TG: When was the last time you felt you failed and how did you overcome it?
NL: 2012 Olympic Trials. I went in as the reigning Olympic All-Around Champion.
All eyes were on me. On my best event, I fell…face first. I was so embarrassed, I wanted to crawl under a rock. I got back up and finished my routine, knowing I had absolutely no chance of making my second Olympic Team. I landed on my feet, and for the first time in my entire life I had a standing ovation. 20,000 people were on their feet cheering for me, for the absolute worst routine of my career.
When I won the Olympics four years prior, nobody stood on their feet. Sure they were cheering for me, but when I fell on my face in front of 20,000 people, when I finished that routine they all rose.
It truly became the defining moment of my career. I also thought that in order for people to love and support me, I had to win, to be the best, to get a gold medal. The moment I had at the 2012 Olympic Trials made me realize life isn’t about winning, but more so the journey. …
Nastia Liukin On What It’s Like to Fail In Front of 20,000 People
The Olympic gold medalist talks failure, burnout and how she deals with email.
Click PLAY or watch that routine on YouTube.
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