay up all night 339 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 4: and you're totally jazz and you're like hyped up on sugar, 340 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 4: and then you come home and the next day just 341 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:33,840 Speaker 4: kind of sucks because you're not with all your friends 342 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 4: and you're not doing this cool thing, and the thing 343 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 4: that you've been looking forward to is over. Like my 344 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 4: mom used to call that the post party blues. 345 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, well a lot of people say it for their wedding, 346 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: and I had it with my wedding. You spend a 347 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: year planning and it's so awesome, but then it's over 348 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 1: and you're like instead of like, Oh, wedded bliss, you're like, oh, 349 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: but that's it. I don't get to do that again. 350 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,119 Speaker 1: Probably if you're lucky. 351 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 4: And whether or not it was the you know, your 352 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 4: wedding best of your life, amazing, everything goes perfectly, you 353 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 4: still have this letdown of like, oh, man, like I 354 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 4: just got to have all of my loved ones right 355 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 4: here and everyone's celebrating and have the best time, and like, 356 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 4: now it's over. 357 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 3: That's that's challenging. 358 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 4: And so imagine you're not just you plan a wedding 359 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 4: for a year, maybe two years, but imagine that you 360 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:27,600 Speaker 4: have trained four or more years for one thing, one event, 361 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 4: one experience, one Olympics. So it's not just oh, I've 362 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 4: been looking forward to this for weeks or months. 363 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 3: I've been training my whole life. 364 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 4: To get to this moment, and there's all this hype 365 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 4: and all this pressure in the world is watching and 366 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 4: then it's just like boom, over, gone, done, and there's 367 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 4: this vacuum. And so in many ways, I think we're 368 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 4: very lucky in cross country skiing because we have a 369 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 4: normal World Cup season that we return to and finish up, 370 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:59,160 Speaker 4: so we have a little bit of this this kind 371 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 4: of ramp down. It's not just falling off a cliff. 372 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 4: You kind of had this gentle come down of like, Okay. 373 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 4: In many ways that's very challenging because you're pretty burnt out. 374 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 4: But in many ways it's awesome because you're like, all right, 375 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 4: I'm going to go back to the World Cup. 376 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,960 Speaker 1: It's another goal, it's another thing to focus on. Because 377 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,199 Speaker 1: that's part of it too, I think, is like you 378 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,920 Speaker 1: have something to focus on and work towards, and when 379 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,400 Speaker 1: that's gone, it's like, well, what's. 380 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:23,000 Speaker 2: My purpose now? 381 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: And I've even heard athletes say like if I spent 382 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 1: my whole life, I thought when I won the gold 383 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: it would change me or get rid of my problems, 384 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: And what I realized was being a gold medalist doesn't 385 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:35,640 Speaker 1: change the other things in my life that I want 386 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:36,479 Speaker 1: to fix or work on. 387 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 2: I've heard a lot of athletes talk about. 388 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: That, and so yeah, I get it. I get that 389 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: letdown is tough. We have to take another quick break. 390 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: The conclusion of my conversation with Jesse is coming up. 391 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: We only have a few more minutes, so let's do 392 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: a quick speed round. Favorite Olympic memory from competing. 393 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 3: Oh, I mean, I have to say winning the gold medal. 394 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: I mean decent, It sounds decent. Yeah, favorite Olympic memory watching? 395 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 4: Oh man, there's a lot I gotta say. I think 396 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 4: just being ready to go on deck for the relay, 397 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 4: but watching my teammates, so seeing everyone put their heart 398 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:26,720 Speaker 4: and soul into it, and just knowing like I'm a 399 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 4: part of this, Like I trained with them, I helped 400 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 4: push them and look at them go like. 401 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 3: I felt like the cool crowd they're duckling. 402 00:18:33,359 --> 00:18:36,400 Speaker 1: Like watching I love the Okay, you have to start 403 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 1: training today to try to compete in the twenty twenty 404 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: eight Summer Olympics. 405 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 2: What sport do you have the best shot at making 406 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:42,719 Speaker 2: it in? 407 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh, realistically, like, is very long distance trail 408 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 4: running a thing? 409 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:52,640 Speaker 3: Yet in the second case. 410 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: No, I don't believe. So you gotta go, Marathon, you 411 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: gotta go. I'm not thousand meters, not the faster runner. 412 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 3: I guess I would say swimming, okay. 413 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,959 Speaker 1: All right, And then last question, we've seen a lot 414 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: of athletes pin trading. Are there any other traditions that 415 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: are common for the athletes at the games or like 416 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 1: things that we don't see behind the scene that would 417 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: be like heartwarming about what the athletes do to like 418 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: memorialize their experience or commemorate I guess not memorialize. 419 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 2: It's not dead. 420 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 4: Say the pin trading is so real and they're actually 421 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 4: like a currency. 422 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 3: People don't know this. 423 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,080 Speaker 4: You miss a bus, you need to ride, give a 424 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:35,000 Speaker 4: volunteer pin, you'll get there. I'm just saying like pins 425 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 4: are like a like prisons. 426 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 3: Like you want the pins, do not give them away. 427 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,119 Speaker 4: But I think one of the things is how people 428 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 4: decorate their rooms, because the rooms are usually pretty bland 429 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:50,320 Speaker 4: because they're going to renovate and sell them with krondos 430 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 4: later or something. Right, So I always get pictures of 431 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 4: friends and family and have a bunch of cards and 432 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 4: posters that you know, like my high school cross ki 433 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,120 Speaker 4: team would sign this giant poster and I would bring 434 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:05,199 Speaker 4: it to the games and with all these signatures of 435 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 4: all these kids, and it would be right above my bed. 436 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,600 Speaker 4: So you remember who you're racing for and why you've 437 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 4: worked so hard and so I think one of the 438 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,720 Speaker 4: really heartwarming things that you don't see is the little 439 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 4: things like that, like how athletes like take their friends 440 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 4: and family with them into the games. 441 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 1: Ah. I love that, Jesse. This was such incredible perspective. 442 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: We can't wait to watch you compete again. Good luck 443 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: on the training, good luck on your next season, and 444 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:30,800 Speaker 1: thanks so much for spending some time with us. 445 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks for having me. 446 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: We hope you enjoyed that conversation with Jesse Diggins. Tomorrow 447 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: will be revisiting another favorite convo from twenty twenty four, 448 00:20:41,119 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: this one with former pro cyclist, activist, author, and filmmaker 449 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:49,440 Speaker 1: Catherine Bertein. See You then, Good Game with Sarah Spain 450 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 1: is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep 451 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,439 Speaker 1: Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the 452 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 453 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: Production by Wonder Media Network, our producers are Alex Azzie 454 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: and Misha Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, 455 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan, and Emily Rudder. 456 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:08,359 Speaker 2: Our editors are Emily Rutterer. 457 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:12,240 Speaker 1: Britney Martinez, Grace Lynch, and Lindsay Cratowell. Production assistants from 458 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: Lucy Jones and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain.