Unspoken Bravery

How do you maximize the value of what’s available to you?Today, I’m talking to a Canadian Salom skier and 2014 Sochi Winter Olympian, Elli Terwiel. She was the first Canadian Women's National team member to simultaneously attend university while still competing on the World Cup circuit. Today, Elli is a Professional Civil Engineer in the state of California and has a Masters's degree in, Management in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.The true greatness of an athlete isn’t brought out when everything is working out perfectly for them. Many times challenging situations such as injuries and mental struggles can propel determined athletes to push past their limits and deliver great performances. For the best athletes, it's not about what’s not working out; it's about maximizing the value of what's available.Tune in and listen to episode 11 of season 2 of Unspoken Bravery. Elli and I discuss some of our memorable experiences as teammates. Elli also shares the importance of teammates to an athlete, especially when they are going through a difficult time. Additionally, we discuss what it takes to participate in the Olympics and the challenges that follow if you don’t get a podium position.In this episode, you will learn:Elli breaks down her skiing career (01:05)Elli explains the importance of teammates (08:20)How retirement from a sport affects athletes (18:12)Elli describes her financial struggle during her skiing career (29:53)What it takes to be in the Olympics and the challenges that come with it (38:20)Connect with Elli Terwiel: FacebookInstagramLinkedInLet’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com

How do you get the best out of very talented athletes?Today, I’m talking to the head coach of the Norwegian women’s World Cup team, Tim Gfeller. Before that, he coached the Canadian women’s World Cup team for eight years, from 2006-2014. During that time, he coached me for six years and played a key role in my development as a professional skier.Getting the best out of talented athletes in a team is a complicated task that takes time and a lot of planning. You must strike the perfect balance between fostering a competitive spirit in each individual and ensuring team members embrace teamwork. At the same time, you must create an environment that allows athletes to be authentic and true to their identity.Tune in and listen to episode 10 of season 2 of Unspoken Bravery. Coach Tim and I discuss his coaching journey and his experience coaching me. We also discuss his six guiding principles and why they are important to a team’s success.In this episode, you will learn:Coach Tim explains how a culture is built (03:42)The importance of creating a fun environment for the athletes (12:03)Coach Tim shares how he deals with athletes' feedback (16:11)Tim shares the difference between coaching Canadians and Norwegians (39:48)Tim shares what he’s most proud of as a coach (43:07)Connect with Tim Gfeller: LinkedInLet’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com

Sometimes we talk so much about our accomplishments that it makes our lives seem perfect. Our struggles and setbacks, which shape who we are and lead us to those victorious moments, are forgotten.I assure you that the road to those podium moments is paved with disappointments and small accomplishments that are often forgotten. Successfully navigating it requires a mindset that embraces learning from failure and being grounded when succeeding.Tune in and listen to episode seven of season 2 of Unspoken Bravery.  In this solo episode, I read a speech I gave at the Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show. You’ll hear some of the lessons that I learnt over my skiing career. You’ll also hear about what inspires me to encourage girls to get into sports.In this episode, you will learn:Why the journey is so important (00:20)What I learnt about performing while nervous (06:35)How I learnt to celebrate small successes (08:12)Why I’m passionate about getting girls into sports (16:12)Let’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com

Why is bobsledding so complex?Today, I’m talking to one of the best bobsleigh drivers and a four-time Olympian, Christopher Spring. He stood on the top step of the World Cup podium two times, finished up the 2018 season ranked third overall in the standings, and placed fifth in the two-man race at the Sochi Olympics. Chris has also had multiple other podiums throughout his career.Remaining competitive in a team sport for years requires one to gain and retain the trust of their teammates. This is only possible if you are working hard and consistently delivering good results at the highest possible level.Tune in and listen to episode 5 of season 8 of Unspoken Bravery. Chris and I discuss what bobsledding entails and what it takes to become a good bobsleigh driver. He also shares about his 2012 crash, the mental burden that came with it, and what encouraged him to keep competing.In this episode, you will learn:Chris explains what the three bobsleigh disciplines entail (04:30)What makes Chris a good bobsleigh pilot (11:07)Why most athletes feel stressed before races (20:01)Chris shares about his 2012 crash (23:59)The benefits of doing other things outside of sports (38:09)Why a simplistic mind is important to Chris (41:10)Connect with Christopher Spring: InstagramLet’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com

What keeps athletes going even after devastating injuries?Today, I’m talking to a Canadian World Cup Alpine ski racer, Broderick Thompson. He earned his first career World Cup podium in December 2021 when he finished third in the super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado. He had come out of the 35th start position to become the first Canadian man to stand on a World Cup alpine podium in more than four years.  This was a high mark in his comeback from the devastating knee injury he had suffered in 2018.Performing at the highest level after a major setback, such as a long-term injury, requires more than physical rehab. It is only possible for athletes who have a winning mentality and love the sport they are in. Such a mentality allows athletes to remain disciplined while rehabbing for many months and sometimes several years.Tune in and listen to episode 7 of season 2 of Unspoken Bravery. Broderick and I discuss the role that team dynamics play in helping athletes perform better. Broderick also shares his journey to the podium after a devastating injury and the role his competitive spirit played in that journey.In this episode, you will learn:Broderick’s journey to recovery from a knee injury (04:31)How a competitive mindset within the team helps Broderick (20:10)Broderick’s source of confidence (29:57)The importance of taking baby steps when rehabbing from injury (36:54)Broderick’s post-rehab podium experience (44:22)Connect with Broderick Thompson: InstagramFacebookTwitterLet’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com

Skiing, like any other sport, carries a risk of serious bodily injuries. That’s why skiers wear helmets, and medics are always present during competitions and team training sessions. However, the knowledge of all this doesn’t quite prepare one for the impact of a nasty crash and the resulting injuries.One of the common injuries in skiing is a concussion, a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function. This type of injury is considered so serious that teams even have protocols for testing if athletes have it before they begin a skiing session. However, being cleared to compete after a concussion doesn’t mean that your battle with its symptoms is over.Tune in and listen to episode six of season 2 of Unspoken Bravery. In this solo episode, I talk about concussions in skiing, how teams handle concussed athletes, and what the recovery journey entails. I will share my experience with concussions, how I got concussed and what my recovery journey entailed. I will also share about the longtime impact of concussions and the impact that bad injuries have on athletes.In this episode, you will learn:My first concussion (02:49)My nasty downhill crash in Whistler (07:15)My first experience with serious concussion symptoms (13:55)Some of the symptoms I still sometimes experience 7 years after my concussion (20:15)Why rehabbing the mind is just as important as rehabbing the body (22:42)Let’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com