Treat Every Training Session Like Your Last—with Melanie Roach - EP002

Early in her weightlifting her career, Melanie Roach struggled to stay present on the international stage and had to withdraw from the 2000 Olympic Trials. But once she mastered the art of gratitude and started treating every training session like her last, Melanie found the joy in every day—and her performance in competition soared. Not only that, she became a better mother, wife, entrepreneur and coach. Melanie placed fifth for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, making every lift and setting an American record. She also set a world record in 1998 as the first woman to clean and jerk more than double her body weight and went on to compete in the 2016 Olympic Trials at the age of 41. Melanie is the mother of five children and ran her own gymnastics gym for 20-plus years. On this episode of Holistic High Performance Podcast, Melanie joins Daniel to discuss what motivated her transition from competitive gymnastics to weightlifting and describe her struggles in international competitions early on. She explains how her son’s autism activated the mindset of gratitude she brought to the weight room in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Trials and shares the electric experience of competing in Beijing. Listen in for Melanie’s insight on returning to competition at the age of 41 and learn how YOU can apply her philosophy of 100% presence in your personal and professional life! What You Will Learn The injury that motivated Melanie’s transition from competitive gymnastics to weightlifting Why Melanie had a hard time committing to weightlifting despite early success on a national stage How a lack of mental strength caused Melanie to struggle in international competitions How Melanie recovered from having to withdraw from the 2000 Olympic Trials What inspired Melanie’s return to weight lifting in 2005 and the community that rallied to support her dream How her son’s autism activated a mindset of gratitude that Melanie brought to the weight room How treating each training session like her last, helped Melanie find the joy in every day leading up to the 2008 Olympic Trials and how she applies that 100% presence to other aspects of life Melanie’s electric experience placing fifth at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing The life changing accident at Melanie’s gym when gymnast Jacoby Miles was paralyzed How Melanie came to win the 2015 American Open and compete in the 2016 Olympic Trials at the age of 41 Why Melanie credits the emotional strength she built in holistic training with helping her recognize the opportunity to sell her gym and be more present with her children Connect with Melanie Roach Melanie on Instagram Run 4 Miles Run 4 Miles on Facebook Connect with Daniel Christofferson Holistic High Performance Daniel on LinkedIn Resources Bray Spine Surgery Fulcrum Training Hall