In this week’s Episode of the Podcast, Carl sits down with his friend Caroline Burckle – Olympic Swimmer and Co-Founder of Rise Athletes.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE

Caroline is not only a top level swimmer who stood on the podium with a bronze medal around her neck at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Caroline is someone who understands performance beyond the physical. Caroline gets it when it comes to developing the mental and emotional side of performance as well.

In this conversation Caroline shares how at a young age she went from feeling like anything was possible to being overcome with a cloud of expectations when realizing the hard road she had ahead of herself to get to the Olympics. Caroline discusses how she dealt with this feeling and was able to eliminate all distractions to keep herself on the path.

Caroline also shares what it was like making it to the Olympics, spending time in the Olympic village, and how she met Usain Bolt 3 days prior to him making history. She also shares what she felt standing on the podium after dedicating every moment of her life leading up to that day to swimming. 

If I knew what I was doing, I’d tell you. I don’t. Sometimes I pretend I am swimming. I’m just doing what feels natural and free.

Caroline Burckle

Carl and Caroline discuss her transition from swimming to focusing on school, where after going through a dark period of time she had a breakthrough one day when she got together with her fellow Olympic swimmer Rebecca Soni. Burckle and Soni discussed how hard it was to retire and acknowledged the importance of having mentorship as a young athlete so one can develop a mindset that can transcend their sport and carry over to all aspects of life, which became the inception of Rise Athletes – A company dedicated to developing the Athlete Mindset with an Olympian mentor.

Caroline also shares how growing up, although she was in great shape, she struggled with body image, relationships, and later in life became plagued with injuries that were caused by trauma she had been holding onto for years but was able to finally release and find healing.

Caroline is now operating at a whole new level which she shares in this episode and how she is expressing it through her work at RISE, her physical practice, and her passion for design.

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