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Welcome to yet another captivating episode of The Pursuit of Gold podcast, where, this week, Laura Wilkinson reconnects with Carissa Gordon Gump, USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame inductee, the first 63 Kilogram American woman to qualify and compete at the Olympic Games, multiple American record holder, and five time consecutive American Open Champion. Carissa currently serves as the Executive Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation and is part of the United States Anti-Doping Agency Athlete Presenter Team, so you know she has a lot of knowledge and experience to share with everyone.

Her journey, as shared here today, serves as a powerful reminder of the potential challenges athletes face during their transition from elite sports to retirement, and emphasizes the importance of having a well-thought-out plan and discovering new passions to lead a fulfilling post-athletic career. She also highlights The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation's role and her own dedication to staying active and healthy, even after retiring from competitive weightlifting. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of Olympic weightlifting, the pursuit of Olympic dreams, the critical importance of clean sport advocacy, and the potential fate of weightlifting in the Olympics. You do not want to miss this one.

And you do not want to miss Laura’s transformative program, Confident Competitor, which is designed to empower athletes to enhance their mental game, improve performance, and rise to challenges. Be sure to check out this comprehensive online program which offers 19 lessons on mindset, mental game, and performance skills, alongside practical activities, bonuses, and group coaching to equip athletes with the tools for success.

Episode Highlights:

• Carissa’s "Golden Prison" experience
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
• Pursuing Olympic dreams
• Balancing education and sport
• Carissa's transition from athlete to a professional
• The value of knowledge and intelligence beyond athletic accomplishments
• Seeing sport as a component of life, not the entirety of one's identity
• Carissa’s Olympic journey and challenges
• The potential fate of Olympic weightlifting

Quotes:

• "We can guarantee you a spot in February of 2001, but, like in June when you graduate high school, I don't know if we're going to have anything available for you.’ And I said, ‘I'll be there.’"
• "I need to prepare for life after sport, and so that's what going to school was doing for me."
• "What I would really encourage athletes to recognize, is: your sport, yes, it is a part of who you are, but it is not you. It doesn't define who you are for the rest of your life. You have other identities as well."
• "I am still part of sport but just in a very different way."
• "You still need to have a plan to make sure that you, as a person, are fulfilled and have some sort of direction in your life."
• "Unfortunately, doping issues have been very common in the sport of weightlifting."
• "You don't just disappear. You still need to have a little sprinkle of whatever in your life."
• "Weightlifting is on the chopping block for 2028.”
• "I like to say we're the science behind strength and conditioning."

Links:

• The Pursuit of Gold Website
• Confident Competitor

Laura’s Social Media:

• Laura’s Instagram
• Laura’s Facebook

Connect with Carissa:

• Carissa's Instagram

• Carissa's Pinterest

• National Strength and Conditioning Association