Teammates vs Friends
Four of the best rowers in the United States share what it's like to be friends with their biggest competition. The women include Saratoga Springs Elite Rowers and Teammates Savannah Brija, Megan Goodman, Lauren O'Conner and, host of The Other 3 Years: Kristi Wagner. They discuss what it takes to be both teammates and friends while competing against each other for the same spot on the Olympic Team. The group also discusses how to be a supportive teammate, and what to do if someone's a bad teammate.
Connect with Kristi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinumber1/
Check out Kristi's website: www.theother3years.com
*This is an automatically generated transcript*
Kristi Wagner 0:03
Did you have more fun rowing with Savannah or rowing with me and the double?
Unknown Speaker 0:08
Oh, you know,
Unknown Speaker 0:10
hot cake is
Kristi Wagner 0:14
what I'm fun. No way you're as fun as if we were to
Unknown Speaker 0:22
win and winning is fun.
Kristi Wagner 0:26
Welcome to the other three years, a show for anyone who has an Olympic sized dream they want to turn into a reality. Hi, and welcome to episode four of the other three years. This week on the podcast. I have three of my Arion rowing teammates Savannah Bria, Lauren O'Connor and Megan Goodman. And we talk about the difference between teammates and friends. See, we're all teammates, but we're also each other's biggest competition. And how do you balance that? How do you balance being a friend with someone that you also have to sit next to at the starting line, that beating that person could mean making the Olympic team or not. So we delve into that and a lot more during this week's episode. But first, here's an update about my current training out in Chula Vista, California. live from sunny California, it's May, it's very exciting. Yep, we can keep singing, it's gonna be May. Now it actually is very, really, the most exciting thing. So I'm at the Chula Vista elite athlete training center at a selection camp. And I'm in my second week of a three week camp. Basically, the purpose of the campus to select boats that will go and race at the Second World Cup, which is in Italy in June, this week is definitely things are ramping up a little bit. But next week will be really all of our selection pieces. So the pressure will be mounting all of this week. And then really next week, the the level of competition is high. But that makes it pretty exciting. The stakes are that some people will be selected to go to race in Europe at the World Cup and some people won't. And ultimately, you always want to be selected to race at every possible race, especially in international race. Also the way that our selection procedures in the US are written for open weights, at least if you make the World Cup team, then you will also make the world championship team. That's not finalized What boat you'll be in, but you'll definitely be on the team. So this isn't, I guess, quote unquote, the last chance there will be another selection camp after the World Cup in Italy. So after that, come back to the US and there'll be another camp, but everyone wants to make it now, obviously, you know, we're all competitors. And we want to do as well as possible and it's fun, you know, going to going to get more racing opportunities is both fun and you know, invaluable experiences. So everyone is really gunning to get those spots for a good reason. And otherwise, I feel good, obviously a little bit nervous, and I want to put my best foot forward, but I feel confident that I can add speed to boats and that I can positively impact any boat that I'm in. And I really have so much respect for the group of women that I'm training with right now and ending up in a boat with any of them would be amazing. And I'm really not just saying that I actually think it so it's kind of a really lucky place to be right now because I feel like any outcome will be positive and will lead to a really great experience. Here's a special thank you to our sponsor the beauty bar. The beauty bar is your new glam destination for women on the go in Saratoga, New York. The beauty bar is amazing and can help you feel your best with many different services available including monthly memberships for blowouts and makeup. The beauty bar also offers bridal makeup brow tinting one on one makeup lessons and group classes. I had an awesome time with my stylist fawn, and she was not at all intimidated when I arrived still gross and sweaty from a workout. It was a pretty amazing transformation all while she kept me feeling relaxed and comfortable. I can't recommend fawn and the beauty bar more. Now we'll go to our review of the Week. This week's review comes to us from Apple podcasts and comes from Double H they say I love the honesty and openness that Kristi brings to the podcast can't wait to follow along as she makes her attempt at meddling at the 2024 Paris Olympics. very motivational. Thanks, double H. I'm happy to have you along for the journey. And to everyone else. If you would like to submit a review to maybe be shared on the podcast, you can do so on Apple podcasts or Spotify.
So this week's episode is featuring three of my Arion rowing teammates in a panel discussion about teammates and how to balance teammate friendship relationships, how to live with teammates, how to compete with teammates, how to be a supportive teammate. What happens when someone is a bad teammate, we dive into all those different things and the inner workings of our team. It was a really fun conversation. And, you know, I love my teammates. So it was really fun to have them on the podcast and really excited to share the conversation with everybody.
Speaker 2 6:17
I'm Savannah Bria, I'm 26 and I grew up outside of Chicago and then went to school at Ithaca College, go bombers, they just won Liberty leagues today. And I am currently training on the sculling side, I raced the single last week at NSR and came in third. So now, unofficially, I have a camp to invite. And I'm just training as hard as I can to take one of the West sculling spots. The way that the camp system works is that there's two different camps. The first camp is a small group that kind of takes the best of the best in the US to make the fastest boat possible, make the number one combo, and then camp two is to fill in the rest of the team to create all of the boats. So right now Lauren, and Kristi are at Camp one, go them trying to make the fastest combination. And then at the end of the summer, I will come in and try to take one of the spots. One of the final spots. So I guess my biggest competition would be either year two, or
Kristi Wagner 7:41
year obviously, everyone
Speaker 2 7:43
is my audition. I mean, honestly, it's realistically every other US scholar right now,
Speaker 3 7:50
again, sure. My name is Megan Goodman. I'm originally from just outside San Francisco, Pleasanton, California. I went to school at the University of San Diego. And then I moved up to Princeton, which was then the US during training center, post college, and then peak 2020 pandemic COVID. Arion had a great setup where we could train and all these little pods, thanks in part to this Training Center in this living situation. And so I moved to Arion Skald quite a bit in these little baby singles that these three ladies are rowing. And then just this past January started sweeping. So one big or raced at the first, our first opportunity to race these pairs was winter speed, order. And then this upcoming Sunday, so what few days from now, we'll race at a spring speed order. That's going to be my last shot to get this invite to the camp to they'll fully divide that between scholars and sleepers. I'll be trying to make the US sweep team, the eighth the for the pair.
Kristi Wagner 8:56
That's amazing. Lauren,
Speaker 4 8:57
I'm Lauren O'Connor. I'm 24. I'm from the southern part of Wisconsin, a very small town called Belleville and I went to the University of Wisconsin Madison. That's where I learned to row and then post college posts. I graduated in 2020 when pandemic was insane and decided to move to Saratoga and join Arion and currently, I am in Chula Vista, California with Kristi training. We're going to be where I'm a part of Camp one like Savannah said and then I'll be going to Italy soon to World Cup one or World Cup two World Cup one is happening now World Cup two, where we'll be racing doubles and a quad and it will be my first national team and first international race experience. It's so Hey.
Kristi Wagner 10:05
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 4 10:08
I'm very excited. Very nervous as well, you know, for a whole new whole new world out here. But it's really fun. It's fun getting to row with new people and to race in different boats and can't wait to travel to Europe and see what things are like over there.
Kristi Wagner 10:32
And the most pressing question, did you have more fun rowing with Savannah or rowing with me and the double?
Unknown Speaker 10:38
Oh, you know,
Unknown Speaker 10:40
hot cake.
Kristi Wagner 10:44
What I'd fun,
Speaker 2 10:46
no way you're as fun as I am in a double. We
Speaker 4 10:52
win and winning is fun. Lines. Three in the double was sav. We did win though was Kristi so you know, well, you
Kristi Wagner 11:02
guys did win that you
Unknown Speaker 11:04
actually win many erase.
Speaker 4 11:07
Erase just not the one that we really wanted to win.
Speaker 2 11:11
Yeah, we just didn't win the first one. That we want every other race in the double. All right, I'll
Kristi Wagner 11:17
work on my vibes.
Speaker 4 11:19
Kristi, you have great vibes. I love the doubles. I just
Kristi Wagner 11:25
wanted. I just wanted
Unknown Speaker 11:30
to see who's your biggest competition
Kristi Wagner 11:33
myself? Can you elaborate, please? No, I'm just kidding. Um, I don't know. I mean, honestly, it probably is myself. But also the Romanians are really fast and the women's double. But I've been really fortunate like to have, these guys have been only getting faster, and they've really been like upping the ante. So they don't make my job any easier. I practice every day, it is an interesting thing to be one of the like top people on a team because everyone's kind of gunning for your spot. And obviously, it's kind of a like, world's tiniest violin complain about being fast, but it can be. It can be a bit of a like, thankless job, because when you do well, it's kind of what you were supposed to do. But when you don't do well, it's like somebody else's, like biggest victory ever to be you. And you're like, alright, well, I'm just a person, also. So that's just a little bit tough. But I've been really trying to, like, live, especially this year on like, I want to do well for myself. And I want to like do things that I've never done before as compared to like, necessarily beating specific people. Because also I don't know what's happening in those people's lives or those people's training. So I don't want to judge my successes as like, just compared to like a singular person. I want to compare them to like a time standard, or, you know, a place in an international Regatta, that kind of thing. Which has just been working for me more recently. It's not a cop out answer. I don't know.
Unknown Speaker 13:12
That's actually a great answer.
Unknown Speaker 13:14
Its allies. Me, we're both fighting to make the best double.
Kristi Wagner 13:17
Yeah, right now, I thought we could just start with talking about the difference between like college teams versus like, what it's like now having kind of a lead teammates, and how that's maybe different or similar.
Speaker 3 13:31
My name is Megan Goodman. I think the biggest transition from collegiate rowing to elite rowing is that in collegiate rowing, you have like this big name across your chest. For me, University of San Diego, you are rowing for a school for this institution, you all have a very similar goal. And you row like these big team boats are the norm. Even within the team votes, you're fighting for positions or to make the top vote or the second vote, but you're still on race day, like working as this group against all the other teams and then moving into elite rowing. While we are all on a team, we are all on Arion, we are teammates, we have similar goals. Sometimes those goals can happen by beating each other or by being each other's biggest competitors. So in college, when you look at your competitors, you're looking at people from these different schools, these different institutions, these different organizations, clubs, whatever. And then, in elite rowing, you often look across and it's like your five teammates who you have done the same training and the same work as and instead of being in the boat with them. They are your competition.
Kristi Wagner 14:42
Yeah, no, I totally agree. I feel like it's, I feel like it's hard. And then can also be a weird situation where maybe you didn't have a race that you wanted to have but like your teammate did have a really good race and so you kind of have to balance this, you know, like, sad for you yourself but happy for other people and how to like be a good teammate in that in that scenario, but also like maybe you didn't accomplish your goal. I feel like that happens to us all the time. And I'm always like a stout like not astounded songbird but very impressed by kind of standard. Yeah, like, what good teammates people are. I don't know if you guys like agree, I just, it's it's very impressive to me.
Speaker 2 15:26
I agree. Hi, this is Savannah. Bria. No, I feel like elite rowing is so much more selfish than collegiate rowing. And that was like a very hard transition. Because I feel like in college, it's all about the team and what's best for the team. And whatever you can do to hold up that NCAA trophy at the end of the year. And as much as everyone's fighting for the best boats. In college, if my coach told me we would win an NCAA championship if I sat in the TV, or if I sat in a four or anything, like I would probably do it, versus now. It's just, I'm the one that's holding myself accountable to my goals. And if I'm not the one, that's like advocating for myself and pushing for what I want, like no one else is gonna do it. And it's hard because no one wants to step on their teammates toes, and no one wants to do that. Because ultimately, we all get faster because of each other. But then when it comes race time, it's like, okay, like, time to turn the like friend and teammate branch off and just like competition brand on and then like, as soon as you cross the finish line, it's like, okay, here are my friends again. That is just like pretty crazy.
Kristi Wagner 16:40
Yeah, I mean, I feel Yeah, Lauren. I feel like we're in kind of a funny scenario. I mean, fun. I don't know, funny is the right word. But it's like the same thing. I'd say the same thing right now. Like, we're like in a boat together. But then they're like, Okay, now go in these other boats. Like,
Speaker 4 16:55
maybe you want to? I don't know. Yeah, I agree. I'm Lauren O'Connor. Yeah, right now, it's interesting being at like a selection camp where they're like, Oh, we want like, we wrote it all together. And we did well in it. And we've qualified, but at the same time, they're like, let's just test out some other combinations and just see what happens. So it's like, you know, you get into that state where you're like, you know, you want to see the fastest double, but you also want to be like, in that festival. So it's, you have to be like, I can literally go from like, sitting in a boat with this person. And like being a teammate to like, all of a sudden, you're in a different lineup, and you still in you, like are kind of competing against them. But at the same time, it's like, the second year off the water, you're still just like, well, we're teammates, and ice cream. Yeah, like, let's go together and just like be like normal humans. And it's it's very, it's such a weird dynamic, but it's also like, so unique. I feel like you really don't get that. Like, I've never experienced it in any other form besides like, where we are right now. And being a part of Arion.
Kristi Wagner 18:08
Yeah, I'd say even though in college, like, I feel like I'll make the ERG or you know, you're you're kind of putting up putting yourself up against your teammates, and then, and there's like a pecking order and a ranking, but then it's just like your friends. I don't know, it's always been interesting to me. And I feel like rowing is kind of a unique sport in that front, where we're constantly like comparing ourselves to our teammates. And, but then it doesn't, it doesn't really matter. Like, where you fall in that comparison, when you leave practice, and you're all just friends, like, no one really cares, you know. So
Speaker 3 18:43
I think that's one of the coolest things about being on a team like this is that like, the awareness we have of a lot in a lot of different sports, like, your, your success doesn't have to be the other person's failure. And in our sport, sometimes, your guess is the other person's failure to reach that goal. Like a lot of times, they're like, everybody has a different goal or a different success looks different. And sometimes because we are like, literally all in the same boat, but I'm like, you're sick, you can't have success without kind of like knocking somebody else off. And the fact that like, we can all go race and everybody can have totally different experiences, positive negative, like reaching goals, failing goals, and then we will go get breakfast and talk about other things or even talking about rowing. Like, I think that's a pretty cool thing.
Kristi Wagner 19:44
I totally agree. I'd argue like for the most part, I think we do a really good job but I for the sake of conversation and controversy, like I do think sometimes it gets really hard though, and like it can be really hard to be a good teammate. Wow. All So dealing with your own, either like successes or failures and how finding the balance of supporting other people and supporting the team, because maybe what the team, what's best for the team isn't what's best for you. And like in college, you just ignore those things. But when you're an elite rower, like don't ignore those things. I don't know. I
Speaker 2 20:21
can tell you from experience when you're not doing well, it is so hard to support other teammates. Sorry, to you guys, Kristen, and Lauren, for example, Florida, I was not housing. I was like, so happy that like, Lord, I feel like you were having the best time. And I was like, God, a supporter. But I am so angry at the world right now. And I was like, Oh, my god, yeah, not not my brightest moment. But we've circled back.
Speaker 4 20:57
I mean, I think that's something that like, is so hard within the sport, too, is it can change so drastically. And such, like that was me. In August, this past year of like, I'm so upset of how things are going, and things really suck right now. But like, I'm so proud of my teammates, but also at the end, I like want to support them. But then you're also just like, Oh my God, everything kind of sucks. How do I put on like a good face and be like, I'm so proud of you. I'm so happy for you at the same time that like internal, you're like, Oh my God, everything is I'm so upset. And I don't know how to handle my own emotions. It's like such a hard balance. And then like, you can literally go a couple months later and be like, I'm the completely opposite spot. And I also don't know how to handle this like,
Kristi Wagner 21:44
but here we are. Yeah, I mean, I feel like people I mean, I don't know, I feel like I'm usually very impressed with the way that people handle things. And I also feel like internally, at least externally, and like, I don't feel like we're on a team of like show voters, which I think is is really nice, like, and we I think people are really good at celebrating like, accomplishments of all shapes and sizes. Back in 2017. I like didn't make the team but a few of my like Arion teammates at the time did and I was literally like in Canada Canadian Henley when I found out that they had made it. And I like didn't have cell phone service. You know, like, I didn't have data because I was in Canada. And I was like, so happy for them. But also just like so sad. And I didn't know what to do. So I just like turned my data on and like called my mom and was like, I just need to cry for five minutes. But like, it's an expensive cry because I turned and I was like and then I'm gonna hang up and I promise I'm fine. But like I don't want to pay for more like more for this.
Speaker 3 22:54
You get 97 seconds of selfish cry.
Kristi Wagner 22:59
Yeah, like hiding behind the children's trailer comedian.
Speaker 3 23:04
And then he probably had to go race for like six events later that afternoon.
Kristi Wagner 23:07
No, I was just coaching. Watching. But yeah, like it can be so hard because you're like, Okay, I don't want to see him like, like I'm not happy for them. So I just kind of feel the need to like hide my sadness. Which also probably isn't super healthy.
Speaker 2 23:29
Yeah, I'm a big fan of a little bit of rage goes along way. Doubt a little bit
Kristi Wagner 23:36
of rage. Yeah, and I feel like you guys all still live with each other, which I think is another like added added challenge to that because it's, I think I don't live with any of my teammates anymore. So I have a little bit of like separation at times with the viewers want to talk a little bit about how like that plays into it too. And maybe a little bit about what your living situation is. So everyone can hear about how exciting it is.
Speaker 4 24:06
So we live with up to eight people in our training center. And there's so there's eight bedrooms, we have our we have two bathrooms and our kitchen like everything is in one space. And it's most of the time you're like this is great. I get to be around my teammates, people who follow a similar schedule. It's like super nice to be like in that space. But when things do like, like get to a stressful point or like people are just not having a great time. That moment it can be really hard because you're like constantly around that that thought process like it's so geared towards rowing it's so geared towards like doing the same thing every single day there can be like, Wow, I can have a really hard time separating myself from like, thoughts, emotions, whatever. or, or if like, someone is going through a really rough time, it can be like, if you don't really know, like, what they need or what they want, you can kind of be like, Oh my God, how do I help you, but at the same time, I don't want to, like overwhelm you. But like, so has highs and lows.
Speaker 2 25:17
Yeah, I feel like the vibes with a people are very delicate. Like if one person is having a really bad time, everyone knows. And like, if one person is stressed, then two people are stressed. And then four people are stressed. And everyone's stressed about other people being stressed. Like it's just a cascading effect. But then on the flip side, like when we get into a groove of like, Okay, we're gonna go like, right now we're in such a good groove of people like going early to warm up and like everyone's on it. And we're up at it in the morning, like, really talking about like gearing up for practice. And then we like, come back, and like things are good. And it really helps keep you in the routine when everyone's in the routine. But if you fall out of it, it's like very obvious that someone is like, not part of it.
Speaker 3 26:09
Because you're not only micromanaging your own, like emotions and feelings about current training in the mornings practice, things like that. But you also kind of have to micromanage everyone else's, or like, micro awareness. Everybody else's. Yeah, yeah, it's tight spaces. But we do all have our own rooms, which I do think, like, gives some, some room to have your own space, like a lot of us work part time jobs that are not related to rowing, or have remote jobs that we do from our rooms. So I think like finding the space has been an okay part of it. And then hopefully, like, being able to celebrate in that same space can be taken advantage of too.
Kristi Wagner 26:58
So do you guys feel like you kind of stay in the like, teammate zone when you go home in your like relationships with each other? Or do you feel like it enters more of a friend or maybe a separate category of like, roommate, like, do you feel like you're kind of the way you interact with people changes in that setting? Or maybe it doesn't,
Speaker 4 27:22
I feel like it can kind of depend on like, your own mental state at the time. And like, I feel like in times of high stress, like really revolving around rowing, like if you're going into like something important, like a race that you really want to do well, at a lot of the times like conversation can really revolve around rowing and only rowing at those moments. And when you get into those spaces, it can kind of hard to turn off like the like, this is more of a teammate setting when we're only thinking about like, doing well trying to make ourselves better, but like you can kind of like spiral in that. If you like it wouldn't less stressful moments when we're kind of like, just existing and like getting to like, if like what you're saying in your groove right now with training and just being in the house. Like, it can be a lot easier to be like, yeah, we're just friends and we're just hanging out and we like have dinner together and we watch trashy TV shows and like do whatever like it, then you I feel like it feels a little bit more like okay, now I'm just like hanging out with my friends. And I'm less than that, like teammate mode. But I think the like topic of conversation and amount of like stress can really impact that.
Kristi Wagner 28:33
Yeah, yeah. I mean, I, I'd agree. I lived for context, I lived in the training center. I guess not with any of you. But for four years, three years. So I put in my time. But I did I, for me, one of the biggest challenges about living there was like a fee. There's a hard practice coming up. Some people like to kind of talk about that practice, or like, complaint is maybe not the right word, but it to me, it seemed like complaining about like, a thing. Yeah, commiserate. And that like I like to not think about it until I'm in the moment. So that was hard for me because it would get me like all worked up and anxious. And that was just a challenge. Like I had to figure out how to kind of politely excused myself from a room and you know, not not take part in certain conversations. How do you like to be supported by teammates? Like, maybe, you know, and then also with that, like how you like to support teammates. I feel like we know what Megan's answers are, but
Speaker 2 29:43
I feel like for me, I wrote my best when I'm just having fun. So I love teammates that support me and like, really just like, embody that rowing as much as it's like our whole lives like ultimately, it's just sport, and it's just a game We just like all love playing. And I feel like when I can, like play games and like, mess around and like, do the work, but like, have some fun with it and like trash talk the pair's like, I just have like so much more fun. Like when we could like joke and like, get the work done and like all make each other better than like, when it's so stressful and all the pressures on like, that's where I feel like I performed my best and I just like appreciate teammates that also bring that out. Mike and I have been having some good good banter, reasonable banter.
Kristi Wagner 30:36
Oh, let's hear a good let's hear a good slap. I don't know, what do you call it? Talk?
Speaker 2 30:42
smack smack the pair will like absolutely wake me out and like have a great piece. And I'll have a good piece. And like, it'll be like, Oh, what was your split over? Like, oh, I don't know, like 155. And she's like, only a 155 we went 150 I can't believe like,
Kristi Wagner 31:03
Oh, well. Lauren, anything, anything you fit you like to do? I feel like,
Speaker 4 31:11
are you similar, just like in being able to like actually enjoy the sport and just have a good time with it. Like, the Sam and I rode together a lot last break. And our whole thing was just just vibes the whole time, you don't really have to think about it, you just kind of you just kind of do it. And like, obviously, there's stress surrounding it. But like if you let that seep into, like the entire practice, and you're like, Well, I'm just not having a good time right now. So having teammates that are like, not like, they're there to like, bring you up and just be like, yeah, we're just gonna do it. It's gonna be hard, but it's gonna be fun. And we're gonna push each other and like, it's it just makes for a great training environment. Good times.
Unknown Speaker 31:55
What about you, Kristi?
Unknown Speaker 31:57
I feel like I've
Kristi Wagner 31:58
had so many like, amazing teammates, like, over the years, I don't know, I wrote on high school and college. And then now I've wrote on Arion for so long. And like, I mean, obviously, there have been some hiccups along the way. But like, on my part as well. It's really, I think the most amazing thing about having teammates that's like, makes you such close, like, so close, so close to your teammates. And then what I think creates like those lasting friendships is that you're super vulnerable. And so sometimes, you know, you do something or you say something or something happens, that's like, not your, you know, most shining moment, but then you're like, supported through those things. It's almost like when the things are bad, and working through that stuff, and then feeling the support of your teammates. Like those, those things are probably more special to me then when everything's great, and everyone's happy. And I mean, those times are also obviously super fun. But like, feeling the support of hard times is like, I don't know, that's when I really feel like, oh, this person is a special person. Like, these are really special people that I'm around. And I'm just constantly impressed by everyone like, I really am. I'm like, wow, she's an amazing, grown ass woman. And she's an amazing grown up like, I don't know, it's just like female power all the way. I mean, we've had male teammates, but I'm more of a fan of the women I guess. Savannah will second. Well,
Unknown Speaker 33:40
always thumbs up over here.
Kristi Wagner 33:43
Yeah, I don't know. It's just like, it's just really incredible that we're all like chasing, you know, these really lofty goals. Like it's not easy. It's not. And not everyone is going to achieve them. Like we all fail all the time. Like we were talking about earlier, but like we all support each other in the process. And like people aren't afraid to go after things which is just like so inspiring and so cool. Yeah, I don't know. I'm just a fan. Well, is there anything else you guys want to add before we
Speaker 3 34:20
wrap it up? I wanted you had mentioned thinking about like not losing friendships because a sport and I haven't lost any friendships because because of sport, but I also thought that like the friends that did really in the past and now are like supporters but not teammates was a cool thing to think about like people we read with in high school or people we wrote with in college that didn't get the chance or don't have the desire the opportunity or whatever it may be to row elite. And now all these people that you like sat side by side in the trenches with in college, get to watch you, like go do all these cool things and they have also contributed to the athletes that you've been And then someday when we're all done rowing, and we lead normal lives, and we have homes and families and so many dogs, like, we can look back at each other and be like, oh, like, I helped get that person there or like, that piece was really crucial to this person. I don't know. I think it's cool that we like, you build that, like so many people that you don't even know you have that direct connection with? Like Kristi had a hip injury, right? What year did you get surgery? 2017 2017. And then what year did you make the Olympics
Kristi Wagner 35:36
2021.
Speaker 3 35:39
And I had the same hip surgery at the end of 2020. And like, I didn't I mean, I knew you vaguely in 2017. I guess we met in 2015 16. Somewhere in there. But like, really got to know her when I moved here. And like, her experience, was like a teammate, friend builder supporter. Like we can rely on each other for those big things that, like you said, aren't necessarily good, but sometimes, like bring out the best, the best teammate friend aspects of each other. I thought that was really cool, Kristi
Kristi Wagner 36:14
Yeah, Megan and I both have geriatric hips together. No, I think I mean, I think it's true to like, I mean, I It's crazy. All of my wish. It wasn't. Well, I won't even say I wish was in the caves. Like all of my friends are from rowing. I don't even know. I wouldn't have any friends. Yeah. I mean, it's funny. Now I'm a little bit well, Megan's almost my age, but I'm a little bit older than you guys. But I think it's funny now like a lot of my friends are married and have kids. But like road at one point, and they'll just like, say, like, a funniest like, they still feel the need to like, you know, not feel the need, but they'll like they're
Unknown Speaker 36:58
still in drama still. Yeah, you're
Kristi Wagner 37:01
still in that world. Like we're now in this new world. And you're still in that world? Like, yeah, live vicariously through the like rowing drama. But also, like when you have kids, you're married, you'll understand like this life. But yeah, it's just funny, because some things about rowing just really never change. Thanks, everybody.
Unknown Speaker 37:26
Thanks. Thank you, Kristina Wagner.
Unknown Speaker 37:29
Happy podcasting.
Kristi Wagner 37:37
Now it's time for your favorite segment, ask Christy anything.
Speaker 5 37:41
Hi, my name is Asti. I'm the associate head coach here at Drexel. And I know you're continuing to train but even for myself after I graduated, there's this little piece of time where you feel like or at least I felt like I lost that identity as a student athlete. And I was transitioning to the next one. And seeing as we have all fifth year students on here right now. And that's their, their next phase. Is there anything that helped you once you've finished, and we're realizing that you were coming into your next phase? That was good for you to focus on? Even if you didn't know, the next thing was growing?
Kristi Wagner 38:21
Yeah, I mean, I think
Unknown Speaker 38:23
that
Kristi Wagner 38:24
I think first of all, like, it's totally okay to be, you know, sad that things are over. I feel like I've always kind of been the kind of person that likes to just have my feelings, as I say to my parents when I was a kid, because I think sometimes trying to like bottle things up, like just leads to, you know, it being worse later. And, I mean, graduating from college is like a big deal. And especially when you've done a sport, like, it's kind of like a two, two, punch out, you know, whatever. I don't know what that's called to jab punch. Because it's like, you go from having so much structure and all of these people and these things that you do, and then suddenly it's like, all gone. And so I think, I think that can be really hard. I like started working pretty quickly after I graduated college, which I do think was like helpful, just to have something, you know, to dive into that wasn't school and rowing, to keep to keep myself kind of busy, but I feel like you know, finding, finding whatever it is that you know, if you like being part of a team, like, you know, finding something, if you want to keep exercising, you know, on a more normal basis, like maybe it's joining a running club or, you know, some sort of like, CrossFit style jam or something. I feel like a lot of my friends that had like hard times, you know, missing a team aspect of like life. If you don't find that in like work, then found it and you know, maybe another like less intense athletic thing. Because you know, it's way more fun to like exercise and spend time with other people than to just like work out by yourself all the time. If you have a question you'd like to submit to ask Kristi anything, head to our website, the other three years.com You can find more information in the show notes. Here's a special thank you to our sponsor palette. palette is a co working space and community that celebrates culture shared ideas and connections with offices in Saratoga and Schenectady, New York. palette is a comfortable place to get work done, escape from the challenges of home, or connect and meet with a group of friends. And they have great snacks. Visit pallet community.com. To learn more and join today. Coming up next week on the podcast. We talk about high expectations, what they are, how to manage them. And what I think about them. I had a great conversation with my friend and producer Christine O'Donnell. So be sure to
Christine O'Donnell 41:24
listen, this episodes about expectations. And the definition from Oxford is a belief that someone will or should achieve something.
Kristi Wagner 41:37
And I think expectation has a negative connotation, but I don't think it necessarily needs to, I think in our culture, expectations seems heavy. Whereas I would argue my parents have have high expectations of me in a positive way. It just means that they think that I can do anything and they're like, undeniable belief that I can do anything has let me achieve really amazing things in my life. So sometimes I think expectations can be stifling and can kind of be overwhelming and be like a noose around your neck. But I think also having high expectations of people can be like a really positive thing. Because oftentimes, it's easier to see somebody else's potential than to see your own potential.
Christine O'Donnell 42:36
I think you're hitting on such a great point. And that is giving people the opportunity to rise to the occasion.
Kristi Wagner 42:48
I'd love to hear from you. So send us a topic suggestion or if you'd like to submit a question for our Ask Kristi anything segment, head to our website, theother3years.com