9 | From Swimming in High School to Olympic Medalist in Volleyball with Heather BOWN (part 1)

Ep 9 | From Swimming in High School to Olympic Medalist in Volleyball with Heather BOWN (part 1)

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE... (44m36s)

I can remember being in the cafeteria in Colorado Springs, Colorado USA.

This is where the Olympic Training Center for many sports is located including men’s & women’s indoor  volleyball.

This was exciting for me because I really didn’t many female players ever after playing four years in Junior and NAIA colleges in America & 3 years professionally in Belgium, German and Czech Republic. Sad day for a single guy.

So while I am eating the guys start to chatter about some girls. I look up and see, like a stampede, a group of about 20+ players and coaches hurdling into the cafeteria for food after training.

I’ve never seen such amazonian and athletically framed women in my life. I WAS DAYDREAMING!.

No! This was reality and after that initial shock settled a few stood out. I asked about a few and amongst them was one of the tallest, a blond woman who was smiling, laughing and chatting and looked to be closer to my age than many of young new college level girls.

It was Heather Bown. My teammates told me how she was one of the best players in NCAA volley and had been playing in Italy, my favorite country, for the past few years. They said she was one of the best players preparing at that time for Beijing.

Yeah, that’s all fine and dandy but what I wanted to know was more like who’s single and is she one of them? Turns out no one knew since I was dealing with some guys a bit younger than my 24 yr old self.

The moment came while on my way to training when I passed Heather who was coming from training and it was time to say our hello’s as fellow comrades let’s say.

NOPE.

She refused to make eye contact and the shy guy in me looked down and away. She was cold! How could this be? Well it happened time and time again until one day we were finally introduced 4 years later. I finally realized why...

Find out why one of America’s sweethearts is not unlike myself is (when I used to be out of my element… ) SHY! Which came be misunderstood as: annoyed, evil, arrogant, self-absorbed, almighty, etc. ;P

THIS IS PART 1 of 2

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LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE... (44m36s)

About Heather Bown

Bown was born in Orange, California and has an older sister.

Played a lot of recreational sports like gymnastics, tennis, diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, etc.

Started swimming in high school & volleyball at 15 as a junior.

Went to college at U of Hawaii & UC Santa Barbara for volleyball.

Was a 2x 1st team D1 All American and WAC Player of the Year in her final years.

Joined the USA indoor national team in 2000 until 2012.

Olympic Silver medalist. 4x Grand Prix champion. 3x Olympian… and on and on…. :)

Currently in Graduate school and helping out Classroom Champions as a mentor.

Find out about her story and more like what her medals have to do with “six fingered cats in the Key West!” by listening now...

LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST INTERVIEW HERE... (44m36s)

Key Discussion Points:

Part 1

• What drives her?
• What’s her story?
• When did she stumble/fail?
• What lessons she learned?
• What was her light bulb moment?

Part 2

• What was a defining moment in her career?
• What’s her current future plans?
• What her daily/morning rituals are?
• What is a personal habit that contributes to her success?
• The best advice she’s ever gotten?
• What she likes to do to add value to others?
• What’s her definition of an athlete being Beyond Athletic?

Key Lessons:

• Why not accomplishing one goal can lead to new options…

"I was always told I'm not good."

• Following in your older siblings footsteps for some time can help you grow as a person…
• Why getting up early contributes to her success…

“I’m in bed by 8 or 9 o’clock at night… whereas in Europe that’s the time they go to dinner”

• What sports is all about…

"it's not about focusing on winning or losing… You never really lose. You can always learn something..."

• Learned how to make decisions…

“When you are kid and everything is taken care of for you, you never really think past next weekend"

• How to overcome personal and team issues…
• Why losing out on a medal in the Olympics shouldn’t stop her...

“You learn how to play w/ people and trust the person next to you…”

• The universe has it’s plan for you…

“Man plans. God laughs.”
 

BOWN's Inspirational QUOTE:

“You win, you learn but you NEVER lose.”

 

Elite Sport Students is looking for help! We want to change the lives of a million athletes for the better! How can you #AddValue to our cause? :)

I Want To Volunteer

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Follow Guest here:

Instagram | Twitter | Classroom Champions | Fanpage
 

4 | How To Be A “Not-So-Tall” 2x Olympian Who Couldn’t Even Walk with Suzana Ćebić

Ep 4 How To Be A “Not-So-Tall” 2x Olympian Who Couldn’t Even Walk with Suzana CEBIC

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:25s)

About three months ago Mira Golubovic mentioned two young athletes she was so impressed by OFF and on the court. The last episode was Branka (Brankica) Mihajlovic from Bosnia & Hercegovina… The second one is the lovely Suzana Cebic.

It’s seems to be a common thing that the champion’s I have started out with all believe you should NEVER GIVE UP... Why? (Team Serbia national sports teams are actually all-around, one of the most winningest countries in the world speaking generally) I don’t want to spoil it but you find out in this episode.

We sat down just days before the World Championships were starting and chatted about how she got here from being unable to walk with a disease in Spain to present day....

Get the details by listening!

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Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:25s)

About Suzana CEBIC

Has one older sister and grew up with both parents.

Started playing at 13 with 3 trainings per week...

Finished high school while playing in a different city…

Played in 2008 & 2012 Olympics…

Has earned over 13 medals in intl competition (9 are GOLD’s) & has been name Best Libero/Receiver” 3x international while playing major competitions with team Serbia.

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:25s)

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her family like and her story?
• How she seeks big challenges?
• How playing a sport in Serbia while attending high-school?
• What are her plans after sports?
• Would she benefit from a program like Elite Sport Students?
• What’s her biggest obstacle in life?
• What was her most defining moment so far?
• What does she do to mentally prepare for competition?

Key Lessons:

• Why Going to College is still a big goal!

"I think education is really important because after university you got a lot of opportunities"

• Why she should start planning for her life after sports...

“I’m not thinking about my future, yet. Maybe I need to start because I’m almost 30!”

• The meaning of mentors and great people close to you

"Yeah. It is good idea. It is good to have someone who will trust and who will give you advice."

"Now, Usually I receive advice from my sister."

• How facing her obstacle of never being able to walk again fueled her to fight!

"Learned to be a lot more patient, you have to be determined, learned to be informed about the situation."

• What she’s doing to become better mentally prepared even after 2 Olympics!
• Why having friends outside of her sport helped her with many challenges…
• How having a best friend (Jovana Brakocevic) on the court though has also helped her a ton

“Most of my friends are outside of (sports).”

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to: None

Business/Work: None

Current/Past Teams:

Team SERBIA
OK Jedinstvo Uzice (SRB)
Tenerife Voleibol (ESP)
CSU Galati (ROM)
VfB 91 Sühl (GER)
Rabita Baku (AZE)
Lokomotiv Baku (AZE)
CSM Trgovište (ROM)

Past Schools:

Recommended Guest: Jovana BRAKOCEVIC

3 | How To Achieve Something Great & Be Respected with Brankica Mihajlović

Ep 3 How To Achieve Something Great & Be Respected with Brankica Mihajlović

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:32s)

About three months ago Mira Golubovic mentioned two young athletes she was so impressed by OFF and on the court. One was Branka (Brankica) Mihajlovic from Bosnia & Hercegovina.

How is she from Bosnia yet playing women’s indoor volleyball for one of the best national team programs in the world.. Team Serbia? (Team Serbia national sports teams are actually all-around, one of the most winningest countries in the world speaking generally) I don’t want to spoil it but you find out in this episode.

We sat down just days before the World Championships were starting and talked about how she stay positive and fights for everything she believes in. We had a special guest appear, one of the best players for men’s volleyball in the world…. Find out who by listening!

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Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:32s)

About Brankica MIHAJLOVIC

Started volleyball at age 12 and International pro at 18 years old.

Changed national teams for a challenge. Olympian by the age of 21!

Played in Switzerland, France, Brazil and now Japan.

All Star player from Grand Prix 2013 & as 4 medals of all three colors (Gold, Silver & Bronze).
 

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s her family like and her story?
• How she started in sports?
• How did she adjust to life abroad at such a young age?
• How does she approach challenges?
• How it feels to play at the highest levels?
• What are her habits for playing well?
• What are her daily habits?

Hear the Interview NOW: (43m:32s)

Key Lessons:

• Why it’s important to have a plan for 10-15 years into the future…

“You need to know what you want in your life and to be with a strong mind & character and to really wish for this (thing) and never give up.”

• Why having people close to you is so important...

“As a kid, 18/19, I think you don’t know how to resolve (problems)… You need to have support also from your close ones but in general you have to be the one to decide.”

• How to thrive on a high level team by becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable
• How she transitioned from pro to national team at 21 years old..

"You also need to respect yourself & respect others. If you are on the team it means that you are equally as good as them."

• How she keeps her goals in mind and written down…

“When you have some issues, some problems they will remind you that you KEEP pushing yourself.”

• How she controls her mind in pressure situations and why the mental game is so important
• Why we must respect other people to earn their respect
• Why mistakes must be accepted and are important to success

“It’s not normal if you are (not making) mistakes. You have to accept this and go for the next point. You cannot return something that has happened”

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to: NONE

Business/Work: NONE

Past Teams:
Team SERBIA
Unilever Volei (BRA)
Volero Zurich (SUI)
RC Cannes (FRA)
VC Omichka (RUS)
Hyundai Capital Skywalkers (KOR)
Hisamitsu Springs (JAP)

Past Schools: 

Recommended Guest: 

6 | How To Go From A ‘Fat’ Kid To An Olympian with Carlos Eduardo Schwanke

Ep 6 How To Go From A ‘Fat’ Kid To An Olympian with Carlos Eduardo SCHWANKE

Hear the Interview NOW: (48m:58s)

Rewind back to 2005. I joined the 18 man roster after being on a tryout a month and a half earlier. Before that USA Volleyball had no idea who, Ryan Jay Owens, was as a volleyball player. I didn’t even exist to them… Well, it doesn’t matter, I made the decision to follow my heart which was dreaming of the Olympics and I made it on the team with current and former Olympians under the direction of Hugh McCutcheon.

Well Hugh and Ron Larson decided I was a good fit only in a different position and that promised to teach me everything I needed to know to become the player I dreamt of becoming… at the end of that first summer Hugh came to me with a deal in Puerto Rico and after playing there for a couple weeks he recommended I take a deal down in one of the best leagues in the World, Brazil (BRASIL).

I am not a crazy person. I accepted. First day on the job I was meeting and greeting my teammates at the court in San Leopoldo, Brazil in the south which is cowboy territory. Well like they say cowboys are friendly and sure enough after all the guys were met Carlos Schwanke asked me to go with him and another guy, Kid Teixeira for food. These are two Olympians from the Atlanta Olympics!

I said as cool and calmly as possible, “sure,” while grinning like a school kid with a box of candies.

Over the next months I would spend time with him and his family at their summer home and just get to know this amazing volleyball player, athlete, husband, father and future (now) coach. Listen for the his story and some fun stuff about us both.

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Hear the Interview NOW: (48m:58s)

About Carlos Eduardo SCHWANKE

Born in 1974 in Santa Catalina, Brazil.

Grew up in small city near Santa Catalina with his German father & Italian mother.

Started with volleyball because of health at age 12.

He played in 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and is a World League medalist.  

(Brazil is the MOST WINNINGEST national team for volleyball in history)

He had a decorated pro career entirely in Brazil.

He now is a head coach and when he started as an assistant he immediately won three Super League (Top pro) in Brazil with a men’s team.

Hear the Interview NOW: (48m:58s)

Key Discussion Points:

• What’s his story?
• What his inspirational quote?
• What was his biggest obstacle?
• Who influenced him the most?
• what separates elite players from rest of the pack?
• How does he control his mind while playing?
• What is he most proud of?
• What has his life so far taught him?
• Who he would interview and why?
• Why adding value is important?

Key Lessons:

• How mentors play an extremely important role in our lives…
• How being rejected is not a bad thing…

“I was big and a little bit fat… So i had to start playing something.”

"When i went to tryout for one team when i was kid, I was rejected. I was disappointed and i wanted to do something other.”

• Why being injured and not having options to recover is false…

“Doctors told me that i will not be able to play volleyball again,but with believe and faith i recovered."

• Some people are important to keep close throughout life…
• What could make him the best player possible…

“..Trying to find something outside from sport: religion, faith, your goals… If you surround yourself with positive things and keep being better & better then you are in front of your opponents."

• What to do to make his mind his tool during sports & life…
• What’s most important in life to be successful…

"Most important thing is to have __(listen to find out…)___ in your life."

• How what you are most proud of can turn out not to be a goal…
• That accomplishing goals can be incredible…

“... and I said ‘We did it!’ and I turned to the stage and I saw __(listen to find out… It’s a HUGE name!)__ with the Olympic torch & I started crying…All the moments… All the preparations...All the hard days of trainings...In that moment all of those things were (listen to find out…)!”

• The reason why adding value to other people is so important...

INFO

Charity/Organizations They Add Value to: None

Business/Work: Head Coach Volleyball

Past Teams:

Past Schools:

Recommended Guest: