Courage is a Learned Skill with High Diver David Colturi

Laura joins forces with professional cliff diver, coach, and performance expert, David Colturi for this week’s installment of the Pursuit of Gold podcast. One of the standout cliff divers over the last decade, David has accumulated 14 podiums in 52 starts, including becoming the youngest ever winner of a World Series event at the age of 24. After returning from the enforced World Series break, he was narrowly edged out of the permanent places in 2021 and will return to the 27m platform as a wildcard this year. David also currently serves as a coach, runs high performance workshops, and is a gifted public speaker.

Together with Laura, David embarks on an exhilarating journey that delves into such topics as his awe-inspiring transformation from a budding diver to an experienced professional, the pivotal role of balance in the pursuit of one's dreams, and the fearless approach required to confront and conquer personal fears head-on. From being determined to conquer the heights of high dives to the heart-pounding moments during his debut at the Red Bull Cliff Diving event in Corsica, this episode is a treasure trove of adrenaline-pumping narratives and invaluable life lessons. Our dynamic duo also go on to share intimate anecdotes and profound insights into the psychological and emotional battles they've waged during their illustrious careers, from grappling with fear and self-doubt to contending with the physical toll exacted by high-speed impacts. Today’s conversation transcends the realm of diving and touches upon the profound importance of setting well-defined objectives, aligning actions with one's authentic values, and embarking on a purpose-driven journey throughout our lives.

If you’ve been wanting to make some crucial mindset shifts like David, in order to perform better, love your sport again or grow your confidence, start getting excited for my awesome Black Friday bundles that are here now but only for a limited time! Every single amazing bundle also comes with a FREE ticket into a new workshop I’ll be hosting in January called Turning Obstacles into Opportunities. Make sure you don’t miss this window of opportunity- go check out these special bundles at LauraWilkinson.com/blackfriday!

Episode Highlights:

David’s remarkable journey
Dedication and sacrifices
How college athletes grapple with pursuing their sport professionally or exploring alternative career paths
David's leap into professional cliff diving
Red Bull Cliff Diving events
David's inaugural experience in Corsica
Unforeseen setbacks and the power of resilience and a positive attitude
Overcoming fear and early challenges in high diving
The journey toward control and focus
Peer pressure and accountability in overcoming platform hesitation and building confidence

Quotes:

"Courage is a learned skill just like anything else."

"These tough days, these are the ones that define you. This is the good stuff."

"You're just competing against yourself... all you've got to do is be better than you were yesterday."

"You’ve just got to sometimes do what you’ve got to do. And it can be a scary road, but I think you learn a lot of lessons in that, too."

"So it's kind of just learning to take those skills we learn in our sport and applying it into our life."

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