#41 Mastering Your Fate & Captaining Your Soul with Carly WOPAT

#41 Mastering Your Fate & Captaining Your Soul with Carly WOPAT

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March 24, 2016

Athlete Case Study: Professional volleyball player who graduated from Stanford University, plays for the USA National Team, and currently plays in Ankara, Turkey

BACKGROUND

In this athlete case study, we focus on what it takes to overcome the most difficult times in our lives. Having people around you to lean on, finding what outlets work best to express yourself, and focusing on doing what is best to accomplish your dreams are just a few of the topics we cover with our infinitely resilient guest: Carly Wopat.  

BIOGRAPHY

• Born, Carly Wopat in Santa Barbara, California on October 13, 1992.

• Parents: Ron and Kathy, younger brothers: Jackson and Eli. twin sister: Sam (passed away in 2012).

• Graduated in 2014 from Stanford University with a degree in Human Biology and a concentration in Human Performance and Behavior.

• Began gymnastics when she was 3 and was a tri-sport athlete in high school.

• Trains with the USA National Team.

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PERSONAL QUOTE

Invictus

“It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.” - William Ernest Henley

Most influential people in their life:

Liz Towne-Gilbert; Club coach, great person that has taught me a lot of life skills

Kerri Walsh; volleyball athlete, spreads light and happiness to everyone

Ron Wopat; father, humble and is a very caring person

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

• What has been the biggest struggle in your life?

• What can we do to get through these hard times?

• Share a moment that you feel you accomplished something that you have been trying to accomplish for so long.

• What are some non-negotiables you must do to stay on your journey?

• What are the most important things to do to be ready for your next matches?

KEY LESSONS

• The world is a beautiful place but there is also tragedy and loss

• After losing someone very close to you, get to decide how it changes you.

Four years ago, “my family experienced an unexpected suicide. My twin sister Sam had been struggling with depression. She was a beautiful person through and through. We did everything together growing up...losing her was devastating. Everything I knew came crumbling down and a huge piece of me was lost forever. It is a void that can never be filled and she can never be replaced. Accepting this is the most difficult thing; that things will never be as they were. You get to decide whether (in times like these) you cower from life and fight everything uselessly, or embrace it…and attempt to find your footing in life again.” CW @ 14:20

• Finding outlets for our emotions and ways to express ourselves is a major means to get through difficult times in our lives.

“I had a sculpture class that I could go in and just spend hours working on projects and building things; an outlet of self expression through art. I also wrote poetry, taught myself how to play guitar, got into photography. I have just learned how to express myself and get emotions and feelings out through different types of media.” CW @21:00

• There is strength in the people around you and in new ways to find outlets.

• Different mentors bring different things to the table. It is important to go about these mentor-mentee relationships with an open mind and receive advice without judgement.

• Dreams may seem impossible at the early stages of the pursuit, but keeping up the grind is the only way to achieve them.  

“One of my biggest dreams was to play on the national team and play professional volleyball. I would look up to these girls playing the highest level and try to imagine myself in their position. It seems so impossible when being so young. Just kept climbing the ladder.” CW @ 27:00

• Cross training and diversifying activities is a great way to increase mental and physical health.

• Recovery is crucial in performing at your peak

• Search for resources and people that are subject matter experts to learn about staying healthy.

ATHLETE'S TIP JAR

What is one insight you would give to athletes in your position?

“Do not let your performance define you. Even if volleyball is life (or any other sport), it can overtake your mind and everything you do. When we lose or don’t perform as good as we want, we feel bad. Just know that playing bad doesn’t mean you are a bad person! If you make a mistake don’t check yourself out. It is only a mistake in that moment. Don’t let your performance define you.” CW @ 48:00

What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Follow your passions. Don’t worry about going on the route society has set up for youth today. Everyone has opinions on how kids should transition and what the career path should be. Just because yours is different doesn’t mean it is wrong, it’s just your path.” CW @ 51:05

INFORMATION

Resources Mentioned:

The 4 Hour Workweek - Tim Ferris

The 4 Hour Body - Tim Ferris

The Model Health Show - Sean Stevenson

Invictus - Poem

Past/Current Teams:

Stanford University

RC Cannes Volley-Ball

Halkbank Bayan Voleybol Takimi

FOLLOW CARLY HERE:

Instagram | Twitter | Blog

Snapchat: carwo | Email: carwopat@gmail.com

DEFINITION OF BEYOND ATHLETIC?

“It means not just being an amazing athlete but (also) having skills, passions, and hobbies outside of athletics. It is really starting to grow, being beyond athletic. It is amazing to balance and juggle so many things. Being an athlete at this level is a big feat, but having other skills as well is amazing.” - CW

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3 Things I Learned In Italy, Switzerland & Turkey by Gabi KOEVA [blog]

3 Things I Learned In Italy, Switzerland & Turkey
by Gabi KOEVA

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“As I often like to remind myself - there are no good or bad experiences in life. They are all experiences from which we learn. Same rule apples for our sport lives. ”

— Gabriela "Gabi" KOEVA (CEV Cup Silver Medalist)

1. Switzerland (CH)

What did I know about CH before going there? Pretty much what everybody knows - it's the land of swiss chocolate, swiss watches and swiss banks! What I didn't realize is that Switzerland was the land of rules...a lot of rules I mean. In fact when I first went before the season to sign my contract and meet the president, he asked me one simple question: 

"How are you with following rules?". 
"I guess I'm good, I can follow rules..." - I said.
"Then you'll have no problem whatsoever in Switzerland!"

How to follow the rules is one of the most important things I've learned there. Being organized and disciplined, scheduling your time wisely and never, absolutely N-E-V-E-R permit yourself to be late for an appointment! Swiss tend to take it personally! They are very sensitive when considering time...and wasting it.

2. La Bella Italia... (ITA)
(lit. 'The beautiful Italy')

As Italians lie to refer to their lovely country is no doubt (or at least it was few years ago) the country of some of the strongest European club teams. Teams that merged experienced with young athletes on the court, playing side by side, leaded by some of the best coaches in the volleyball world. 

It was a great experience to get to be a part of Serie A1! The only thing that went bad that season was the fact that our team Riso Scotti Pavia struggled a lot and we finished the regular season second last with just two victories behind our backs. 

Even though season was difficult for the team I played really strong. I scored over 70-80% in attack almost every game and even finished a couple of matches with 100%. Every once in a while I meet some of the coaches from IT that year and they'd tell me "Wow it was an incredible season for you in Italy..."

So the most important thing I'd learned from my Italian experience? It was that even though "team comes before individual," it's still important to be able to focus on your own performance. Even when the team is doing bad, to be able to give your best, no matter the outcome! There will be always someone who notices that and it will probably open many doors for you in the future. 

3. Türkiye (TR)

Turkey...I fell in love with this (I'm here now!) country and most of all with the crazy, sleepless, colorful Istanbul! But let's talk about volleyball. 

The last few years the Turkish championship has been one of the strongest in the world alongside of Russia's and Brazil's. Turkish teams play many finals and win gold medals in (almost) every CEV and FIVB tournament during the past 4-5 years. So it's never easy to go out on the court, facing the best players in the world, not feeling like an underdog. 

But being the underdog has it's advantages and that's what I've learned here in Turkey. As long as you give your best on the court and fight for every ball, even when it seems impossible, no team can underestimate you for it only matters what's the result after the game. I am playing for the team of Besiktas JK and we have never been one of the top teams in the league but that didn't stop us from winning against the big teams of Galatasaray and Eczacibasi for example. 

Let me help you picture the situation of being an underdog with one other example where we made IT despite the odds and expectations of everyone else:

So it's season 2013-2014, the team of Besiktas didn't have the chance to play any European cup tournament, because previous season finished in 7th place after the regular season. The only chance we had was to compete and try to win the Balkan Cup and get a wild card for the CEV Challenge Cup. And we did it, we won! So there we were, last team to make it to Challenge Cup and guess what? We played final that year! It was a tough journey, we advanced 5 times by winning a golden set and we truly surprised everyone by making it to the final round.

Unfortunately, we lost that one against a Russian team, but the lesson we all learned was that no matter the expectations, no matter who's on the other side of the net - the court is still 18 m2  for both teams, the ball is round and at the end, if you never give up and your heart is big enough, you can beat the odds and prove everyone wrong!

Hugs, 
Gabi

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