#56 - Rosie Wild - Get Excited by Things You’ll Probably Fail At

Today’s episode is a fascinating conversation with a remarkable woman: Major Rosie Wild. Rosie is a British Army Officer and Professional Athlete who, following major injuries and a knee operation, went on to win the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst—the first woman to do so since men and women were integrated into the same platoons.

In 2020, Rosie became the first woman in history to pass the Pre-Parachute Selection Course (P Company), qualifying to serve in the airborne forces at 16 Air Assault Brigade, where she deployed on numerous operations, including the evacuation of personnel from Kabul.

Rosie is an accomplished and competitive triathlete. After she came 15th in the London Marathon and 2nd at Ironman Copenhagen, the British Army began supporting her in training and racing as a Professional Triathlete. In September 2024, Rosie competed in the Ironman World Championships, where, out of a field of almost 1,400, she placed 30th.

In our conversation, Rosie shares:

- Why she isn’t lit up by goals
- How she uses complacency
- And why winning has become all about being willing to lose.

 

Outline 📍
00:00 Intro
02:28 Are you a pressure seeker?
04:47 Taking a year out to train with elite athletes
08:46 Overcoming the fear of big challenges and seizing opportunities
14:47 Defining success and understanding how it's measured
17:55 Turning pressure into an energising force through daily practices
22:20 Insight 1: Lessons learned
25:20 What is it like to be a woman in the army in terms of pressure?
33:45 Building internal belief and reducing reliance on external validation under pressure
39:36 Insight 2: Lessons learned
41:06 Bridging the gap between excellence and genius by embracing risk
50:35 Prioritising rest, recovery, and nutrition to handle pressure and perform at your best
54:50 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?