1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine, Hey besties, Our bright Side Countdown to the 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: Olympics continues, and today we're super excited because our guest 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: is a record setting athlete and the second most decorated 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: women's track and Field Olympian of all time. Sonia Richards 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: Ross is an Olympic champion and commentator and you may 6 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: recognize her from the Real Housewives of Atlanta too. 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 2: She's joining us today to talk resilience, what. 8 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: It's like to compete at the highest level in the world, 9 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: and what she's most looking forward to this summer in Paris. 10 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 2: It's Thursday, July eighteenth. I'm Simone Boyce and. 11 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:40,120 Speaker 3: I'm Danielle Robe. This is the bright Side from Hello Sunshine, 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 3: a daily show where we come together to share women's stories, 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 3: to laugh, learn and brighten your day. 14 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 1: Danielle, our bright Side Countdown to the Olympics continues. We 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,800 Speaker 1: are exactly a days from the start of the Paris Olympics, 16 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: which means we are exactly eight days from me clearing 17 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: my calendar so that I can just watch Olympics events 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: all the time. But truly, this season has got me 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: thinking about the precision and the pressure that these athletes 20 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: have to navigate as they're staring down the finish line. 21 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, especially for runners, sometimes it comes down to 22 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 3: a tenth or even a thousandth of a second. That's 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 3: what can separate an athlete from victory or heartbreak. In 24 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 3: the two thousand and four Athens Olympics women's two hundred 25 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,319 Speaker 3: meters race, Veronica Campbell Brown won the gold with a 26 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 3: time of twenty two point zero five seconds, and Alison Felix, yeah, 27 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:39,320 Speaker 3: we all know her. She finished second with a time 28 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 3: of twenty two point one eight seconds. The difference between 29 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 3: the top three finishers was less than a tenth of 30 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:46,559 Speaker 3: a second. 31 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: And then when we think about nineteen ninety two in Barcelona, 32 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: the women's one hundred meter sprint remains one of the 33 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: closest finishes in Olympic history. It was so close to you, guys, 34 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: slow motion footage was the only way to con firm 35 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: who won. In the end, Usay's Gail Devers took home 36 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: the gold after a painstaking waiting period for the results. 37 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 3: The kind of fortitude and tenacity and just gusto that 38 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 3: it takes to work towards being one of the best 39 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 3: in the world when the margins are that small, especially 40 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 3: on days when things just don't go your way. Well, 41 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 3: to me, that requires not just physical strength, but mental 42 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 3: strength too. 43 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: Well. Our guest today knows what it's like to stare 44 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: at a finish line and grasp at every thousandth of 45 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: a second. Sonia richards Ross moved to America from Jamaica 46 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: when she was just twelve years old, and as a 47 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: little girl on the playground, she quickly learned she. 48 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: Was fast, real fast. 49 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: She won a national title in women's track and field 50 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: when she was a senior in high school, and then 51 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: she made her Olympic debut. By the time she was 52 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: in college, She's won medals at the two thousand and four, 53 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, and twenty twelve Olympics, making her 54 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 1: the second most decorated women's track and field athlete of 55 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: all time. 56 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 3: I'm just going to brag on her for a second. 57 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 3: She remains the only female athlete in history to win 58 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 3: the four hundred meter relay at three successive editions of 59 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 3: the Games. I know we're throwing so many numbers out there, 60 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,919 Speaker 3: but TLDR impressive and this kind of success it did 61 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: not come without challenges. That's what I love about Sonia's story. 62 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,679 Speaker 3: She's honest about it all. She was favored to win 63 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 3: the gold in two thousand and eight, and she landed 64 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 3: with the bronze, and then, after an incredible comeback in 65 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 3: twenty twelve, a foot injury prevented her from competing again 66 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 3: and it forced her to re examine her life without 67 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 3: the title of athlete, and since then, she's gone on 68 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 3: to become a sports analyst for NBC covering the Olympics. 69 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 3: She published a memoir in twenty seventeen called Chasing Grace 70 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 3: What the Quarter Mile has taught Me about God and life. 71 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 3: And she made her debut on the Real Housewives of 72 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 3: Atlanta just a few years ago. I know I was 73 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 3: tuning in, but she is leaving the show, so I 74 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 3: have to ask her about that. 75 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: At the heart of all these accomplishments is her resilience, 76 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: her champions mindset, and her multitudes that shine both on 77 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: and off the track. So let's bring her in now, Sonya. 78 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: Welcome to the bright Side. Oh yeah, I'm excited. Thanks 79 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: for having me, Sonya. We are only a couple weeks 80 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: away from this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, and you 81 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: will be attending and covering as an NBC commentator, Who 82 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: are you going to be watching on the track this 83 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 1: year in Paris? 84 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 2: Give us your expert preview? 85 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 4: Oh Man, So you know, I don't think I'm exaggerating 86 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 4: when I say that this may be the deepest team 87 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,119 Speaker 4: of superstar athletes that I've ever seen on the track. 88 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 4: We start with Shakarie Richardson and the women's hundred. There's 89 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 4: Sidney McLaughlin, Lavoni and the foreigner hurdles, Noah Lyles, Rye Benjamin. 90 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:00,200 Speaker 4: The list just goes on and on and on with 91 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 4: so much talent on the track, and they're gonna be 92 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 4: going up against some incredible competition with athletes all over 93 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 4: the world. So it's just literally every day that there 94 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,479 Speaker 4: is a track me on, You're gonna want to watch 95 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 4: it because there's gonna be somebody to watch, somebody, the 96 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 4: great story, Tara Davis Woodhall in the long jump. There's 97 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 4: just so much to be excited about. And I get 98 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 4: to be front row in Paris. I can't wait. 99 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: We are so excited for you. There are so many 100 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 1: eyes on Shikari Richardson this year. I mean, she is 101 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: competing in the Olympics after missing out on Tokyo because 102 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 1: she tested positive for marijuana, and in her word she says, 103 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 1: I'm not back, I'm better, And she does seem different. 104 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 1: I mean, she's showing up even more authentic than she 105 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: was before. Like she's traded in the wigs for braids, 106 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 1: she's still rocking that fire manny all the time. How 107 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 1: would you describe the legacy that Shakerrie is creating for 108 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: herself as we speak. 109 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:02,799 Speaker 4: I would say it is absolutely beautiful to see all 110 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 4: that Sha Carrie has been through as an athlete, as 111 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 4: a young woman. To see her maturing right in front 112 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,559 Speaker 4: of our eyes has been a treat to watch. She's 113 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 4: also been authentic in how she expresses how much she's growing, 114 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 4: how much it matters to her that she shows up 115 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,600 Speaker 4: and represents, especially for black women. And so I can't 116 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 4: imagine what it was like for Sha CAIRI when she 117 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 4: first burst. 118 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 2: Onto the scene. 119 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,680 Speaker 4: We'd never seen an athlete have that much of an 120 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 4: impact so quickly in our sport, and so that was 121 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 4: a heavy load for her to Carrie. And then of 122 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 4: course the disappointment was not going to her first Olympics, 123 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 4: and there was just so much and I felt like. 124 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: She was fighting for her life. 125 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:45,800 Speaker 4: But now I think she's settled into her role as 126 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 4: the face of the sport. She's not fighting, she's just 127 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 4: going with the flow of competition. 128 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 2: She just seems happier, more mature and men. 129 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 4: It was really fun to watch her make the team 130 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 4: and now lead Team USA to Paris. 131 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 3: I love hearing you talk about all these superstar female athletes, 132 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 3: but we can't sleep on the fact that we have 133 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: gold medalists Sonya Ross in the house. So I want 134 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 3: to back up a little bit and talk about your 135 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 3: journey because you grew up in Jamaica and you started 136 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 3: running at seven years old. To me, that sounds like 137 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 3: you basically started running when you were walking, like this 138 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 3: was just for you. So when did you know you 139 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 3: wanted to be an Olympian from. 140 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: The very beginning? 141 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 4: You know, being born in Kingston, Jamaica, track and field 142 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 4: is by far the most popular sport, and so I 143 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 4: remember the country shutting down to watch Merlin Atti and 144 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 4: some of the greats from Jamaica, and I was like, 145 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 4: oh my god, I want that to be be one day, 146 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 4: Like I want people sharing for me and rooting for me. 147 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 4: And I was lucky that when I was seven I 148 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 4: went out for like we had like a fun day 149 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 4: at school, and I beat all the boys and all 150 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 4: the girls, and the coach Sawda had the gift of speed, 151 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 4: you know. And I'm so grateful for all the coaches 152 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 4: and of course my family that poured into me and 153 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 4: allowed me to live this dream. I said when I 154 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 4: was nine for my class assignment, I was gonna be 155 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 4: an Olympic champion. 156 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: And I did it. 157 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,960 Speaker 1: I guess you did, Sonya. You are a gold medalist, 158 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 1: but that road to gold was challenging. I think back 159 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: to two thousand and eight when you were favored in 160 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: the Olympics that year to win gold, but you wound 161 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: up taking home the bronze. I have no business even 162 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: asking you about this because I have never even set 163 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:30,200 Speaker 1: foot onto an Olympic track. But what did that experience 164 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: teach you about resilience, about bouncing back from life setbacks. 165 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 2: It taught me everything. 166 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 4: It taught me everything, And in the moment I hated it, 167 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 4: I thought I was gonna die. 168 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 2: I thought it was the worst thing that could ever happen. 169 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 4: But you know now, you know, looking back on that experience, 170 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 4: I'm so grateful because now I am not afraid to fail, 171 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 4: you know, And I truly believe that failure is an 172 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 4: important part of our journey to success. I think more 173 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 4: people are afraid to fail than they are to succeed, 174 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 4: and that's what holds a lot of people back from 175 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 4: really living in their purpose. And so for me, having 176 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 4: experienced that failure on the grandest scale and realizing that 177 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 4: the sun came up the next morning, my heart was 178 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 4: still beating. Everybody that loves me was still there supporting 179 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 4: me and loving on me. 180 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 2: It made me realize that I can rebound from anything. 181 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 4: And the truth is, when you set your sights on 182 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 4: something so epic, you might fail. But it made me 183 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 4: appreciate twenty twelve so much more. I worked my butt 184 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 4: off to stand on that track again and to realize 185 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 4: that dream. And you know, I always say I felt 186 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 4: like I ran into my fairy tale ending. 187 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 3: You did run into your fairy tale ending, because you 188 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 3: ended up winning gold in the twenty twelve Games in London. 189 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 3: I looked up photos of that moment, and you're on 190 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 3: that podium, You're representing Team USA, you have thousands of 191 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 3: people cheering for you, the music is playing, and you know, 192 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:08,079 Speaker 3: I think they're all excited because you. 193 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 2: Brought it home. 194 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: For the US. But I can only imagine what that 195 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 3: moment means to you, because you're the one that knows 196 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:17,360 Speaker 3: all of the heartache and the sacrifice that it took 197 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 3: to get to that moment. So what's going through your 198 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,079 Speaker 3: mind when you're standing up there being award of this medal. 199 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,959 Speaker 4: It's such a good question, and every time I'm asked 200 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 4: that question, Danielle, I try to figure out how to 201 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 4: put it into words. 202 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is almost impossible. 203 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 4: It is literally the greatest feeling in the world, because, 204 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,839 Speaker 4: like you said, you know all the hard work that 205 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:43,959 Speaker 4: it took to get there, you know all the people 206 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 4: that poured into you, all the sacrifices, everything that you 207 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 4: had to overcome mentally, physically to be there. And it 208 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 4: is true when you're on the podium and the national 209 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 4: anthem is playing, kind of your life kind of flashes 210 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 4: before your eyes, right. You think about childhood, and you 211 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: think about the highs and the lows, and think about 212 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 4: the thousand sit ups and all the rest and the 213 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 4: ice bass and just everything that you did, and you 214 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 4: just kind of wish they would just loop the anthem, like, 215 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 4: I need more time. 216 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 2: I earned about two of these running back. 217 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,320 Speaker 3: Did anybody's face come into your mind or was it 218 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 3: mostly memories of you? 219 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 4: Oh no, I mean by far my family, like my 220 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 4: mom and dad. I don't like to say I made 221 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:28,559 Speaker 4: sacrifices because I always think that I made an investment 222 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 4: in my future. But when I think of my family, 223 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 4: I don't want to get emotional. They made sacrifices, you know, 224 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 4: like my mom and dad moved to the States for 225 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 4: us to have the opportunity. My mom turned her garage 226 00:11:41,280 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 4: into a gym. She learned to become a trainer so 227 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,880 Speaker 4: that she could be my first strength coach. My dad 228 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 4: literally moved to Waco and came to all of my practices, 229 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 4: didn't miss a practice when I was in high school. 230 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:51,360 Speaker 2: And they did all of. 231 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 4: This just for me, Like my coach Bruce Johnson, who 232 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:56,440 Speaker 4: was with me since college and would drive to Waco 233 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 4: every day sixty miles to come to my practices, my 234 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 4: physio who was from Switzerland who moved in to my 235 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,080 Speaker 4: home in Austin to be with me during the season. 236 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:05,680 Speaker 2: I mean, it was just countless people. 237 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 4: My sister who didn't misattract me, you know, would come 238 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 4: on her own dime, and just my aunts. It was 239 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 4: less about me, and really more about all of them 240 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 4: because I just knew how proud they were, and it 241 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 4: was really a moment for all of us. 242 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 3: I watched a few episodes of Real Housewives of Atlanta 243 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 3: while you were on it, and hearing you talk about this, 244 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 3: I understand your family dynamic even more because your parents, like, 245 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 3: we're living with you for a little bit, Like you 246 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 3: guys are really tight knit. 247 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 4: Yeah, no, my family, they've always meant everything to me. 248 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 4: After the pandemic, so we all had three houses in 249 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 4: Texas and then we were always at my mom's house 250 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 4: because of course, you know, you weren't able to be 251 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 4: around other people. So we kind of were doing life together. 252 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 4: And when I decided to move to Atlanta, I was like, 253 00:12:51,120 --> 00:12:53,000 Speaker 4: you guys have to come and we'll just get one 254 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,560 Speaker 4: big house. We were doing it anyway when we were 255 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:56,960 Speaker 4: in Austin, and so it was fun, like, you know, 256 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,360 Speaker 4: that was my real life. And a lot of people 257 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 4: are like, oh my god, I've never lived my parents. 258 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 4: But our love runs deep and we support each other 259 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 4: in every way that we can. And although we're not 260 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 4: living together anymore, you know, we still obviously had this 261 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 4: incredible bond and I you know, I appreciate them with 262 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 4: all that I am. 263 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 3: You could feel that in the show, Yeah, thank you, Sonya. 264 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: We've talked to a few Olympians on our show, and 265 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:26,600 Speaker 1: each one of them mentions the sacrifices that go unseen, 266 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 1: the sacrifices of family members behind the scenes, and particularly 267 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 1: in your sport, there's something so symbolic about the finish line, 268 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: Like I am imagining you and all of your family members, 269 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: like your whole tribe, crossing that finish line each time. Yeah, 270 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: And I wonder if that finish line was as symbolic 271 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: for you as it is for all of us watching 272 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: at home. Was there something that you envisioned that was 273 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:55,679 Speaker 1: waiting for you on the other side of the finish line. 274 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: Was the feeling the same every time that you crossed it, 275 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 1: or was it a different emotion each day? 276 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 2: That is such a good question. 277 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 4: In the four hundred, only in the four hundred the 278 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 4: finish line and the start line are at the same 279 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 4: point on the track. And I always thought that was 280 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 4: so significant because I always feel like there are no 281 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 4: finish lines, you know what I mean. It's like we're 282 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 4: constantly having the opportunity to do it again, to start over. 283 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 2: To like relive the dream, you know. 284 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 4: And so it's funny that you say that, because on 285 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 4: the end of every start line for me, was an 286 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 4: opportunity to do it again, was an opportunity to dream bigger. 287 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 4: It was like, was this always the springboard kind of 288 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 4: springing me forward? Like even when I ran through the 289 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 4: finish line in London and I lived this dream, it 290 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 4: was like, Okay, what's next. When my career transitioned, it's like, hey, 291 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 4: there's no finish line. Like, I'm just gonna keep going. 292 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 4: I'm gonna keep winning. I always tell people I don't 293 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 4: think greatness is fleeting. I think it lives in us. 294 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 4: And when you've achieved greatness in one area of your life, 295 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 4: you can do it again if you apply yourself. And 296 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 4: so I love that question because I think a lot 297 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 4: of times people think of things like this solid thing, 298 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 4: you cross this finish line, and it's like you're expecting 299 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 4: some magical thing or this thing is over. It's like, no, 300 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 4: it's like track and Field was a springboard. I learned 301 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 4: so much that I'm taking it to the next thing. 302 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 4: I'm running through this finish line to get to the 303 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 4: next start line. 304 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: You know, you just. 305 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: Gave me a whole new visual language to describe pivoting. Yeah, 306 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm I truly like, I'm going to think 307 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: about pivoting differently, Like there is no finish line, it's 308 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: just a new star every time, it's a new star. 309 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. 310 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 3: When I think about this success or quote unquote failure, 311 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 3: even though I hate that word of a track athlete, 312 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:44,000 Speaker 3: it's just based on seconds, sometimes tenths of seconds. It's 313 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 3: so nicecule is it really? 314 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 2: Yeah? 315 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 4: Thousandths, No, it can be. It could go down to thousands. No, 316 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 4: your point is well made. I mean people lose back 317 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 4: thousands of a second. People miss the Olympic team by 318 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 4: thousandths of a second. Like it's yeah, it's to your point, 319 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 4: it is, you know, it could be that specific and 320 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 4: that minute. 321 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 3: When I think of the personality type that it takes 322 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 3: to be a part of that sport, there's obviously so 323 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 3: much resilience, there's I think a healthy ego in a 324 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 3: great way, and there's this wanting of wanting to like 325 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 3: the wanting to be the best in the world. Yeah, 326 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 3: where did that come from for you? Like, why did 327 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 3: you want to be the best in the world? 328 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 4: I would say from two places I would say one, 329 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 4: I always had like an internal drive and I still do, 330 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 4: like I'm so motivated to always be my best, like 331 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 4: it's just a natural gift, it's my superpower. But I 332 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 4: would also say that my dad, since I was about 333 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 4: nine years old, told me. 334 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 2: You want to be the best in the world. You 335 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 2: want to be the best in the world. And he 336 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 2: said it so much. 337 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 4: I tell people he made me believe it before I 338 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,800 Speaker 4: understood what that really meant, before I understood that we 339 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 4: could quantify that and that it was possible. My dad 340 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 4: told me for years, you are going to be a 341 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 4: world beater. 342 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 2: You're going to be the best. 343 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 4: I just credit him so much for doing that for me, 344 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 4: for seeing greatness in me at such a young age. 345 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 4: And then I feel like that really bolstered me to 346 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:12,800 Speaker 4: help me to believe it was possible. 347 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 2: And I do that for my kids too. 348 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:14,879 Speaker 1: You know. 349 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,440 Speaker 4: It's like we have an opportunity to be that positive 350 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 4: voice in people's lives, especially those of our children, and 351 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 4: my dad was that for me, and I hope to 352 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 4: be that for my kids as well. 353 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 3: Do you have a tool that you use for your 354 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 3: mental toughness? 355 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 2: Yeah? 356 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,360 Speaker 4: So, you know, I actually after two thousand and eight, 357 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 4: I started working with a sports psychologist. It's the only 358 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 4: regret of my career is not working with a sports psychologist. Sooner, Yeah, 359 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 4: every person. I talked to him like, we have a 360 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 4: strength coach, we have a track coach, and you have 361 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:45,440 Speaker 4: to have a mind coach, because at the highest level 362 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 4: it's no longer about physical Everybody there is physically gifted 363 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 4: and talented and the best in the world, but it's 364 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:55,239 Speaker 4: who can be mentally strong and tough enough and in 365 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 4: the moment, who executes the best who's gonna win. I 366 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 4: learned a lot from him in the final few years 367 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 4: of my career that I still use to this day. 368 00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 4: There are two skills I'll share with you. One is 369 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 4: how to go into emotional neutral. And what that means 370 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 4: is that a lot of times in our lives we 371 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 4: get so worked up about stuff that haven't even happened yet. Right, 372 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 4: A lot of the stress we feel is about worry 373 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 4: about something we think is going to happen, and it 374 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:22,159 Speaker 4: causes us so much unnecessary stress. 375 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: And so he taught me emotional neutral. So if I 376 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 2: don't know. 377 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 4: What's going to happen and I just don't have any 378 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:29,159 Speaker 4: feelings about it like it's just I'll just wait until 379 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 4: if the worst happens, I'll react to it then, but 380 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 4: I'm not going to get myself all worked up about 381 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:36,280 Speaker 4: something that hasn't happened yet. That really helps me to 382 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 4: keep an even mind so that I'm clear for what 383 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 4: is going to happen, for like what is in front 384 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 4: of me. The second thing he taught me was like 385 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,199 Speaker 4: a physical practice. But a lot of times when we 386 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,960 Speaker 4: get really nervous and stuff and our mind is racing heart, 387 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 4: we're breathing fast. If you put your hand on the 388 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 4: bottom of your belly and you breathe into your hand, 389 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 4: there is a grounding that happens to you that helps 390 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 4: you to become very present in the moment so that 391 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 4: you can now heighten your senses and awareness around what 392 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,879 Speaker 4: it is that you need to do, whether it's compete 393 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:07,119 Speaker 4: at the highest level on the track, give a speech, 394 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 4: whatever it is. It really helps to ground you when 395 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 4: you connect to your breath in that way, because I 396 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 4: think what happens is where most of the time. 397 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,960 Speaker 2: We're prepared right like we've done the work, we're ready 398 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 2: to go. 399 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 4: It's just that we're not able to be present in 400 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 4: the moment to show up in the way we have 401 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 4: seen ourselves. We have planned for it, we just you know, 402 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 4: bomb it because we're not present. So those are the 403 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 4: two things that I do to really help myself be 404 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 4: present so that I can use the fullness of my 405 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 4: mental capacity and my skill sets to show up holy 406 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 4: and authentically myself. 407 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 3: Thank you for passing those on. 408 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 2: It's so good. 409 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,239 Speaker 3: Of course, we need to take a quick break, but 410 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:54,840 Speaker 3: we'll be right back. Stay with us and we're back. 411 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 3: So you are going to be live in Paris at 412 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 3: the Olympics because you have been in these athletes shoes. Literally, 413 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 3: are you easier or tougher on them on air? 414 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 2: Oh? 415 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:15,119 Speaker 4: Easier, way easier. So I've taken it on as my duty. 416 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,680 Speaker 4: I care about what I say because I know that 417 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 4: athletes are listening, and so as much as obviously I'm 418 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 4: unbiased and I'm going to speak to what I see, 419 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 4: I'm very careful with my words. And that was that's 420 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 4: on purpose because when I was competing sometimes I felt 421 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 4: like the commentators would harp on she was the bronze 422 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 4: medalist and she you know, she was favored to win gold, 423 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 4: and she was like, tell the folks the good stuff like, 424 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 4: you don't have to always lead with the negative. And 425 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 4: so for me, what I hope to do, and especially 426 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 4: with an audience as big as what we get for 427 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 4: the Olympics, is for them to feel our passion for 428 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,919 Speaker 4: the sport, for them to fall in love with the 429 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 4: people that they're watching, and to understand how incredible their 430 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 4: performances are. 431 00:20:58,119 --> 00:20:59,360 Speaker 2: And so that's what I want to do. I want 432 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 2: to illuminate how hard it. 433 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:02,679 Speaker 4: Is for them to get here, what they're experiencing in 434 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 4: the village, what it's like when they're back there warming up, 435 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 4: when they're being held in the call room, that that 436 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 4: thirty ways before the race with their competition. You know, 437 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 4: that's what I like. I like making it feel like 438 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 4: the people watching aren't there and they can truly appreciate 439 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 4: the performances. And so I would say, you know, lighter 440 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 4: on there. I try not to be too tough. 441 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,959 Speaker 3: You know, a few years ago I interviewed Peyton Manning 442 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 3: and he told me that SNL was way more nerve 443 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 3: racking than the Super Bowl. But he meant it like 444 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:39,040 Speaker 3: I could tell he meant it for you, is commentating 445 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:43,399 Speaker 3: more nerve racking or performing and competing in the Olympics. 446 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 2: No, Definitely, competing was way more nerve wracking for me. 447 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,439 Speaker 4: But I understand what he's saying, because the sentiment is 448 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 4: the thing that comes more naturally to you will feel 449 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 4: easier than something that somebody else thinks is would would 450 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 4: be easier. I wish sometimes I didn't put so much 451 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,159 Speaker 4: pressure on myself to compete, like I wish I was 452 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 4: able to be in the mind space that I was 453 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 4: from about two thousand and eight and beyond, where I 454 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 4: was having fun and it wasn't. 455 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,120 Speaker 2: I didn't make myself. 456 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 4: Always feel like the weight of the world was on 457 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 4: my shoulders, And certainly because of those skills that I 458 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:17,720 Speaker 4: learned in the latter part of my career, I carry 459 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,840 Speaker 4: that over to what I do now. So it was 460 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,440 Speaker 4: definitely much tougher on the check than it has been 461 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 4: being in the booth. 462 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 1: Well, the athletes that you cover are so lucky to 463 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:29,399 Speaker 1: have you in the booth because you just spoke about 464 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 1: how intentional you are with your words and your language 465 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: when you cover them, and that feels more needed than 466 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: ever before because we're in a time right now where 467 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: black female athletes are under the microscope often for displaying 468 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: the same Bravado as male athletes, only the black female 469 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: athletes are the ones who are heavily criticized for it. 470 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: So sure, what do you think the media is getting 471 00:22:52,640 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: wrong when it comes to covering athletes like Shakri Richardson 472 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: or Angel Reese or Kennedy Carter to be. 473 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:03,840 Speaker 4: A lot more thoughtful about that, because I'm not always 474 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 4: sure if it's just the media or if it is 475 00:23:07,359 --> 00:23:10,960 Speaker 4: the perception that we as a society have of black 476 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:15,439 Speaker 4: women and how we expect them to act, how we 477 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 4: feel comfortable digesting them. I think it has equal parts 478 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 4: with how media portrays black women and equal parts with 479 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 4: how society accepts black women. And what I will say 480 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:28,400 Speaker 4: to that is that I feel like there has been 481 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:31,760 Speaker 4: a turn of the tide where the women who are 482 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,400 Speaker 4: in the spotlight are not backing down and not allowing 483 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 4: anyone to paint their pictures for them, you know, like 484 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 4: Angel Reese specifically Shakarie Richardson. The way that they carry themselves, 485 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,280 Speaker 4: the way that they show up one hundred percent authentically 486 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 4: without a care for what anyone wants them to be 487 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 4: or what feels digestible. I admire it so much because 488 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,440 Speaker 4: it is very hard as a black woman to always 489 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 4: show up in every and be authentically yourself. There's just 490 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,480 Speaker 4: no if ends or buts about that. And I remember 491 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 4: my own career always feeling like I had to say 492 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 4: all the right things, and it's like, you know, it's 493 00:24:09,160 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 4: like if you don't, you might miss out an opportunity. 494 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 4: And so I'm really proud of this new generation of 495 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:17,560 Speaker 4: black women and Black girls who are owning all of 496 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 4: who they are and you can take it or leave it. 497 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:24,040 Speaker 4: And I think that it's also helping society to see 498 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 4: that we are not a monolith. That black women show 499 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 4: up in all different kinds of ways, and that's okay. 500 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 4: We can own our confidence and however we want to 501 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 4: own it. We can be humble if we choose, We 502 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,600 Speaker 4: can be loud, we can be self spoken. 503 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 2: All of those things are acceptable. I love where we 504 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 2: are right now, but I think. 505 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 4: That the burden of black women's perception falls on both sides, 506 00:24:46,680 --> 00:24:49,280 Speaker 4: the public as well as the media. 507 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: Can you give us an example of a time when 508 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,439 Speaker 1: you were competing where you felt like you had to 509 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,880 Speaker 1: compromise a part of who you are as a black 510 00:24:56,920 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 1: woman or sanitize a part of who you are as 511 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 1: a black woman. To appe he is the mainstream. Did 512 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: you ever run up against that? 513 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:03,679 Speaker 2: I would just say it wasn't. 514 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 4: I don't have like a specific example where I was like, 515 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 4: oh my god, i't feel like I'm being fully authentically myself, 516 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 4: but I certainly feel like there were guardrails and parameters 517 00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:16,119 Speaker 4: for which I operated in, and not just that that 518 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,840 Speaker 4: was how black women showed up, but how Olympic athletes 519 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 4: showed up, how Team USA athletes showed up. You know, 520 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 4: were there times where they asked the question and I 521 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,920 Speaker 4: had to answer the way that I thought was like. 522 00:25:28,119 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm just excited to represent Team USA or. 523 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 4: Something like that, And in my head, I'm like, this 524 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 4: is symbol like you know, like we know that athlete 525 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 4: is not clean, or you know, like things that I 526 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 4: feel like athletes say now without having any fears of repercussions. 527 00:25:43,240 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 4: So I would just say it was more about like 528 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:48,440 Speaker 4: modeling what I had seen before in my own way. 529 00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 2: I don't think I was. 530 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:53,680 Speaker 4: Ever like disingenuous to myself, right, Like, this was probably 531 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 4: ninety nine percent of who I was, But there was 532 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 4: also parts of me that I didn't show because I 533 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 4: wasn't I was afraid that it might exclude me from 534 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,159 Speaker 4: opportunities that came to Olympic athletes based on how positive we. 535 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 2: Were and you know and all that kind of stuff. 536 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 4: So I don't have a specific experience where I'm like, man, 537 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 4: I hated how I showed up in that space, or 538 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 4: I didn't feel like myself, But I certainly feel like 539 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 4: I always kind of you know, I knew this is this, 540 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:22,520 Speaker 4: I should show up like this because this is what 541 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 4: people expect. 542 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:24,520 Speaker 2: From an Olympic champion. 543 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: Oh, it's really interesting to hear you describe the difference 544 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:31,880 Speaker 1: between the media climate back then and how there's more 545 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:36,600 Speaker 1: freedom or at least these athletes are feeling more permission to. 546 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: Show up absolutely, show up authentically. 547 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:41,719 Speaker 3: And the next generation of girls right, because I think 548 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 3: each generation paves the way for the next one to Yeah, yeah, 549 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 3: we have to take another short break, but we'll be 550 00:26:49,040 --> 00:27:00,879 Speaker 3: back in just a minute. Don't go anywhere, and we're back, Okay, Sonia, 551 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:03,600 Speaker 3: I gotta talk real housewise. I'm the resident fan in 552 00:27:03,640 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 3: the house and you just announced that you are leaving. 553 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 3: You and og Candy are leaving. Why did you decide 554 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 3: to leave? 555 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 2: It was mutual. 556 00:27:13,560 --> 00:27:16,360 Speaker 4: Househards has been in a really sticky spot for a while, right, 557 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,960 Speaker 4: Like they have an issue casting the show. I think 558 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 4: the fans have this nostalgia for the show where they 559 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 4: want it to be what it was before, and the 560 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 4: reality is that it will never be that way again. 561 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 2: It is impossible. The same women can't come back. 562 00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 3: Right. 563 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 4: Also, if they're casting the show, obviously the women who 564 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 4: are going to be coming in aren't going to be 565 00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:41,879 Speaker 4: friends of the old women in the same way that 566 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 4: they were before, right, So it causes a dynamic that 567 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,119 Speaker 4: I think is disappointing for the fans. So whenever you 568 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 4: come in as a newbie, they already have like, oh. 569 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 2: You know, like what is she doing? 570 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 4: And so it sets a tone that's really hard to 571 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 4: kind of break into. 572 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 2: And although I had the. 573 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 4: Best intentions joining the show, I really wanted to show 574 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,120 Speaker 4: black excellence and love and all the things that I am, 575 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 4: it was a really hard space to navigate with a 576 00:28:07,359 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 4: group of veteran women who know the ropes, who already 577 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:15,600 Speaker 4: had established relationships. And so I never have regrets in life, 578 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 4: because I think everything teaches you something about yourself, prepares 579 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 4: you for the next thing. So I certainly don't regret it. 580 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,200 Speaker 4: I felt like I learned a lot. It just wasn't 581 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 4: the right space for me. I wanted to try to 582 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 4: make it fit, but it just doesn't. It didn't feel 583 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,040 Speaker 4: like a fit for me. And to be quite honest, 584 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 4: this season I can't film now, like this is my 585 00:28:35,040 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 4: very heavy season. 586 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 2: Where I am traveling for track meets. 587 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:41,520 Speaker 4: I certainly was not going to miss the Olympics, and 588 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 4: so when you're filming the show, you have to be 589 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 4: one hundred percent committed. 590 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 2: Weekends are dedicated to the show. 591 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 4: It was a really tricky show to navigate, but I 592 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 4: still had fun, so all good. 593 00:28:51,680 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 3: It was so funny, honestly for me to watch you 594 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:59,240 Speaker 3: because you are so like highbrow and chill, and this 595 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 3: show is so high drama and sort of low brow. 596 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,160 Speaker 2: And I was like, this just doesn't fit. 597 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 3: Like I felt like you must have felt so awkward 598 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 3: in all of these fights, and like it just it 599 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 3: was not It was not a Sonia thing. 600 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,160 Speaker 4: No, you're right, And I think what I learned in 601 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:19,400 Speaker 4: that season of my life is that everything about my 602 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 4: personality and who I have become because of my athletic 603 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 4: prowess does not serve me now. And so for me 604 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 4: as the athlete, it's like oh housewives, Oh check, Like 605 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 4: you know I'm gonna get there, like check that box. 606 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 4: Like I can do it, you know, like I'll make 607 00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:35,440 Speaker 4: it work, I'll make it make sense. And it's like, Okay, 608 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 4: now I know that there are circumstances and situations and 609 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 4: opportunities that don't serve me, and it's okay, Like I 610 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 4: don't have to win every race. I don't have to 611 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:47,520 Speaker 4: break every record anymore. I can do the things that 612 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 4: bring me joy and peace. And you know, as I 613 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 4: was navigating, like what is truly important to me and 614 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:54,000 Speaker 4: how do I want to show up in the world 615 00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:57,160 Speaker 4: and all those things, family is the most important thing 616 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,320 Speaker 4: to me, and so it just didn't fit all of 617 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 4: those things. Though I was well intentioned in join me, 618 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 4: I felt like, Okay, now I know I got to 619 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:07,440 Speaker 4: start saying no to some things that just don't fit 620 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 4: all of who I am. 621 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: We want to ask you about Momination. It's a multimedia 622 00:30:13,040 --> 00:30:16,480 Speaker 1: and virtual community that you created that supports black moms. 623 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,800 Speaker 2: Why do you love doing this work? Because it's necessary 624 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 2: and it's needed. 625 00:30:22,800 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 4: When I became a mom, I wanted to be a 626 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:26,360 Speaker 4: mom more than anything in the world. 627 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 2: And it was still a very overwhelming role for me. 628 00:30:29,680 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 4: I trained for the full hundred and it was harder 629 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:35,800 Speaker 4: than that, and I was just like, wow, like, how 630 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:40,640 Speaker 4: are moms doing this without support, without resources, without community? 631 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 4: And so we started the platform with twenty five black moms, 632 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,920 Speaker 4: vibrant young moms, just kind of sharing their stories, and 633 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,240 Speaker 4: it just blew up, like you know, like because women 634 00:30:50,320 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 4: wanted to feel seen and heard, and they wanted to 635 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,760 Speaker 4: be in community, and they wanted to know that they 636 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 4: weren't alone on their motherhood journey. And it's been the 637 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 4: joy of my life to still do that now have 638 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 4: our mammin Nation Gives foundation where we raise money to 639 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 4: help moms. We've helped all sort of moms, but the 640 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 4: one that we've done the most working, where I feel 641 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 4: like we're having the most impact, is helping homeless moms 642 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 4: because I just cannot imagine having a child and not 643 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 4: having a place to go to at night. So that's 644 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 4: really our passion through Mammination Gives is to figure out 645 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 4: how we can help moms who have hit hard times 646 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 4: to like have a roof over their head, even if 647 00:31:25,360 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 4: it's temporary, for come for three four months while they 648 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 4: figure everything else out. So it's a huge passion of 649 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:32,920 Speaker 4: mine because I am a mom and I just know 650 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:34,800 Speaker 4: how hard it is, and I know for sure that 651 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:37,600 Speaker 4: the one thing that we all can relate to as 652 00:31:37,680 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 4: mothers is that we want our kids to have the 653 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 4: best opportunities and the best life that they can and so, 654 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:44,680 Speaker 4: you know, I want to help moms provide that for 655 00:31:44,760 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 4: their children. 656 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 2: So that's why I started, and that's why I still 657 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:48,120 Speaker 2: do it. 658 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:53,360 Speaker 3: Sonya. We talk so much about sport on this show, 659 00:31:53,880 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 3: and not in a professional way, but sport has given 660 00:31:56,720 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 3: Simon and I both so much. So I'm going to 661 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 3: ask you a really simple question. What has sport given 662 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:04,080 Speaker 3: you in your life? 663 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 2: Sport has given me everything. It's given me everything. 664 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,080 Speaker 4: It has given me an opportunity to see the world. 665 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,920 Speaker 4: It's given me an opportunity to dream. It brought me 666 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 4: my husband, my scholarship to you, t is where I 667 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 4: met my husband. 668 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 2: It's just given me so much. 669 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:23,920 Speaker 4: It's taught me so much about myself and what I'm 670 00:32:23,960 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 4: capable of. It has taught me so much about hard 671 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 4: work and resiliency and delayed gratification. I'm really grateful that 672 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,400 Speaker 4: I had the opportunity to be a part of sport 673 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:36,760 Speaker 4: and still do right in different ways. 674 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 2: Sonya. 675 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:40,880 Speaker 1: It was so wonderful having you on our show. Thank 676 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: you so much for coming to the bright Side. Oh yeah, 677 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: and I just love you too. You guys are great. 678 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having me. This was a 679 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 1: great conversation. 680 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 3: Thank you You're so real, Sonya. I love it. 681 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:54,360 Speaker 2: You know. 682 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 4: I do what I could do when I could do it. 683 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 1: Anya Richards Ross is one of the most decorated track 684 00:33:02,760 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: and Field Olympians of all time. She's an NBC sports 685 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,560 Speaker 1: analyst and a former co star on the Real Housewives 686 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,720 Speaker 1: of Atlanta. Her memoir is called Chasing Grace. What the 687 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:13,760 Speaker 1: Quarter Mile has taught Me about God. 688 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 3: That's it for today's show. Tomorrow, on the bright Side, 689 00:33:22,280 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 3: We're popping off with NBA Today host Malika Andrews all 690 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 3: about the week and pop culture, plus storylines from this 691 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 3: weekend's WNBA All Star Game. Listen and follow the bright 692 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 3: Side on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 693 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:38,880 Speaker 3: get your podcasts. 694 00:33:39,160 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 2: I'm Simone Boye. 695 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:43,480 Speaker 1: You can find me at Simone Voice on Instagram and TikTok. 696 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 3: I'm Danielle Robe on Instagram and TikTok. That's ro Ba y. 697 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 2: See you tomorrow. 698 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 1: Folks, keep looking on the bright side.