How Did Shannon Miller Become the Most Decorated US Olympic Gymnast & Use Her Athletic Experiences to Help Her Overcome Cancer?
Samantha Peszek is on a mission to discover the secret of some of the best athlete’s in the world — what makes them tick, their commitment to success, and how they build confidence in their sport and in life. Utilizing Samantha’s Olympic network (she really does have cool friends), guests will divulge what it’s really like to compete at the highest level — the struggles, triumphs, and everything in between. You will have an opportunity to learn from some of the best athletes in the world and be able to apply relevant tips to your everyday life!
Sam welcomes to the podcast 1993 and 1994 world all-around champion, 1996 Olympic balance beam champion, 1995 Pan American Games all-around champion, and member of the gold-medal winning Magnificent Seven team at the 1996 Olympics, Shannon Miller. Shannon is the second most decorated gymnast in U.S. history and the thirteenth most decorated gymnast from any country by her individual medal count. She is the only woman in any sport to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice, as an individual and as part of a team.
In this episode, Sam and Shannon chronicle Shannon’s Olympic career, from meeting the Dream Team and winning three bronze and two silver medals at the ’92 Games in Barcelona to winning two gold medals at the ’96 Games in Atlanta. Shannon speaks to the incredibly successful post-athletic career she’s had, which includes broadcasting, starting a business, and writing an autobiography. Shannon opens up about her diagnosis and subsequent battle with ovarian cancer. She shares how the lessons she learned as an Olympic athlete helped her through this difficult time in her life. Finally, Shannon talks about the importance of confidence and the valuable role it has played in her life.
Key Takeaways
- Introducing today’s guest, Shannon Miller
- Sam takes a moment to thank her sponsor, Tumbl Trak and Right Rice
- Sam and Shannon share their first memories of each other
- Nature vs. Nurture
- Shannon’s journey as a young gymnast
- The experience of making the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team in 1992
- Winning multiple medals at the 1992 Olympic Games
- Sam takes a moment to thank her sponsors Tumbl Trak, Right Rice, and Uplifter
- Shannon recalls her experience at the 1996 Olympics
- The decision not to retire after winning gold at the 1996 Olympic Games
- How broadcasting allowed Shannon to maintain a connection to the sport she loves
- Shannon opens up about being diagnosed with ovarian cancer
- How lessons from Shannon’s gymnastics career helped her get through chemotherapy
- How Shannon maintained her confidence throughout her battle with cancer
- How Shannon’s diagnosis changed her as a mother
- Shannon’s goals for 2020
- Shannon reveals one thing people can do to get 1% better each day
Episode Quotes
“I think there’s probably a good portion that can be taught as far as lessons, and work ethic, and drive and all of those things. But, I do think that there’s probably something there that you are born with or just comes from you because I think you need to have that inner drive — that inner want — to be able to get back up and keep going.”
“If, overall, you enjoy what you’re doing — whether it’s a sport, whether it’s a job, whatever that is — if you truly enjoy what you’re doing and you have a passion for that, that’s what drives you.”
“It was really just amazing to think that I had the opportunity to put on my country’s colors, to go out there and compete for something so much bigger than myself. It can add pressure but I think, more so, it added that idea of I have all of these people supporting me and cheering for me.”
“Looking back, I wonder if I had won the gold in the all-around, would I have continued? And I think, for me, it was the best thing because I was back in the gym three days after the Olympics. Not because anyone told me to go back but because I had more skills that I wanted to learn, more things I wanted to accomplish. I was not ready to retire.”
“There are injuries, and there are devastating times, and there are failures. And I think that’s when you bond the most. I mean everyone can be friends when everything’s happy and everything is going well — that’s really easy. But when you have someone reach out their hand to help through a difficult time, I think that’s when those bonds are just forged for life.”
“I would say my main goal for the day was to get up, get dressed and walk around my dining room table twice. If I did that that day, then it was a really, really good day.”
