1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Good Game with Sarah Spain, where any and 2 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,240 Speaker 1: all interactions between Juju Watkins and Dinah Tarassi shall henceforth 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: be known as bunclaves. It's Wednesday, December seventeenth, and on 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: today's show will be bringing you producer Alex's conversation with 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: nineteen time Paralympic medalist Oksana Masters, who's aiming to compete 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: in her eighth Paralympic Games this March in Italy. She 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: discusses how she's persevered through dozens of injuries and surgeries 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: to become the most decorated Winter Paralympian in US history, 9 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,760 Speaker 1: her caffeine fueled goals for life after competition, and her 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: advice to up and coming competitors even though. 11 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: She wouldn't follow it herself. 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: Plus labor divisions expand skipping it to the button and 13 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 1: honoring a Brazilian legend with a flick and a kick. 14 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: It's all coming up right after this welcome back slices. 15 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: Here's what you need to know today. Let's start with 16 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: the WNBA friend of the show, Ben Pickman of the 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: Athletics reported on Monday that the league and its players 18 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: Association remain very far apart in their ongoing labor negotiations, 19 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: and the sticking point remains revenue sharing. The players are 20 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: asking for more than double the share of revenue that 21 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,919 Speaker 1: was most recently proposed by the league. In addition, Pickman 22 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: reported that the Players Association is proposed that teams be 23 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,039 Speaker 1: allowed to sign two developmental players who could appear in 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: up to ten games per season, with those players entitled 25 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: to receive a stipend and full benefits. Other negotiations sticking 26 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 1: points include parental leave for non birthing parents. The current 27 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: CBA doesn't include leave for these players, but the PA 28 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: has proposed four weeks of paid parental leave in the 29 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: new agreement, while the league has proposed just one week. 30 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: Will link to Ben's full report in the show notes. 31 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 2: More hoops. 32 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,279 Speaker 1: The Toronto Tempo announced it sold out all season ticket 33 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: memberships for its inaugural season in twenty twenty six, and 34 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, the expansion franchise unveiled its uniforms, which feature 35 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: the team's signature colors Borealis blue and Tempo Bordeaux, and 36 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: detail like six speed lines down the sides, representing the 37 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: five players on the court and the sixth player the fans. 38 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: We'll link to photos of the uniforms and the meaning 39 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: behind the details in the show notes. 40 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 2: You can check them out for yourself. 41 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: More basketball news, Unrivaled has announced that Satu Sabli has 42 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: been ruled out of playing in the off season three 43 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: v three league indefinitely as she continues to recover from 44 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: a concussion she sustained during the WNBA Finals. Valkyrie's guard 45 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Tiffany Hayes has been signed to replace Sobly on the Phantom. 46 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: Hayes played for Lace's BC last season. Even more hoops news, 47 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: we've got an update on Deerica Hamby's lawsuit against the 48 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: Las Vegas Aces, which she filed back in August twenty 49 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: twenty four. You may remember Hamby alleged she was mistreated 50 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: after she revealed she was pregnant, and that the Aces 51 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: retaliated against her by trading her to the Los Angeles Sparks. 52 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: Per a federal court filing from last week, Hamby and 53 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 1: the Aces have mutually agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. Hamby 54 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 1: told Brunt Office Sports she couldn't discuss the outcome of 55 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 1: the case, but that when it comes to her original 56 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: complaint quote, I stand by what I said end quote. 57 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: We'll link to the full story from Front Office Sports 58 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: in the Show Notes to Hockey, and three games on 59 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: the docket tonight in the p WHL, including the league 60 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: leading Boston Fleet pay a visit to the New York Sirens. 61 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: Boston has doubled up the next closest team in points 62 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 1: in the standings with twelve points. Early in this third 63 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: p WHL season, Montreal, Toronto, Minnesota, and New York all 64 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 1: sat at six points. Vancouver has five, Seattle four, and 65 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 1: Ottawa is currently at the bottom of the standings with three. 66 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 1: We'll link to a full PWHL schedule in the Show 67 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: Notes to Soccer. The annual FIFA The Best Awards saw 68 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 1: Spain's Itana bon Maati secure the Women's Player of the 69 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: Year award for the third straight time, while Lionessa's coach 70 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: Serena Veiegman received the Women's Coach of the Year award 71 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: for the fifth time after guiding England's national team to 72 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: back to back euro titles. The most noteworthy thing to 73 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: come out of these awards a FIFA Best Eleven that 74 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: saw representation from just two teams Spain and England. Seven 75 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: Spaniards and four Brits were named to the team, shutting 76 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: out US Women's national team players and WSL players and 77 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: athletes from other leagues and national teams. An interesting wrinkle 78 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 1: to consider here is something Front of the Show and 79 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: soccer journalist Meg Linahan pointed out on Blue Sky, writing, quote, 80 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: player salaries should definitely be influenced by award lists. 81 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: What could go wrong? End quote? 82 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: Sporting benchmarks like FIFA awards are among the criteria that 83 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 1: will be used to determine the quote unquote high impact 84 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: players who will be eligible for higher salaries via the 85 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: new NWSL roster mechanism I told you about in yesterday's show. 86 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: More FIFA Awards. The twenty twenty five Marta Award, named 87 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: for the Brazilian legend and given to the player responsible 88 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: for the best goal in women's soccer, was given to 89 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 1: Jacqueline Ouvalier, a teammate of Martaz since signing with the 90 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 1: Orlando Pride in August. Ovalier won the award for a 91 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: goal she scored for her previous club, Tigris, in a 92 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: game against Guadalajara back in March. This is just the 93 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 1: second year of the Marta Award. The Brazilian Legend herself 94 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: took home the honor last year thank to a video 95 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,559 Speaker 1: of Vovalier's trophy winning goal in the show notes, along 96 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 1: with a compilation of all eleven goals that made the 97 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 1: shortlist for the award. Speaking of Marta, one of the 98 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: best to ever play the game, is set to get 99 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: her own bio pick. The project is set to start 100 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: Brazilian actress Alice Carvalio. We're still waiting on more details, 101 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: including the film's projected release date. To the track Grand 102 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: Slam Track, the Michael Johnson led Track League filed for 103 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: bankruptcy earlier this month, and on Monday, as part of 104 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: its bankruptcy proceedings, the league submitted a list of the 105 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: parties it owes money to, including athletes Sidney McLaughlin Lavroni, 106 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: who's owed more than three hundred and fifty six thousand dollars, 107 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: and Gabby Thomas, who's due more than two hundred and 108 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: forty nine thousand. Grand Slam Track launched earlier this year 109 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: with the goal of revolutionizing professional track events and rewarding 110 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: top athletes, but the league held just three meets in April, 111 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: May and June before pulling the plug on the fourth 112 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: meet of the season. We'll link to a story in 113 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: the Athletic with more detail about the league's collapse and 114 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: the money owed to athletes, vendors, and more to the 115 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: winter sports world that a few Olympic storylines were following 116 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: as the Milan Cortina Games get closer. First, in curling, 117 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: the US secured a spot in the Women's Olympic Tournament, 118 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 1: with Team Peterson, led by skip Tabitha Peterson and sister Tara, 119 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: defeating a Norwegian quartet over the weekend, and it was 120 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: a nail biting path to qualification. While most Olympic spots 121 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: were booked up at the World Championships in twenty twenty 122 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: four and twenty five, the US didn't finish well enough 123 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: at either competition to lock up a berth, thus resulting 124 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: in Team Peterson needing to attend a last chance Olympic 125 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: qualification event last week in Canada. The tournament began with 126 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: an eight team round robin, and Team Peterson just barely 127 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: squeaked out of that portion of the competition, clinching the 128 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: third and final spot to move into the playoff round. Then, 129 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: in their winner go home playoff against Norway, they went 130 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: down early three nothing in the second end, but pulled 131 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: off an eight to four comeback to clinch the tenth 132 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: and final Olympic berth Tabitha Intara Peterson competed together at 133 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: both the twenty eighteen and twenty twenty two Winter Olympics, 134 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: placing eighth and twenty eighteen as members of Team Roth 135 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: and fourth in twenty twenty two as members of Team Peterson. 136 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 1: More Winter Sports News friend of the Show Britney Bow, 137 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: along with Mia Manganello and Georgia Berkland, won silver in 138 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: the team pursuit at this past weekend's World Cup stop 139 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: in Norway, finishing second to Canada. Bo also had a 140 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: promising showing in both the one thousand meter event, finishing 141 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: fourth and the fifteen hundred meter finishing fifth. 142 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 2: Up next in the World of speed Skating US. 143 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: Olympic Trials in early January, where athletes will look to 144 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: book their tickets to Italy. 145 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 2: All right, seisas. 146 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: Before we get to Alex's interview with Oksana Masters from 147 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: the Team USA summit in October, wanted to give you 148 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: a little background info on Masters in case you're not 149 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: familiar with her story. She was born in nineteen eighty 150 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: nine in what is now Ukraine, with multiple birth defects 151 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:49,560 Speaker 1: due to radiation poisoning. In her memoir The Hard Parts, 152 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: she writes from the perspective of a young Oaksana quote, 153 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: my left leg is shorter than my right by six inches, 154 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: and it arcs in a sea shape. I have six 155 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: toes on each foot, a fact that I'm quite proud of, 156 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: and my feet are different sizes. My hands are different too, 157 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: each with five fingers instead of a thumb, and all webbed. 158 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: She continues, quote, I was also born missing the enamel 159 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: on my teeth, part of my stomach, my right biceps, 160 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: and one kidney. The other kidney sits in the wrong 161 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: spot in my body. At five, I don't grasp that 162 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,920 Speaker 1: my mother was exposed to the horrific amounts of radiation 163 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: that settled on this part of Ukraine in the wake 164 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: of the Chernobyl explosion, that I'm one of the countless 165 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: children whose inheritance from this disaster is birth defects. Nor 166 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,079 Speaker 1: do I know the reasons my parents gave me up 167 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: end quote. Oaksana spent the first seven years of her 168 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: life bouncing between orphanages, enduring trauma and abuse as she 169 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: waded through a moratorium on international adoptions for the woman 170 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: who would eventually adopt her her mother Gay. She underwent 171 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: multiple surgeries while in Ukraine, followed by dozens more after 172 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: she was adopted by Gay and moved to the United States, 173 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: including the amputation of both legs above the knee. Masters 174 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: made her Paralympic debut at the twenty twelve London Games, 175 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 1: competing in rowing and winning bronze in the mixed double 176 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 1: skulls event with Rob Jones, a veteran of the US 177 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: Marine Corps who had lost both his legs and an 178 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: ied explosion in Afghanistan. Masters eventually had to give up 179 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,520 Speaker 1: rowing due to a back injury, but she continued her 180 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: athletic career in the summer sport of cycling and the 181 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 1: winter sports of cross country skiing and biathlon. 182 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 2: She is already the most decorated US. 183 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: Winter Paralympian of all time with fourteen medals, a record 184 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: that she could build on this March in Italy. Still, 185 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,680 Speaker 1: it's been a tough path back to the Paralympics for Masters, 186 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 1: who missed the entire twenty twenty four to twenty five 187 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:37,080 Speaker 1: season due to multiple injuries, including a bone infection in 188 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: her leg that kept her from being able to wear. 189 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 2: Her prosthetic leg for four months. 190 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,680 Speaker 1: All right, now that you're caught up on Master's background, 191 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: let's talk about her future. Alex conversation with Oaksana is 192 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: coming up right after the break. 193 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 3: Joining US now. 194 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,720 Speaker 4: She is a multi sport phenom in the post decorated 195 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 4: US Winter Paralympian of all time. Since making her Paralympic 196 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 4: debut in twenty twelve, she has gone on to compete 197 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 4: at seven Paralympics, winning a total of nineteen medals across 198 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 4: four different sports, cross country skiing and biathlon in the winter, 199 00:10:12,559 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 4: and cycling and rowing in the summer. In twenty twenty two, 200 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 4: she became the first American to win seven medals at 201 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,080 Speaker 4: a single Paralympic Games. She's the author of The Hard Parts, 202 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 4: a memoir of courage and triumph, which came out in 203 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 4: twenty twenty three. Her fiance and fellow paralympian Aaron Pike, 204 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 4: refuses to play the board game risk with her because 205 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,080 Speaker 4: she's too competitive. And you might think you love coffee, 206 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 4: but I can guarantee she loves it more. 207 00:10:34,080 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 3: It's Soaksana Masters, Hi, thank you. 208 00:10:37,040 --> 00:10:39,280 Speaker 4: I'd love to start with your athletic beginnings for folks 209 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 4: that are maybe less familiar with your story. Can you 210 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 4: take us back to just how you got your start 211 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 4: playing sports as a kid. 212 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, as a kid, I really I was always active 213 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 5: as a kid, but I wouldn't say that I was 214 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,959 Speaker 5: playing sports as a kid. My journey in sports really 215 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,439 Speaker 5: started was when I was adopted in Ukraine, went to Buffalo, 216 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 5: New York. I skated a little bit, but it was 217 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 5: not for competition. And then from Buffalo moved to Louisville, Kentucky. 218 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 5: And then when I was thirteen, at the Louisville Debt, 219 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,840 Speaker 5: the rowing Club, I was invited to try it. And 220 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 5: that's kind of where my sporting world started, was on 221 00:11:13,920 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 5: the water on the Ohio River in Kentucky. 222 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 4: I mentioned in your intro that you're competitive at board game, 223 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 4: competitive at life. Were you competitive before being introduced to 224 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 4: sport too. 225 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 5: Yes, I'm a very competitive by nature. I mean, I'm 226 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 5: just competitive in anything I do. And I think because 227 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,240 Speaker 5: I want to. I'm competitive within myself. I want to 228 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 5: hold myself at a higher level. I'm like, Okay, these 229 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:36,280 Speaker 5: eggs were not good enough. I know I can do better. First, 230 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:38,560 Speaker 5: I didn't even know the Paralympics was a thing, and 231 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 5: I could be an athlete, and so I didn't really 232 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 5: see myself as competing, and because of my competitive nature 233 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 5: in any time that I was we were doing a 234 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 5: little bit of races. They saw that how competitive I 235 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 5: was when I was young and had a potential to 236 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 5: go to the Paralympic Games, and so when they asked 237 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,959 Speaker 5: about that and brought that up, I fell in love 238 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 5: with the idea of representing something so much more than myself, 239 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 5: like your whole country, but then also competing against the best, 240 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 5: and that really just brought out more the competitiveness and 241 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 5: me with. 242 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 4: Your competitiveness as it stands in twenty twenty five, how 243 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 4: much of it is I want to be the best 244 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 4: in the world versus like I want to be the 245 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 4: best Oaksauna. 246 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 5: It's mainly I want to be the best Olksanna. I 247 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 5: want to be better. Then I feel bad because like 248 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 5: sometimes my fiance Aaron, He's and my teammates are like, 249 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 5: well you just you dealing with injuries right now, and 250 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 5: they're like, well you've done look what you've done in 251 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 5: the past, and it's not like yesterday's was yesterday's race. 252 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 5: I want to be the best today, not in the 253 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 5: best me, not the most decorated. I didn't even know 254 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 5: that what's even a thing that I could have been. 255 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 5: Obviously as a competitor and the training that I'm doing, 256 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:51,719 Speaker 5: it's that fine line of being the best, but then 257 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 5: also as far as leaving the legacy and stuff like that, 258 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 5: I want to be the best me, the best version 259 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 5: of myself, more than the best competitor out there. Because 260 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 5: a world records best competitors, there's always a new version 261 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 5: coming up, and that's I think the key. If I 262 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 5: focus on myself and you focus on yourself being the 263 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 5: better version, you're gonna constantly just naturally be the hopefully. 264 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 3: Hopefully make it go out. 265 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 6: Yeah. 266 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, So let's set the scene. You're currently in the 267 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 4: process of gearing up for the Milan Quartina Paralympics, getting 268 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 4: underway in just a few short months. But the past 269 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 4: year was really tough for you with multiple surgeries. 270 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 3: Time away from the snow, can you kind. 271 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,199 Speaker 4: Of catch us up on what the last year has 272 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:34,720 Speaker 4: looked like and how you're doing right now. 273 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 5: The last year has been very challenging. It was to 274 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:40,680 Speaker 5: go from the biggest high from Paris twenty twenty four 275 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 5: to missing the whole winter season due to health reasons. 276 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 5: So I had an infection in my leg that turned 277 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 5: went into my bone, so then I had to miss 278 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 5: all that, and it turned to trying to save my 279 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 5: leg and make sure the infection didn't go past where 280 00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:59,719 Speaker 5: I would have to amputate higher. And then right as 281 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 5: I was about to do the cross Country Sprint World Championships. 282 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 5: It was in February, so I was kind of aiming 283 00:14:06,559 --> 00:14:07,880 Speaker 5: for that, knowing I wasn't going. 284 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 6: To be my best, but I wanted to just see 285 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 6: what I could do with what I. 286 00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 5: Had trained indoors for two weeks, and because I was 287 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 5: the defending champions, I wanted to try defend that. Five 288 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 5: minutes before my start line, I get in a crash 289 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 5: and I get a hairline fractory in my rib, and 290 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 5: that took me out entirely for that season. This summer, 291 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,280 Speaker 5: I started training, got the clear to finally start training again, 292 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 5: and I injured my hand packing and dislocated my finger 293 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 5: in that process and need a whole ligament repair on 294 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 5: my finger, which is being a biathlete, which is cross 295 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 5: country skiing and biathlon. That's my trigger finger and my 296 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 5: bolting finger. So I missed a whole summer of training 297 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 5: in a winter season of training and racing. 298 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 6: This is not the. 299 00:14:54,200 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 5: Most ideal way to enter the game cycle. But my 300 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 5: mom and my family and I were saying, like, well, 301 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 5: you've never really had a smooth sailing going into it, 302 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 5: so like you probably wouldn't know what to do if 303 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 5: you did, so this is probably good. 304 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 6: Your body knows what to do, so trying to make 305 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,479 Speaker 6: light of it, but it is a little bit scary. 306 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 3: For elite athletes in general. 307 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 4: Surgery can be a fact of life, right you break 308 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 4: a bone, you tear an acl you have surgery. But 309 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 4: in your case, some of it is sport related surgery, 310 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 4: but some of it is just human body oksana surgery. Yeah, 311 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 4: and I'm curious kind of how you can septualize the 312 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 4: distinction of those two things as you think of yourself 313 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 4: as an athlete, because it seems to me on the outside, 314 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 4: like a lot of Olympic athletes right, like they do 315 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,720 Speaker 4: everything they can to avoid injury, avoid surgery, But for you, 316 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 4: you have a lot less control over those things. 317 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 318 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 5: I think because the way I came into this world, 319 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 5: my health was never guaranteed. 320 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 6: From the start. 321 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 5: All I know is surgery in Ukraine, I had seven surgeries. 322 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 5: They didn't use anesthesia because they didn't have it, so 323 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 5: I'm my body. My first experiences was that's kind of 324 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 5: I know what to expect. The difference was when I 325 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 5: had my first sport injury. Yes, you try to avoid 326 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,640 Speaker 5: it and train to prevent it. But the beauty, I 327 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 5: guess or blessing in disguise going through all the other 328 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 5: things that caused my body to naturally just have surgeries 329 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 5: from birth off acts. I know the recovery. I know 330 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 5: what it's like to have stitches, staples and you can't 331 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 5: rush it and it's all a mindset. And for me, 332 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 5: I think it was kind of weird because I actually 333 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 5: got to choose those scars like it's from something I 334 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 5: like pushed my body for and it's what I want. Yes, 335 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 5: as an athlete, I'm avoiding injuries, especially trying to time it. 336 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 5: If you do have an injury, don't time it two 337 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 5: weeks before the game, sure for sure, or the year 338 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:55,840 Speaker 5: of the games. But I also know that some accidents 339 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 5: are just dumb. But I'm pushing my body. I'm pushing 340 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 5: my limits. I just have to get don't do it 341 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 5: as consistently kind of thing. But yeah, it's it's challenging 342 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 5: for sure, and even though I've had so many, I 343 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 5: think the sport ones are the hardest ones to recover 344 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 5: from because there is a timeline in recovery and I 345 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 5: have incredible care team, and so whenever I do have 346 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 5: a sport injury and surgery from it, the recovery process 347 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 5: isn't normal from what it would be if I wasn't competing, 348 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 5: So everything's just accelerated. So I'm pushing those boundaries a 349 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,959 Speaker 5: little bit safely more to get back to that start line. 350 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,560 Speaker 6: But yeah, it's not ideal. 351 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 4: Well, I think in the years I've covered Olympic and 352 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 4: Paralympic sports, there are very few athletes that compare to 353 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,359 Speaker 4: you in terms of your willingness to fight through pain, 354 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 4: what you've overcome to get the start line. I still 355 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 4: think back to the twenty eighteen Paralympics when you would 356 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 4: fracture to your elbow just weeks before, fought through still 357 00:17:55,600 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 4: won five medals in one event. You ended up withdrawing, 358 00:17:58,160 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 4: and I don't know if I've ever seen you cry 359 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 4: as much as there. You were so distraught to have 360 00:18:02,560 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 4: not finished, let alone finish on the podium. And I'm 361 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,080 Speaker 4: curious as you think back on those moments that you 362 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 4: have truly fought through pain that a lot of people 363 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 4: would not be able to deal with in general, let 364 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,640 Speaker 4: alone in the sporting competition. Are there any times where 365 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 4: you're like, man, I shouldn't have fought through or are 366 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 4: you proud that you always fought through in those moments. 367 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 5: It's it's so hard because like hindsight's twenty twenty, but 368 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 5: then it can go in so many different ways because 369 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 5: in twenty eighteen, the risk was if you race on 370 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 5: this elbow, you'll lose some functions. And it's not just 371 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 5: about you might not have the best race. We have 372 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:40,840 Speaker 5: to think about you have to make the decision for 373 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 5: quality of life afterwards. And as a double above me emput, 374 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 5: I'm using my hands for everything, and also my hands 375 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:52,439 Speaker 5: are have their impairments also, so the surgery that I 376 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 5: had and then coming back from it afterwards, I too 377 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 5: and they were saying, if you race on it, just 378 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 5: know these are the risks and that you're okay with it. 379 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:06,400 Speaker 5: And I didn't see it until about six months afterwards, 380 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 5: and I have like severe nerve damage and muscle weakness 381 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,959 Speaker 5: that I did not know would affect me going forward, 382 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 5: I thought it was something that, Okay, there's another injury 383 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 5: I'll just recover from. So I guess in that sense 384 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 5: maybe not pushing it, but at the same time I 385 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 5: did walk away with those metals and that I did 386 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 5: end up getting my first gold medal after that race 387 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,239 Speaker 5: where I reinjured it fell and had to withdraw, And 388 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 5: so I can look at it as if I didn't 389 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 5: do this, I would maybe have longevity of use of 390 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:43,159 Speaker 5: my hand a little longer down the line, just quality 391 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 5: of life. But then if I also didn't do it, 392 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 5: I wouldn't be a gold medalist in twenty eighteen and 393 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 5: would still And I think for me it's technology and 394 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 5: medicine is amazing. 395 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 6: I already have no legs. What's another injury and another scar? 396 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 6: So like, why not it on? I'll find a way 397 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:01,679 Speaker 6: to adapt. 398 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 5: I don't want to live my life of what if 399 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 5: I didn't do it, or what if I did do it, 400 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:10,920 Speaker 5: what could have happened? And I think for me, the 401 00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 5: thing the difference was I got to choose that instead 402 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 5: of for so many parts of my life, a lot 403 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 5: of the scars, a lot of the surgeries, a lot 404 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,639 Speaker 5: of my memories, I did never had control over, so 405 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 5: there was I think, as long as I know the risks, 406 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:30,200 Speaker 5: I don't. 407 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,199 Speaker 6: Really feel too bad about. I shouldn't have pushed it 408 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 6: that hard. 409 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:36,920 Speaker 4: Are there any times where a younger athlete has come 410 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 4: to you kind of in a maybe not the same 411 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,719 Speaker 4: situation obviously, but like a similar situation and you've had 412 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 4: to give advice on like whether it's. 413 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 5: Recovery not I would tell them absolutely, do not race. 414 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,640 Speaker 5: Do not race one hundred percent. No, especially depending where 415 00:20:49,640 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 5: they are in their career, if they're just starting out 416 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 5: and they have their whole entire career ahead. I think 417 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 5: there's a time to know what's doable and you kind 418 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 5: of know it in your body, a little bit of 419 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 5: what is that fine line the minute you're questioning that, 420 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,160 Speaker 5: I think that's what you learned to listen to and 421 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 5: fight for that inner voice. Don't diminish that inner voice. 422 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 5: And that's what I would say to that younger athlete 423 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 5: and newer athlete of And we have an athlete on 424 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 5: the team that just has some surgery and stuff like that, 425 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 5: I'm like, girl, don't push it right now, Like this 426 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 5: is just these are other things that you can do 427 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 5: that are so much more valuable that we don't know 428 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 5: until we're in a place of needing to recover and 429 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:32,040 Speaker 5: insurger after surgery and things like that. 430 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 6: That and especially with like. 431 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 5: Mindfulness and visualization and how much I've always done that, 432 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 5: but it's become more in the front ro sea of 433 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:47,320 Speaker 5: the conversation of athletes too, and the value in that, 434 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:48,639 Speaker 5: And that's what I would say. 435 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 4: It reminds me a little of a conversation I once 436 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 4: had with Olympic cross country skier Jesse Diggins, where she 437 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 4: had competed while sick and she knew she was a 438 00:21:57,840 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 4: role model to so many people, and she was like, 439 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,120 Speaker 4: I made a decision for myself to compete well sick, 440 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:04,879 Speaker 4: and yet I don't want younger athletes to see that 441 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 4: and be like, well, if Jesse does it, I have 442 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 4: to do it too. And it's this really hard thing 443 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 4: of being able to make a decision for yourself that 444 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:12,680 Speaker 4: you maybe wouldn't recommend to somebody else. 445 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 6: And I think that's the difference. Yeah, it is. 446 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,120 Speaker 5: It is weird, right, because it's like, well, why would 447 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 5: you not recommend it if you're not following and walking 448 00:22:20,119 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 5: that path either. But I think there's so many things 449 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 5: that go into play, and no one's going to know 450 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 5: your body more than you. You know the training you've 451 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 5: led up to it. You know what your limits are 452 00:22:30,880 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 5: and the boundaries are, and if you know the risks 453 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 5: and things like that. But if you're new, if you're 454 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 5: starting out, and you have a whole entire career ahead 455 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,240 Speaker 5: of you, then that's not where And maybe that's. 456 00:22:43,080 --> 00:22:45,679 Speaker 6: What I wish I had a little bit of someone telling. 457 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 5: Me that too, like it's okay, Like I thought Korea 458 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 5: was gonna be my last Winter Games, this is my 459 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,520 Speaker 5: only chance. I was chasing the gold medal and I 460 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 5: wanted to prove to myself that it wasn't. It didn't 461 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 5: become for like fighting for the gold medal. It just 462 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:01,919 Speaker 5: I wanted to see what can I do with what 463 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 5: I've been given? And that's kind of been the motto 464 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 5: of my life a little bit too. But you don't 465 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 5: just because Jesse did it, and I know because she 466 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 5: fights through a lot of pain too, and she has 467 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 5: an injury as well right now, and I'm one of 468 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 5: those people that I look up to her too. I'm like, okay, 469 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 5: well she's going into the pain cave. I need to 470 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 5: go deep down in there too, And with. 471 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 6: X Y Z and things like that. 472 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:27,879 Speaker 5: But I think the biggest thing is follow know yourself 473 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 5: and follow that inner voice of the minute of. 474 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,520 Speaker 6: Doubt with your health. Should I do this? It's probably the. 475 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 3: Answers no, I have to let you go in a minute. 476 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 4: But I want to finish with the question of identity 477 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 4: because I know it's something that a lot of elite 478 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 4: athletes struggle with when the time comes to step away 479 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 4: from sport. And I think sometimes when you're even a 480 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 4: summer winter athlete, you have less time to think about 481 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 4: it too, because you're just bouncing back and forth one 482 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 4: sport to another. But I'm curious if it is a 483 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,160 Speaker 4: process that you start thinking about of who am I? 484 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 3: If I'm not an elite athlete. 485 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:57,959 Speaker 6: Oh, it is. 486 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 5: It's really some I think about every day of who 487 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 5: am I? And that you have to know who you 488 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:05,920 Speaker 5: are to know why you're doing it. And I think 489 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:08,119 Speaker 5: when you know your why of why you're doing it 490 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 5: can kind of set you up for the identity outside 491 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 5: of sport. And it's so important to have that boundary. 492 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 5: I'm not just a skier, I'm not just a team 493 00:24:16,560 --> 00:24:20,080 Speaker 5: USA athlete. I have ambitions to own my own coffee 494 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,480 Speaker 5: shop and have a business outside of this and be 495 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 5: a mom more importantly, and to give back to the 496 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 5: sport and make it better, because I was there for 497 00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 5: the next generation and it is very, very scary for 498 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 5: that transition of what's next, especially when all you know 499 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 5: and all you train for is eat, sleep, train, eat, sleep, trade. 500 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 5: I cannot even tell you days of the week because 501 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:46,600 Speaker 5: all I know is, well, this is interval day, this 502 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 5: is my off day. 503 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 6: I don't know what's a Thursday? 504 00:24:49,560 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, do you have a working title for the coffee 505 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 4: shop yet? 506 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:55,200 Speaker 6: Oh well, one of my favorite drinks is dirty Chai, 507 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 6: so it has to be like a play on with that. 508 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:01,400 Speaker 5: And then Aaron also my fiance, he we love coffee 509 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 5: and our kind of team name unit name we've been 510 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 5: given is Pikesana, so maybe like a play on that. 511 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: Yeah. 512 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:12,920 Speaker 4: Well, good luck with everything in the lead up to Milan, Courtina, 513 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 4: and with everything else you're working on too. 514 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 6: Thank you so much. 515 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Oksana for taking the time and Alex 516 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:24,280 Speaker 1: for another great conversation since sitting down with Alex. In October, 517 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,880 Speaker 1: Oksana returned to World Cup competition for the first time 518 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: in nearly two years. Earlier this month, competing at the 519 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:33,240 Speaker 1: World Cup stop in Canmore, Canada. Masters finished on the 520 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: podium in all three races she entered, winning gold in 521 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:39,560 Speaker 1: the one kilometer sprint and ten kilometer mass start, and 522 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: taking silver in the ten kilometer interval start, a race 523 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,399 Speaker 1: in which she had to make a comeback after she 524 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: crashed off the course in the first thirty seconds. Masters 525 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:49,760 Speaker 1: joked on Instagram after that she had made her debut 526 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:53,560 Speaker 1: and yet another new sport ski jumping. We have to 527 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: take another break when we come back. A note to 528 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:58,439 Speaker 1: the USOPC. He's not our coach. 529 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:07,200 Speaker 2: Welcome back, Slay says. 530 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 1: We love that you're listening, but we want you to 531 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:10,679 Speaker 1: get in the game every day too, So here's our 532 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: good gameplay of the day. Follow Oaksana on social media, 533 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:16,119 Speaker 1: and if you want to learn more about our journey, 534 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: pick up a copy of her book The Hard Parts, 535 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: a memoir of courage and triumph, which we'll link to 536 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 1: in the show notes. We always love to hear from you, 537 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: so hit us up on email good game at wondermedianetwork 538 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:28,400 Speaker 1: dot com or leave us a voicemail at eight seven 539 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:31,920 Speaker 1: two two O four fifty seventy and don't forget to subscribe, 540 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: rate and review. 541 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:35,360 Speaker 2: I tell you every show it's so easy. 542 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,919 Speaker 1: Watch Snoop being named the first ever honorary coach of 543 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: Team USA ahead of the Winter Olympics, rating one of 544 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: one disappointing bigoted sellouts review. The US Olympic and Paralympic 545 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: Committee has named Rapper Snoop. I believe we've dropped the 546 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: dog as an honorary coach who will be an ambassador 547 00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: and supporter for American athletes in the lead up to 548 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 1: and throughout the upcoming Winter Games. In a statement, they claim, 549 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: I'll lend his quote, signature, humor and heart to the team, 550 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,439 Speaker 1: the same heart that he showed when he and his 551 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:07,960 Speaker 1: grandson were watching the movie Light Year this summer, a 552 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: movie which features a same sex couple, and his grandson 553 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 1: asked how two moms could have a baby, recalled Snoop 554 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: on a podcast, He refused to answer, quote, I didn't 555 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:19,160 Speaker 1: come here for this shit. I just came to watch 556 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: the goddamn movie. It's like, I'm scared to go to 557 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 1: the movies. Now y'all thrown me in the middle of 558 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,159 Speaker 1: shit that I don't have an answer for. I'm like, 559 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: what part of the movie was this? These are kids. 560 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,880 Speaker 1: We have to show that at this age, they're going 561 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,120 Speaker 1: to ask questions I don't have the answer. 562 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:34,120 Speaker 2: End quote. 563 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: The good and unsurprising news is that Snoop bound a 564 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,359 Speaker 1: way to monetize his ignorance, partnering with Glad to release 565 00:27:40,400 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 1: an inclusive kid song titled Love Is Love. 566 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 2: It's a banger. I'm sure now listen. 567 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 1: I'm not against people acknowledging their wrongs and trying to 568 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 1: do better. 569 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 2: I'm all for it. 570 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,080 Speaker 1: But you'll forgive me for being a little cynical about 571 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,240 Speaker 1: a dude who sells out so effortlessly. He played at 572 00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: a party celebrating Trump's inauguration, and when rightfully criticized, he said, quote, 573 00:27:59,119 --> 00:28:00,720 Speaker 1: even if I would have done it for him and 574 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: hung out with him and took a picture with him, 575 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: can't none of you motherfuckers tell me what I can 576 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 1: and can't do. Going on quote, I represent the motherfucking 577 00:28:08,480 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: gangster party, period, point blank, and g shit, we don't 578 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,520 Speaker 1: explain shit, he went on, quote, the things that I 579 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 1: do in real life should matter to you more, not 580 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 1: what I do when I'm DJing or making music or 581 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:22,400 Speaker 1: doing this. In that end quote, what a nice fantasy 582 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: world to live in his work and the jobs that 583 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:27,120 Speaker 1: he takes millions of dollars to do aren't real life. 584 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:29,840 Speaker 1: What an easy way to avoid accountability so he can 585 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: just cash in. He also attacked Gail King for mentioning 586 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,360 Speaker 1: Kobe Bryant's past sexual assaults accusation. He defended Bill Cosby, 587 00:28:37,480 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 1: posting hashtag free Bill Cosby, great message for America's team. Yeah, 588 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: and listen, guys, I know that Snoops music is looking awesome, 589 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: and he's charming as hell, and he's exceedingly likable, and 590 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: damn it if I don't get it entirely. But as 591 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:54,320 Speaker 1: we did when Tom Cruise tried to charm us into 592 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:58,600 Speaker 1: forgetting scientology via that dramatic Paris closing ceremony performance, we 593 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: must resist. We must stay strong. Now it's your turn, 594 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: rate and review. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow. Good game, Oaksanna, 595 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: Good game, Team Peterson. You people who can be bought 596 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 1: and sold, grow a spine, have some principles. Good Game 597 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 1: with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports production in 598 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find 599 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. 600 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 2: You get Your Podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network. Our 601 00:29:28,880 --> 00:29:30,600 Speaker 2: producers are alex Azzie. 602 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 1: Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and Lucy Jones. Our executive producers 603 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. 604 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: Our editors are Emily Rudder, Britney Martinez and Gianna Palmer. 605 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:45,400 Speaker 1: Production assistants from Avery Loftus and I'm Your Host Sarah 606 00:29:45,400 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: Spain