EP 17: Olympic Gymnastics Team Member and Olympic Trials Judge Kristie Phillips

“Leave it on the floor. No regrets.” Continuing with Olympic month, host John Corella welcomes Kristie Phillips, 1988 Olympic team member, former national champion, winner of the American Cup to the Dance Dad podcast—and his inner child is screaming. For all of her career achievements thus far, Kristie exemplifies that unlimited opportunities lay ahead—opportunities to learn new things, embrace new experiences and, in turn, provide new opportunities for other people. Today she discusses how she helped to change the sport of gymnastics as an athlete, and later as an athlete representative and an elite judge.

 

As much as Kristie has won, she also knows what it means to fail—and to be made to feel insignificant as a result. Failure is part of the process and we must know how to deal with it, while remembering that we are enough just as we are. Citing Simone Biles as an example, Kristie and John discuss the changing attitudes toward the health and well-being of athletes in competition, and the importance of inclusivity at all levels, and why gymnastics is the best preparation for life. 

 

Join today’s discussion to hear Kristie talk about her relationship to legendary gymnast coaching duo the Karolyis, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated making a gymnastics comeback ‘late in life,’ and taking up ballroom dancing for the first time. 

 

Quotes

• “To me it’s kind of the mother of all sports. It embodies grace, power, discipline, perseverance, self-motivation. It’s just every life lesson that you’re going to need in your life, you will experience in the sport of gymnastics at a high level of competition.” (13:23 | Kristie Phillips) 
• “Everybody’s enough. You’re born enough. And I think as society, we’re so judgmental, and we’re so quick to tear someone down and I wish we could get back into building people up.” (16:15 | Kristie Phillips)
• “I just enjoyed being out there and performing and making people happy and touching lives. Inspiring people. That’s what I love to do…I love providing for people opportunities—probably my kids would say I like to do that too much—but I just truly enjoy giving to other people and helping them on their journey.” (34:34 | Kristie Phillips) 
• “I see the big picture now. I think I’ve kind of lived my life with blinders on and kept doing what’s next—what’s next—what’s next and so I’m starting to really enjoy the process and really starting to appreciate the opportunities that life has given me.” (1:01:32 | Kristie Phillips) 
• “Once you’re there, leave it all on the floor. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t hold back. Don’t try to save it. Go for it. Go big or go home. And enjoy giving it your all. If you win, you win; if you don’t, you don’t, but there will be no regrets. Leave it on the floor. Put it all out there and enjoy every minute of it.” (1:03:47 | Kristie Phillips) 

 

Links

Connect with Kristie Phillips:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristie_phillips_kpac/

Website: www.kpacgym.com

 

Dance Dad with John Corella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancedadwithjohncorella/

John on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_corella/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm