E!: Your gold medal skate nonetheless brings tears to my eyes. What do you keep in mind about that point?
TL: Undoubtedly these Olympic performances go to the highest of the checklist. It was only a surreal second. For me to have the ability to go to these Olympics, I used to be the reigning world champion however I had only a month earlier than I misplaced my title at Nationals and for me, there was a number of uncertainty and a lot stress additionally for somebody who was simply 15 and actually didn’t understand how or what to anticipate exhibiting up at my first Olympics. To exit and skate the way in which that I did, which was the way in which that I educated, that’s how each skater hopes to carry out. I keep in mind my leg shaking as they referred to as my identify and that had by no means occurred earlier than. I assumed, “Oh, what do I do now? I want them!” However to then be capable to skate the way in which that I did, I’ll at all times keep in mind not a lot successful, however the second the music ended and I used to be working throughout the ice, simply the aid that I felt, the enjoyment that I felt to skate properly and have exhibiting however do it in entrance of hundreds of thousands of individuals at an Olympic Video games.
E!: You had been so younger and simply 15 whenever you competed on the Olympics. You talked about there was a lot stress. In what methods do you assume that athletes can greatest defend their psychological well being whereas competing?
TL: I believe that’s what Simone Biles delivered to gentle. I believe a number of athletes, particularly once I competed, didn’t know we had a selection. That’s the nice factor that Simone did and I believe sooner or later. you hope that athletes will be capable to communicate up for themselves to make it possible for their emotions and their ideas are being heard. If there’s an excessive amount of stress or too many expectations on them, then they should make the suitable decisions for his or her psychological well being. I believe that your workforce that surrounds you must be actually conscious of this. They’re those that know you greatest and I believe there needs to be a continuing dialog that you simply’re checking in together with your athletes to not solely see how properly they’re bodily performing or in the event that they’re harm or repairing accidents, but in addition don’t overlook in regards to the psychological side of it and the way necessary psychological well being is.
Supply: Eonline
