EPS 164 UVA Alum goes from olympics into being a head field hockey coach!

HoosWhere Podcast

Summary

We’ve got plenty of opportunities in the world of sports today, thanks to an ever-increasing number of fan groups, and impressive public, private and government sector initiatives! But was it this way a decade or so ago?

You and I and my guest for today’s episode would all agree that it wasn’t, am I right? How then, did athletes and sportspersons back in the past make historic achievements? How did they get into a seemingly less lucrative career when they had other opportunities ahead of them? What lies at the backstage of their stories?

Stay tuned to clear the air and learn about it from Michelle Vittese, a 211-time international awardee in field hockey with an eight-year long career with the US women’s national field hockey team! Michelle shares how she got into the sport and how, despite initially deciding to be a doctor, she made up her mind to go all-in on her passion, at a time when sports wasn’t even considered a high-income or sustainable career. An ex-UVA grad, Michelle covers different aspects of her career and sports in general: from training in grueling three-a-day sessions, the current protocols in place for the health and well-being of student athletes, being part of a high-performance group during the Rio Olympics and how it inspired her to become a coach, the setup of Olympic villages, and mindset, motivation, and success tips for sportspersons and athletes, among other things!

You’ll also hear also about:

● The process of representing the country in sports

● Michelle's experience in Junior Olympics and AAU competitions

● The Olympic experience, specifically from the perspective of an athlete who has attended multiple games (including the excitement of meeting famous people and experiencing everything the Olympics have to offer)

● The setup of the Olympic village and how the USOC creates an environment that caters to athletes' needs

● The importance of surrounding oneself with supportive and like-minded individuals to achieve their goals, particularly when pursuing an unconventional path.

● How to stay committed to one's vision and purpose

● How to handle pushback well by trusting your knowledge and experience

● The importance of being open-minded and learning from others, including your student athletes as a coach. This includes encouraging respectful disagreement and hearing new ideas.

Connect with Michelle Vitesse!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michvittese/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleVitt55

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