S1E46 - 17 Scars That Paved the Way to Tokyo with Taekwondo Olympian Victoria Stambaugh

06/02/21 • 72 min

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Joining Laura on the podcast today is Olympic Taekwondo athlete, Victoria Stambaugh. The daughter of a professional boxer, Victoria took to Taekwondo at an early age, made the US National Team in her teens, eventually joined the Puerto Rico National Team, and has since qualified to compete for Puerto Rico at the upcoming Tokyo Games. Having suffered a number of injuries and resulting surgeries over her career, Victoria has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and, through her faith in Christ, has persevered to achieve her dream of becoming an Olympian. In today’s conversation, she not only shares her inspirational story, but also turns the tables to pick Laura’s brain for some of her sage advice as well. As with all guests, Victoria begins by sharing how she found her way to her chosen sport, and then she goes on to relate the story of her career to date. Starting with how she made the US National Team, Victoria proceeds to recount her battles with injuries over the years, how they have affected both her career and her emotional state, her transition to the Puerto Rico National Team, and how qualifying for the Olympics works in her sport. She also delves deeply into the role that her faith has played in her life and career, the impact of handing control over to God, her 17 scars and what they mean to her, and her work with Master Bang in preparing for Tokyo. Victoria concludes the episode by questioning Laura on her Olympic experiences and advice, and the role that her faith has played in her life and career. As you will hear, Victoria and Laura are very much kindred spirits whose personal, professional, and spiritual lives resonate considerably with each other, and also offer valuable lessons for all listeners here today.

Episode Highlights:

Victoria’s sports history and how she got into Taekwondo
Making the US National Team
How Taekwondo athletes are selected for the Olympics
Her knee injuries and surgeries
How Victoria’s faith has helped her
Her story of not qualifying for Rio and focusing on Tokyo
The times when God spoke directly to her heart
Transitioning from the US to the Puerto Rican Team
How Olympic qualifying works for Taekwondo and diving
Her knee injuries and surgeries while preparing for Tokyo
Handing control over to God
Qualifying for Tokyo
Her 17 scars and what they mean to her
Master Bang
Victoria and her fiance’s Taekwondo and Parkour studio
Laura’s best advice for someone competing at their first Olympics
What’s different for Laura now
Laura’s thoughts during the finals for her gold
How Laura’s faith has helped her throughout her career
Laura’s biggest goal when competing at the Olympics
Her upcoming trials
Laura’s thoughts on not being able to have family at the Tokyo Olympics

Quotes:

“When I saw Jackie Chan, Jet Li, I was like, ‘I want to be these guys’.”
“For the Olympics, only two weight categories can qualify, female and male, per country.”
“Deep down inside, I knew that my knee was never the same.”
“I know God put the right person at the right time that I needed to hear those words, ‘not to quit’ and to ‘come back’.”
“That started the process of three knee surgeries within a period of six months.”
“What I picture is kind of like God just wrapping His arms around me and giving me a hug. And at that moment, I was able to continue on and it was actually just the very next day where I was like, ‘Okay, I'm going to go for Tokyo’.”
“He had to take out the rest of the meniscus...in my mind, I was like, ‘You just took my whole career away from me’.”
“And then, sure enough, God always sends the right message, the right person, at the right time.”
“God has seen your tears and, and He's with you. Don't give up, keep going.”
“I was done emotionally, mentally, you know, physically, spiritually. I was just drained. And that's when I just released total control to Christ and let him handle it.”
“Christ was my confidence...and I qualified for the Olympics.”
“A reminder of everything I've been through and everything God has brought me out of. And what better reminder, really? It's basically tattooed on my body.”
“People get so lost in the aura and the bigness and the pressure of the Olympic Games. But, just, you’ve got to be able to let that go.”
“That's for Him to use this for my good and for His glory.”
“You don't have to have the lead if you have the heart to come from behind.”
“I've had a lot of big dreams that I've fallen very short of, but, in that moment, I was living it. And to me that was one of the greatest things that I got to take away.”
“Now I do want to boast about my weaknesses, because that's the chanc...

Episode Highlights:

Victoria’s sports history and how she got into Taekwondo
Making the US National Team
How Taekwondo athletes are selected for the Olympics
Her knee injuries and surgeries
How Victoria’s faith has helped her
Her story of not qualifying for Rio and focusing on Tokyo
The times when God spoke directly to her heart
Transitioning from the US to the Puerto Rican Team
How Olympic qualifying works for Taekwondo and diving
Her knee injuries and surgeries while preparing for Tokyo
Handing control over to God
Qualifying for Tokyo
Her 17 scars and what they mean to her
Master Bang
Victoria and her fiance’s Taekwondo and Parkour studio
Laura’s best advice for someone competing at their first Olympics
What’s different for Laura now
Laura’s thoughts during the finals for her gold
How Laura’s faith has helped her throughout her career
Laura’s biggest goal when competing at the Olympics
Her upcoming trials
Laura’s thoughts on not being able to have family at the Tokyo Olympics

Quotes:

“When I saw Jackie Chan, Jet Li, I was like, ‘I want to be these guys’.”
“For the Olympics, only two weight categories can qualify, female and male, per country.”
“Deep down inside, I knew that my knee was never the same.”
“I know God put the right person at the right time that I needed to hear those words, ‘not to quit’ and to ‘come back’.”
“That started the process of three knee surgeries within a period of six months.”
“What I picture is kind of like God just wrapping His arms around me and giving me a hug. And at that moment, I was able to continue on and it was actually just the very next day where I was like, ‘Okay, I'm going to go for Tokyo’.”
“He had to take out the rest of the meniscus...in my mind, I was like, ‘You just took my whole career away from me’.”
“And then, sure enough, God always sends the right message, the right person, at the right time.”
“God has seen your tears and, and He's with you. Don't give up, keep going.”
“I was done emotionally, mentally, you know, physically, spiritually. I was just drained. And that's when I just released total control to Christ and let him handle it.”
“Christ was my confidence...and I qualified for the Olympics.”
“A reminder of everything I've been through and everything God has brought me out of. And what better reminder, really? It's basically tattooed on my body.”
“People get so lost in the aura and the bigness and the pressure of the Olympic Games. But, just, you’ve got to be able to let that go.”
“That's for Him to use this for my good and for His glory.”
“You don't have to have the lead if you have the heart to come from behind.”
“I've had a lot of big dreams that I've fallen very short of, but, in that moment, I was living it. And to me that was one of the greatest things that I got to take away.”
“Now I do want to boast about my weaknesses, because that's the chanc...

Previous Episode

S1E45 - Ministry and Competition with Our Host, Laura Wilkinson, and Power Up Sports Ministry

Today’s episode is a little different in that Laura is actually a guest on another podcast, and is interviewed by veteran broadcaster, Bill Houston and former LPGA Pro, Tracy Hanson, from the Power Up Sports Ministry, an outreach of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Listeners may remember Tracy as a guest on Episode 20 of Pursuit of Gold where she very vulnerably opened up about recognizing and overcoming abuse. As you will hear, this week’s episode is an extra special one for Laura as she shares so much that is close to her heart, but that she doesn’t always get a chance to discuss in other arenas. She begins by briefly reviewing her personal and professional lives, and then delves deeply into her spiritual journey, including a moving account of the moment her life changed and she started fully trusting God with it. She also describes how she brings her faith into her competitions, the impact that the Tokyo Games postponement has had upon her and her training, her experience of returning to diving after neck surgery, and how she approaches sharing her faith with others. Laura concludes by offering her perspective on ministering to other athletes, as well as details regarding her wonderful family, and what she has learned about herself in her quest to return to the Olympics. Laura truly loves ‘just being able to be open and honest about Jesus and sports’, and that is precisely what she does today in this enlightening and thoroughly inspiring interview.

Episode Highlights:

A brief history of Laura’s personal and professional lives
Laura’s spiritual journey and the moment her life began to change
Trusting God with her life
Taking her faith into her competitions
The impact of the Olympic postponement on Laura
Returning to diving after her neck surgery
Sharing her faith with others
Her perspective on ministering to other athletes
Laura’s family
What Laura has learned about herself

Quotes:

“I was told I was a waste of space... fortunately for me, it lit a fire.”
“I had reached out and I kind of realized that I had taken the reins of my life and I'd made a mess of things, but I was reaching back out for God.”
“I just remember thinking that God was saying, “Look, when you trust Me with your life, I have plans for you. I have a purpose for you.”
“You are probably impacting people's lives all over the place and you don't always see the fruit of that. But you've got to know when you're trusting God and you're doing what He's asking you to do, like, waves will be made, seeds will be planted, you know, and the harvest will come.”
“I was much better at staying in the moment because of Him, because I was focused on Him.”
“God always gives you these challenges that you're like, ‘No, I don't want to go through this’, but he uses those to equip us in ways that we can't even fathom to help us for something bigger that’s coming ahead.”
“You have to be able to meet people where they are and talk to them where they're at.”
“I think for athletes just constantly, constantly reminding them that, like, you are not the sum total of your score or your place at the end of the competition. Like, you are far more valuable than that. And if you get injured and you can't go on tomorrow, you still have value and purpose and you were created for that purpose.”
“I've gotten really good at juggling, and I have an amazing husband who is very supportive. Without him, I mean, honestly, none of this would have happened.”
“The older I get, the more I realize I don't know.”
“Having kids, they kind of make you really not eat your words, but live up to your words.”
“I think athletes and sports ministry leaders alike can learn from what you're putting out there with the guests that you're having.”

Links: The Pursuit of Gold homepage 5 Smart Strategies to Confidence Conquer Your Fear in 5 Days Laura’s Social Media: Laura's Instagram Laura's Facebook page Tracy Hanson's Pursuit of Gold Episode Power Up Podcast Power Up Facebook

Next Episode

S1E47 - An Unstoppable Drive with Our Host, Laura Wilkinson, on the Jedburgh Podcast

Once again this week, things are a little bit different as today’s episode features Laura being interviewed by former Special Forces Green Beret, Fran Racioppi, on ‘The Jedburgh Podcast’. Touted as ‘a conversation with prominent visionaries, drivers of change, and those dedicated to winning’, this podcast is a natural and timely fit for Laura, as she participates in the Olympic Trials this week and next in her bid to compete in her fourth Olympic Games. Be sure to tune into the Olympic Channel and NBC and join Fran in cheering her on in her attempt, and enjoy this interview here today which outlines precisely just what it takes to reach similar success in your own life. Laura and Fran begin by looking at what it takes to reach elite levels, and then discuss Laura’s career from her start in high school to present day. Along the way, they explore her perspective on failure and fear, the need to take ownership of your performance, her Sydney Olympics experience, and her Dream Chaser philosophy. They also delve into Laura’s neck surgery and recovery, her preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, and her take on finding balance in life and achieving longevity in sports. The interview concludes with her thoughts on channeling the pressure of the moment, ‘The Pursuit of Gold’, the 3 things she does every day, and the elite performance characteristic that Laura most exemplifies – drive. As Laura heads into the Trials which will determine her immediate Olympic future, today’s sweeping examination of the many components which have brought her to this moment could not be more relevant – listen in and prepare to be inspired.

Episode Highlights:

What it takes to reach elite levels
Laura’s high school diving experience and her ‘call to action’
Her perspective on failure
Taking ownership of your performance
Laura’s performance at the Sydney Olympics, the events leading up to it, and the pep talk she gave herself
Dream Chaser
Her neck surgery and recovery
Laura’s thoughts on fear and moving past it
Preparing to qualify for Tokyo
Dealing with the ‘uncontrollables’
Her thought on finding balance in her life
Achieving longevity in sports
Channeling the pressure of the moment
Her ‘Pursuit of Gold’ podcast
Laura’s next couple months
The 3 things Laura does every day to be successful
The elite performance characteristic that Laura most exemplifies

Quotes:

“Faith and determination separate the good from the great.”
“Just because somebody tells you you can't, doesn't mean it's true.”
“Failure is part of success. And the concrete actions that you take from the moment you accept that you failed are what defines you as a leader and as an elite performer.”
“I'm not afraid to look like a fool.”
“When we talk about the development of elite talent, there's a requirement to be humble and show humility.”
“How can I become better? How can I fix that? How can I move forward?”
“It doesn't matter how old you are, doesn't matter what station you have in life, you can really make a difference for somebody just by being there for them.”
“This pressure that you felt became a power.”
“I realized that there were so many people that probably would never have the opportunity that I was in at that moment.”
“The task ahead of you is never greater than the power behind you.”
“I absolutely loved it, because it wasn't about me in that moment...it was about something so much bigger.”
“So it's about the pursuit, it's about the hunt. It's about who you become. And I think that's what I really mean by Dream Chaser.”
“You have to have this done just to be a mom because if you trip down the stairs, if you have a small car accident, like, that could lead to a quadriplegic.”
“A lot of times we're scared of the unknown...fear is a lot of times a liar.”
“To wholly stay in the moment is really the biggest key...and you have to practice that in practice.”
“I think really breaking my foot back then was such a gift because it gave me that opportunity to focus on visualization, to go through so many competition scenarios in my mind with so many different athletes.”
“Adversity makes you stronger.”
“The challenge in front of you sometimes becomes the blessing that you needed.”
“I have learned this last year is that I can just tear my plans up, throw them out the window, because I’ve got to roll with it. And I'm not good at that.”
“I think one of the best things COVID taught me was that I need to have my kids be part of what I'm doing.”
“They saw the sweat, they saw the tears, they saw the frustration, they saw how many times a day I was having to do this stuff and how hard I was working, all just hoping t...