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Speaker 1: You know, I didn't start off swimming thinking I was

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Speaker 1: going to wing gold medals or awards or have a

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Speaker 1: Super Bowl commercial. I truly started because it gave me

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Speaker 1: this freedom that nothing else ever could give me. Right

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Speaker 1: every day, I still walk into heavy prosthetics every day.

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Speaker 1: I'm still reminded that I'm an amputee, but in the water,

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Speaker 1: it's still a place that I'm waitless no matter what.

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Speaker 2: Hey, everyone, Emily and Badi coming in with Season fourteen

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Speaker 2: of Hurdle Well this focus podcast where I connect with

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Speaker 2: everyone from your favorite athletes to top experts and industry

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Speaker 2: CEOs about their highest highs, toughest moments, and everything in between.

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Speaker 2: We all go through hurdles in life, and my goal

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Speaker 2: through these discussions is to empower you to better navigate

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Speaker 2: yours and move with intention so that you can stride

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Speaker 2: towards your own big potential and of course have some

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Speaker 2: fun along the way. Season fourteen, Episode two hundred and

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Speaker 2: fifty eight.

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Speaker 3: This is crazy.

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Speaker 2: There are now officially more than six hundred episodes in

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Speaker 2: the entire catalog. I feel like it has been no

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Speaker 2: time at all, and also that I've been doing this forever,

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Speaker 2: and I do think that at the top of a

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Speaker 2: new season, it's appropriate for me to give a little

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Speaker 2: bit of context on who I am what we're doing here.

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Speaker 2: My name again Emil a Body. I live in Brooklyn.

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Speaker 2: I'm in my mid thirties. I am an avid marathoner.

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Speaker 2: I have a slew of different certifications, including my CPC

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Speaker 2: Certified Professional Coach. You can liken that to a life coach,

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Speaker 2: CPT Certified Personal Trainer. I'm Level one Precision Nutrition Certified,

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Speaker 2: and I'm also a UESCA.

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Speaker 3: Certified run Coach.

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Speaker 2: And I got all of these certifications because I want

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Speaker 2: to have more informed, safe, considerate conversations that really serve you,

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Speaker 2: the hurdlers, my audience.

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Speaker 3: I am a.

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Speaker 2: Veteran journalist, previously the fitness editor Atself magazine, and I

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Speaker 2: started the show almost six years ago now on a

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Speaker 2: mission to help women everywhere live healthier, happier, more motivated lives.

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Speaker 3: And so we're back with season fourteen.

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Speaker 2: If you asked me if I thought that we would

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Speaker 2: be here almost six years ago, the answer is, oh,

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Speaker 2: my god, no way. But I could not be happier.

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Speaker 2: There are hurdlers in almost two hundred countries. Truly, I

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Speaker 2: feel like the luckiest person alive to be able to

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Speaker 2: combine my passion with what feels like my purpose and

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Speaker 2: bring you hurdle week after week. Now it's time for

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Speaker 2: me to talk about Today's a guest.

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Speaker 3: Jessica Long.

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Speaker 2: She is a Paralympic medalist, but that feels like I'm

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Speaker 2: not doing her enough justice. Jess Long is a sixteen

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Speaker 2: time Paralympic champion swimmer. She's also a speaker and author,

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Speaker 2: and she was born without life, adopted from Russia at

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Speaker 2: thirteen months old, and she talks all about that journey

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Speaker 2: today as well has her journey to the Paralympics, with

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Speaker 2: twenty five different surgeries on her legs along the way.

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Speaker 2: Jess is undeniably an inspiration. So many people were exposed

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Speaker 2: to her story via the twenty twenty one Toyota Super

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Speaker 2: Bowl commercial, which we talk about in today's episode, and man,

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Speaker 2: I am just so excited for you all to get

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Speaker 2: to know her better via hurdle. Jess, thanks for your time.

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Speaker 2: You are a light and to all of you, thanks

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Speaker 2: for coming back season after season, episode after episode. Now

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Speaker 2: I do want to make sure that I do some

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Speaker 2: housekeeping at the top.

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Speaker 3: Of a new season.

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Speaker 2: If you're not yet following along with Hurdle on social

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Speaker 2: It's over at Hurdle podcast. Hurdle also has a weekly

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Speaker 2: newsletter called the Weekly Hurdle. It comes out every Friday

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Speaker 2: and it is absolutely free. You get the same inspiration

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Speaker 2: motivation that you love from the show oh directly in

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Speaker 2: your own box, plus a lot of my go to picks,

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Speaker 2: what I'm listening to, what I'm reading, what I'm watching,

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Speaker 2: and gear favorites and more. So make sure you subscribe.

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Speaker 2: The link to do that is in the show notes.

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Speaker 2: Last thing listener questions. I love them, I love to

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Speaker 2: answer them, and I need them to bring you the

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Speaker 2: goodness every five minute Friday. So if you have a

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Speaker 2: second and you have something in your mind, no topic

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Speaker 2: is off limits, ask me a question. The link to

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Speaker 2: do so is in the show notes. With that season fourteen,

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Speaker 2: let's get to it. Let's get to hurtling. Today, I

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Speaker 2: am sitting down with Jessica Loong. She's a sixteen time

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Speaker 2: Paralympic champion swimmer. How you doing today, jess so good?

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Speaker 3: How are you so good?

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Speaker 2: I'm so excited that we were able to make this

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Speaker 2: happen today. I saw you speak for the first time

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Speaker 2: despite knowing much about you at the espnW summit. I

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Speaker 2: was so motivated and I knew instantaneously that I needed

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Speaker 2: to have you on Hurdle.

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Speaker 4: Thank you so much.

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Speaker 1: That was I still remember that you were wearing this

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Speaker 1: amazing like suit outfit and I was like, where'd you

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Speaker 1: get it from? But no, thank you so much for

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Speaker 1: having me. It truly is such an honor to be

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Speaker 1: on your podcast.

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Speaker 2: It's such an honor to have you here, especially because

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Speaker 2: you're a busy woman. Right now, we're prepping for Paris

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Speaker 2: twenty twenty four.

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Speaker 3: How's it going.

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Speaker 4: It's good.

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Speaker 1: It's so wild because I think all of us athletes,

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Speaker 1: some of the girls who've just been like, there's a

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Speaker 1: reason the Olympics and Paralympics aren't five years, and there's

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Speaker 1: a reason it's not three years, Like.

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Speaker 4: Four is a perfect cycle. So we are a year out.

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Speaker 1: It's been a little stressful, but at the same time

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Speaker 1: super exciting to see my family and friends get excited

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Speaker 1: to actually be present in the in the stands.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, firstly, let's talk about why that four year cycle

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Speaker 2: is perfect in your eyes.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I think five years is just a bit too long,

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Speaker 1: and I think that was the struggle obviously going into

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Speaker 1: Tokyo with the pandemic and the postponement. It was just

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Speaker 1: it was that extra year was just such a struggle.

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Speaker 1: And again I think everyone learned to control the controllables,

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Speaker 1: but at the same time, it was just too long.

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Speaker 1: And then here right now we're dealing with we're a

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Speaker 1: year short. So they followed back up on the same cycle,

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Speaker 1: so we we've lost a year going into Paris.

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Speaker 4: So instead of four years, we're three.

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Speaker 1: And right now, in my mind, I'm like, okay, I

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Speaker 1: have about a year, but two years would be great

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Speaker 1: because there's such a thing as like post blues, and

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Speaker 1: I think every athlete kind of goes through their own

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Speaker 1: just struggles after a Paralympics or Olympics, just because you're

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Speaker 1: out of routine. But yeah, it's been it's been a

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Speaker 1: little challenging. But at the same time, one year it's

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Speaker 1: like one year.

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Speaker 3: To go, one year to go, one year to go.

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Speaker 2: For you, Now, what does a typical day of training

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Speaker 2: look like?

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Speaker 1: Yeah, so I actually have World Championships in about a month.

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Speaker 1: I'll be competing in Manchester, England, so that's really exciting.

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Speaker 4: But right now for.

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Speaker 1: Me swimming, you know, it's it's honestly, just amazing if

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Speaker 1: I get there. To be honest, it's been just a

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Speaker 1: struggle for sure. I've been doing this for twenty years.

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Speaker 1: But right now it's kind of finding a group of

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Speaker 1: girls to swim with. I think that's kind of where

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Speaker 1: I'm at right now. But typical training, I mean, I

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Speaker 1: do pilates three times a week. I love pilates. Pilates

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Speaker 1: translates over to the pool for me so well.

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Speaker 4: I swim every day.

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Speaker 1: Sometimes I swim twice a day, and I have weight

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Speaker 1: training about two to three times a week. But yeah,

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Speaker 1: it's a lot. I'm always I feel like I'm always busy,

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Speaker 1: I'm always sore. I love my pt guy. He also

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Speaker 1: helps massage my muscles. So we're right now, are just

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Speaker 1: taking a day by day and honestly, I sometimes I'm like, Wow,

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Speaker 1: this is truly the best job.

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Speaker 2: Oh my god, the best job because you get to

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Speaker 2: combine your passion and your pursuit for what really excites you.

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Speaker 2: Right now, you mentioned the difficulty that went hand in

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Speaker 2: hand with not only adding a year to that Olympic cycle,

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Speaker 2: but the post Paralympic blues. Talk to me about how

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Speaker 2: that has affected you because you've been through many Paralympics

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Speaker 2: at this point.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, you know, I think for each individual it's

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Speaker 1: it can be however long, right, we're so used to

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Speaker 1: being in such a such a routine. And I before

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Speaker 1: the Tokyo Paralympics, I actually moved out to the Olympic

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Speaker 1: and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, So I left

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Speaker 1: my husband for a year and I trained with a

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Speaker 1: great group of girls, a great team out there, and

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Speaker 1: you truly do become family, and you're in this routine

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Speaker 1: and I think, I mean, I don't know about you,

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Speaker 1: but I love routine like I thrive off a routine.

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Speaker 1: So when everything's just kind of done right, you train

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Speaker 1: for this major competition, there's so much going on. It's

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Speaker 1: an intense ten day competition. You're hopefully winning medals, but

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Speaker 1: if you're not, you know, there's so many different things happening,

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Speaker 1: highs and lows. So when you just come back home

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Speaker 1: and the celebration stops, you kind of just don't really

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Speaker 1: know how to keep moving forward. And I think that

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Speaker 1: was the most difficult thing. And I was so surprised

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Speaker 1: even after Tokyo, because I had been through five Paralympic Games,

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Speaker 1: so I was like, I'm well prepared, I've got a therapist,

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Speaker 1: I know what to expect. But if anything, I think

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Speaker 1: Tokyo for me, the post Blues was one of the hardest,

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Speaker 1: just because you know, there was so much excitement around

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Speaker 1: the Super Bowl commercial and the Paralympic movement itself, but

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Speaker 1: it was also just a really really big struggle just

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Speaker 1: to find a way to keep moving forward. And I

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Speaker 1: struggle to swim by myself, you know, being thirty one

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Speaker 1: years old, I used to be able to get in

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Speaker 1: and do two to three hour practices by myself, but

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Speaker 1: right now that's been the struggle is just you know,

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Speaker 1: I've done everything I've ever wanted to, so I've had

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Speaker 1: to just really readjust and reset my goals. I mean

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Speaker 1: a lot of I mean every month I feel like

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Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, there's a purpose. There's a purpose, Like

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Speaker 1: you know, the purpose is Paris. But it's been really challenging,

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Speaker 1: and I think every athlete goes through something, and it's

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Speaker 1: been really really special the last couple months. As we're prepared,

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Speaker 1: like we're doing some proma stuff right now for Paris

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Speaker 1: to see some other Olympians and Paralympians and being like,

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Speaker 1: how are you, and they're like, I'm still kind of struggling,

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Speaker 1: and I'm like, oh my gosh, me too. So just

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Speaker 1: that vulnerability piece is really powerful.

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Speaker 2: That's so powerful and special that you have have that

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Speaker 2: community where you feel safe to talk about your feelings

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Speaker 2: and thank you for sharing your sentiments about how it

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Speaker 2: felt for you.

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Speaker 3: After Tokyo.

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Speaker 2: You mentioned the super Bowl commercial for those that are

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Speaker 2: out of the loop on how epic that was. Tell

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Speaker 2: us a little bit about the commercial that you're talking about.

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Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, So I was a part of Toyota's

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Speaker 1: upstream commercial for the Super Bowl, and that was just

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Speaker 1: one of the most exciting things, right just because you know,

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Speaker 1: we're talking about post blues and after the twenty sixteen

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Speaker 1: you know, I went through the same thing, post blues,

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Speaker 1: and one of the things that got me out of

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Speaker 1: that funk, that kind of depression was giving back to

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Speaker 1: an all girls swimming team and that really was really amazing,

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Speaker 1: and slowly I just started to fall back in love

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Speaker 1: with the sport. And then all of a sudden, Toyota

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Speaker 1: was like, hey, we'd love to partner with you and

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Speaker 1: just for their Olympic and Paralympic campaign, and then all

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Speaker 1: of a sudden they were like, we also really would

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Speaker 1: love to we have this idea for a commercial, and

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Speaker 1: I got picked for one of the Start Your Impossible campaigns,

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Speaker 1: which ended up turning out to be the Super Bowl

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Speaker 1: commercial and basically I'm swimming through my life. We actually

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Speaker 1: filmed it in South Africa. My husband came and we

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Speaker 1: turned it into our honeymoon. But I think for me,

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Speaker 1: one of the biggest things was, you know, I'm so

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Speaker 1: used to my life right, being adopted from Russia, being

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Speaker 1: born without my legs. I've overcome so many different challenges right,

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Speaker 1: every day is a challenge, but there was something so

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Speaker 1: crazy about having the whole you know, the world kind

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Speaker 1: of see it, and it felt very vulnerable. It felt

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Speaker 1: kind of scary. I remember thinking, oh my gosh, like

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Speaker 1: this is this is so crazy. But I think what's

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Speaker 1: wild is I was so close to retiring in twenty sixteen,

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Speaker 1: and you know, I think that's also another really important

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Speaker 1: lesson that when you're so close to giving up, you know,

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Speaker 1: just hang on a little tighter because you never know

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Speaker 1: what goods, what good could come from just hanging on.

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Speaker 1: And I'm so glad I did, because you know, I

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Speaker 1: to have the world see my story I think was

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Speaker 1: huge for me, but also huge for the Paralympic movement,

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Speaker 1: which is what I'm so passionate about for sure.

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Speaker 3: And without your legs, let's talk a little bit about that.

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Speaker 2: Give the hurdler some context so that they can understand

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Speaker 2: why to date you have had more than twenty five

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Speaker 2: surgeries on your legs.

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Speaker 4: Yeah, that's a lot.

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Speaker 1: So I was given up for adoption in a Siberian

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Speaker 1: orphanage by a sixteen year old Russian girl. And due

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Speaker 1: to my legs, which I was born with something called

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Speaker 1: fibular hemimilia, so I was missing the fibula bone in

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Speaker 1: both legs and I actually like have no ligaments in

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Speaker 1: my knees, so I am a below knee amputee. But

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Speaker 1: before that, I lived about a thirteen months in a

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Speaker 1: Russian orphanage. And then around that time, my now parents,

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Speaker 1: Steven Beth, had two kids. They wanted a larger family,

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Speaker 1: so they looked into adoption and they saw a picture

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Speaker 1: of me, and they just knew that I was the

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Speaker 1: child they were meant to adopt, and they decided if

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Speaker 1: they were going to go to Siberia, Russia, they were

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Speaker 1: going to get another little child in needs. So they

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Speaker 1: got a little boy and we came to the US

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Speaker 1: in March of nineteen ninety five. We actually just celebrated

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Speaker 1: our like thirty thirtieth year.

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Speaker 4: Like a Gotcha day.

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Speaker 1: I didn't even know that was like a thing, but

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Speaker 1: my brother really wanted to celebrate that in March. But

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Speaker 1: it's really amazing because they ended up having two more kids,

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Speaker 1: so we are that big family of six. But growing up,

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Speaker 1: one thing with my legs was the bone would keep growing.

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Speaker 1: And it's actually wild because my parents when they adopted me,

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Speaker 1: they knew I had leg deformities, but they never actually

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Speaker 1: saw my legs. So when my dad went to Russia

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Speaker 1: to get me, it was like completely blind faith, just

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Speaker 1: he knew that this little meat, this little girl in

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Speaker 1: Russia needed to be adopted. But with fibulary from Amelia,

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Speaker 1: the bone just kept growing, so it would kind of

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Speaker 1: just get really really pointy, almost like like a pointy

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Speaker 1: lollipop or something. And it had come through my skin

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Speaker 1: quite a few times growing up, Like I remember this

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Speaker 1: one time I was swimming at my grandparents and I

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Speaker 1: looked down at my leg and like water was just

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Speaker 1: coming out of my leg and I could see the

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Speaker 1: bone coming through my skin, and I was like, at

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Speaker 1: this point, I think I was eight years old, and

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Speaker 1: I just remember thinking, I don't even want to tell

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Speaker 1: my family, just because I want to keep swimming.

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Speaker 4: For the rest of the day, because I knew I.

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Speaker 1: Was going to have to go back and for surgery

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Speaker 1: and recover for a month and get fitted for a

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Speaker 1: new set of prosthetics and have to learn how to

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Speaker 1: walk all over again. So I just kept on playing,

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Speaker 1: and I remember at the end of that day, I

295
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Speaker 1: was like, Okay, I think we should go to the hospital.

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Speaker 1: Oh my god, Yeah, I don't know anything else.

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Speaker 2: What a special story, though, to hear about your adoptive

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Speaker 2: parents knowing that you were theirs, despite what others may

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Speaker 2: have seen as something that could have been troubling or

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Speaker 2: a hassle or just something to deal with. What did

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Speaker 2: that foundationally teach you from a young age.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, I'm so incredibly grateful for my parents

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Speaker 1: and my family, just because they were so incredible at

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Speaker 1: allowing me to just do it myself, and I really

305
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Speaker 1: really wanted to do everything on my own, and you know,

306
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Speaker 1: they knew when to step in.

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Speaker 4: But they also knew.

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Speaker 1: When to take a step back, and I think that's

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Speaker 1: so important. And I don't have kids yet, but I've

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Speaker 1: seen the difference in the Paralympic movement, where there's parents

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Speaker 1: who do everything for someone with one arm to the

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Speaker 1: point where they can't tie their shoes with one hand,

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Speaker 1: where you have other arm amputees who can, right. So

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Speaker 1: I'm just really grateful that when I would fall down

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Speaker 1: or I would lose a leg, my parents kind of

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Speaker 1: knew to step back. And they actually again this crazy story.

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Speaker 1: We were at the ocean and I flew down some

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Speaker 1: steps and I'm in my little hot pink wheelchair and

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Speaker 1: I think I just had a surgery, which is why

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Speaker 1: I was in my wheelchair, And they said they were

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Speaker 1: like they laugh when they tell the story, but they're like,

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Speaker 1: you know, we look like such bad parents because we

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Speaker 1: knew not to touch you. You lost your legs in

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Speaker 1: the process, you fell out of your chair, and we

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Speaker 1: were close enough that if you needed help, we would,

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Speaker 1: you know, step in. But they said, I guess some

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Speaker 1: random stranger tried to come up and help me, and

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Speaker 1: I was like, get away.

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Speaker 4: I got it. But I don't know.

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Speaker 1: I've just always had this determination and they allowed my

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Speaker 1: determination to grow, especially in sport. You know, they knew

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Speaker 1: nothing about swimming. You know, I joined swimming because I

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Speaker 1: didn't have to wear my prosthetics. You know, my prosthetics

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Speaker 1: are really heavy, and at the time, I was growing

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Speaker 1: so much that I could never get a comfortable fit,

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Speaker 1: and they just I was in a like almost a

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Speaker 1: constant state of pain growing up until I was done growing.

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Speaker 1: It was very painful, and I'm very grateful for them

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Speaker 1: for just allowing me to be determined and they knew

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Speaker 1: and a step in.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, enabling you to make your own mistakes quote unquote,

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00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,360
Speaker 2: understanding that these mistakes would actually teach you something to

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Speaker 2: move forward with, teach you something that you could take

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Speaker 2: with you as you continued on your journey. It's so

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Speaker 2: interesting to hear about the why swimming really hooked you,

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Speaker 2: and that is because of this weightlessness, this place where

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Speaker 2: you didn't need to be worried about your legs aside

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Speaker 2: from it feeling good in your body. How would you

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Speaker 2: say you were from the get go getting into the pool.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean I'd always loved to swim. Every Sunday,

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Speaker 1: I'd swim at my grandparents back your pool, we went

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Speaker 1: over there for lunch. And I say this a lot,

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Speaker 1: but you know, I have memories of my family actually

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Speaker 1: pulling out of the driveway as I'm still swimming, you know,

355
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Speaker 1: yelling at me from the car, like Jess, we are

356
00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:06,359
Speaker 1: leaving you like come on. Like I just always wanted

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Speaker 1: to swim. And it's so funny because I had this

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Speaker 1: like obsession with mermaids, and I actually I have a

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00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,000
Speaker 1: children's book coming out later this year called The Mermaid

360
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:17,720
Speaker 1: with No Tail, but I always thought it was a mermaid,

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Speaker 1: and I think I could really relate to the little

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Speaker 1: mermaid because she wanted legs, and I was like, oh

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Speaker 1: my gosh. All my life I had wanted legs. But

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Speaker 1: for me, in the water, it was a place that

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Speaker 1: I felt like I just felt weightless, that it was

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Speaker 1: okay if I didn't have legs, that I was going

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Speaker 1: to be okay. And I joined the swim two when

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Speaker 1: I was ten, and again I was always the girl

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Speaker 1: with no legs. You know, it was the title that

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Speaker 1: I was used to, and you know, why don't you

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Speaker 1: have any legs? And people always asking me what happened,

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Speaker 1: and I'm thinking, I have no idea. You know, I

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Speaker 1: had no control over this. But I knew that I

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Speaker 1: wanted to be stronger even if I was the girl

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Speaker 1: with no legs. I wanted to be stronger than the boys.

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Speaker 1: I wanted to be stronger than the girl.

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Speaker 3: You know.

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Speaker 1: I wanted to be so incredibly powerful. So for me,

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00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,040
Speaker 1: when I showed up to the swim team, I instantly

380
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Speaker 1: fell in love with it.

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Speaker 4: I was great. You know.

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Speaker 1: I didn't start off swimming thinking I was gonna wing

383
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Speaker 1: gold medals or awards or have a Super Bowl commercial.

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Speaker 1: I truly started because it gave me this freedom that

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00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,760
Speaker 1: nothing else ever could give me. Right every day, I

386
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,640
Speaker 1: still walk into heavy prosthetics every day. I'm still reminded

387
00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:17,000
Speaker 1: that I'm an amputee, but in the water, it's still

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Speaker 1: a place that I'm waitless no matter what.

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Speaker 3: The girl with no legs. How did that make you

390
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Speaker 3: feel then?

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00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:25,600
Speaker 2: And is it any different than how that designation makes

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00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:26,320
Speaker 2: you feel now?

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Speaker 1: This is such a good question. I really love this question.

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Speaker 1: So growing up, I did not want to be the

395
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Speaker 1: girl with no legs. I was embarrassed. I don't even

396
00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,399
Speaker 1: think I wore shorts until after the Paralympics, when I

397
00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:41,600
Speaker 1: saw other people with disabilities and I was very embarrassed.

398
00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,800
Speaker 1: I hated when people stared. I even remember, you know,

399
00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,240
Speaker 1: being in the grocery store and having parents point and

400
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,760
Speaker 1: look at me and telling their kids to look at me.

401
00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:55,160
Speaker 1: And you know, I've recently even shared this with my mom,

402
00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:56,920
Speaker 1: but I was like, you know, mom, I actually never

403
00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:58,199
Speaker 1: saw anyone that looked like me.

404
00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:00,800
Speaker 4: Even at my prosthetic appointments. All of them were.

405
00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:05,240
Speaker 1: Way older and they couldn't even walk, and sometimes they

406
00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,560
Speaker 1: would be missing one leg, but never two. But now

407
00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,960
Speaker 1: it's so funny because I have different sets of legs.

408
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,119
Speaker 1: I probably have about five, I think about four or

409
00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,199
Speaker 1: five sets of legs, and one of my sets of

410
00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:18,320
Speaker 1: legs looks. We call them bone legs, so their carbon fiber,

411
00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,520
Speaker 1: their pole legs, and they just I think you saw them.

412
00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:23,720
Speaker 1: But they make me feel so incredibly powerful, to the

413
00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:25,840
Speaker 1: point where I'm like, yeah, I am the girl with

414
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Speaker 1: no legs, and you can go ahead and stare.

415
00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:29,680
Speaker 2: Yes.

416
00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:30,679
Speaker 3: We love that.

417
00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,000
Speaker 2: We love empowerment, and I love how seeing other people

418
00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:38,760
Speaker 2: with disabilities made you feel more accepted and proud to

419
00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:43,800
Speaker 2: own yours. Now you are doing that for other individuals,

420
00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,000
Speaker 2: other disabled people around the world.

421
00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,679
Speaker 3: How does that make you feel? Being this person.

422
00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,359
Speaker 2: Now, we so often hear as you felt, in order

423
00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,200
Speaker 2: to be her, you need to see her and they

424
00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:54,880
Speaker 2: see you.

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Speaker 3: How does that make you feel so incredible?

426
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Speaker 4: But also just so excited for the feutre.

427
00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:04,320
Speaker 1: Of sports and women's sports and the Paralympics. And you know,

428
00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,159
Speaker 1: I think so often people ask me why am I

429
00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,639
Speaker 1: still swimming? Right, I'm aiming for my fifth or my

430
00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:12,040
Speaker 1: sixth Paralympics, and I love it. But also I think

431
00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:14,560
Speaker 1: it's the bigger picture, right, It's the big picture of

432
00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:19,119
Speaker 1: women's sports. It's women's sports with Paralympics added, right, this

433
00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,200
Speaker 1: this whole idea of being inclusive, And I think that's

434
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,840
Speaker 1: why I'm so incredibly excited to be a part of ally.

435
00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:29,159
Speaker 1: I think that just keeps me going. And you know,

436
00:20:29,200 --> 00:20:31,920
Speaker 1: when I was little, I remember seeing other other girls

437
00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:33,919
Speaker 1: with disabilities and thinking, you know, one day, you know,

438
00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:35,760
Speaker 1: I'm going to be just like them. And then one

439
00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,160
Speaker 1: day the Paralympics is going to be just as big

440
00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,720
Speaker 1: as the Olympics, or just as big as you know,

441
00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,360
Speaker 1: just on TV, right, we never saw really a lot

442
00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:46,160
Speaker 1: of the Paralympics. I think they used to do an

443
00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:49,879
Speaker 1: hour special. So for me, some of the motivation right now,

444
00:20:49,920 --> 00:20:52,359
Speaker 1: to keep swimming and to keep doing what I'm doing

445
00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:56,120
Speaker 1: is to continue to grow women's sports, to have it showcased,

446
00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,280
Speaker 1: you know. I think it's so important to invest in

447
00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,439
Speaker 1: women's sports, but also even the Paralympic movement right and

448
00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,439
Speaker 1: that made me so excited to stand up there at

449
00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,600
Speaker 1: the espnW summit and be like, wow, like I'm standing

450
00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,160
Speaker 1: here with such incredible women, you know, as we were

451
00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,360
Speaker 1: partnered with Ally, but also just to be a Paralympic athlete,

452
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,600
Speaker 1: because there was a time where people weren't investing in

453
00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:19,800
Speaker 1: the Paralympics. So it's so incredibly cool to say how

454
00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,480
Speaker 1: far it's come it We're not done yet, and that's

455
00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:23,800
Speaker 1: what motivates me to keep going.

456
00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:26,120
Speaker 2: That's so rad and to shed some light for those

457
00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,960
Speaker 2: that may not be familiar. We're talking about ALLY and

458
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,680
Speaker 2: Team ALLY, who recently unveiled their collective influential athletes and

459
00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:38,520
Speaker 2: creators that are determined to really bring the importance of

460
00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:42,200
Speaker 2: women's sport to the forefront. They made a pledge to

461
00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,560
Speaker 2: reach equal spending on advertising between men's and women's sports

462
00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,360
Speaker 2: within five years.

463
00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,959
Speaker 3: So why is this something that you're so amped on.

464
00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:51,160
Speaker 4: Well, I think it's.

465
00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,760
Speaker 1: Just everything right when we think about little girls and

466
00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:55,600
Speaker 1: what they want to be when they grow up, and

467
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:59,679
Speaker 1: just powerful. You know, strong young girls are going to

468
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,399
Speaker 1: be power women. But if you can't see it, you

469
00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,080
Speaker 1: can't be it. And I've always loved that idea, that quote, right,

470
00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:07,600
Speaker 1: So I think for me, investing in women's sports, you

471
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,400
Speaker 1: can only go up. Right, It's just so incredibly powerful.

472
00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:13,400
Speaker 1: But also this idea of investing in women's sports and

473
00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:17,760
Speaker 1: this whole idea of being inclusive. Right, I'm so excited.

474
00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,760
Speaker 1: I'm so proud to be a Paralympic athlete and to

475
00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:23,880
Speaker 1: have a disability, but there are so many There's such

476
00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:26,960
Speaker 1: a generation of little girls that have disabilities, and I

477
00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:28,800
Speaker 1: think that is what it's all about. And there was

478
00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:30,600
Speaker 1: one time I was at a swim meet and one

479
00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,320
Speaker 1: of this little girl came up to me and she

480
00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,400
Speaker 1: had just lost her leg from cancer, and she just said,

481
00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:37,439
Speaker 1: when she grows up, she wanted to be like me.

482
00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,399
Speaker 1: And I think for me, that's what it's all about.

483
00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:40,520
Speaker 4: Right. So what Ali is.

484
00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:44,199
Speaker 1: Doing by investing in women's sports, but also the Paralympic movement,

485
00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:46,560
Speaker 1: it's going to give someone like that little girl a

486
00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,199
Speaker 1: chance to be seen. And I think there's nothing better

487
00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:51,960
Speaker 1: than being seen as a woman, but also as a

488
00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:53,520
Speaker 1: woman with a disability.

489
00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:54,720
Speaker 3: Definitely.

490
00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:59,320
Speaker 2: So you mentioned little girl, you yourself were, without a doubt,

491
00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:03,000
Speaker 2: a young woman to say the least, when you went

492
00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,240
Speaker 2: to your first Paralympic Games. Talk to me a little

493
00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,360
Speaker 2: bit about what that experience was like for you at

494
00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,040
Speaker 2: just twelve years old.

495
00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:15,439
Speaker 4: Wild. It was wild.

496
00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,199
Speaker 1: I mean I was twelve, but I thought I was

497
00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,160
Speaker 1: like eighteen, you know, twenty one.

498
00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,560
Speaker 4: To me back then, that was so old or cool.

499
00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:22,560
Speaker 4: It was cool age.

500
00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,000
Speaker 1: But I somehow made the Paralympic team. I was not

501
00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:29,840
Speaker 1: expected to make the team, so much so that my parents,

502
00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,560
Speaker 1: my mom and my sister slept in the morning that

503
00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,600
Speaker 1: they announced TMUSA after the two thousand and fourth Paralympic

504
00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:37,800
Speaker 1: trials because they didn't think I was going to make it.

505
00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,840
Speaker 1: My dad went with me and they called my name,

506
00:23:41,080 --> 00:23:42,840
Speaker 1: and I was like, Okay, here we go. And it's

507
00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,000
Speaker 1: crazy when I think back, because that's truly how it

508
00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,520
Speaker 1: all started. So I went up, stood with TMSA, trained

509
00:23:48,560 --> 00:23:51,560
Speaker 1: hard all summer. I always wanted to win the gold medal.

510
00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:55,320
Speaker 1: I've been competitive my whole life, but to get there

511
00:23:55,359 --> 00:23:57,000
Speaker 1: and to swim in my very first race, the hunter

512
00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:00,000
Speaker 1: meter freestyle. I ended up doing so well in prelims

513
00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:02,320
Speaker 1: that I was seated first for the finals. But I

514
00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:04,320
Speaker 1: knew that the world record holder, who was twice my

515
00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:06,800
Speaker 1: age from Israel. I knew she didn't swim all out.

516
00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,560
Speaker 1: A lot of swimmers have different strategies. You just kind

517
00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:11,840
Speaker 1: of want to make it to finals. But I just,

518
00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,600
Speaker 1: you know, I just again, I've always had this determination

519
00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:16,520
Speaker 1: to never give up, no matter what. So it's the

520
00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:18,720
Speaker 1: hundred meter freestyle. I'm swimming in front of twenty some

521
00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,600
Speaker 1: thousand people. You know. Of course, the official says take

522
00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,880
Speaker 1: your mark, go, and it's two laps in an Olympics

523
00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:26,479
Speaker 1: high school. And I did find out later that at

524
00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,719
Speaker 1: the flip turn, I was not seated in a good position.

525
00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:30,960
Speaker 1: I was in fifth place. So I've always struggled to

526
00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,040
Speaker 1: start the race. But I've always said, you know, it's

527
00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,600
Speaker 1: not how you start, it's how you finish. And I'm swimming,

528
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,199
Speaker 1: and I'm swimming, and I just remember, you know, the

529
00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:40,479
Speaker 1: crowd going crazy. I'm twelve years old. I'm the baby

530
00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,880
Speaker 1: on tem Usa. I'm the youngest there like to ever

531
00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:45,800
Speaker 1: really even compete. And I just remember breathing to my

532
00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:48,480
Speaker 1: right and seeing her and we're neck and neck, and

533
00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:51,000
Speaker 1: I remember saying to myself as a twelve year old,

534
00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:52,880
Speaker 1: I remember saying to myself, I did not come here

535
00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:55,879
Speaker 1: to get second clear as day. And we touched the

536
00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,000
Speaker 1: wall so close together you had to see the scoreboard,

537
00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:01,160
Speaker 1: you know, the touch pads. By tenth of a second,

538
00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,040
Speaker 1: I had won the gold medal for Tmosa, and I remember,

539
00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,919
Speaker 1: just like TMSA was going crazy. I could see my

540
00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,000
Speaker 1: family in the stands. It's so funny because when I

541
00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,120
Speaker 1: look back, I'm twelve years old. I'm wearing goggles where

542
00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,280
Speaker 1: you can see my eyes. You know, they're clear goggles.

543
00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,640
Speaker 1: Now I only wear like smoked goggles. But just how

544
00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:20,800
Speaker 1: cute and innocent I was. And I even had this thought, like, okay,

545
00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:22,920
Speaker 1: I won the gold medal, Like can I raise my

546
00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,720
Speaker 1: hand up? And I don't know if I did. I

547
00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,360
Speaker 1: think I did it the next race, because I ended

548
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,320
Speaker 1: up winning two more gold medals. But I started my

549
00:25:29,400 --> 00:25:33,119
Speaker 1: Paralympic debut with a gold medal, and that was incredible.

550
00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:34,960
Speaker 1: It was amazing, you know. I think that gave me

551
00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,760
Speaker 1: that confidence. I started wearing shorts, I started showing off

552
00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:41,439
Speaker 1: my prosthetics. That was the biggest change my parents noticed.

553
00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:43,640
Speaker 1: But it also is really hard at the same time,

554
00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,160
Speaker 1: because there was a point where my identity came from

555
00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:48,439
Speaker 1: the gold medals, you know, as I turned sixteen and

556
00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,680
Speaker 1: I won four gold medals at that Paralympics, and then

557
00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:53,600
Speaker 1: twenty twelve I won five, and it just it took

558
00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:55,760
Speaker 1: me a little while to learn that my identity doesn't

559
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,040
Speaker 1: come from this, but at the same time, it was

560
00:25:58,040 --> 00:25:59,640
Speaker 1: still really really exciting.

561
00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:02,600
Speaker 2: How would it feel for you to elaborate a little

562
00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,720
Speaker 2: bit on that, on the idea that you had to

563
00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,879
Speaker 2: come to terms with the fact that your identity is

564
00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,800
Speaker 2: not rooted in gold.

565
00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:11,919
Speaker 4: Yeah, it took me.

566
00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:14,040
Speaker 1: It took me a long time, you know, And I

567
00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:17,200
Speaker 1: think there was this point where I just wasn't completely

568
00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:21,680
Speaker 1: and totally satisfied, and it was just so incredibly hard,

569
00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,040
Speaker 1: right because no matter what, I still didn't feel good enough.

570
00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,800
Speaker 1: And I don't think that moment came until Beijing, when

571
00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,239
Speaker 1: I was sixteen. It was my second Paralympics, and I

572
00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:33,480
Speaker 1: was expected to win. I was expected to win everything,

573
00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,359
Speaker 1: and I wanted to be Mark Spits. I wanted to

574
00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:38,679
Speaker 1: win seven gold medals, and to the point that like

575
00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:41,960
Speaker 1: I told all the reporters, I had seven written everywhere

576
00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:44,000
Speaker 1: in her house, like I was going to come home

577
00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,520
Speaker 1: with seven gold And just two years prior, at the

578
00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,800
Speaker 1: World Championships when I was fourteen, I actually won nine

579
00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,520
Speaker 1: gold medals, the most ever at a World Championships, which

580
00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,880
Speaker 1: got me a Solomon Award and an sp Award and some.

581
00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:56,840
Speaker 4: Other really cool stuff.

582
00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,720
Speaker 1: And so going into Beijing, when I got that bronze

583
00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,119
Speaker 1: medal and my teammate broke my world record and went gold,

584
00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,639
Speaker 1: I remember just I didn't even want to go up

585
00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:06,280
Speaker 1: into the stands.

586
00:27:06,280 --> 00:27:08,119
Speaker 4: I was so embarrassed. I was like, how can anyone

587
00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:08,480
Speaker 4: love me?

588
00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:08,760
Speaker 3: Right?

589
00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:11,440
Speaker 4: I just I felt unlovable and that probably goes.

590
00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:14,040
Speaker 1: Back to even adoption, and there's a lot there. But

591
00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:15,800
Speaker 1: it got to a point when I finally got the

592
00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:18,919
Speaker 1: courage to go up into the stands. My parents they

593
00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,119
Speaker 1: saw me getting emotional, and I wasn't really a cryer,

594
00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:22,960
Speaker 1: you know, with all of my life and my surgeries.

595
00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:24,600
Speaker 1: You know, I just had this mindset of just like

596
00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:27,000
Speaker 1: you're going to get through it, you can't quit now.

597
00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:30,119
Speaker 1: But they pulled me into like a stairwell because everyone

598
00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:32,119
Speaker 1: just wanted pictures and I was like, why would you

599
00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:34,320
Speaker 1: want a picture with this bronze medal? Like I was

600
00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:37,439
Speaker 1: just ready to throw it away. And when I was

601
00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:39,760
Speaker 1: in the stairwell with my parents, I remember just asking them,

602
00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,560
Speaker 1: you know, do you guys still love me? And that

603
00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:44,720
Speaker 1: shocked him because my parents were the type of parents

604
00:27:44,720 --> 00:27:47,639
Speaker 1: that like they didn't even care if I you know what,

605
00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:49,440
Speaker 1: they didn't care at all. They just you know, wanted

606
00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:51,880
Speaker 1: me to try my best, and if I got disqualified,

607
00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:54,480
Speaker 1: they took me to Dairy Queen, you know, DQ Dairy,

608
00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:57,919
Speaker 1: Like they were just so great about everything. But I

609
00:27:57,920 --> 00:27:59,480
Speaker 1: think for me, it really it came to a point

610
00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:01,159
Speaker 1: where I just had to realize that I'm a person

611
00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:04,199
Speaker 1: who loves a swim. I'm not just a swimmer. And

612
00:28:04,240 --> 00:28:06,720
Speaker 1: I think that really helped, and that there's this balance,

613
00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:08,919
Speaker 1: you know, there's life and at the end of the day,

614
00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,560
Speaker 1: it is just swimming, and it's still a platform, you know,

615
00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,800
Speaker 1: to use, and it's this ripple effect right there. There's

616
00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,200
Speaker 1: so many people you can impact, but at the same time,

617
00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,560
Speaker 1: there's so much more to who I am as a person.

618
00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,280
Speaker 2: And it took a while such a story, and it

619
00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:25,800
Speaker 2: really sounds like that helped you get to a place

620
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:29,439
Speaker 2: where you could truly be proud of yourself no matter

621
00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:30,320
Speaker 2: the outcome.

622
00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,560
Speaker 3: What other lessons did you learn through that experience.

623
00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,240
Speaker 1: It's never just been about the medals. I think that

624
00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,040
Speaker 1: the pretty. You know, I definitely want to win the gold,

625
00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:40,600
Speaker 1: and I think people take me a little bit more

626
00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,800
Speaker 1: seriously with the gold medals, but I think for me,

627
00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:45,720
Speaker 1: it's so cheesy, but it really is about the people

628
00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:48,120
Speaker 1: you meet along the way and the journey. And I

629
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:50,400
Speaker 1: know that when I'm all done swimming and I hang

630
00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,360
Speaker 1: up my suit and hopefully that's in LA in twenty

631
00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:57,400
Speaker 1: twenty eight, it's truly about the people that have impacted

632
00:28:57,400 --> 00:28:59,880
Speaker 1: me and I've hopefully impacted them, and how I have

633
00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:03,280
Speaker 1: built so many incredible relationships through the sport of swimming.

634
00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,440
Speaker 1: But also I hope to impact. I do really believe

635
00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:08,800
Speaker 1: this whole idea of you know, impacting the next generation.

636
00:29:09,160 --> 00:29:12,160
Speaker 1: And I think that's been my motivator right to keep swimming.

637
00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:15,040
Speaker 1: I know I said it earlier, but that's what excites me.

638
00:29:15,240 --> 00:29:17,920
Speaker 1: You know, I've worked so hard to grow the Paralympic

639
00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:21,000
Speaker 1: movement and I think for me, it's having this healthy

640
00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,200
Speaker 1: balance of living life and spending time with family and

641
00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:27,600
Speaker 1: I'm married and enjoying life, but also at the same time,

642
00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:30,120
Speaker 1: I'm a fierce competitor. When I'm behind that block, and

643
00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,720
Speaker 1: you know, no matter what, I'm going to do everything

644
00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,280
Speaker 1: within my power to touch that well first. But if

645
00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,880
Speaker 1: I don't, then it's going to be okay. So I

646
00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,560
Speaker 1: think for me, just enjoying the journey, loving life, but

647
00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:43,360
Speaker 1: also knowing that there's so much life left to live.

648
00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:51,360
Speaker 2: Taking a break from today's episode to talk to you

649
00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,680
Speaker 2: about my sponsor new to the show, Well, a valiant

650
00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:59,240
Speaker 2: return let's say to the show, and that is you Can. Now,

651
00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:03,040
Speaker 2: you guys know that I lean into my Element for

652
00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:08,280
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653
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654
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656
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657
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666
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682
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685
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686
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687
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689
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690
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691
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700
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701
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702
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703
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707
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709
00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:22,680
Speaker 2: a little bit about what it was like to grow

710
00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:26,480
Speaker 2: up having found success so early on. I mean, as

711
00:33:26,520 --> 00:33:29,040
Speaker 2: you know, as a woman, so much changes for you

712
00:33:29,200 --> 00:33:33,480
Speaker 2: between god twelve and eighteen, nevertheless growing up into your

713
00:33:33,520 --> 00:33:37,320
Speaker 2: adulthood from eighteen moving forward. So what was it like

714
00:33:37,440 --> 00:33:40,880
Speaker 2: for you to have accomplished so much so young? And

715
00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:41,920
Speaker 2: how did that feel?

716
00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:43,080
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's so funny.

717
00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:45,520
Speaker 1: I'm like, you know, I think there's always this idea

718
00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:47,520
Speaker 1: that I'm like, what have I done? Like accomplish? Like

719
00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,280
Speaker 1: I just love what I do. I mean, for me,

720
00:33:50,320 --> 00:33:52,520
Speaker 1: it's never again, it's never really been about the metals,

721
00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:56,080
Speaker 1: Like my medals are I think they're in our storage unit,

722
00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:59,120
Speaker 1: which I'm probably and I'm like where is I think

723
00:33:59,160 --> 00:34:02,240
Speaker 1: I've one above the like it truly for me, Like,

724
00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:04,200
Speaker 1: I think there was always this idea that I wasn't

725
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,440
Speaker 1: good enough. Right when you add an adoption. I think

726
00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:08,399
Speaker 1: that was a feeling that I felt for a long

727
00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:11,000
Speaker 1: time that I just wasn't good enough, and I always

728
00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:14,160
Speaker 1: wanted to prove that I was, so I think for me,

729
00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,800
Speaker 1: just with the success it was, it was really exciting,

730
00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:18,399
Speaker 1: you know, being a disabled girl.

731
00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,120
Speaker 4: I never felt like I was disabled. You know.

732
00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:21,880
Speaker 1: Again, it's so interesting because I knew I was a

733
00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:23,440
Speaker 1: girl with no legs, but I also knew that I

734
00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:25,200
Speaker 1: could do anything I set my mind too. And it

735
00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:27,359
Speaker 1: might take me a second to learn, but I could

736
00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,680
Speaker 1: do anything I set my mind to. And I think

737
00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,920
Speaker 1: for me, another huge thing that I did was, you know,

738
00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:35,280
Speaker 1: I got really really tired of people, you know, referring

739
00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,279
Speaker 1: to me like, oh, I'm part of the para Olympics

740
00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,000
Speaker 1: or you know you're oh you're just a Paralympian. And

741
00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:43,160
Speaker 1: there was a moment where I was doing an event

742
00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:46,480
Speaker 1: with Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps's coach who ended up being

743
00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,239
Speaker 1: my coach later, where I just said to him, you

744
00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:49,760
Speaker 1: know what if I come and train with you guys.

745
00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,359
Speaker 1: And that was truly one of the hardest things I've

746
00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:56,360
Speaker 1: ever done as an athlete, as you know, just learning

747
00:34:56,400 --> 00:34:58,239
Speaker 1: to grow and the success, right, I felt like I

748
00:34:58,239 --> 00:35:00,759
Speaker 1: had accomplished so much. I had signed with Nike when

749
00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:04,880
Speaker 1: I was fourteen, I won the Sullivan Award as the

750
00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,560
Speaker 1: only Paralympians I think right now to have won it.

751
00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:10,799
Speaker 1: There was just so much exciting things happening. But for me,

752
00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:12,840
Speaker 1: I think you always need to be getting out of

753
00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,080
Speaker 1: your comfort zone. I think for me that is truly

754
00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:16,680
Speaker 1: what has allowed me to keep being a part of

755
00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:18,640
Speaker 1: the sport is to continue to get out of my

756
00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:22,120
Speaker 1: comfort zone and to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. So

757
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:24,400
Speaker 1: for me, that came with I was also tired of

758
00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,400
Speaker 1: people looking down on me when I said I was

759
00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:29,200
Speaker 1: a Paralympian. So I decided to train with Olympic athletes

760
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,719
Speaker 1: and it will truly was the hardest thing I have

761
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:36,640
Speaker 1: ever done. I can't even like some of it. I

762
00:35:36,640 --> 00:35:39,160
Speaker 1: can't even remember. It was so incredibly hard, but I

763
00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:40,759
Speaker 1: know that every single day I showed up and I

764
00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:43,279
Speaker 1: did the same workouts and very very few days we

765
00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:45,880
Speaker 1: ever had to adjust. But I think for me that

766
00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:47,520
Speaker 1: was one of the big moments in my life where

767
00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:51,680
Speaker 1: I was extremely proud of myself. But growing up I

768
00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:52,799
Speaker 1: never really went to my hat.

769
00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:53,400
Speaker 4: I don't even know.

770
00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:55,279
Speaker 1: I just always wanted to win more gold medals and

771
00:35:55,320 --> 00:35:57,520
Speaker 1: be the best that I could be. But impacted me.

772
00:35:57,560 --> 00:35:59,440
Speaker 1: I feel like I've lived a lot of life. I

773
00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:02,719
Speaker 1: went all over there, all over with your question, but

774
00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:04,919
Speaker 1: I just feel like I've lived a lot of life.

775
00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:05,880
Speaker 3: You're totally fine.

776
00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:08,200
Speaker 2: When it came to asking Bowman if you could train

777
00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:10,600
Speaker 2: with him, how did that feel at the time?

778
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:14,080
Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, that was so intimidating. We actually did

779
00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:16,080
Speaker 1: an event together. We did like a like a Q

780
00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:20,440
Speaker 1: and a kind of speech thing in Boston, and I

781
00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:22,960
Speaker 1: just remember being like, it's all or nothing. I'm from Baltimore.

782
00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:24,960
Speaker 1: I know he knows of me. I know of him,

783
00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:26,719
Speaker 1: And I just said, what do you think about me

784
00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:30,280
Speaker 1: coming and training with you guys the like pro group.

785
00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:32,480
Speaker 1: And at this point, I was living out in Colorado

786
00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,239
Speaker 1: training with all Paralympic athletes, and I'm like, you know,

787
00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,200
Speaker 1: I love training with Paralympic athletes. But I've always been

788
00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,000
Speaker 1: so good because I've trained with able bodied people, right

789
00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:43,359
Speaker 1: people with legs who have challenged me where I want

790
00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:46,080
Speaker 1: to beat them with the legs. So he just said, sure,

791
00:36:46,239 --> 00:36:49,000
Speaker 1: let's let's do it. So I moved back. I think

792
00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:50,799
Speaker 1: I had like six months and then I moved home

793
00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:53,960
Speaker 1: in September of twenty thirteen. And some of those practices

794
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,200
Speaker 1: were some of the hardest. I'll never forget. It was

795
00:36:56,200 --> 00:36:58,880
Speaker 1: like a Thanksgiving practice and we used to call it

796
00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:02,440
Speaker 1: the Turkey Burner. I was like, okay, so I was

797
00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:05,359
Speaker 1: for some reason. I was just like really really really

798
00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:07,200
Speaker 1: the last one out. And this was not like I

799
00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:10,240
Speaker 1: don't remember ever like this happening besides this one practice.

800
00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:12,279
Speaker 1: But it was like an im set. I think it

801
00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:15,360
Speaker 1: was seven or eight thousand meters. That's a lot of swimming.

802
00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,160
Speaker 4: And I just took me forever.

803
00:37:18,320 --> 00:37:20,400
Speaker 1: And by the time I got out, I like waddled

804
00:37:20,400 --> 00:37:24,439
Speaker 1: over to my legs and Michael Phelps Michael like got

805
00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:26,799
Speaker 1: really really low and opened up his arms and gave

806
00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:28,719
Speaker 1: me like the biggest hug, and he always called me

807
00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:31,759
Speaker 1: j Low Jessica Long. And I just remember being like,

808
00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:34,279
Speaker 1: no matter what, I finished the workout, I did it.

809
00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:36,480
Speaker 1: I didn't get out, But that was one of the

810
00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:38,640
Speaker 1: hardest workouts and I don't even remember it. It was

811
00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:41,520
Speaker 1: just continuous. It was a whole ladder set.

812
00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:41,799
Speaker 2: It was.

813
00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:42,920
Speaker 4: It was very challenging.

814
00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:46,799
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean it sounds challenging. I'm like out of

815
00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,080
Speaker 2: breath just thinking about it. I want to bring you

816
00:37:49,120 --> 00:37:51,960
Speaker 2: back to what you said before, which was I quote

817
00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:56,320
Speaker 2: I've done everything I've ever wanted. What when you reflect,

818
00:37:57,040 --> 00:38:00,560
Speaker 2: was your biggest goal that you have accomplished And what

819
00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:03,840
Speaker 2: is a different goal that's on your radar right now?

820
00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:05,800
Speaker 3: Yeah.

821
00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:08,359
Speaker 1: So a goal that I had been really, i mean

822
00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:12,440
Speaker 1: aiming for for a long time was to be So

823
00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,279
Speaker 1: my hero growing up was Aaron Popovich. Still is lover

824
00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:20,120
Speaker 1: she still she retired. I think before the twenty twelve Paralympics.

825
00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:21,120
Speaker 4: Was it twenty twelve?

826
00:38:21,160 --> 00:38:24,680
Speaker 1: I think it was before the twenty twelve and she

827
00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:27,400
Speaker 1: had won She had a total fourteen Paralympic gold medals,

828
00:38:27,480 --> 00:38:30,719
Speaker 1: and for me going into Tokyo, I had thirteen. And

829
00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:32,600
Speaker 1: it was just kind of this really cool, full like

830
00:38:32,680 --> 00:38:35,120
Speaker 1: full circle moment because we had actually raced together in

831
00:38:35,160 --> 00:38:39,040
Speaker 1: the brushstroke. We have different classifications and Paralympic swimming, so

832
00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,360
Speaker 1: we ended up racing together, and there was she was

833
00:38:41,400 --> 00:38:43,080
Speaker 1: the one that beat me in two thousand and eight

834
00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:45,960
Speaker 1: and broke the world record and got the gold medal.

835
00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:48,720
Speaker 1: And then so that was twenty eight and then twenty

836
00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:51,160
Speaker 1: twelve she had already retired, and I ended up winning

837
00:38:51,200 --> 00:38:53,360
Speaker 1: the gold and the brushstroke, and I was able to

838
00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,960
Speaker 1: actually give her my ceremony flowers, which was a really cool,

839
00:38:57,040 --> 00:39:00,839
Speaker 1: full circle moment. But for me in Tokyo, when I

840
00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:03,279
Speaker 1: surpassed her fourteen gold medals, that was a goal that

841
00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:05,839
Speaker 1: I had had for a really long time because going

842
00:39:05,840 --> 00:39:08,719
Speaker 1: into Tokyo, I had thirteen so to come out, you know,

843
00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:11,920
Speaker 1: I won three gold in Tokyo, and again it was

844
00:39:11,920 --> 00:39:14,040
Speaker 1: so incredibly challenging even to get to Tokyo.

845
00:39:14,640 --> 00:39:16,400
Speaker 4: So for me, that was a goal. Check that off

846
00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:16,759
Speaker 4: the list.

847
00:39:16,800 --> 00:39:19,840
Speaker 1: I feel, you know, sixteen gold is pretty and crazy

848
00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:21,680
Speaker 1: to me. I don't even think I let myself think that,

849
00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:25,120
Speaker 1: even to the point sometimes my husband's like, girl, you

850
00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:28,319
Speaker 1: like keep that confidence going, like you've done it, like

851
00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:30,760
Speaker 1: to be proud of yourself, because I'm always like, what's next.

852
00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:34,319
Speaker 1: I think, right now, I'm so excited to jump over.

853
00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:37,399
Speaker 1: You know, I'm still swimming. I'm still I'm like, okay,

854
00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:40,160
Speaker 1: still finish the race strong. But I have a children's

855
00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:42,480
Speaker 1: book coming out later this year called The Mermaid with

856
00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:45,080
Speaker 1: No Tail. It's so cute. I'm so excited for that.

857
00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:47,880
Speaker 1: But I really love sharing my story with others and

858
00:39:48,200 --> 00:39:51,000
Speaker 1: doing a lot of different public speaking. So I think

859
00:39:51,040 --> 00:39:53,200
Speaker 1: when swimming is done, that's something I really really want

860
00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:55,759
Speaker 1: to take on and just become even better at So

861
00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:57,080
Speaker 1: that's kind of the next goal.

862
00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:05,320
Speaker 2: Yeah, sixteen gold medals. That is truly, truly remarkable. When

863
00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:07,960
Speaker 2: you hear that, How does that make you feel?

864
00:40:10,520 --> 00:40:13,160
Speaker 1: I don't know. It's like this is like turning into therapy.

865
00:40:13,719 --> 00:40:14,600
Speaker 3: I'm here to help you.

866
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:18,520
Speaker 4: I think, you know.

867
00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:22,000
Speaker 1: I just think oftentimes of like the little Russian girl

868
00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,719
Speaker 1: who never gave up, Right, I never I never did,

869
00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:28,920
Speaker 1: and really recently it's been so incredibly challenging, Right, I

870
00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,800
Speaker 1: haven't really wanted to swim. I'm struggling swimming by myself,

871
00:40:31,880 --> 00:40:35,000
Speaker 1: and oftentimes even today when I swim by myself, I'm like, Okay,

872
00:40:35,200 --> 00:40:37,279
Speaker 1: sheat that little Russian girl would never give up, So

873
00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:39,440
Speaker 1: you can't give up now, Like, don't you dare give up?

874
00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,919
Speaker 1: So when I hear sixteen gold medals, I think I'm

875
00:40:43,000 --> 00:40:46,440
Speaker 1: just like so incredibly proud of myself, But also I

876
00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:48,880
Speaker 1: think I'm gonna be like I haven't even let myself

877
00:40:48,880 --> 00:40:50,800
Speaker 1: really think about it yet because I'm not really done.

878
00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:53,640
Speaker 1: But it's also hard to at the same time, right, Like,

879
00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:55,839
Speaker 1: I'm so proud of myself, but what if I don't

880
00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:59,160
Speaker 1: win a gold medal in Paris? Like what is that

881
00:40:59,200 --> 00:41:01,480
Speaker 1: going to feel like, how how am I going to

882
00:41:01,560 --> 00:41:02,120
Speaker 1: conquer that?

883
00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:02,400
Speaker 5: Right?

884
00:41:02,400 --> 00:41:04,600
Speaker 1: Because it's going to be okay no matter what happens

885
00:41:04,640 --> 00:41:07,600
Speaker 1: in Paris, But it's it's really really hard when there's

886
00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:11,760
Speaker 1: such such an expectation to always win, and I sometimes

887
00:41:11,760 --> 00:41:13,759
Speaker 1: just want people to be really really proud of me

888
00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:16,120
Speaker 1: for how long I've done it for because I think

889
00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,359
Speaker 1: that's been the hardest part for me. It's never I've

890
00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:21,120
Speaker 1: always believed in myself to win. I've always done the

891
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:24,319
Speaker 1: hard work. But I think when people just acknowledge, like, wow,

892
00:41:24,480 --> 00:41:27,839
Speaker 1: like you've been doing this for so long, and I'm

893
00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:30,160
Speaker 1: like or they'll just be like aren't you Like you're tired,

894
00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:31,400
Speaker 1: you must be tired, and I'm like.

895
00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:32,200
Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm tired.

896
00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:35,200
Speaker 1: But it's still it's so important for me to keep going, right,

897
00:41:35,239 --> 00:41:37,000
Speaker 1: It's I don't want to just be good.

898
00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:38,000
Speaker 4: I want to be a legend.

899
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:39,719
Speaker 1: I've wanted to be a legend in my sport, and

900
00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:42,960
Speaker 1: I want to be truly the best, and I want

901
00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:43,960
Speaker 1: to keep growing the sport.

902
00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:44,200
Speaker 2: Right.

903
00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:46,799
Speaker 1: We're not there yet, there's still a lot of you know,

904
00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,719
Speaker 1: we're still not completely equal with the Olympics. We have

905
00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:54,759
Speaker 1: equal pay for gold medals, but our monthly stipend isn't

906
00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:56,719
Speaker 1: even half of what they get, so.

907
00:41:58,440 --> 00:41:59,360
Speaker 4: There's still some work.

908
00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:02,000
Speaker 1: To be done and that space, and that's why I'm

909
00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:02,960
Speaker 1: still kind of swimming.

910
00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:08,320
Speaker 3: What would you say makes someone a legend?

911
00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:09,239
Speaker 1: I don't know.

912
00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:10,640
Speaker 4: I was thinking about this recently.

913
00:42:10,719 --> 00:42:13,279
Speaker 1: Just someone who just even when it's even when it's hard,

914
00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:15,839
Speaker 1: even when you're not winning, even when you're struggling, even

915
00:42:15,840 --> 00:42:18,160
Speaker 1: when you haven't dropped time and swimming for so long.

916
00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:21,160
Speaker 1: I think it's so like you still showing up and

917
00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,360
Speaker 1: being a part of it. And I think every athlete

918
00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:27,000
Speaker 1: goes through struggles. I think every athlete goes through failures.

919
00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:29,080
Speaker 1: I think that's what makes some of the greats the best,

920
00:42:29,120 --> 00:42:31,840
Speaker 1: because no matter the failures, that's almost the motivation, the

921
00:42:31,880 --> 00:42:34,520
Speaker 1: fuel to keep going. And I would say right now,

922
00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:36,480
Speaker 1: this past like year and a half has felt like

923
00:42:36,560 --> 00:42:39,440
Speaker 1: such a struggle, right just swimming by myself or feeling

924
00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:41,560
Speaker 1: like okay. It's so easy to get caught in your

925
00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:43,239
Speaker 1: head and be like I've done enough, like it's enough,

926
00:42:43,239 --> 00:42:44,400
Speaker 1: like you don't have to do it. But at the

927
00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,359
Speaker 1: same time, I have to really push that thought out

928
00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:50,040
Speaker 1: out of my head because I'm still not done and

929
00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:54,320
Speaker 1: I want to finish my race strong, and I really

930
00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:56,960
Speaker 1: really get excited when I think of and emotional when

931
00:42:56,960 --> 00:42:59,279
Speaker 1: I think of my last race in LA and I

932
00:42:59,280 --> 00:43:01,160
Speaker 1: really want this big build up on home soil and

933
00:43:01,200 --> 00:43:02,600
Speaker 1: I want people to know it's going to be.

934
00:43:02,560 --> 00:43:04,759
Speaker 4: My last race. But I don't know.

935
00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:07,360
Speaker 1: I just feel like my race isn't done. But just

936
00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:10,080
Speaker 1: those who continue going for years and years and years.

937
00:43:10,560 --> 00:43:12,759
Speaker 1: To me, that's like one of the most amazing things.

938
00:43:13,640 --> 00:43:17,200
Speaker 2: What I'm hearing you say is that you've already definitely

939
00:43:17,280 --> 00:43:21,440
Speaker 2: made your mark as legendary and there's only so much

940
00:43:21,520 --> 00:43:26,520
Speaker 2: more good to come from here. I would be curious

941
00:43:26,719 --> 00:43:33,400
Speaker 2: to know what happens when you're in these moments of struggle.

942
00:43:33,680 --> 00:43:37,040
Speaker 2: Do you find that you're capable of having grace with

943
00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:42,120
Speaker 2: yourself or how do you push through when it does

944
00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:43,799
Speaker 2: feel lonely and challenging.

945
00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:46,640
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean grace. It takes time, right to give

946
00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:49,040
Speaker 1: yourself grace. I think it's something just like as athletes

947
00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:51,440
Speaker 1: we practice. It takes a lot of practice to give

948
00:43:51,440 --> 00:43:54,360
Speaker 1: yourself grace. And there were times that I remember feeling

949
00:43:54,480 --> 00:43:57,960
Speaker 1: like as a young girl, like punishing myself if I didn't,

950
00:43:58,120 --> 00:44:01,520
Speaker 1: you know, do well in practice and be so upset

951
00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:04,320
Speaker 1: about it. And as I've gotten older, I mean older,

952
00:44:04,320 --> 00:44:06,400
Speaker 1: I mean I would say from really like twenty to

953
00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:10,200
Speaker 1: like I'm thirty one now, just I've really adapted this mindset.

954
00:44:10,239 --> 00:44:13,640
Speaker 1: If I struggle that it's okay, and it's okay to

955
00:44:13,680 --> 00:44:16,520
Speaker 1: communicate that with your coach. My coach, going from my

956
00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:19,759
Speaker 1: coach I trained without in the year before Tokyo was

957
00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:22,279
Speaker 1: truly one of the best coaches I've ever trained with.

958
00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:25,960
Speaker 1: Nathan Manly. He just like would ask you how you

959
00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:27,759
Speaker 1: were and cared about you as a person. And I

960
00:44:27,800 --> 00:44:30,680
Speaker 1: think for me that just carried on into my swimming

961
00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:33,520
Speaker 1: right giving myself grace. And there were times where he'd

962
00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:34,800
Speaker 1: be like are you how.

963
00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:34,799
Speaker 4: Are you doing?

964
00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:36,319
Speaker 1: And I'd be like, I do not want to be here,

965
00:44:36,760 --> 00:44:39,839
Speaker 1: like just it's hard, but I just think it takes

966
00:44:39,840 --> 00:44:42,239
Speaker 1: a lot of practice, and when I'm really really struggling,

967
00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:44,120
Speaker 1: you know again, I have to go back to why

968
00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:47,040
Speaker 1: it started. I think that is such a huge motivator.

969
00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:49,600
Speaker 1: And this is the weirdest thing, but I do this

970
00:44:49,680 --> 00:44:51,400
Speaker 1: a lot that when I'm struggling or I have a

971
00:44:51,400 --> 00:44:53,360
Speaker 1: moment of doubt, like if I'm doing a set of

972
00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:55,200
Speaker 1: pull ups and I'm like, oh, I can't do this,

973
00:44:55,360 --> 00:44:57,120
Speaker 1: or I don't really say the word can't. I actually

974
00:44:57,160 --> 00:44:59,080
Speaker 1: really don't say that word. But if I'm like I

975
00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:01,480
Speaker 1: don't want to do this, that's what I say. Sometimes

976
00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:05,719
Speaker 1: then I'll push myself and do one extra or you know,

977
00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:07,960
Speaker 1: if I'm having a really really tough swim practice, I'll

978
00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,680
Speaker 1: step up and race an extra hundred just if I

979
00:45:10,719 --> 00:45:12,680
Speaker 1: have a moment of doubt, because I think sometimes when

980
00:45:12,719 --> 00:45:15,200
Speaker 1: I step up or I have to reset and I

981
00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:17,920
Speaker 1: just give myself a chance to do it over again,

982
00:45:18,719 --> 00:45:20,880
Speaker 1: it's almost an opportunity for me not to disappoint myself.

983
00:45:20,920 --> 00:45:22,359
Speaker 1: So if I don't want to do five pull ups,

984
00:45:22,440 --> 00:45:24,520
Speaker 1: I'm like, Okay, now we got to do six. And

985
00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:26,640
Speaker 1: when I do that six one, it like just feels

986
00:45:26,640 --> 00:45:28,880
Speaker 1: so good. So that's something I've always done. If I

987
00:45:28,880 --> 00:45:30,279
Speaker 1: have a moment of doubt, for.

988
00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:32,840
Speaker 2: The person listening to this that struggles with that next

989
00:45:33,000 --> 00:45:36,440
Speaker 2: level mentality, I'm curious to know if you also ever

990
00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:39,360
Speaker 2: bring the grace to a place where you're like, you

991
00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:42,439
Speaker 2: know what, maybe today isn't the day for X thing.

992
00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:46,360
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's so important to listen to your body,

993
00:45:46,480 --> 00:45:48,960
Speaker 1: and also mental health is huge, right, I feel like

994
00:45:48,960 --> 00:45:51,440
Speaker 1: we didn't have that ten years ago. People didn't care,

995
00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:53,960
Speaker 1: people didn't even want to, Like, people didn't even.

996
00:45:53,760 --> 00:45:54,560
Speaker 4: Ask you how you were.

997
00:45:54,600 --> 00:45:56,359
Speaker 1: And I've had coaches be like, I do not care

998
00:45:56,360 --> 00:45:59,080
Speaker 1: about how you're doing. Get in and swim, and I'm like.

999
00:45:59,600 --> 00:46:01,640
Speaker 4: Yeah, but feeling like if I feel bad.

1000
00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:03,680
Speaker 1: Like I don't want to swim, because swimming is such

1001
00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:07,080
Speaker 1: an isolating, isolating sport. Right, it's individual, but it's a team,

1002
00:46:07,120 --> 00:46:09,719
Speaker 1: but also it's just you and your thoughts and there's

1003
00:46:09,719 --> 00:46:12,840
Speaker 1: no distractions, and sometimes that can be really really challenging.

1004
00:46:13,160 --> 00:46:15,600
Speaker 1: But yeah, I think there's so much more with technology nowadays,

1005
00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:18,520
Speaker 1: or even just taking time to it's okay to not.

1006
00:46:18,480 --> 00:46:20,800
Speaker 4: Always be okay. Right, I've always liked that quote.

1007
00:46:21,600 --> 00:46:23,960
Speaker 1: So if I'm having a tough practice, sometimes just like

1008
00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:27,520
Speaker 1: tomorrow's a new day, it's okay, and just like putting

1009
00:46:27,560 --> 00:46:29,479
Speaker 1: it behind me, but not letting it almost like eat

1010
00:46:29,520 --> 00:46:32,920
Speaker 1: me alive. So I think that's something really important, and

1011
00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:35,279
Speaker 1: I see a lot of athletes today really struggle with that,

1012
00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:37,200
Speaker 1: and it takes time, right, just like we were saying,

1013
00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:39,480
Speaker 1: like Grace, it just takes time to just be like

1014
00:46:39,520 --> 00:46:41,920
Speaker 1: it's okay, let it go if you can let it

1015
00:46:41,960 --> 00:46:44,280
Speaker 1: go and reset and have a great practice tomorrow.

1016
00:46:45,400 --> 00:46:46,399
Speaker 4: To me, that's like a win.

1017
00:46:47,080 --> 00:46:47,959
Speaker 3: And not long ago.

1018
00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:51,239
Speaker 2: I write a caption on Instagram talking about how you

1019
00:46:51,440 --> 00:46:54,719
Speaker 2: have been managing your time since Tokyo in twenty twenty two,

1020
00:46:55,239 --> 00:46:57,360
Speaker 2: opening up that you know that you can be so

1021
00:46:57,480 --> 00:47:00,239
Speaker 2: incredibly hard on yourself and talk negatively to your self

1022
00:47:00,280 --> 00:47:03,279
Speaker 2: some days, and that you're working on changing that. For

1023
00:47:03,360 --> 00:47:07,840
Speaker 2: someone who totally can relate with the concept of negative

1024
00:47:07,880 --> 00:47:11,080
Speaker 2: self talk and struggling with negative self talk, what advice

1025
00:47:11,120 --> 00:47:14,040
Speaker 2: do you have to shift that inner dialogue to be

1026
00:47:14,080 --> 00:47:15,200
Speaker 2: a little bit more positive.

1027
00:47:15,880 --> 00:47:17,240
Speaker 4: That's such a good question.

1028
00:47:17,520 --> 00:47:20,840
Speaker 1: I try to remember that my brain, like the brain,

1029
00:47:21,200 --> 00:47:25,080
Speaker 1: it's so incredibly powerful, right, And I've always believed in

1030
00:47:25,080 --> 00:47:28,279
Speaker 1: the power of visualizing and seeing things in my head

1031
00:47:28,360 --> 00:47:31,279
Speaker 1: and believing anything that I tell it. So when I'm

1032
00:47:31,280 --> 00:47:34,239
Speaker 1: telling it such negative thoughts or I'm speaking so negatively,

1033
00:47:34,640 --> 00:47:36,480
Speaker 1: sometimes I'll go and stand in front of the mirror

1034
00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:38,840
Speaker 1: and I'm just like three positive things go or like

1035
00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:41,919
Speaker 1: I try to like it's okay. I think it's it's

1036
00:47:41,960 --> 00:47:45,759
Speaker 1: human and it's natural to have negative thoughts sometimes, But

1037
00:47:45,880 --> 00:47:49,640
Speaker 1: also that can be so incredibly challenged, like so taxing,

1038
00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:52,080
Speaker 1: because I just think you start to believe it. So

1039
00:47:52,120 --> 00:47:54,600
Speaker 1: I've just really tried to say more and more positive stuff.

1040
00:47:54,600 --> 00:47:56,480
Speaker 1: And even if I don't believe the positive stuff, I'm

1041
00:47:56,480 --> 00:47:58,080
Speaker 1: just saying it out loud so I can kind of

1042
00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:01,759
Speaker 1: hear it, and that does I really help. And more

1043
00:48:01,800 --> 00:48:04,560
Speaker 1: recently I've really struggled just with body image. Right, I

1044
00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:06,960
Speaker 1: don't look the same that I did, right, I'm not

1045
00:48:07,640 --> 00:48:10,560
Speaker 1: training the insane amount that I was before Tokyo, and

1046
00:48:10,600 --> 00:48:14,120
Speaker 1: I've gained about fifteen pounds and that has been really really,

1047
00:48:14,680 --> 00:48:18,319
Speaker 1: really really hard, especially as an amputee, right where people

1048
00:48:18,320 --> 00:48:20,960
Speaker 1: see this really fit, pretty girl and it almost helps

1049
00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:23,440
Speaker 1: me even when I have tough days with my legs.

1050
00:48:23,800 --> 00:48:26,120
Speaker 1: So that post I was, you know, even referring to

1051
00:48:26,239 --> 00:48:29,160
Speaker 1: like body image, like you know, I'm saying such horrible

1052
00:48:29,200 --> 00:48:31,320
Speaker 1: things to myself that I wouldn't say to a little

1053
00:48:31,320 --> 00:48:33,279
Speaker 1: girl in front of me or a little a swim team.

1054
00:48:33,280 --> 00:48:35,920
Speaker 1: And I've coached younger girls, right, so I just it's

1055
00:48:35,960 --> 00:48:38,440
Speaker 1: a constant, like practice, even as being a thirty one

1056
00:48:38,520 --> 00:48:40,719
Speaker 1: year old, you know, it doesn't go away. Just that

1057
00:48:40,840 --> 00:48:43,480
Speaker 1: like just trying to be kinder on myself and just

1058
00:48:43,560 --> 00:48:47,799
Speaker 1: having positive things to say. And I used to really

1059
00:48:47,840 --> 00:48:50,279
Speaker 1: struggle with having these big arms, right, and I've just

1060
00:48:50,320 --> 00:48:52,759
Speaker 1: been like, no, like they're not big, they're strong, but

1061
00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:55,360
Speaker 1: it takes time and just like anything, you have to

1062
00:48:55,440 --> 00:48:56,680
Speaker 1: just practice and practice.

1063
00:48:57,000 --> 00:49:00,279
Speaker 3: Yeah, thank you for sharing that and being so vulnerable.

1064
00:49:00,840 --> 00:49:03,200
Speaker 3: It's so uh, it's so.

1065
00:49:03,280 --> 00:49:06,200
Speaker 2: Relatable, and I would be your miss if I didn't

1066
00:49:06,239 --> 00:49:10,440
Speaker 2: say that. I have certainly dealt with similar struggles in

1067
00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:13,680
Speaker 2: different capacities. I think so many of the people listening

1068
00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:19,719
Speaker 2: to this right now have as well. And to know

1069
00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:23,400
Speaker 2: that there is value to you no matter what size

1070
00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:26,160
Speaker 2: you are, what shape you are, where you're from, with

1071
00:49:26,320 --> 00:49:30,839
Speaker 2: legs without legs, it is important. But that doesn't mean

1072
00:49:30,920 --> 00:49:34,040
Speaker 2: that it's easy to recognize in the moments where that

1073
00:49:34,080 --> 00:49:36,879
Speaker 2: negative self talk is seeping in.

1074
00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:41,000
Speaker 5: Not in the slightest Oh yes, it can be very challenging,

1075
00:49:41,120 --> 00:49:43,239
Speaker 5: especially when things just don't fit the way they used to.

1076
00:49:43,320 --> 00:49:45,120
Speaker 5: But I just try to think of all the things

1077
00:49:45,120 --> 00:49:47,080
Speaker 5: my body has gotten through and all the things my

1078
00:49:47,120 --> 00:49:49,840
Speaker 5: body has done. And I love this idea of just

1079
00:49:49,880 --> 00:49:53,720
Speaker 5: appreciating your body for all that it's gotten you through.

1080
00:49:53,880 --> 00:49:57,480
Speaker 5: And that's really really helped my mindset as a female athlete,

1081
00:49:57,480 --> 00:50:00,719
Speaker 5: As an athlete with the disability, just really giving it

1082
00:50:01,239 --> 00:50:03,600
Speaker 5: her praise for everything she's done or it.

1083
00:50:03,760 --> 00:50:06,319
Speaker 2: But yeah, how did it feel for you when you

1084
00:50:06,440 --> 00:50:10,560
Speaker 2: started spending more time in let's say, like a public

1085
00:50:10,600 --> 00:50:14,680
Speaker 2: facing capacity, allowing others to see you, all of you

1086
00:50:15,200 --> 00:50:16,120
Speaker 2: for what you are.

1087
00:50:16,600 --> 00:50:19,800
Speaker 1: Yeah, that was a little a little challenging. I've always

1088
00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:22,440
Speaker 1: been super, super open. You know, my life story has

1089
00:50:22,520 --> 00:50:25,680
Speaker 1: really been on display since I was twelve. And then

1090
00:50:25,760 --> 00:50:27,680
Speaker 1: in twenty fourteen, I did go back and meet my

1091
00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:31,440
Speaker 1: biological family in Russia and they married each other and

1092
00:50:31,480 --> 00:50:35,960
Speaker 1: they have three children. So NBC followed like showcase my

1093
00:50:36,040 --> 00:50:39,680
Speaker 1: whole story during the Sogio Olympics and Paralympics. So I

1094
00:50:39,719 --> 00:50:41,799
Speaker 1: feel like my life has really been showcase. But when

1095
00:50:41,800 --> 00:50:44,520
Speaker 1: the Super Bowl commercial happened, that was when I was like,

1096
00:50:45,080 --> 00:50:47,440
Speaker 1: oh my gosh, wow, like this is crazy and like

1097
00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:49,400
Speaker 1: everyone has phones these days, Like I think I just

1098
00:50:49,400 --> 00:50:51,520
Speaker 1: got a little bit more anxious and just the pressure that,

1099
00:50:52,080 --> 00:50:55,640
Speaker 1: you know, just to perform, but also like, gosh, you know,

1100
00:50:56,040 --> 00:50:58,560
Speaker 1: I've always been this incredible. I've always wanted to be

1101
00:50:58,560 --> 00:51:01,719
Speaker 1: an inspiration and an ambassad but it just added a

1102
00:51:01,760 --> 00:51:04,040
Speaker 1: little bit more pressure because you just think, oh gosh,

1103
00:51:04,080 --> 00:51:05,960
Speaker 1: like you're a little bit like you're being watched in

1104
00:51:05,960 --> 00:51:08,400
Speaker 1: a way and people are noticing. And I've sat I

1105
00:51:08,480 --> 00:51:11,000
Speaker 1: just recently flew and there's whoever I was sitting next

1106
00:51:11,040 --> 00:51:12,640
Speaker 1: to knew who I was, and I was like, Oh,

1107
00:51:12,760 --> 00:51:14,799
Speaker 1: that's really cool and kind of scary because I was

1108
00:51:14,800 --> 00:51:16,240
Speaker 1: having like a glass of wine.

1109
00:51:16,840 --> 00:51:18,520
Speaker 4: I was like, Oh, my gosh. But no, I mean

1110
00:51:18,560 --> 00:51:19,160
Speaker 4: it's really cool.

1111
00:51:19,160 --> 00:51:21,719
Speaker 1: And I've always took on that role of representing TMOSA

1112
00:51:21,840 --> 00:51:24,640
Speaker 1: but also female athletes and being a female athlete and

1113
00:51:24,640 --> 00:51:28,080
Speaker 1: people with disabilities. And I really believe in the power

1114
00:51:28,120 --> 00:51:32,279
Speaker 1: of great role models. And I think social media make

1115
00:51:32,320 --> 00:51:34,680
Speaker 1: things really hard. I think it's it's so easy to

1116
00:51:34,719 --> 00:51:37,600
Speaker 1: compare and it's not going to go away, right, So

1117
00:51:37,640 --> 00:51:40,760
Speaker 1: it's it's really important to have practice it like setting

1118
00:51:40,800 --> 00:51:43,640
Speaker 1: up like you know, setting up certain times, like I

1119
00:51:43,680 --> 00:51:46,920
Speaker 1: have an hour limit on Instagram and that's really helped

1120
00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:51,640
Speaker 1: me just even with comparison comparing. But but yeah, I

1121
00:51:51,640 --> 00:51:53,760
Speaker 1: don't know it definitely there was a lot more pressure

1122
00:51:53,800 --> 00:51:55,880
Speaker 1: after the Super Bowl where people would stop me and

1123
00:51:55,920 --> 00:51:58,840
Speaker 1: notice me and I'd be like, oh gosh, yes, this

1124
00:51:58,960 --> 00:51:59,440
Speaker 1: is wild.

1125
00:52:00,239 --> 00:52:04,839
Speaker 2: I mean that's understandable, right, this feeling of wanting to

1126
00:52:04,920 --> 00:52:08,120
Speaker 2: be on your game all the time, feeling as though

1127
00:52:08,360 --> 00:52:12,719
Speaker 2: more people are paying attention. What would you say, in

1128
00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:16,600
Speaker 2: your opinion is the best part of social media versus.

1129
00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:20,240
Speaker 3: The worst part of social media? Yeah?

1130
00:52:20,320 --> 00:52:22,040
Speaker 1: I mean I would say the best for me has

1131
00:52:22,080 --> 00:52:25,239
Speaker 1: been seeing other amputees. I love that, I think, and

1132
00:52:25,320 --> 00:52:28,480
Speaker 1: it's so incredibly cool to me when I see amputees

1133
00:52:28,600 --> 00:52:31,680
Speaker 1: who you can scroll down to their page and you

1134
00:52:31,719 --> 00:52:34,400
Speaker 1: can see at first how they hid being an amputee,

1135
00:52:34,719 --> 00:52:36,400
Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden they found this confidence

1136
00:52:36,400 --> 00:52:39,600
Speaker 1: and they're showcasing their legs and even educating at times,

1137
00:52:39,600 --> 00:52:41,960
Speaker 1: which I do not believe is always our job as

1138
00:52:41,960 --> 00:52:44,560
Speaker 1: amputees to educate, right. I think there's a lot of

1139
00:52:44,640 --> 00:52:46,759
Speaker 1: you can read about stuff online. We have Google, like,

1140
00:52:47,560 --> 00:52:51,680
Speaker 1: but I think that's been so incredible just not feeling alone, right,

1141
00:52:51,719 --> 00:52:54,120
Speaker 1: feeling seen. I think there's such a power and knowing

1142
00:52:54,120 --> 00:52:56,960
Speaker 1: that you're not the only one. I think the harness

1143
00:52:57,040 --> 00:52:59,280
Speaker 1: thing though, is just I think for me as a female,

1144
00:52:59,320 --> 00:53:01,800
Speaker 1: and I don't know about all females, but just comparing

1145
00:53:01,840 --> 00:53:05,040
Speaker 1: body types, right, I think that's something where you just

1146
00:53:05,160 --> 00:53:07,400
Speaker 1: know that there's filters with everything, right, and then I

1147
00:53:07,440 --> 00:53:10,080
Speaker 1: have to constantly remind myself that this is our highlight reel,

1148
00:53:10,239 --> 00:53:13,040
Speaker 1: like mine is my highlight reel for sure, and just

1149
00:53:13,120 --> 00:53:15,920
Speaker 1: sometimes remembering that this is not one hundred percent reality.

1150
00:53:16,760 --> 00:53:18,479
Speaker 1: So I think that's been the most challenging, just because

1151
00:53:18,480 --> 00:53:19,759
Speaker 1: we get so sucked into it.

1152
00:53:19,719 --> 00:53:20,160
Speaker 4: And the edit.

1153
00:53:20,239 --> 00:53:22,440
Speaker 1: I love the editing, and I love posing for pictures

1154
00:53:22,480 --> 00:53:24,680
Speaker 1: and it's so exciting to me, and of course I'll

1155
00:53:24,680 --> 00:53:28,000
Speaker 1: pick my favorite ones, but just reminding myself that it's

1156
00:53:28,080 --> 00:53:32,120
Speaker 1: not the whole truth. That we're just presenting sometimes our best.

1157
00:53:31,920 --> 00:53:34,480
Speaker 4: Which is okay, But that's why I think I'm so

1158
00:53:35,040 --> 00:53:35,479
Speaker 4: I I.

1159
00:53:35,400 --> 00:53:37,200
Speaker 1: Love the women who post and they're like, look, this

1160
00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:39,120
Speaker 1: is me without a filter, or this is not a one

1161
00:53:39,120 --> 00:53:41,320
Speaker 1: hundred percent in real life, or like the different angles,

1162
00:53:41,320 --> 00:53:44,480
Speaker 1: and I'm like, okay, gosh, this is this is social.

1163
00:53:44,200 --> 00:53:47,160
Speaker 3: Media, this is the highlight reel.

1164
00:53:47,360 --> 00:53:50,040
Speaker 2: You know, You've talked a little bit in our conversation

1165
00:53:50,160 --> 00:53:52,960
Speaker 2: today about the fact that there is so much further

1166
00:53:53,040 --> 00:53:55,680
Speaker 2: for us to go when it comes to supporting both

1167
00:53:55,719 --> 00:53:59,839
Speaker 2: women in sport and then also Paralympic athletes. How can

1168
00:54:00,040 --> 00:54:04,719
Speaker 2: and the average person support Paralympic athletes?

1169
00:54:06,840 --> 00:54:10,799
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, I think truly just well, first off, even

1170
00:54:10,880 --> 00:54:13,640
Speaker 1: understanding what the word Paralympic stands for I think a

1171
00:54:13,680 --> 00:54:15,760
Speaker 1: lot of people don't even realize that the word Para

1172
00:54:16,480 --> 00:54:19,680
Speaker 1: means parallel to the Olympic Games. So I think that's

1173
00:54:19,800 --> 00:54:22,480
Speaker 1: huge just knowing that we are alongside the Olympics. There's

1174
00:54:22,560 --> 00:54:25,239
Speaker 1: really there's no difference. But I think also for us,

1175
00:54:25,280 --> 00:54:28,959
Speaker 1: one of the biggest things is just actually being showcased

1176
00:54:29,120 --> 00:54:32,000
Speaker 1: as elite athletes. And again that's why I'm really really

1177
00:54:32,040 --> 00:54:34,719
Speaker 1: excited with ally, because there's going to be so much

1178
00:54:34,760 --> 00:54:36,759
Speaker 1: more action and we're still kind of in the works

1179
00:54:36,760 --> 00:54:38,840
Speaker 1: of figuring out what that action could look like for

1180
00:54:38,880 --> 00:54:41,600
Speaker 1: the Paralympic movement. But again, for me, it's important as

1181
00:54:41,600 --> 00:54:43,680
Speaker 1: an athlete to not give up now, to keep swimming

1182
00:54:43,719 --> 00:54:46,000
Speaker 1: even when it gets hard, and right now it is hard.

1183
00:54:46,080 --> 00:54:48,080
Speaker 1: I will say that again it has been very hard.

1184
00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:50,560
Speaker 1: So it's really really important to keep showing up to

1185
00:54:50,600 --> 00:54:53,799
Speaker 1: the competitions and to keep showcasing it on Paralympics. But

1186
00:54:54,239 --> 00:54:57,480
Speaker 1: for those who don't know, again I just would maybe

1187
00:54:57,560 --> 00:55:00,239
Speaker 1: challenge yourself to read more about the Paralympics, you know,

1188
00:55:00,640 --> 00:55:04,040
Speaker 1: just following the Paralympic movement, I think that's always really important,

1189
00:55:04,640 --> 00:55:06,880
Speaker 1: but just supporting it in ways you know on social

1190
00:55:06,920 --> 00:55:10,879
Speaker 1: media for sure always helps, but just knowing that when

1191
00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:13,480
Speaker 1: the Olympics are done, it's not over. We're next. And

1192
00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:15,560
Speaker 1: we always say to the Olympians, We're like, thanks for

1193
00:55:15,600 --> 00:55:18,279
Speaker 1: the warm up, because they figure all out, they get

1194
00:55:18,280 --> 00:55:20,200
Speaker 1: all they get all the little kinks out by the

1195
00:55:20,200 --> 00:55:23,279
Speaker 1: time we come. But but yeah, just I get super

1196
00:55:23,320 --> 00:55:24,960
Speaker 1: excited when I go to grocery stores and they see

1197
00:55:25,000 --> 00:55:26,680
Speaker 1: me wearing a Paralympic shirt and they're like, oh my gosh,

1198
00:55:26,760 --> 00:55:28,439
Speaker 1: like you're in the Paralympics, And me, guess I am

1199
00:55:29,080 --> 00:55:30,960
Speaker 1: so just educating reading.

1200
00:55:30,640 --> 00:55:31,560
Speaker 3: About it now.

1201
00:55:32,239 --> 00:55:34,960
Speaker 2: I also think that it can be as simple as

1202
00:55:35,480 --> 00:55:39,920
Speaker 2: broadening who you follow on social media and following Paralympic

1203
00:55:39,960 --> 00:55:42,160
Speaker 2: athletes and engaging with their content. And I mean, you

1204
00:55:42,239 --> 00:55:47,040
Speaker 2: spoke so excitedly about not only being an ambassador for Ally,

1205
00:55:47,120 --> 00:55:50,160
Speaker 2: but then also your work previously with other big brands,

1206
00:55:50,200 --> 00:55:53,279
Speaker 2: including Toyota and that Super Bowl commercial. So engaging with

1207
00:55:53,400 --> 00:55:56,520
Speaker 2: the content in a way that shows these brands that

1208
00:55:56,680 --> 00:56:01,080
Speaker 2: not only do your fans support you, but they're excited

1209
00:56:01,200 --> 00:56:05,200
Speaker 2: about seeing you interact in such a big way, making

1210
00:56:05,280 --> 00:56:06,480
Speaker 2: such a big statement.

1211
00:56:06,880 --> 00:56:08,000
Speaker 4: Yes, I love that.

1212
00:56:07,920 --> 00:56:11,319
Speaker 1: And obviously there's some amazing amazing accounts to follow.

1213
00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:13,840
Speaker 4: Where you'll see it. I mean, we are always.

1214
00:56:13,480 --> 00:56:16,479
Speaker 1: Training, right, We're not just training like a few months

1215
00:56:16,520 --> 00:56:19,000
Speaker 1: before the Olympics or Paralympics. We are always training in

1216
00:56:19,040 --> 00:56:22,560
Speaker 1: the dark, right. So that's what makes the Olympics so exciting.

1217
00:56:22,200 --> 00:56:22,920
Speaker 4: When it comes.

1218
00:56:22,960 --> 00:56:25,440
Speaker 1: But also I think for anyone else, just understanding that

1219
00:56:25,480 --> 00:56:28,000
Speaker 1: we are training twenty four seven and there are incredible

1220
00:56:28,040 --> 00:56:31,279
Speaker 1: platforms who promote that and showcase that, so I think

1221
00:56:31,280 --> 00:56:33,480
Speaker 1: it would be really really incredible. You know, obviously there's

1222
00:56:33,480 --> 00:56:38,000
Speaker 1: Team USA, there's ally there's NBC Olympics and Paralympics, but

1223
00:56:38,160 --> 00:56:40,160
Speaker 1: just seeing what all of us are doing, right, because

1224
00:56:40,160 --> 00:56:42,920
Speaker 1: we are representing the US, the USA, and there's nothing

1225
00:56:42,960 --> 00:56:45,160
Speaker 1: better than swimming with the American flag, you know.

1226
00:56:45,400 --> 00:56:49,800
Speaker 2: Simcah I love, I love that phrase training in the dark.

1227
00:56:49,960 --> 00:56:54,440
Speaker 2: For so many athletes, regardless of gender, how you identify

1228
00:56:54,560 --> 00:56:58,160
Speaker 2: where you're from, A lot of that training is exactly

1229
00:56:58,200 --> 00:56:58,680
Speaker 2: that way.

1230
00:56:58,760 --> 00:57:01,040
Speaker 3: It is happening in the dark.

1231
00:57:01,120 --> 00:57:05,200
Speaker 2: You talked about knowing your why and that that why

1232
00:57:05,440 --> 00:57:08,520
Speaker 2: is what keeps you going when it does feel challenging.

1233
00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:12,080
Speaker 3: If you had to articulate that why, what is it?

1234
00:57:12,440 --> 00:57:15,360
Speaker 1: I would definitely say my why? You know, for so

1235
00:57:15,480 --> 00:57:17,440
Speaker 1: long I was proving to others that they you know,

1236
00:57:17,800 --> 00:57:20,480
Speaker 1: that they were wrong, that I was enough. But now

1237
00:57:20,480 --> 00:57:22,320
Speaker 1: it's proving to others that they can do it too.

1238
00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:25,040
Speaker 1: And I think that's been kind of my like mindset

1239
00:57:25,080 --> 00:57:27,000
Speaker 1: moving forward, that they can do it too, that if

1240
00:57:27,080 --> 00:57:30,000
Speaker 1: I'm if I'm still swimming, proving to others just that

1241
00:57:30,040 --> 00:57:31,840
Speaker 1: they can do it and they could even break they

1242
00:57:31,880 --> 00:57:33,680
Speaker 1: can break all the records, right, Records are meant to

1243
00:57:33,720 --> 00:57:35,360
Speaker 1: be broken, medals are meant to be one.

1244
00:57:35,400 --> 00:57:37,960
Speaker 4: There's always going to be the next.

1245
00:57:37,800 --> 00:57:40,400
Speaker 1: Up and comer, but it starts first with a I

1246
00:57:40,400 --> 00:57:42,920
Speaker 1: think it for first starts with the younger generation seeing

1247
00:57:42,920 --> 00:57:45,080
Speaker 1: others like them. So I think for me, my why

1248
00:57:45,280 --> 00:57:48,160
Speaker 1: is continuing to do it even when I don't always

1249
00:57:48,160 --> 00:57:48,400
Speaker 1: want to.

1250
00:57:48,720 --> 00:57:51,640
Speaker 2: Speaking of the younger generation, you've got over a million

1251
00:57:51,680 --> 00:57:54,920
Speaker 2: followers on TikTok. Talk to me about how it feels

1252
00:57:54,960 --> 00:57:58,760
Speaker 2: for you to truly be stepping into what you're saying

1253
00:57:58,840 --> 00:58:02,440
Speaker 2: here being the person, being that woman that they see.

1254
00:58:02,480 --> 00:58:04,280
Speaker 2: In order to be her, you need to see her,

1255
00:58:04,480 --> 00:58:07,520
Speaker 2: you're her.

1256
00:58:08,440 --> 00:58:11,440
Speaker 1: That's been so wild to me, and even at some

1257
00:58:11,480 --> 00:58:13,080
Speaker 1: points I've had to really take a step back from

1258
00:58:13,160 --> 00:58:15,960
Speaker 1: even posting because I'm like, wow, this is just social media.

1259
00:58:16,120 --> 00:58:19,360
Speaker 1: We all need breaks. But it's been so incredible to

1260
00:58:19,360 --> 00:58:21,720
Speaker 1: see other like kids who are adopted writ and to

1261
00:58:21,800 --> 00:58:24,919
Speaker 1: know my story, or little imputees who actually were born

1262
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:27,400
Speaker 1: with the same thing as me. You know. I post

1263
00:58:27,440 --> 00:58:29,280
Speaker 1: a lot of me just kind of dancing or walking

1264
00:58:29,280 --> 00:58:32,960
Speaker 1: on my knees. I actually first posted on TikTok just

1265
00:58:33,000 --> 00:58:35,480
Speaker 1: because I think for me, it came at a point

1266
00:58:35,520 --> 00:58:38,040
Speaker 1: in my life maybe four years ago, three years ago,

1267
00:58:38,040 --> 00:58:40,120
Speaker 1: where I was like, I wonder if people even know

1268
00:58:40,200 --> 00:58:42,760
Speaker 1: how amputees put on their prosthetics. So I did a

1269
00:58:42,760 --> 00:58:44,720
Speaker 1: little video and I just I think it was my

1270
00:58:44,800 --> 00:58:48,360
Speaker 1: second video actually, and it got like thirty seven million views,

1271
00:58:48,360 --> 00:58:51,120
Speaker 1: and I was like what, I was like, this is crazy.

1272
00:58:51,440 --> 00:58:53,960
Speaker 1: So it's just been really cool to share. I definitely

1273
00:58:54,040 --> 00:58:56,360
Speaker 1: again struggled after Tokyo and just didn't I think I

1274
00:58:56,440 --> 00:58:58,240
Speaker 1: was just a little burned out with some stuff. So

1275
00:58:58,520 --> 00:59:00,560
Speaker 1: I'm trying to get back onto posting. It's been really

1276
00:59:00,640 --> 00:59:04,240
Speaker 1: cool to connect with different people through that platform. But again,

1277
00:59:04,280 --> 00:59:07,640
Speaker 1: I think just showing people that what's capable is really important.

1278
00:59:08,120 --> 00:59:09,920
Speaker 3: How does Jessica take care of Jessica?

1279
00:59:10,280 --> 00:59:14,520
Speaker 1: I love ice coffee and a charcutery board and a bath.

1280
00:59:14,720 --> 00:59:16,919
Speaker 1: I'm a big bath girl, Epsom salt bath all the way.

1281
00:59:17,160 --> 00:59:17,280
Speaker 4: Now.

1282
00:59:17,400 --> 00:59:20,040
Speaker 1: I'm so incredibly thankful and blessed for my husband, who

1283
00:59:20,120 --> 00:59:23,360
Speaker 1: just truly supports me and who's so so incredible. I

1284
00:59:23,360 --> 00:59:26,360
Speaker 1: think for me, just sometimes it's okay to not always

1285
00:59:26,360 --> 00:59:29,360
Speaker 1: be okay and to know that life is just getting

1286
00:59:29,360 --> 00:59:31,520
Speaker 1: started and that there's some of my best days haven't

1287
00:59:31,520 --> 00:59:32,120
Speaker 1: even happened.

1288
00:59:32,160 --> 00:59:32,680
Speaker 4: I love that.

1289
00:59:33,120 --> 00:59:34,760
Speaker 1: But for me, truly, one of my favorite things to

1290
00:59:34,800 --> 00:59:36,760
Speaker 1: do is take a bath, because I think it's just

1291
00:59:36,800 --> 00:59:39,200
Speaker 1: after a tough day of training. There's nothing I love

1292
00:59:39,240 --> 00:59:42,280
Speaker 1: better than just doing an EPSOM salt bath and soaking,

1293
00:59:42,360 --> 00:59:45,160
Speaker 1: or just listening to a podcast or you know. I

1294
00:59:45,200 --> 00:59:48,280
Speaker 1: love making charcoutery boards. But honestly, for me, relaxing is

1295
00:59:48,360 --> 00:59:50,560
Speaker 1: just slowing down and I'm always in water. That's I

1296
00:59:50,560 --> 00:59:52,280
Speaker 1: always laugh when I take baths because I'm like, I

1297
00:59:52,280 --> 00:59:54,280
Speaker 1: can't get out of water. But for me, my favorite

1298
00:59:54,320 --> 00:59:55,720
Speaker 1: thing to do ever is take it back.

1299
00:59:56,760 --> 00:59:59,680
Speaker 3: I'm stuck here. I'm stuck in this water all right.

1300
00:59:59,720 --> 01:00:02,080
Speaker 2: Well, as we start to wind down now, someone goes

1301
01:00:02,120 --> 01:00:06,120
Speaker 2: to your Instagram page, they see a Paralympic champion with

1302
01:00:06,360 --> 01:00:10,480
Speaker 2: over one hundred thousand followers. Obviously a woman here, born

1303
01:00:10,600 --> 01:00:14,120
Speaker 2: without legs and as you put it, living your best life.

1304
01:00:14,120 --> 01:00:16,240
Speaker 2: When you look in the mirror, Jessica, what do you

1305
01:00:16,320 --> 01:00:17,760
Speaker 2: see looking back at you?

1306
01:00:19,480 --> 01:00:22,440
Speaker 1: Oh my goodness, I am just really proud of myself,

1307
01:00:22,560 --> 01:00:24,760
Speaker 1: and I hope that the little Russian girl is proud too.

1308
01:00:24,920 --> 01:00:27,720
Speaker 1: And I also see a woman maybe that just isn't

1309
01:00:27,720 --> 01:00:29,840
Speaker 1: finished yet, just getting started.

1310
01:00:30,640 --> 01:00:32,200
Speaker 3: Just getting started.

1311
01:00:32,880 --> 01:00:36,320
Speaker 2: Right now, my friend, you have an opportunity to offer

1312
01:00:36,400 --> 01:00:39,160
Speaker 2: yourself a piece of advice. Let's go back to that

1313
01:00:39,280 --> 01:00:43,040
Speaker 2: second Paralympic Games when you felt as though that bronze

1314
01:00:43,120 --> 01:00:45,800
Speaker 2: just wasn't good enough. You have an opportunity right now,

1315
01:00:45,800 --> 01:00:48,920
Speaker 2: knowing what you know now, to give yourself some advice

1316
01:00:49,000 --> 01:00:50,600
Speaker 2: looking back on that hurdle moment.

1317
01:00:50,760 --> 01:00:52,560
Speaker 3: What do you tell yourself?

1318
01:00:53,880 --> 01:00:56,200
Speaker 4: Oh gosh, this is such a good question and a

1319
01:00:56,240 --> 01:00:56,720
Speaker 4: tough question.

1320
01:00:57,240 --> 01:01:00,600
Speaker 1: I would first say, find your passion. I think can

1321
01:01:00,640 --> 01:01:03,520
Speaker 1: be anything, and it is yours. You know, protect it,

1322
01:01:03,600 --> 01:01:06,560
Speaker 1: love it, fight for it. And for me that passion

1323
01:01:06,680 --> 01:01:08,720
Speaker 1: was swimming. But I think it's so important to show

1324
01:01:08,720 --> 01:01:12,280
Speaker 1: it for yourself. To love yourself through the successes but

1325
01:01:12,360 --> 01:01:14,800
Speaker 1: also and through the failures. You know it was really

1326
01:01:14,800 --> 01:01:17,040
Speaker 1: really hard when I got that bronze metal. But looking back,

1327
01:01:17,400 --> 01:01:20,000
Speaker 1: you're just gonna always have a perspective shift. So just

1328
01:01:20,040 --> 01:01:21,840
Speaker 1: know that no matter what you're going through, it's still

1329
01:01:21,880 --> 01:01:23,800
Speaker 1: important to show up and to just be proud of

1330
01:01:23,840 --> 01:01:25,680
Speaker 1: yourself through any season of.

1331
01:01:25,600 --> 01:01:28,880
Speaker 3: Life, any season of life.

1332
01:01:29,640 --> 01:01:33,080
Speaker 2: Just curious on the regular, what would you say is

1333
01:01:33,160 --> 01:01:36,439
Speaker 2: one of the most difficult parts of being an amputee?

1334
01:01:37,080 --> 01:01:39,480
Speaker 1: Gosh, I think every day my legs still just they

1335
01:01:39,560 --> 01:01:42,720
Speaker 1: still hurt, right, they still there can be every day

1336
01:01:42,760 --> 01:01:46,200
Speaker 1: is unpredictable, so I am fitting into prosthetic legs that

1337
01:01:46,240 --> 01:01:49,600
Speaker 1: are molded to my nubs. And if I'm swollen, if

1338
01:01:49,640 --> 01:01:52,120
Speaker 1: I walk too much, if it's heat, if it's cold,

1339
01:01:52,400 --> 01:01:55,120
Speaker 1: They're always different, they fluctuate. So I would just say

1340
01:01:55,120 --> 01:01:58,120
Speaker 1: every day it's hard. But every day, you know, no

1341
01:01:58,200 --> 01:02:00,520
Speaker 1: matter what, I can't, I will never have legs. But

1342
01:02:00,560 --> 01:02:02,240
Speaker 1: I've just decided to make the best of it. And

1343
01:02:02,680 --> 01:02:05,280
Speaker 1: it doesn't take away that it's hard, just because every

1344
01:02:05,320 --> 01:02:08,200
Speaker 1: day is so unpredictable. But uh, I don't know. I

1345
01:02:08,240 --> 01:02:09,919
Speaker 1: always like when I get a chance to take them off.

1346
01:02:10,120 --> 01:02:13,520
Speaker 2: For sure, your perspective is so refreshing because there are

1347
01:02:13,600 --> 01:02:17,480
Speaker 2: so many out there that are dealing with something maybe

1348
01:02:17,520 --> 01:02:19,560
Speaker 2: it is similar to what you deal with on the regular,

1349
01:02:19,680 --> 01:02:23,520
Speaker 2: maybe it's not, but have difficulty accepting the things that

1350
01:02:23,560 --> 01:02:27,520
Speaker 2: they cannot control, accepting situations for what is, and you

1351
01:02:27,680 --> 01:02:30,520
Speaker 2: recognize that it can be both right. It can be

1352
01:02:30,680 --> 01:02:34,680
Speaker 2: something that's frustrating and you can also manage it.

1353
01:02:34,960 --> 01:02:36,920
Speaker 1: I think some of my success also came from just

1354
01:02:36,960 --> 01:02:40,000
Speaker 1: being angry. I think anger is such a powerful emotion,

1355
01:02:40,160 --> 01:02:42,120
Speaker 1: and I think as long as you continue to work

1356
01:02:42,160 --> 01:02:44,920
Speaker 1: through that anger. And for me, that anger came from adoption,

1357
01:02:45,080 --> 01:02:46,520
Speaker 1: it came from the way I looked, It came from

1358
01:02:46,560 --> 01:02:48,120
Speaker 1: the way I was born, It came from the pain

1359
01:02:48,160 --> 01:02:50,200
Speaker 1: that I felt. It came from a lot of things

1360
01:02:50,200 --> 01:02:51,600
Speaker 1: that were very very valid.

1361
01:02:51,800 --> 01:02:51,960
Speaker 4: Right.

1362
01:02:51,960 --> 01:02:53,920
Speaker 1: I think people it's okay to be angry with certain

1363
01:02:53,920 --> 01:02:57,120
Speaker 1: things and to use that almost as fuel to the fire. Right,

1364
01:02:57,160 --> 01:02:58,640
Speaker 1: I was angry about a lot of stuff, and I

1365
01:02:58,680 --> 01:03:01,160
Speaker 1: took it out in swimming in a healthy way for me.

1366
01:03:01,240 --> 01:03:02,800
Speaker 4: I mean, exercise and swim is healthy.

1367
01:03:03,720 --> 01:03:05,880
Speaker 1: But I've also had to work really really hard through

1368
01:03:05,880 --> 01:03:09,480
Speaker 1: that anger, and I've worked I'm still in therapy. I've

1369
01:03:09,480 --> 01:03:11,840
Speaker 1: worked really really hard in therapy. And I actually was

1370
01:03:11,840 --> 01:03:14,040
Speaker 1: a person who never believed in therapy and just thought

1371
01:03:14,040 --> 01:03:16,560
Speaker 1: I could power through it. So I think for me,

1372
01:03:16,640 --> 01:03:19,000
Speaker 1: it's just even leaving that with other people. Right, It's

1373
01:03:19,000 --> 01:03:21,000
Speaker 1: okay to be angry about a situation or life or

1374
01:03:21,040 --> 01:03:22,400
Speaker 1: even just the way that you were born.

1375
01:03:22,600 --> 01:03:23,840
Speaker 4: But if you're not working.

1376
01:03:23,560 --> 01:03:26,400
Speaker 1: Through it, it's going to eat you alive. And I

1377
01:03:26,400 --> 01:03:29,640
Speaker 1: think it's so important to still work through it. And

1378
01:03:29,680 --> 01:03:32,120
Speaker 1: I'm still I mean, there's still passion and anger at

1379
01:03:32,120 --> 01:03:35,600
Speaker 1: times when I swim, but I'm always actively working through

1380
01:03:35,600 --> 01:03:37,200
Speaker 1: it and knowing that no matter what, I have a

1381
01:03:37,200 --> 01:03:40,320
Speaker 1: good life and I'm going to have the best life

1382
01:03:40,320 --> 01:03:42,360
Speaker 1: no matter what, just because of my perspective.

1383
01:03:42,520 --> 01:03:46,200
Speaker 2: Yeah, your perspective is truly, truly remarkable. Just I'm so

1384
01:03:46,240 --> 01:03:48,480
Speaker 2: happy that we were able to make the time for this.

1385
01:03:48,720 --> 01:03:52,240
Speaker 2: You are, without a doubt inspiring so many, not just

1386
01:03:52,520 --> 01:03:55,160
Speaker 2: that look like you, but of course to so many

1387
01:03:55,280 --> 01:03:58,400
Speaker 2: others as well. So thank you for your time. For

1388
01:03:58,480 --> 01:04:00,960
Speaker 2: those that don't follow you just yet, how do they

1389
01:04:01,040 --> 01:04:02,960
Speaker 2: keep up with you? How do they follow along with you?

1390
01:04:03,000 --> 01:04:04,280
Speaker 2: Give us your details?

1391
01:04:04,920 --> 01:04:08,680
Speaker 1: Oh okay, so everyone can follow me on Jessica. My

1392
01:04:09,160 --> 01:04:11,960
Speaker 1: username is Jessica Tatiana Long It's my Russian name. And

1393
01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:14,040
Speaker 1: then I have a book coming out in September, and

1394
01:04:14,120 --> 01:04:15,920
Speaker 1: I have a website Jessica on dot com.

1395
01:04:15,960 --> 01:04:17,120
Speaker 3: But yeah, that's it.

1396
01:04:17,200 --> 01:04:20,560
Speaker 2: I'm over at EMILYA. Bodi and at Hurdle Podcast. Another

1397
01:04:20,640 --> 01:04:23,440
Speaker 2: Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next time.