Today’s episode features Olympic gold medalist, Laura Wilkinson. Besides sharing some of the backstory to winning Olympic gold, she discusses what it takes to be a mom of 4 and a world-class athlete. She shares her ideas on creating a winning mindset and being your best, no matter what obstacles are in your way.
Her bestselling book, Life at 10 Meters: Lessons from an Olympic Champion, is available on Amazon. And you can connect with Laura at laurawilkinson.com.
Laura’s Wilkinson:
Beating what many said were impossible odds in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, Laura, starting in eighth place and with a broken foot, came from behind to win the 2000 Olympic platform gold medal. Laura has also won the 2004 World Cup and the 2005 World Championships, becoming the first woman in history to win all three coveted world titles in platform diving. Along the way, she has won 19 US National Titles, been voted by the American public the 2000 US Olympic Spirit Award winner and was nominated for an ESPY award.
Laura has also been inducted into five different Halls of Fame including the International Swimming Hall of Fame. People always notice something that sets Laura apart from her competitors, her smile. She smiles during the most pressure packed and fierce competitions, almost like she’s removed from the situation, acknowledging her family and teammates in the stands. Laura explains, “I smile because I love what I do. I make a commitment before the competition to enjoy the experience however it turns out.”
Laura attended the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games as a reporter and analyst for NBC. In 2017, following a nine-year retirement, Laura returned to competition. She is now currently training full time with her eyes set firmly on a fourth Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
Laura launched her own podcast in 2020- The Pursuit of Gold. Her show seeks to equip athletes with the most effective tools that will help them reach their biggest goals in sport through conversations with elite and Olympic athletes, sports professionals, coaches, and experts. In these conversations, Laura and her guests unlock the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that shape the whole athlete and generate peak performance.
She also created an online course called Confident Competitor to help eliminate performance anxiety and help athletes approach competitions with confidence.
Laura is also wife to Eriek Hulseman and mommy to four amazing children by birth and adoption.
You can find Life at 10 Meters: Lessons From an Olympic Champion
by Laura Wilkinson on Amazon. Click here to purchase the book.
