Hurdle with Emily Abbate

At the gym this week, had myself a lesson in not being so hard on myself and appreciating the journey. Plus: Answering a listener question about what to do when you inevitably fall off of your New Year's Resolutions. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you transition from the world’s most promising talent to a triple Olympic gold medalist while balancing a Master’s? For Gabby Thomas, the path to Paris was paved with a refined commitment to her own longevity. After the intense physical toll of the Tokyo cycle and the subsequent seasons of high-stakes racing, Gabby opens up about the essential "choice to choose me"—the deliberate decision to prioritize her health, recovery, and mental wellness over the external pressure to constantly perform. This shift wasn't just about physical rest; it was about building a sustainable foundation that allowed her to walk onto the track in Paris with a sense of calm that only comes from knowing your "why." That intentionality resulted in a career-defining performance in 2024. Thomas cemented her status as the fastest woman in the world over 200 meters, taking home the individual gold in Paris along with two additional gold medals as a dominant force in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. On this week's episode, we dive into how she manages the "mental load" of being a champion, the data-driven approach she takes to her health, and why her purpose in public health remains the north star for everything she does on the track. IN THIS EPISODE The emotional high of winning individual gold in Paris Juggling Ivy League academics with elite track and field training Why she pursued a Master’s in public health and how it shapes her worldview Her "I’m choosing me first" mantra regarding health and recovery The evolution of her mental toolkit and handling Olympic-level pressure Her partnership with Amazfit and the role of data in her wellness routine Looking ahead: Goals and dreams for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics QUOTABLE MOMENTS On Purpose and Perspective "It’s bigger than me. It’s about my purpose and what I want to show the younger generation." "Success is not defined by the speed at which you reach your goals." On Mental Health and Longevity "I'm choosing me first. Health and longevity beat pressure and headlines every time." "If you get caught up in needing to prove you belong, you've already lost the plot." On Resilience "Setbacks and rejections are all part of the journey and present valuable learning opportunities." "My bronze in Tokyo was a testament to resilience after a year of personal setbacks." SOCIAL@gabbythomas@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show.  Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's about strength for me in 2026, HBU? Also: Answering a listener question about my credentials for doing a closet purge, and how to choose what stays and what goes.  SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When world champion heptathlete Anna Hall broke her foot in 2021, she thought her career might be over at just 20 years old. Today, she's a world champion, an Olympian, and a redefined athlete who understands that success isn't just about the gold medal—it’s about the grit it takes to get there. In today’s conversation, Anna opens up about the "good busy" season of life she’s currently navigating, from intense training sessions to wedding planning. She reflects on the heartbreak of the Paris Olympics and the subsequent journey of returning to the track with a refreshed perspective. We dive deep into her mental toolkit, including her specific journaling process, how she compartmentalizes challenges during a multi-event competition, and the vital role that nutrition and her dog, Cross, play in her wellness routine. IN THIS EPISODE How Anna navigated the disappointment of the Paris Olympics The "good busy" of wedding planning alongside pro-athlete training Her specific "good things only" track journaling process The role of nutrition and her partnership with Nulo How to compartmentalize during a multi-event competition like the heptathlon Learning to be uncomfortable in order to grow The influence of icons like Jackie Joyner-Kersee on her career QUOTABLE MOMENTS On Resilience and Disappointment "I’ve been really low before; I’ve wanted to quit the sport before. That was temporary. So now I have that perspective where I can zoom out a little bit." "You think, 'Oh, my whole life will change when I get the gold medal.' And it really doesn't. You're still you." On the Mental Game "In my track journal, I only write down good things. I only write down things I want to remember, do again, or feel." "I feel like I write my mindset for track day into existence the night before." On Growth and Grit "You need to be uncomfortable to grow. That’s what all of training is." "No matter what is going on in my life, off the track, on the track, no matter what injury, it’s like I always just come back to the work." [email protected]@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports CHECK OUTAnna's sponsor, Nulo JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show.  Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we wrap up the holiday season and look toward the new year, Emily's reflecting on the beauty of long-standing traditions. Now's as good of a time as any to take inventory of your life and consider what new traditions you want to establish moving forward. She also answers a listener question about the fears of solo travel, sharing her top safety tips for women exploring the world on their own. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.