At seven years old I walked into a gymnastics club for the very first time. I was hooked. For the next twenty one years, I dedicated my life to becoming an Olympic champion. I'm going to share with you the life lessons, experiences and stories that have shaped the man I am today. I'm now starting a new chapter in my life beyond my sporting career and look forward to bringing you along with me.
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I’m Rebecca Smith, your podcast host, and High Performance Coach. I’m Director of Complete Performance Coaching and founder of The #PerformHappy Community.Maybe you’re a gymnast with a fear of going backwards. A swimmer who can’t seem to go any faster. Or a parent who is clueless about how to help your child succeed. You might be stepping up to tougher competition and looking to raise your game. Whether you're struggling with a mental block, or you just had the best season of your life, this ...
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In May 2024 I was asked to be part of the Team England Men's gymnastics training camp at Lilleshall national sports centre. I was incredibly impressed with the level of gymnastics and how professionally the weekend was put together. I had the opportunity to share my experiences in gymnastics with a group of 30 hardworking and positively minded youn…
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Using the Brain-Body Connection to Optimize Performance with Yuka Sugiura
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Welcome to the latest episode of PerformHappy! Today, we're thrilled to bring you an enlightening conversation with neural performance coach Yuka Sugiura. Join us as we explore how Yuka's expertise can revolutionize your approach to performance. In this episode, Yuka shares her insights on leveraging the brain-body connection to optimize performanc…
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Mental Blocks: What Parents and Coaches Need To Know with Dr Dave Tilley
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In this week's episode of the PerformHappy podcast, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with one of my favorite gymnastics experts, Dr Dave Tilley from Shift Movement Science. Our discussion centered around a topic close to the hearts of many parents and coaches: mental blocks in young athletes. We delved into the nuances of supporting you…
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In 2021 at the Tokyo Olympic Games Amelie Morgan made history alongside her team mates by winning the first women's team medal in 93 years. She had an outstanding junior career taking five medals at the 2018 junior European championships and three medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Amelie home schooled as a teenager in order to main…
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Coaching From Your Heart with Olympic Coach Baz Collie
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In the newest episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, we sat down with Baz Collie, the senior coach of the British men's gymnastics national team, to uncover his unique coaching approach. Collie's philosophy revolves around building relationships and fostering belief in athletes at all levels. He stresses the importance of adapting to individual needs…
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In April 2024 many of the best gymnasts in the world competed nationally, internationally and globally in their preparations for the Paris Olympic Games. At the European Championships in Rimini the British junior men took the team final in dramatic fashion for the first time since 2016. In the senior event the Ukrainian team edged out GB scoring 25…
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Setting Kids Up for Collegiate Success with Gymnastics Coach Karen Medellin
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This week on the PerformHappy Podcast we chat with Karen Medellin, former elite gymnast and current coach and owner of 360 Elite Gymnastics. about setting kids up for collegiate success while ensuring their happiness and well-being. Karen shares insights from her journey and coaching philosophy, offering unique insights into managing competitive pr…
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The David Holmes Story | Episode 64
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In 2009 Whilst filming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. David Holmes suffered a life changing injury that resulted in him breaking his neck during a test stunt. For a decade David doubled for Daniel Radcliffe in one of the most successful film franchises of all time. A documentary tilted 'David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived' was released in 2023 t…
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Preventing Injuries and Building Strength in Young Gymnasts with Dr. Jenny Borda PT, DPT
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In today’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, we explore the essentials of injury prevention and strength building in young gymnasts with Dr. Jenny Borda, PT, DPT. She offers expert insights on strength training, flexibility, and technique to ensure athlete longevity. We also cover the importance of mental resilience, stress management, and open …
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The Gareth Timmins Story | Episode 63
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In 2005 at the age of twenty, Gareth Timmins began the 34 weeks of training required to become a Royal Marine Commando. Prior to joining the military, Gareth was a professional rugby league player representing Leeds Rhino's, however he ultimately chose to walk away from a potential future career in elite sport. After a successful time serving as a …
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The Secret to Consistency Under Pressure with OU Gymnastics Senior Audrey Davis
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I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Audrey Davis, a standout senior from the championship-winning Oklahoma University gymnastics team. Discover how Audrey maintains peak performance under intense pressure and learn the secrets behind her consistency and joy in the sport. With two NCAA national titles under her belt and a third in sigh…
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The Dan Lonsdale Story | Episode 62
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In 2019 Dan Lonsdale launched his gymnastics strength and conditioning business which now supports one ten gymnastics clubs across the UK and Europe. He had previously worked as the senior strength and conditioning lead coach at the University of Durham supporting their top performance athletes. His background was in the sport of Rugby where he spe…
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Gymnastics in a New Era with Coach Jessie McDonough
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Today's episode is all about embracing change in the world of gymnastics, and I'm thrilled to introduce our guest, Jessica McDonough, better known as Coach Jessie from Olympus Gymnastic Club. A former Utah NCAA gymnast, Coach Jessie brings a fresh perspective to the sport. At Olympus, she's been instrumental in reshaping the gym culture, moving awa…
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The Ozzy Arthur Oldham Story | Episode 61
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In the space of seconds on the 11th of February at 8:15PM 2024 I went from what felt like the scariest moment of my life to unquestionably the very best. Ozzy Arthur Oldham was born three weeks early after a forty hour labour by a category 1 emergency C section. Becoming a Dad has been the single greatest achievement of my life and this was made po…
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Building Unshakeable Self-Belief with Elite Cheerleader Hailey D’Lynn Smith
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In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Hailey D’Lynn Smith, who went from an energetic gymnastics beginner to a celebrated cheerleader, clinching the title of 2021 Texas Cheerleader of the Year. Starting gymnastics at two, Hailey transitioned to cheerleading despite injuries and no prior experience in the sport, showcasing her shee…
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Gymnastics Olympic Countdown Spring Edition | Episode 60
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In the summer of 2024 the biggest event in the sport of gymnastics will take place. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games is a culmination of four years of hard work and sacrifices made by the athletes and their coaching teams. The competitive season is well underway and this month the final individual apparatus spots for the Olympic Games will be up for gr…
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Building Flexibility the Right Way with Shelby McNamara
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In our latest episode of the PerformHappy podcast, we sit down with Shelby McNamara a former American rhythmic gymnast on the USA National Team and the founder of FlexAbilities, a flexibility training program for dancers, figure skaters, and gymnasts. Her flexibility training program combines flexibility, strength, and ballet technique. Shelby's st…
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In 2006 David Eaton won a silver medal on the High Bar at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne for team Wales. He represented Great Britain throughout the 1990's and early 2000's and competed at the gymnastics world championships in 2001 shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place in America. Dave's career bridged two generations and he was …
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Positive Coaching at the Highest Level of Gymnastics with Cleo Washington
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Today’s episode I'm thrilled to share with you a captivating gymnastics coaching journey, featuring none other than the remarkable Cleo Washington. I Cleo shares her experiences and expertise gained over 20 years in the gymnastics coaching world, where she has coached World Champion Morgan Hurd, national team member Kaliya Lincoln, and the promisin…
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In 2023 Fred Richard became the youngest male gymnast to ever win an individual World championships medal for team USA in Men's gymnastics. The US Men's team also took the bronze medal putting them in the driving seat ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer. Fred only competed in his first elite level national championships in 2019 and in…
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Dealing with Pressure with Olympic Gymnast Sam Oldham
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In today's PerformHappy podcast, join me in a conversation with Sam Oldham, a key member of the 2012 bronze medal-winning Great Britain Men's Gymnastics Team. Now a gymnastics coach and a new dad, Sam opens up about the intense pressure of chasing an Olympic dream, discussing the weight of expectations, imposter syndrome, and the emotional challeng…
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The Felix Coomber Story | Episode 57
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In 2022 Felix Coomber began a four year course studying international social science at the university of Tsukuba in Japan. Felix started gymnastics at the age of five and has won multiple individual medals nationally in recent years. He is the first British gymnast to train full time in Japan and now represents the university team. In 2002 at the …
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Helping Keep Kids in Sports with D1 Gymnast Kirsten Medeiros
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Today on the Perform Happy Podcast join me for an inspiring chat with Kirsten Medeiros, a former D1 gymnast, coach, and dedicated mom. She's the force behind a nonprofit ensuring every child, regardless of financial challenges, can pursue their sports dreams. Kirsten shares wisdom from her gymnastics journey, discussing discipline, empathy, and val…
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In 2023 Will Foden completed his first ironman with a collapsed lung and proved not for the first time that he was someone with the mental capacity to overcome huge challenges. He played professional and semiprofessional rugby for over ten years. Whilst played for the Doncaster knights a freak accident led to him having his leg snapped in half by a…
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Tools Of The Gymnastics Trade | Episode 55
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In 2009 after competing at the English gymnastics championships and walking away with Sven out of seven gold medals. I made the monumental mistake of leaving my gym bag at the competition arena. The following morning Sergey picked me up early to leave for a training camp at the national centre with the GB team. This was by far the biggest telling o…
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Coaching Happy Olympians with Canadian National Team Coach David Kikuchi
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In today's episode of the PerformHappy podcast, I am thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with the remarkable Canadian National Team Coach, David Kikuchi. A two-time Olympian himself and the guiding force behind Ellie Black's journey to three Olympics, Kikuchi is widely recognized as the "Lord of the Rings" and "The King of Consistency." Jo…
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Raising Confident Humans - A Conversation with Gymnastics Coach Peterson Pierre
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In today's PerformHappy Podcast episode, we take a different approach in anticipation of the upcoming release of my book, "Parenting Through Mental Blocks." Rather than hosting, I had the privilege of being the interviewee, engaging in a focused conversation with gymnastics coach Peterson Pierre on his podcast, Heated Conversations. With over a dec…
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A Conversation With Nile Wilson | Episode 54
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In January 2024 I sat down with former TeamGB Olympic medalist Nile Wilson to talk about his gymnastics career and explore topics outside the world of sport. We have both recently started going to Jiujitsu classes and explore the challenges of starting a new sport. Gymnastics is a bodyweight sport and many athletes can get caught up in trying to co…
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Dreaming Big with Olympian Danusia Francis-Reed
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Welcome back to another episode of PerformHappy! Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to an extraordinary individual whose journey embodies the essence of dreaming big and achieving even bigger. In this episode, I have the honor of sitting down with none other than Danusia Francis-Reed – an Olympian whose remarkable story will undoubtedly inspire …
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The 2024 Olympic Team Prediction | Episode 53
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In the summer of 2024 athletes, coaches and support staff from every corner of the globe will compete at the Paris Olympic Games. Millions if not billions of sports fans around the world will watch their nations sporting superstars go for gold in 32 different sports. A total of twelve teams will battle it out in the men's team event. Great Britain …
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In 2019 Ashley Watson retired from the sport of Men's artistic gymnastics after nineteen years of competing at the highest level. Shortly afterwards he was recruited by the world famous Cirque Du Solei to be part of a brand new show. The company closed down production and cancelled the new show during the global pandemic and Ash returned home from …
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Overcoming Mental Blocks with Dave Diggle
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In today’s new episode of the PerformHappy podcast, we'll be delving into the world of mental performance with none other than the incredible Dave Diggle. Dave, an international gymnast turned mental performance coach, specializes in working with high-stakes sports athletes, helping them conquer their fears and overcome mental blocks. In this episo…
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In Autumn 2023 I started to notice a gradual increase in stress levels woven into the world around me. People seemed to be driving more erratically, they were under more pressure at work and the cost of living crisis was hitting everybody's pockets. In November I went out to celebrate my brother's birthday and seemed like every conversation I was h…
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Learning from Successes and Setbacks with Elite Gymnast Denelle Pedrick
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In today's episode, I'm thrilled to bring you an insightful conversation with the exceptionally talented Canadian elite gymnast and national team member, Denelle Pedrick. This episode is packed with valuable lessons from both the highs and lows of her gymnastics journey. In the competitive world of gymnastics, setbacks are inevitable, but Denelle's…
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The Kristian Thomas Story | Episode 50
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In 2012 Kristian Thomas performed the final floor routine that secured Great Britain's first Men's Olympic team medal in a century. He won a total of fourteen major championships medals throughout his career and was coached by Michelle Bradley at the Earls gymnastics club in the West Midlands. In 2013 he recovered from a knee ligament damage injury…
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Finding your Fire With Elite Gymnast Sophia Campana
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Today, we've got a special treat for you as we dive into the world of passion, determination, and resilience with none other than elite gymnast Sophia Campana. In this episode, Sophia shares incredible stories from her journey as she pursued her dream of becoming an Italian national team member, all while being a girl from Colorado. It's a tale of …
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In 2013 Jack Blake was called up to the Nottingham Forest first team squad and shortly afterwards signed for Mansfield town on loan making his professional debut against Bury town. He spent the following season back playing for the Forest under 23's team, the club he'd joined as a ten year old and captained in the FA youth cup. After a decade at th…
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Culture Practices That Keep Kids in Sports Longer with Coach Vahid and Coach John-Mark from Unify Athletics
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If you're intrigued by Coach Vahid and Coach John-Mark's coaching journey and the secrets behind gymnastics success, don't miss my conversation with the incredible mentor Coach Jackie (Jaclyn Riemer), which you can find here: https://youtu.be/K-4X7JLVs2U?si=iDHr4lyVRYgGe82N Welcome back to another exciting episode of PerformHappy Podcast! Today, I'…
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In 2023 I've experienced twelve months of what I would describe as my fullest year of life to date. I turned 30 in February and by the time that milestone arrived I'd already suffered the loss of a loved one. The podcast was born and I embarked on the journey of building a career after gymnastics. Following four amazing years I proposed to Connie a…
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Incredible Conversations With Amazing People | Episode 47
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In 2023 we started planning, recording, editing and uploading the Sam Oldham podcast. By the end of the year we will have sat down and recorded our 50th episode, which is an achievement myself and Sam Lindley are very proud of. I've had the opportunity to sit down and talk to some amazing guests who have been kind enough to share their incredible s…
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How to Have the Best Competition Season Ever
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In today's podcast episode, we're diving deep into the secrets of making this your best competition season ever. I’m thrilled to share some insights that can truly elevate your game and mindset. What Sets Elite Athletes Apart? Ever wondered what separates elite athletes from Olympic medalists? I'll be unraveling the key elements that make the diffe…
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Avoiding Burnout with NCAA star, Elite gymnast and Mental Coach Briley Casanova
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In today's episode, we are thrilled to have a very special guest, Briley Casanova, a former two-time USA Gymnastics National Team member and the esteemed team captain of the University of Michigan Gymnastics. Briley's unique journey, from elite gymnast to mental coach, has equipped her with unparalleled insights into the challenges young athletes f…
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In 2010 James Wells was diagnosed with Myeloid Leukaemia at the age of twenty one. Just six months later following five months of intense chemotherapy James represented team England World Karate championships in Las Vegas. However his Leukaemia relapsed which led to him requiring an urgent stem cell transplant and against all odds his little sister…
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Making Gymnastics a Better Place with Jaclyn Riemer
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Welcome to a special episode of the PerformHappy Podcast! Today, I'm joined by the incredible Jacqueline Raymer, aka Gym Coach Jackie. Jaclyn is not only a coach with a fantastic sense of humor but also an inspiring adult gymnast reshaping the world of gymnastics. We dive into her journey, exploring her transition from coaching to re-entering compe…
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The Declan James Story | Episode 45
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In 2022 Declan James represented England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham winning the gold medal in the men's squash doubles final alongside his partner James Willstrop. That year also finished with him being crowned a World squash doubles champion however he suffered a ruptured achilles whilst competing and underwent reconstructive surgery.…
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Keeping Kids Safe in the Sport of Gymnastics with Lisa Mitzel
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In today's episode, we're honored to host Lisa Mitzel, a former elite gymnast, four-time NCAA champion, and esteemed mental performance coach. Our conversation revolves around the critical theme of ensuring the safety of young gymnasts in this demanding sport, coupled with a deep dive into the complexities of mental performance. Lisa's journey in g…
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The Ekow Essumen Story | Episode 44
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In July 2021 Ekow Essumen won the British and Commonwealth boxing welterweight titles to add to his English title at the age of 32. He defended the British, Commonwealth, English and European IBF belts five times over the next two years. On November the 18th 2023 the fighter from Nottingham lost against Harry Scarff by unanimous decision at the Man…
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Performing Under Pressure with Retired Fighter Pilot Tammy Barlette
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Welcome to another empowering episode of the PerformHappy Podcast! Today, I have the privilege of sitting down with the remarkable Tammy Barlette, a retired fighter pilot whose journey takes us from the skies to the gymnastics arena. Tammy not only brings her extensive experience as a fighter pilot but also her role as a former gymnast and a dedica…
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On January the 10th 2022 Kohei Uchimura san officially announced his retirement from competitive gymnastics. He won seven Olympic medals and a total of twenty one world championships medals throughout his career. The very first gymnastics competition I watched on TV was the Athens 2004 Olympic Games in which Alexi Nemov changed the sport of men's a…
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Coming Back Stronger After an Injury with Dr. Carl Bescoby
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Welcome back to another empowering episode of the PerformHappy podcast! In today's installment, we dive into the realm of mental resilience, confidence, and growth after overcoming significant setbacks in sports and life. I'm thrilled to have the esteemed Dr. Carl Bescoby, PhD, MSc, BSc, CPsychol, HCPC, a seasoned psychologist with over 10 years of…
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