Learning & Teaching Tools For Respect Accountability

Respect & Accountability Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Abby Raymond, Team USA Weightlifter and multi-time youth weightlifting National Champion.

Today I wanted to talk to you about respect and accountability, and there are three things I’d like you to know:

First, doing the right thing isn’t always easy. Sometimes putting the blame on others seems like it could be the easier option, but in the long run, this fails to help us grow as athletes and as people.

Second, if you want respect from others, doing the right thing and holding yourself accountable is an important behavior to practice.

And third, when it comes to being treated with respect, it is important to treat others as you would like to be treated.

In athletics, it’s especially important to show respect to your opponents, coaches, teammates, and officials, even when competition intensifies.

Being responsible, punctual, and prepared for practices and games is also a great way to practice accountability and show your teammates and coaches you respect their time.

During my last National Championship, I found myself competing against an athlete who was comparable in both skill and strength to me.

We were tied going into the final lifts of the event and that meant I had a realistic shot at becoming that year’s National Champion.

I felt good and knew that if I could keep the momentum up, I would be walking away with a gold medal around my neck.

My final lifts went really well, and I waited to see if my opponent was going to make all her final lifts, too.

As I watched, I didn’t want to wish bad on her, as I knew she had put in a lot of work to get to this point too, but I also really wanted to become the National Champion and winner of the competition.

She put more weight on the bar than she needed to place in the top 2 spots, making me even more sure that there was a chance she could miss her final lifts and I would walk away a 1^st place winner.

She set up. She went to lift.

And she missed an attempt.

She set back up again and she went to lift.

…and she was successful.

Just like that, I went from a likely first place finish to second place.

Was I disappointed that I wasn’t the winner of the entire competition? Sure.

But, did I try to blame my coaches for the choices we made as a team about my lifting strategy? No, not at all. We were a team and I trust and respect my coaches fully.

Would I have changed anything, or do I wish I had done something different? Maybe – there’s always something to work on in weightlifting.

Am I proud of my performance? YES!

I put 100% of my effort into training and the competition.

When we got to the podium, instead of glaring at my competitor or ignoring her win, I chose to congratulate and hug her as she celebrated. She earned her win, and I was excited for both of us.

TrueSport athletes understand that disappointments are part of sport and life, so no matter what, it’s important that we take responsibility for our actions and show respect for others.

I encourage you to show yourself and others respect and to practice accountability, even when it feels like a hard thing to do.

Body Image Lesson Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Kara Winger, Olympic javelin thrower, and true sport athlete. Today I want to talk to you about body image and I have three things I’d like you to know. First, healthy thoughts often lead to healthier bodies. Second, there are varying body types and no one’s body is exactly like another. And third, true beauty goes deeper than the skin. As a multi-time Olympian, I’ve experienced a lot of variation and progression in my training. My coaches and I adapt to my training frequently, all with the goal of supporting my long-term success and health in the sport of javelin. I’m talking to you about body image today because sometimes even with the best of intentions and a common goal in mind, the changes you make to your training habits can prove to be detrimental if made for the wrong reasons. In the lead up to the 2012 Olympic trials, I was told in order to improve my performance on the field, I should try to become a leaner, skinnier version of myself.

So I changed my diet. I went along with what I was being told to do, even though I’d had great success at a slightly heavier weight and higher body fat percentage, and became much leaner than ever before. It seemed like a successful change at first, but I didn’t have nearly the results I’d had before. And I believe becoming leaner than my body naturally wanted to be was what caused my ACL to tear. In the end, it cost me heavily going into the 2012 London games. The takeaway for me, and hopefully for you, is that it’s important to know what works for you and your body and to not compare yourself to others. You should do your research and experiment with your diet to find what makes you feel the best, rather than focusing on what you look like. Today, if I feel like having a chocolate chip cookie, I have one, just not every day.

I’ve learned what a properly balanced meal for my body looks like and I recognize food as the fuel that keeps me throwing. I hydrate and allow myself time to recover. And I listen to and communicate with my body so that I can be the best version of myself. In the end, you are in control of how you see, treat, and respond to your body. We only get one and it’s amazing to discover how many things our bodies can do. Be a true sport athlete. Love who you are in this moment and get excited for all the places your body will take you.

THE SIMPLE TRUTH: DECODING THE SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

At first glance, dietary supplements look the same. They seem safe and healthy, but just because the label says a product is a dietary supplement, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. Unfortunately, you can’t tell whether a product is safe or not just by looking at the label. Most vitamins, minerals, fish oil, and other supplements containing nutrients are probably just fine, but supplements are not evaluated or approved by FDA before they are sold. Although it is rare for vitamins or minerals to be contaminated with drugs, there has been at least one case of a vitamin containing an anabolic steroid.

At the other extreme are products that contain drugs, stimulants, anabolic steroids, or other hormones. Even though these are not technically dietary supplements, many of them are labeled as supplements. For example, body-building products sometimes contain anabolic steroids or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, known as SARMs, or other hormones. Some pre-workout or energy products contain illegal stimulants like DMAA, ephedra, or other amphetamine-like stimulants. Weight loss products might contain prescription drugs like sibutramine, or hormones, like human chorionic gonadotropin, also known as hCG. All natural or herbal sexual enhancement products might contain hormones or Viagra-like drugs. Products like these can harm your health and career, but they’re for sale online, in some nutrition stores, and they’re labeled as dietary supplements.

When you pick up a supplement, especially one that promises performance enhancement, you don’t know if it belongs in the “Mostly O.K.” pile or in the “Dangerous” pile. After all, two products might look the same, but one might contain just amino acids and other legitimate ingredients, while the other also contains anabolic steroids. Because of this, FDA has issued a warning about certain categories of supplements: body building products, weight loss products, and sexual enhancement products. Be extremely careful when considering a supplement in one of these categories. We strongly recommend that you avoid products in these categories.

Even when FDA tests supplements and finds dangerous ingredients, companies sometimes refuse to recall them. Sometimes, they simply repackage their product and continue selling it under a new name. Just because a product is on a store shelf doesn’t mean it is safe. You need to do your research and be an informed consumer. The dietary supplement industry is enormous. Supplements that appear to be safe could actually be dangerous products in disguise. If you use dietary supplements without doing your research, you may be taking serious risks with your health and your career. Please visit USADA’s Supplement 411 for more information about dietary supplements.