Erik Vendt, 3x USA Swimming Olympian

Erik Vendt (0:00)

I had an undying desire to reach the Olympics. It was, for me, that was what it came down to, is that I wanted to be an Olympian, and I wanted to win a gold medal. And I was willing to do whatever it took to get there. And like I said, even from when I was a young kid, I found a lot of strength in pushing myself past the limits.

So I think both of those combined gave me the ability to push day in and day out.

Michael Gervais (0:36)

All right, welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery Podcast. I'm Michael Gervais. I'm still Michael Gervais, that hasn't changed.

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Now, this week's conversation is with Erik Vendt, three-time Olympian, he's a swimmer, and he's currently the Director of Performance for WHOOP.

He won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and in 2004, he did the same thing, both in the 400-meter individual medley. Two silvers across two Olympics. And then he came back in the 2008 Games and Erik won a gold medal as a member of the US 4x200-meter freestyle relay team. What a career. I mean, legitimate career.

Three Olympics, three medals, unbelievable. And this is a fantastic conversation that shines light on many of the core themes that have emerged from the Finding Mastery conversations that we've been in.