Category: World Class Coaches & Athletes

Getting to the Pros

July 7, 2023 Published by

Welcome to our new SFL Spotlight feature.  This is a series where we interview athletes whose lives are fueled by sports.  Some are professionals.  Some are not.  All are passionate about their performance, their potential, and their passion to learn, compete, and win.

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One of baseball’s future stars, Sammy Infante, a 22-year-old infielder with the Washington Nationals, answered our questions about his career and what fuels him.  First, a little background: Sammy was drafted #71 in 2020 and played for the Fredericksburg Nationals.  Born in southern Florida with a family from the Dominican Republic, he can play second and third base.  Here’s what he had to say about this exciting time in his professional career.

 

1. When did you discover your passion for sport?
“I discovered my passion for sports, and baseball in particular, when my dad took me to the park for the very first time.  The way we bonded over that experience elevated my passion for baseball.”

 

2. Who are your sports heroes that inspire you to pursue excellence?
“I’d say Boston Red Sox’s David Ortiz, particularly the way he went about his work every day and treated everyone with love and respect.”

 

3. What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given?  Who gave you this advice and what did it mean to you at the time you received it?  

“The best advice I have ever received was, “If you don’t like your current situation, play towards the situation you want to see yourself in.  I received this advice from Derek Hill, he is in AAA with the Nationals.  He gave me this advice during a difficult time in 2023 Spring Training.  It really resonated with me.”

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4. What mental tools do you use when you’re under pressure on and off the field?
“In my opinion, pressure is a false image brought upon someone from an outside perspective.  If I take care of myself the way I’m supposed to--practicing, watching team film, or going to the medical room--I know I will be fine.”

 

5. Do you have advice for younger athletes pursuing their dreams?
“Being an athlete isn't an easy thing to do.  It takes sacrifice and dedication.  Make sure you love whatever sport you choose; down the road there is gonna be traffic.  To get through those hard times you have to love it.”

 

6. Do you have any pregame rituals that you use to calm yourself for your next competition, and if so, what are they?
“I do.  I have to enter into a certain head space before a game.  The easiest way to get there is by isolating myself for a little while and using my headphones to get locked in.”

 

7. What are some of your goals for after you are done participating in your sport?
“After my sports career, I’m mainly looking forward to starting my family.  Sports will no longer be my #1 objective in life, it’ll be my family.”

 

8. Who or what is your biggest motivation to keep going in your sport and in your life?
“My main motivation that keeps me going is knowing I have a family that depends on me—parents I want to provide for.”

 

9. What fuels you?
“What really fuels me is how hard my dad worked to provide for my 4 sisters and myself.”

 

10. What impact do you hope to have on your sport?
“I just want to inspire as many people as I can to watch and play the game I love, specifically playing the game the right and respectful way.”

 

We encourage you to follow along on this new series with more guests who share insights on their careers.  Feel free to follow us on our social accounts and become a member on our website to stay up to date with all that Sport Fuels Life has to offer!

Best of 2022  

December 29, 2022 Published by

With appreciation for your support of Sport Fuels Life in 2022 and anticipation of more excitement in 2023, we have selected some of our top interviews, podcasts, and features of the year.  Keep your ideas, stories, and suggestions coming so we can help each other.  Happy New Year!

Christopher Clarey

New York Times tennis correspondent Christopher Clarey, author of, The MASTER: The Long Run and Beautiful Game of Roger Federer, shared highlights from Federer’s life and career.  He explains how Federer could “hurt you from anywhere on the court,” and how “he has shown the world for more than 20 years that it is possible to win and lose with class and to treat the people who cross your path with respect and empathy,” and much more.

Christopher Clarey:  NYT Reporting Ace and Author Discusses Tennis Ace Roger Federer

Siri Lindley 

Siri Lindley, world champion triathlete, coach to the elites, television sports analyst, popular speaker and author highlights overcoming anxiety in many areas. These include entering a triathlon despite not knowing how to swim, coming out to her father, and finding her true passion in coaching. She embraces a life-changing quote, “where your focus goes, your energy flows.”

Siri Lindley – Finding and Reinventing One’s Champion Self

Sean Swarner

Sean Swarner’s story is one of healing, hope, and triumph. With only one functioning lung, a prognosis of fourteen days to live, and being in a medically induced coma for a year, Sean Swarner is the first cancer survivor to stand on top of the world…Mt. Everest. In so doing, he’s redefined the way the world views success.

Sean Swarner Redefines the Impossible

Zach Brandon


Zach Brandon, mental skills coordinator for the Arizona Diamondbacks, understands how perfecting one’s game and realizing peak performance in athletics requires both physical ability and mental strength. This mental performance expert shares how working through challenges to find the fun and joy is all part of the growth process for professional baseball and for life.  

Mental Skills Make the Difference

Kate Leavell

Successful NCAA lacrosse coach, author, and speaker Kate Leavell knows what it takes—as a coach, parent of an athlete, and leadership expert—to embody positivity, communicate openly, and embrace diversity.  She demonstrates these concepts in actionable ways in her new book, Superpower:  An Inspiring Story to Overcome Self-Doubt and Unleash Your Authentic Greatness, a fable for any age.  

Unleashing Superpowers with Coach, Author, and Speaker Kate Leavell

Khadevis Robinson

One of the most accomplished middle-distance runners in USA track and field history, Olympian Khadevis Robinson believes we all want “to go for the gold” in our lives. He discusses how a change in mindset and a more balanced life creates amazing moments. Be ready to be inspired with his contagious energy, positivity, and reminder that “major things happen in minor moments.”

Addressing the Inner Olympian in All of Us

Scott Doerner

Scott Doerner discusses his varied championship (playing and coaching) tennis career and how a winning team culture helped fuel a national championship. Turns out, those principles still apply.  He also reminds us that “when the margins are so thin in our sport, everything matters.”

How Failing and Learning from Failure are Important Steps to Winning

Nathalie Elliott

Nathalie Elliott shares insights from her journey as student-athlete to High Point University’s athletic trainer for cross country and track and field. During her Division I athletic career of five years, Nathalie earned multiple honors as a conference champion and regional qualifier  in the women’s pole vault while completing her Master’s degree in Athletic Training. 

Leveraging the Power of Athletics for Life

Bryson Langford

One of the tenets of Sport Fuels Life is to “play it forward.” We encourage initiatives that support the positivity and potential of athletics. Earlier this year, we were delighted to supply tee shirts to Second Serve, a youth-run, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of underprivileged kids who love tennis. Tennis standout and National Director of Volunteer Services for Second Serve Bryson Langford spearheaded this contribution.

Playing it Forward with Second Serve

Audio Tips for Athletic Success

November 3, 2022 Published by

Allistair McCaw

A leading figure in leadership plus team culture and mindset, Allistair has written four best-selling books and is a popular motivational speaker.  He also draws on his experience as an athlete and coach to share winning strategies.  Here’s one coaching tip:  listen 80% of the time; talk 20%.  Listen here for more.

Rulon Gardner

Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner says,  “Act like you have been there before.”  He would know.  He defeated the favored Russian (who had not been defeated for 13 years) in the Olympic finals of wrestling.  A lifetime of challenges helped pave the way to his success.

Monica Abbott

Professional softball player and Olympian Monica Abbott loves the challenge of being both a better athlete and a better version of yourself.  She also appreciates the community that comes from building a team.  She talks about what makes softball special and more.

Craig Boynton

World class tennis coach Craig Boynton is currently coaching # 10 Hubie Hurkacz and has awesome insights for all coaches.  Specifically, he talks about the importance of developing trust so players know you care, building a structure for development, and holding players accountable.  When players hold themselves accountable, they develop the important skill of offering feedback on their own performance.

Leveraging the Power of Athletics for Life

September 29, 2022 Published by

Today we talk to Nathalie Elliott about her transition from student-athlete to the working world as High Point University’s athletic trainer for cross country and track and field. During her Division I athletic career of five years, Nathalie earned honors of a 3x Big South Conference Champion and 4x NCAA Regional qualifier in the women’s pole vault while completing her Master’s degree in Athletic Training. As a recent graduate, Nathalie shares a unique perspective on how she has turned the chapter from pole vaulter to athletic trainer, still keeping sports close to her heart.

Sport fuels life for Nathalie because she is passionate about “growing athletes to the best of their abilities.” Having experienced success in her pole-vaulting career, along with the physical and mental challenges that came with it, has given her a deeper understanding in how to best help others in their sports journeys. She shares her insights on the power that developing self-confidence had on her athletic career and how she hopes to help other athletes reach their peak performance.

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Olympic Medalist, Cancer Survivor, and Businesswoman Shannon Miller Shares Instructive Highlights from her Fascinating Life

March 18, 2022 Published by

 

Join us at Sport Fuels Life as we sit down with legendary gymnast and cancer survivor Shannon Miller. This conversation is one you do not want to miss. Shannon explains the mindset of an Olympian athlete, cancer survivor, and successful businesswoman.  

Shannon Miller won a record breaking seven Olympic medals and nine World Championships.  She is also the second leading American gymnast overall, male or female. She was inducted into the U.S Olympic Hall of Fame as an individual in 2006 and as a team in 2008. 

Shannon started her love affair with gymnastics at the age of 5. By age 11, she had won her first major competition and by age 13 she was winning world titles in the vault, beam, floor exercise and the uneven bars.  She was known for her versatility and being able to compete at the highest level in multiple events.  

Shannon graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in business administration and later obtained her law degree from Boston College. She established the Shannon Miller Foundation which seeks to end childhood obesity. She speaks publicly on subjects such as having a Gold Medal Mindset, healthy lifestyles, and surviving cancer. 

Shannon’s inspiring biography, It’s Not About Perfect: Competing for My Country and Fighting for My Life, discusses her gymnastics career and her battle with ovarian cancer. 

To learn more about Shannon, visit her website at www.shannonmiller.com.  

Facebook: @ShannonMillerOfficial |Instagram: @shannonmiller96 |Twitter:  @shannonmiller96

Olympic Gold Medalist Wrestler Rulon Gardner Also Excels at Overcoming Adversity

September 10, 2021 Published by

Don’t miss out as Sport Fuels Life gets up close and personal with Rulon Gardner, Olympic Gold Medalist wrestler. Gardner, a native of Afton, Wyoming is the last of nine children. He credits his strength from working on the family dairy farm. 

Rulon is no stranger to adversity and has used his struggles to fuel him towards success. Academically, he struggled with a learning disability throughout his academic career. Physically, he suffered from an arrow’s puncturing his abdomen during an elementary school show-and-tell. In 1990, Rulon lost his first child due to a tragic car accident. In 2002, he nearly died in a snowmobile accident leaving him with an amputated toe and dislocated wrist. In 2007, he survived an airplane crash that forced him to swim an hour in 44 degrees Fahrenheit to reach shore. So, it goes without saying, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” has been the backbone to his life story. 

As if surviving the previous challenges was not impressive enough, Rulon went on to win the NJCAA National Heavyweight Wrestling Championship. While at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he finished fourth in the 275-pound weight class, where he earned All-American honors. Rulon then took his success to another level as he defeated Aleksandr Karelin at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At that time, Karelin had not been defeated for 13 years. Rulon began to soar after that victory. In 2001, he became a World Champion and the first American to win a World and Olympic gold title in Greco-Roman wrestling. Even with an amputated toe and dislocated wrist, Rulon still won the U.S. Olympic trials for his weight class, which led him to be able to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics.  After playing, he went on to be an analyst for NBC Sports. He now teaches and instructs high school athletes and has become a distinguished speaker on the national level.  He strives daily to impact the lives of his team members.   

Join us as we marvel at his resiliency and determination to succeed. Through his perseverance and ability to focus on the positives, he has laid the groundwork for coaches, athletes, and fans to reach their goals and gain insight from his experiences. Listen in as he explains how positive affirmation builds confidence. His belief in heart, devotion, perspective, technique, and belief in yourself are the things you can’t measure that are critical to success. 

 

Congratulations to April Ross and Alix Klineman for winning Gold in Tokyo!!

August 6, 2021 Published by
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Olympic journey

April entered the professional beach volleyball world with partner Jenn Tessy. They upset the tournament and won the grand slam as one of the lowest seeds. Next, she excelled in the finals of the London Olympics and won silver. Experienced Kerry Walsh accompanied her in her next Olympics in Rio were they won bronze. Now, April and newbee Alex Klineman just won gold in the Tokyo Olympics.

Reasons for Success

April is intentional with her mental and physical game. She approaches every match  “knowing that [she has] to outperform ” her opponent. She knows she can’t control everything and accepts that. To combat comparison she competes with self. As for her training she advises players to “know their best training”. For her, she switched to olympic lifting as opposed to high volume and low weight lifting. As well as, and forces herself to condition. Force being the main word. She then details how to receive coaching. She stresses an open mind for receiving coaching. She finds that the more she knows and learns the more she fights to keep an open mind. Giving up control to coaches through trust can be a very difficult thing for highly trained athletes.

Choosing a Beach Partner

When you are as good as April you get to choose your partner. Her decision to pick Alex Klineman over Kerry Walsh this past year was a risky one. She chose a young player over an experienced one. She picked “based on her gut” even though some would have picked differently. This decision is not surprising however if you listen to April and the type of person she is. Intangible skills are highly important to her and her relationships.

Check out the full episode below and let us know what you think in the comments!

Tyree Washington: From Asthmatic Child to Astounding Athlete, Speaker, and Trainer

June 24, 2021 Published by

Join us at Sport Fuels Life as we talk with Tyree Washington about his amazing life thus far… as an asthmatic child to a 400-metre World Champion in Track and Field to Motivational Speaker and Trainer. 

Tyree is no stranger to adversity; fortunately, his spirit and skills helped him overcome obstacles.  He was born and raised by his mother and grandmother in Riverside, California.  As a child he was diagnosed with severe asthma that almost took his life; he was told he would never be able to play sports.  Through his determination, he overcame this condition and went on to become a world class athlete. 

Washington joined the track and field team in high school to get in shape for football.  He discovered he had real talent in this arena and became the 1994 California State Long Jump Champion. He signed with the San Diego Chargers in 1999 but was released after becoming injured at the end of camp.  The Oakland Raiders picked him up, but Tyree decided to return to track and became the fastest runner in the country.  Along the way, he suffered some health and personal setbacks and worked as a Riverside County probation officer in 2002.

At the 2003 World Championships, his relay team was stripped of their gold medal due to a teammate’s doping violation. He was awarded the gold medal in the 400-meter rate and won many other championships in his career.

What makes Tyree’s message so special is his ability to constantly keep pushing forward and overcome any obstacles placed in his way.  Don’t miss out on this powerful journey and message of positivity and proper success principles.  

Tyree Washington quote: “Destiny can be delayed but not denied”.  

You can book Tyree to speak for your program by going to www.tyreewashington.com; his book, Against All Odds, is available on Amazon.

 

Monica Abbott’s Story Is Filled with Pitching Skill and Superb Positivity

June 11, 2021 Published by

Monica Abbott is considered one of the most dominant players in professional softball.  Join us at Sport Fuels Life as we hear her story from tagalong younger sister to today’s world class athlete. Monica is at the top of her game, and she’s also opened doors for future generations.

Originally from Salinas, California, Monica is one of five children. She first fell in love with the game of softball by tagging along with her older sister to pitching lessons plus watching her play. She went on to lead her high school team to three Central Coast Section Division 1 titles and averaged more than 300 strikeouts per season.  After high school, Monica played for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols, where she became the first Lady Vol to earn first-team All-American. She set many records including the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and the NCAA Division 1 leader in wins, strikeouts, shutouts, and innings. Monica was named to the USA Softball team where she pitched the first perfect game in Olympic history and led TEAM USA to a silver medal. Monica currently plays professionally with Toyota Moto Corporation in the Japan Softball League and is on the USA Team as well. 

Monica’s impact on female athletes in the sport of softball is impressive. She received a landmark $1 million contract which set a precedent for female sports professionals.  She also started a scholarship fund to help multi-sport female athletes pursue their dreams. 

Join us as we learn more about her mantra to “live to bring it”.  To her, that means “being fully invested in the moment and giving it all you have so you don’t have any regrets”.  We also learn how that belief pushed her to become one of the top softball players in the world. Listen in as she talks about team dynamics, the softball community, and how she overcame mental and physical challenges. In the process, you’ll likely become a “moniac” as she helps you to discover your full potential.

Season accomplishments 

  • 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
  • Only Player with more than one 50-win season in a career (2)
  • Only Player with four seasons of 40+ wins in a career
  • Only Player with four 500-strikeout seasons (and two 600-strikeout seasons) in a collegiate career
  • Most strikeouts in a season (2007) – 724
  • Most games pitched in a season (2005) – 69
  • Most wins and most strikeouts in a season by a freshman (2004) – 45 wins and 582 strikeouts

Career accomplishments

  • 2,440 career NCAA Division I strikeouts (1st all-time)
  • 189 career NCAA Division I wins (1st all-time)
  • 112 career shutouts (1st all-time)
  • 253 career games pitched (1st all-time)
  • 206 career games started (1st all-time)
  • 1448 career innings pitched (1st all-time)
  • 178 career complete games (2nd all-time)
  • 11.80 career strikeouts per 7 innings (3rd all-time)
  • .848 career win percentage
  • 16 career saves (tied-10th all-time)
  • 23 career NCAA Division I no-hitters (2nd all-time)
  • 6 career NCAA Division I perfect games (2nd all-time)

Career highlights 

  • 6× Japan Softball League Champion (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018)
  • 5× Japan Softball League MVP (2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018)
  • 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist
  • Pitched First Perfect Game in Olympic History
  • 3× World Champion Gold Medalist
  • 2× Pan American Gold Medalist
  • 5× National Pro Fastpitch Champion (2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
  • 4× NPF MVP (2007, 2011, 2015, 2017)
  • 5× NPF Pitcher of the Year (2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • All-NPF Selection (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year (2007)
  • Honda Award Winner in Softball (2007)
  • 4× All-American
  • First pitcher in D1 to record 500 Strikeouts all 4 seasons at the collegiate level.

Successful Coaching Comes From The Heart, Here’s How

January 27, 2021 Published by

Gustavo Osorio is a strength and conditioning coach for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, currently serving at the Elite Athlete Training Center, in Chula Vista, California. There, he oversees the training of all the center’s 32 Paralympic athletes and also works with its Olympic athletes. 

This summer, he will head to Tokyo with his athletes who will compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We got to pick Gustavo’s brain on everything from his personal athletic journey to training elite Paralympic athletes with their eyes set on gold at this year’s Games, and his passion for helping his athletes reach their goals shines through in a major way.

Take a listen to this insightful and inspiring conversation below, then comment to let us know how you are innovating and adapting your own training programs to help your athletes shine bright!

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