Many athletes work their whole lives for a chance to compete in the Olympics. Thousands of hours go into training for an event that can last a few minutes. Some like Miachel Phelps find glory, while many more fall short of their dreams. Few know this journey better than Dave Durante. During his career, Dave put in the hard work and saw success and heartbreak at the highest level. He gives an incredible candid look into the process associated with the pursuit of greatness on the world stage. Dave is a multiple time USA gymnastics national champion and was part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team as an alternate. He helped coach Stanford University to an NCAA Team Title in 2009. He is also the co-owner of Power Monkey Fitness and Power Monkey Camp. In this episode we learn how Dave handled the lowest point of his career, when he was not selected to compete in the 2008 Olympics. We explore the day to day of a Team USA athlete before and during the games, what Dave has learned about being an elite athlete from being a coach, and how the future is looking for olympic sports like men’s gymnastics (Spoiler, it isn’t promising). Dave's Links: https://www.powermonkeycamp.com/ https://www.powermonkeyfitness.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydieYe5b0T4 https://www.instagram.com/davedurante/ https://www.instagram.com/powermonkeyfitness/ Exponential Athlete Socials Support the Pod on Patreon: https://patreon.com/ExponentialAthlete Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/athletexpodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/exponentialathlete/ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-exponential-athlete-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XmCCYsVVOVmRavFYT5b1C Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exponential-athlete/id1726985417 Website: https://exponentialathlete.co/ Affiliates: Track your health data with Whoop. Get 1 month free - join.whoop.com/exponentialathlete 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:00 Love of Gymnastics 00:05:26 Source of Motivation 00:08:48 The USA Gymnastics Journey 00:14:19 Dave's Olympic Experience 00:28:55 Getting Over Failures 00:37:43 Preparing for the Olympics 00:43:43 What is the life of an athlete like 00:50:17 Burning out 01:03:38 Transition to Coaching 01:15:35 Reflecting on his Approach 01:19:39 Lessons from other athletes 01:29:00 Powermonkey Fitness 01:38:34 Skill Develoment Progressions 01:53:42 The State of Men's Gymnastics

Bob Bowman, a legendary swimming coach famous for mentoring Michael Phelps and Leon Marchand, shares insights on training champions. He discusses the beautiful passing of the torch from Phelps to Marchand as records fall. The conversation dives into creating resilience and overcoming adversity in athletes. Bowman reveals the importance of a supportive coaching environment and long-term goal setting. He also touches on innovative methods like visualization and lactate testing that optimize performance. This is a must-listen for aspiring coaches and athletes alike!

CSM Lee Strong, a 27-year Army veteran and Green Beret, and SGM Chuy Almonte, an accomplished Army Special Operations veteran, discuss insights from military selection processes. They explore character traits that define great soldiers and athletes alike, emphasizing resilience and teamwork. The duo highlights the importance of mentorship, integrity, and self-awareness in high-pressure environments. They also draw parallels between military communication dynamics and sports, detailing how effective collaboration can enhance team performance.

To better understand what circadian rhythms mean to athletes, I interviewed Dr. Allison Brager. She is a neurobiologist that specializes in circadian rhythms, sleep, and behavioral genetics research. She is currently the Deputy Chief Science Officer at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School leading the Special Forces research into human performance. Dr. Brager is also an elite athlete herself. She was a professional crossfit team athlete and an 11x gay games gold medalist. Allison serves on the NCAA task force for Mental Health and Sleep and was a contributor to the NCAA student athlete mental health handbook. She is also the author of Meathead: Unraveling the athletic brain. In this episode, we touch on the purpose the circadian rhythm serves, the things that can disrupt it, and how we can help to regulate during travel and stressful situations. We also touch on how Dr. Brager turns her research into practice in her athletic pursuits. 00:00:00 Intro 00:04:34 Circadian Rhythms Basics 00:20:29 What Disrupts Circadian Rhythms 00:33:21 Pac 12 Move 00:39:16 Sleep Depravation vs Phase Shift 00:44:51 Behavioral Genetics 00:53:17 Tradeoffs for Athletes 01:00:43 Lactic Acid 01:06:11 Meathead Allison's Resources: https://www.instagram.com/docjockzzz/?hl=en Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire - https://qxmd.com/calculate/calculator_829/morningness-eveningness-questionnaire-meq https://humsci.stanford.edu/feature/sleep-experts-share-strategies-minimize-jet-lags-effects-college-athlete-performance-and Exponential Athlete Socials Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/athletexpodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/exponentialathlete/ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-exponential-athlete-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XmCCYsVVOVmRavFYT5b1C Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exponential-athlete/id1726985417 Website: https://exponentialathlete.co/ Affiliates: Track your health data with Whoop. Get 1 month free - join.whoop.com/exponentialathlete

During the peak of Michael Phelp’s career, he was sleeping 8-10 hours a night plus an additional nap during the day. Sleep was an integral part of his routine and recovery. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for all athletes. According to the NCAA, over half of college athletes report getting insufficient sleep. There are many things that make it hard for athletes to get proper sleep. Early morning practices, travel schedules, late night workouts, and anticipation of events can make it difficult to get the recommended 8 hours. So, what can athletes do to get the most out of vital human function? I talked to Dr. Michael Grandner to find out. Dr. Grandner is a licensed clinical psychologist and is the Director of Sleep and Health Research at the University of Arizona. He has served on both the Mental Health Task Force and Interassociation Taskforce for Sleep and Wellness for the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), the Mental Health consensus committee for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and works to help improve sleep and performance in professional and non-professional athletes. In this episode we go deep into the sleep needs of athletes, what role sleep plays in performance and recovery, how athletes can manage sleep during difficult training and competition schedules, the tools and protocols for getting a great night's sleep every night, the role of dreams, and how sleep is related to mental health. 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:20 What Should Athletes Know About Sleep? 00:07:02 What Systems Does Sleep Impact 00:19:48 Sleep Disorders 00:25:55 Pain and Sleep 00:34:12 What is Bad for Sleep? 00:46:23 Irregular Sleep Cycles 00:53:43 Naps 00:59:01 Survivorship Bias of Sleep Deprived 01:06:13 Naps Deeper Dive 01:10:17 Supplementation for Sleep 00:16:27 Behavioral Strategies for Sleep 01:35:05 Devices in Bed 01:45:13 Drugs and Sleep 01:57:28 Sleep Tracking Devices 02:13:23 Sleep and Injuries 02:25:47 Dreams 02:33:28 Sleep and Mental Health Resources: - sleephealthscreen.com - sleepeducation.com - behavioralsleep.org - cbti.directory Exponential Athlete Socials Twitter: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/athletexpodcast Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/exponentialathlete/ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-exponential-athlete-podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4XmCCYsVVOVmRavFYT5b1C Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-exponential-athlete/id1726985417 Website: https://exponentialathlete.co/ Affiliates: Track your health data with Whoop. Get 1 month free - join.whoop.com/exponentialathlete

Michael Phelps, the legendary swimmer with the most Olympic medals, shares his heartfelt insights on the mental health struggles in elite sports. He discusses the pivotal role of coaches in an athlete's life, like his own mentor Bob Bowman, emphasizing trust and open communication. Phelps dives into the unique mental health challenges athletes face, from ADHD to the pressures of competition and retirement. He advocates for greater awareness and support in sports culture, highlighting the importance of sharing success stories and proactive mental health strategies.

Michael Phelps, the most decorated swimmer in history, and his longtime coach Bob Bowman delve into the profound impact of coaching on athlete success. They discuss how a strong coach-athlete bond fosters trust, motivation, and resilience. Key topics include long-term planning for competitions, the role of adversity in growth, and the importance of clear communication. The pair also reflect on how coaching extends beyond technical training to encompass emotional support, goal-setting, and navigating challenges like injury.

Bob Bowman, a renowned swim coach, and Michael Phelps, one of the greatest Olympic swimmers, delve into the innovative coaching methods that led to unparalleled success. They discuss the importance of structured training, a compelling vision, and an all-in mindset. Adversity training is highlighted as crucial for building resilience. The duo emphasizes embracing calculated risks and re-igniting motivation, showcasing how personalized training and strong fundamentals can transform ordinary athletes into champions.

In this engaging discussion, Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian, shares insights from his monumental swimming career. He emphasizes the importance of goal setting, visualization, and mental toughness in achieving greatness. Phelps highlights his intense dedication and innovative training strategies, including data analysis and psychological preparation. He also dives into the motivation derived from adversity, revealing how setbacks fueled his drive. A captivating exploration of what made him a swimming legend!

Former top-ranked tennis player Lauren Embree discusses the challenges athletes face on the road, the impact of stress and nutrition on performance, and transitioning from player to coach. She emphasizes the importance of support systems, effective coaching, and personalized nutrition for optimal health.