92. Paving Your Own Path with 2x Olympic Skier Tricia Mangan

In this week’s captivating episode of The Pursuit of Gold, Laura welcomes the truly remarkable Tricia Mangan, a trailblazing skier who defied conventional norms to ascend to the pinnacle of her sport. As a two time Olympian, the 2023 US. National champion, six time North American Cup title winner, NCAA All American and All Academic Team member, and recent Dartmouth College Mechanical Engineering graduate, Tricia's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams regardless of challenges encountered. Today’s episode immerses listeners in the multi-faceted world of athletic excellence, exploring the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual tools that empower athletes like Tricia to achieve greatness.

As you will hear, Tricia’s journey to the Olympics was nothing short of extraordinary. Initially an alternate, she received a last-minute call to join the Olympic team and faced the whirlwind of preparations. The episode highlights her emotions and experiences during this roller-coaster ride, from the excitement of Olympic swag shopping to dealing with self-imposed pressure and doubt. As you dive into this episode, you will gain invaluable insights into Tricia's underdog mindset, her meteoric rise to becoming a two-time Olympian and 2023 US National champion, and her tireless dedication to inspiring the next generation of athletes to relentlessly pursue their dreams. Throughout their conversation, Tricia and Laura also shed light on the inspiring connection between Tricia and her brother (and guest on The Pursuit of Gold Episode 84), para rower Andrew Mangan. Tricia’s incredible journey, as shared here today, serves as a shining example of relentless commitment and the drive to succeed, reaffirming that even amidst the most formidable challenges, athletes can evolve, learn, and continue to pave their own path in their pursuit of gold.

Episode Highlights:

Insights into the tight-knit Mangan family
Tricia's passion for skiing and soccer
The underdog mindset driving Tricia's journey to success
Balancing student-athlete life at Dartmouth College while chasing skiing dreams
Tricia's triumphant return to the US Ski Team
Her Olympic journey
Valuable lessons on process-oriented goal setting
Finding victories in every experience
The mental aspects of competition, handling pressure, and embracing challenges

Quotes:

"I knew that my path made me an underdog, but it was that very mindset that fueled my passion for always improving on and off the hill."

"My twin brother and I were six when we started ski racing. I just loved it because all of our friends did it, kind of the cool kids at the club did it."

"Growing up, I always knew that there were so many better girls out there, so I truly just focused on myself."

"I've learned the most about myself, and I still feel it's just a never-ending challenge."

"Everyone has their own lived experiences, and there's nothing wrong with feeling bad about a race. Like, you put a ton of work into that."

"I just feel so thankful and grateful for all the support I've received, and the most special moments are definitely for me being able to give back and share my journey."

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