August 6, 2025 • 37 mins
Hammer thrower Janeé Kassanavoid was poised to make her first Olympic team in 2024 and then, she missed her throws at the Olympic Trials in Eugene. This past weekend, she returned to the scene of one of her greatest disappointments and rewrote her Hayward Field history - making her third World Championship team. Her story is the one of overcoming disappointment, of owning what went wrong and believing you are more than your worst day. As the first Native American woman to medal at Worlds, Kassanavoid knows as well as anyone, her story is so much bigger than her results. She’s changed her goalposts, she’s adjusted her routine and she’s bet on herself again, and in this episode of The PowHERful Podcast she shares the blueprint of how we too can overcome disappointment, and always remember - your story is full of chapters and even the worst one, is only a single one.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, friends, and welcome to the Powerful Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm your host Aja McCord.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
In this podcast, we introduced you to powerful women who
were changing the game in and outside.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Of their field of play.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
These are women's stories, women who happen to be doing
things that many of us can only dream of, but
the lessons and inspiration they share is universal.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
What's up, everybody, It is aj McCord back with another
episode of the Powerful Podcast. And I am so thrilled
because for this episode we actually have our very first
two time guest. You all met her fell in love
with her bravery, her beauty in the first season of
The Powerful Podcast, our inaugural season. Jennay Cassanovoid is a
(00:43):
badass hammer thrower. She is the first Indigenous woman to
have won a hammer medal at a World Championships back
in twenty twenty two, and we had her on in
the lead up to the paras Olympics in twenty twenty
four and everything was poised for her to make that
Team USA and then disaster struck in Eugene. She had
(01:04):
what she has called the worst day of her throwing
career and didn't make the team. And so this last
year has been all about picking yourself up and being
resilient after a very very deep disappointment, and the lessons
that she shares about how she picked herself back up,
about where she is now because spoiler alert, she did
(01:26):
just qualify for another World Championships is so powerful.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
It's the definition of it. So I cannot wait for
you guys to.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Hear this episode and let me reintroduce you to Jane
and so I am so excited to be welcoming back
Jenny Casanovoid. Oh my gosh, girl, it has been a
year since we last talked to you. You were one
of the inaugural athletes that we had in season one
of the Powerful. You are a badass hammer thrower who
(01:55):
literally just made it to Tokyo for Worlds, your third
World chance, so you're going to be competing in You
had a great performance at Hayward Field at Nationals, which
is what locked in your spot. And in addition to
all the things that you've accomplished so far, I'm just
so excited to talk to you as a human being
because your vulnerability and your strength stuck with me last
season and I have a feeling that we're just going
(02:16):
to dive deeper this time. So thanks for being here.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Yeah, so excited to be back, and I'm happy to
be making the world team this year once again. So
I'm just excited to continue the journey and keep throwing
that metal ball far.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
So that's the goal.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yes, so I probably should have like reintroduced that aspect also,
but Jinay one of the best hammer throwers in the
entire world. So we caught up for the first time
when you were trying to qualify in Paris. Met up
at one of your meets, one of the qualifying meats
in Tucson.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I got a chance to watch you.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Throw that big, heavy metal ball, and I remained absolutely impressed.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Walk me through what happened shortly.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
After, we got a chance to connect ahead of the
Paris Games.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yes, so as normal, we kind of start our season
early May and then just kind of prepare our best
foot forward for our nationals and with the twenty twenty
four Olympic year is our Olympic trials, and so going
back to Eugene and high hopes and good faith that
we would be making our first Olympic team after falling
(03:21):
very very short in twenty twenty one, but we've come
back stronger, We've grown a whole bunch, and we learned
just a lot more about the event altogether. So taking
that knowledge, taking that confidence, and going after it in
the trials, we just fell really short. I think we
finished sixth at that meet. And there's really no excuse
(03:43):
other than I had probably one of my worst days
in my career, which is unfortunate because that is the
US process and that is the system put in place
to create equality and fairness in our selection process. So unfortunate.
But you know, we keep on grinding and out and
we just focused on what we can do next, and
(04:05):
that's just that's just part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So it is so hard when an entire cycle, an
entire three cycles of season come down to that one
single day. And knowing that it's a part of the
system and the process it does it like sort of
eases this thing, but like in some ways it almost
makes it worse because you're like, oh my gosh, this
(04:28):
is this is it, this is what I worked so
hard for. Talk me through like how you woke up
the next day and said, Okay, I'm gonna pick my
I'm gonna get back up, I'm gonna put another foot
in front of the other and I'm gonna keep going.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
I definitely think twenty one honestly stung a little bit
harder just because I was so close and I wasn't fourth,
and then the alternate, But coming out of that year
and really just like getting right back to work, it
took very minimal time off, got right.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
Back to work, was able to still hap in a.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Couple competitions to finish out the season strong, and then
coming back for twenty twenty two and following it up
with my second medal in twenty twenty three, like just
one thing after another just to keep the spirits up
and being like, hey, we do belong here, we are
one of the best in the world. Just regaining that
confidence back in the circle was a huge thing that
(05:23):
I think I needed going into twenty twenty four. But
like I said, if it wasn't meant to be, it
wasn't meant to be.
Speaker 5 (05:29):
Not my day.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
But it still doesn't take away from all the growth
and all the success I have had in this sport.
You know, every great athlete has a bad day, and
so it's hard to hear because I'm so competitive and
so driven and it's what I've worked for right. And
I think the biggest unfortunate part of it is when
people ask me, you know, what do you do or
what sport do you participate in, and I say, oh,
(05:53):
track and field, and their number one sense of being
important or being the best is oh, are you an
Olympian or did you make Olympics? And I got to
say not yet, haven't got that one on the resume,
but definitely working tour it. We're still a two time
world medalist, still, you know, one of the best in
the US and the best in the world. So I
think my purpose as an athlete in sport and out
(06:15):
of sport is bigger than just you know, having that
Olympic title next to my name.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So a million person And it's so crazy how that's
one of the things that is so hard about these
sports that only come around and get the spotlight every
four years, right, is you're kind of like, well, yeah,
I miss this competition and I understand that, like that's
the one that has all the sponsors and all the
world's attention, But like you just listened on some of
(06:42):
your accolades, and another one being that in twenty twenty
two when you won that bronze in Eugene at Hayward Field.
You became the first Native American woman to meddle at Worlds.
As a hammer thrower, your purpose is so much bigger.
But how did you remind yourself of that in those
moments in those weeks after the trials last year?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Yeah, I think the big one was having my family there.
It's very hard just with travel to track and Field,
and we're all over the world, and then just they
have a bunch of little ones and so it's very
hard for them to travel and to catch my meat.
So I'm just like super hyper independent in that way.
It's rare track and field, like all of us as individuals,
we rarely even travel with our coach. We don't have
(07:24):
a team, we don't have trading partners, and so going
into that meet, it was amazing to have a handful
of close family and friends there in attendance. And I
think from twenty twenty one, like I was kind of
just there alone and like everyone was sending messages and
like what's going on?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
What happened? Like oh fell so short.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And I just like did not want to touch my
phone after that, Like it was very very hard, very emotional.
But I think just kind of understanding the process and
accepting it. After I took that sixth round throw and
really set with yeah, okay another year, Like it literally
just slipped my fingertips, like wow, we're here again and
(08:03):
not close this time, but like really far off and
we just completely missed it, you know. But I look
over at my family and of course they're like, oh,
you're so We're so proud of me. You did so great,
and I'm just like, ugh, no, like get away for me.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
I know, want to talk to anybody, but you.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Know, it's all love and they're going to support me regardless.
It's just as an athlete, something you've worked so hard
for that is seen as a huge accomplishment in our sports.
You know, I just wanted it, and I wanted it
really bad. So having them there allowed me to not
basically crumble and turn into a dark corner and just
close everyone off. So kind of releasing the hammer in
(08:44):
the sixth round throw, I just you know, gave a
thank you to everyone for being there and cheering on
because at the end of the day, we still are
going to hold our head up high and keep being
this strong Indigenous woman that we are and holding representation
and like sharing my journey as much as possible, the good,
the bad, ugly, and everything in between.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I just read a quote that was talking about
how essentially the heart of it is how it is
so nice and gratifying to get applauded when you do
something really.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Well, but it's almost more.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
There's something different about being thanked for your vulnerability in
the middle of disappointment, because it feels like in your accomplishments,
congratulations you became an Olympian, Congratulations, you won worlds congratulations.
You know, like that is a you thing that so
few people are ever going to be able to relate to.
But in this moment, it feels like you were gracious
(09:45):
and willing to be honest in the middle of disappointment.
And being honest in the middle of disappointment, girl, I
think that is harder than making any Olympic team because
it's something that is so vulnerable, but everyone can relate to.
Everyone can really to being disappointed and to not showing
up the way that you wanted to show up and
to having something go wrong on a big day, and
(10:06):
how you showed up is what is going to stick
with people so much longer than if you'd made the team.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah, And I didn't realize it in that moment. I
was just like, Okay, it's fine, we're fine. Let's just
thank you all for being here.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Like we tried our best. It is what it was.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
But then like having my mom when I called her
later that evening and she was just like, you know, hey,
I am really proud of like how you carried yourself
and like you didn't give any excuses and da da dad,
Like you just still held your character up high. And
I think that's what I love and have enjoyed watching
about you, but also I think what everyone else can
(10:46):
admire and appreciate.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
So yeah, I'm try.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Well, you did a fantastic job in the moment, and
I was so excited to watch you this past weekend
go back to not the scene of the crime, but
go back to the spot that I'm sure it was
hard to return to where you're like, oh no, I
have to do that. How did you face down those
demons when you walked back into Hayward Field knowing the
(11:12):
last time that you were here things did not go
the way you wanted them too.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Yeah, well, it was really nice. Two weeks prior, I
think it was three weeks in total, but we were
able to compete in the women's hammer throw for the
Diamond Leak at pre Classic. So that was a first
little rip off the band aid. Let's get into this ring,
let's make it better than last time, but also just
get a feel for everything and reset our scenery, reset
our surrounding so that when we come back when it matters,
(11:39):
when we have to be on our a game, we
know how to do it correctly this time. And so
that was the biggest goal going into that competition and
throwing you know, seventy four meters just under seventy five.
I feel like if you can do that consistently anywhere
in the world, like you're gonna be okay. And so
that's just really what I was striving for, is like, hey,
feel the ground underneath you, be connected with the ball,
(12:02):
and no matter what, like just keep trying to do
that over and over. And so I feel like we
did a good job. But through the whole season we
have this, We had the I don't know this pattern
of having our best farthest throw on the last round.
So a definite Lobo season, last one best one, which
I'll take it, but I was like, all right, we
(12:23):
got to switch that order around for usas because we
need it in the first three. I like that we
can still find energy and still get some really good
throws and at the end, but we.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
Need it in the first three.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
And so kind of just when we got back to
Florida after our last competition and priming up for usas
you know, connecting with my team and talking about strategy,
talking about nervous system, kind of how we can approach mental,
emotional and physical, and just we did such a good
job I think all together in communication and just expressing
(12:57):
like this is the goal and how can we get there?
And yeah, I'm really happy with the performance. Of course,
top three is the goal. But knowing that I had
a little bit of a safety net with a wild
card in the field going into that sixth round couldn't
be happier, you know, kind of solidifying my spot on
the team, I could take a breath of fresh air
and then move past this and focus on the bigger
(13:19):
goal down the road.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
What was the what was the strategy that you employed
to get out of the lobo.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
I had to actually be active on the day of
a competition and not just sit around on my bum
all day and reserve energy.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
I actually got up.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
At seven point thirty. I went for a walk, woke
the body up, woke the brain up, went to the
gym and did some mobility exercises for the upper body,
and fired up like my glutes and my hips.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
So I guess I just you.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Know, it's not recommended, even I've been told my entire
career just to chill out and be super energy reserving.
But this year, working with more strength coach focus and
more people who are involved in like body mechanics and
things of that nature, we just woke the body up,
kept it fired, kept it engaged to allow us to
(14:12):
not kind of work through the series and get warmed up.
We started right from the beginning, and so having the
farthest series now at that first throw is what really
got me through the rest of the competition.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, that's a wild thing to think about, because I
feel like it kind of goes back to like this
idea that you know, a warm up makes a big difference. Obviously,
you have a warm up before you like get into
the trial or into the competition itself in your first throw,
but there's an element of even learning that process that
because your sport is so niche and because it's like
(14:46):
dominated by so few, it really is such a personal
process to figure out, like what do I need to do.
There's not you know, it's not like a football team
where you all warm up together, or like soccer you
have these drills. It's like you have to figure out
what works best for you. And when you think about
really like the context of your professional career, it hasn't
(15:07):
been like the longest of time, so it makes sense
that you're still dialing it in and figuring out how
to get better. And so then it's so sick to
see that be the result at Hayward to not just
have it be the result obviously where you qualify for
a world and are going to Tokyo, but taking this
like it's kind of this more important main goal of
(15:27):
like as long as I will start strong, that's what
I want to do. How gratifying is that to feel
like this was the goal and this is exactly what
I executed, regardless of what the results were.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, And it's like I've been doing this since twenty fourteen,
when I first picked it up as a freshman and
going into k State, where I was just solely hammer thrower.
You know, We're like, hey, throwers don't do warm ups.
Throwers just get right into it and do the bare
minimum and things of that nature. And so I'd bought
into that, and I just realized, Okay, well it's worked
(16:02):
so far, let's.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Just keep going with it.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
But understanding there is a lot more to your body
and your nervous system that if you can tap into
different areas and try new things. Like I am getting older.
I'm thirty now, so it takes me a lot longer
of a warm up than just strapping up the shoes,
throwing on some tape and like getting into the ring.
So I'm super appreciative of the team that I have
(16:25):
gotten to work with this year.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
We've made a lot of big, good changes.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
So I'm excited to anchor down these next six weeks
and see what we can do in Tokyo.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Were there any moments, maybe after you qualified in Eugene
or along the way in the last year, that really
stand out to you as like milestone moments that you
feel like these were the identifying moments of this last year,
Like this was my low, but this was the time
that I knew I was going to get out of it.
And this was the time that I had the first
(16:55):
proof that I was on my way out of it.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you know what I mean? Like, what were those
moments for you this year?
Speaker 4 (17:02):
I definitely feel like after last season, I was kind
of in an odd point of getting out of working
with my coach. Not in a bad sense, but there
was situations that came up where I was training to
where I couldn't be training outside. We didn't have facilities,
so it's kind of just a struggle training. There were
hiccups and things of that nature. So I didn't want
(17:23):
that to be an excuse or reason or stressful situation
to burden throwing hammer and because that's my focus, and
so I'm able to kind of when life goes wrong
or bad things happen, I'm able to kind of tune
all the noise out and just say, hey, I'm a
hammer thrower. I've done this a million times. We can
still be great regardless.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
And so that.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Transition in April to May, I moved to Florida, and
so I took a big risk, but you know, I
was like, Hey, I need to be somewhere where I
can train all year round. I can be outside you know,
just really buy into the commitment of training and giving
it my best shot for the trials. But unfortunately we
came up short. But still, you know, betting on myself,
(18:05):
taking a risk, putting myself first, and like prioritizing my
health was huge. I didn't want to have someone control
every aspect of my life and throwing and training, and
I just wanted more feedback from multiple brains and people
who can work collaboratively as a team, because I figured
I have progressed and developed over ten eleven years and
(18:27):
I've always went up the ladder and gotten better, and
so falling short having the worst possible me even trusting
my base, trusting the millions of thrones I've taken in
my lifetime, like we can still get through this, and
thinking that my base level is good enough, and it
just really wasn't. And so after the trials it was
definitely a time to take a step back, reflect create
(18:50):
a plan for this year, and just think, let's get better,
but also understanding that if I do go in a
different direction or I leave the coach that I've always
worked with, like it is a scary time and we're
taking a risk and it may not work. Out or
it's a rebuilding face. So I have been coaching myself
technically in the hammer this year, and it's just been
(19:11):
giving me kind of room to breathe and get my
head above water and just appreciate and find love for
the sport again and not having any pressure attached to it.
So taking that time away after the trials, I went
abroad and traveled to five different countries and just competed
for fun.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And was just like, hey, it's okay, you're still good.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
And then like competing and doing well and performing well
despite not going to the Olympics, when everyone in those
fields of competitions we're going.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
To the Olympics. I was like, it's okay, we're fine.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Just keep throwing and just keep trying to enjoy the
remainder of the season and then we'll take time off
get back after it, but approach it in a different way.
And so it was definitely through the winter months just
seeing my training marks be completely different than years past
was kind of like because I was like, ooh, this
is different, but we also don't know how it's going
(20:03):
to play out, and we train all year round, so
you really.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Just have to buy in, trust it and do the work.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Until those, you know, may opening competitions happen. And so
going back to Tucson where it's usually my best performance
and throwing seventy six meters where I haven't thrown that
far in the past two years, I was like, hey, okay,
we're okay, We're all right, We're we're in the right spot.
And I think that was a good moment going forward
(20:32):
of like, hey, we're right back where we belong. We
can do this, Like just don't get in your head
too much and just go out and throw. So that definitely,
that may meet was a breath of fresh air. And
then just continuing to go through the plan as as
originally we all discussed as a team. And so yeah,
(20:53):
it's just been fun. It's been it's been great. And
so I've enjoyed Florida.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
I've enjoyed the.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Sticky humidity, and again just getting after it another year
on a team.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Yeah, you mentioned kind of falling back in love with
the sport again. And I feel like the more often
I talk to athletes at this level, the more often
there is a moment where they have to decide do
I still love this?
Speaker 2 (21:21):
And it's typically after.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
A big disappointment, a big injury, a moment that they're
like oof, that one hurt a lot, right, whether it's physically, mentally, emotionally.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
How did you decide that you still love throwing hammer.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
Oh that's a hard one.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
I do love hammer, and I do love track and field,
just because I've been in it for so long and
when I first started, I had no idea of the world,
especially on a professional level. But I think just all together,
I love being an athlete because if it wasn't throwing hammer,
it'd be sand volleyball, or it'd be pitch softball, it'd
(22:01):
be something that just has a competitive fun atmosphere.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
I love all sports. I love being physically active. I
love just.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Hopping in a game for fun, even if it's like
with my nieces and nephews and I'm.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Gonna beat them every time.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Yes, yes, and so I definitely think also just being
the last of my siblings who had so much pressure
to like live up to the name and oh, you're
so and So's little sibling, and I'm like, no, I'm
Jane Casnovoid, and just having this journey of kind of
establishing my own name and establishing my own legacy, like
(22:35):
we haven't fully completed it, but we're still working on
it and just continuing to break barriers and create history
and you know, navigate the space of track and field.
Being one of the first, you know, Indigenous women to meddle,
it's still like I'm still just like how you know,
in twenty twenty two, how am I the first? And
you know, where are we going wrong? Where athletes don't
(22:56):
feel like they can continue or be successful or.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
Be at the time with a level.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Because just in our culture alone, like we're raw athletes
and a lot of our upbringings and our way of
life and so just kind of continuing to pave the
way and continuing to be an athlete and just just
enjoying life. At the same time, you can sacrifice so
much and work so hard and possibly overtrain and then
(23:22):
get into injury and still come up short. So I
feel like there's a perfect balance of life in sports
to never give yourself to one thing, because I just
feel like I've done that and I've still come up short.
And so I feel like from here going forward, I'll
do the best I can, but I'm also never going
to give myself more than anything. And I know after
(23:46):
sport too. I have so many other passions. I still
want to go to Cornary School. I still want to
finish and get my dietitian degree and be a registered dietitian.
So I have so many aspirations with so little time.
I just feel like, you know, I want to see
the sport career through fully until it's my time to
hang up the shoes. But right now, yeah, we're going
(24:07):
to keep going and hopefully twenty twenty eight we can
see that through.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Yeah, compete on the home turf in twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Yes, I want to talk on this incredible collaboration that
I have out lost my mind over because I think
it personifies some of what you're talking about with owning
and being proud of.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
And representing your indigenous heritage.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
And tell me a little bit about how the collab
with Pendleton came out ahead of the Prefontained Classic, because
y'all about broke the Internet with these blankets, and as
a proud owner of a Pendleton blanket, I was obsessed.
I was like, oh my gosh, this is it, this
is what we need.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Tell me how that came about.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Yeah, it was really a dream come true. And being
a Nike Athlete is an amazing accomplishment. It's you know
the goal of a lifetime. And also having the collaboration
and partnership with the in seven family, you know, giving
indigenous athletes a platform to share their story and really
just uplifting, inspiring stories and powerful people doing amazing things
(25:13):
like that is top of the notch. Like that's all
I've ever wanted. And so the two of them working
together and working towards the Prefontaine Classic, you know, they
reached out and they were doing the silent auction with
a couple of merchandise pieces and Pendleton was up in
the runnings and they're like, we would love you to
kind of not really be the face, but an athlete
(25:35):
who's competing in pre and who's indigenous with Pendleton, like
just spotlight the release of Sam Akracken, the CEO of
and seven, his specialty design from a twenty thirteen campaign,
they put it into the Pendleton. So I'm just like
in awe, i am speechless. I'm so honored, and of
(25:56):
course I was.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
Like, yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
And so not only was the unboxing like I'm shaking
and about to cry, but then seeing the pictures that we
did take in like Pendleton sharing it. I mean, I'm
just so incredibly honored and humbold to be a part
of it. So yeah, it was a really really great moment.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Oh it was incredible to see.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
And as soon as I saw it, I just was
thinking back to our conversation last year about how important
it is for you, and that's why I said earlier,
it's so impressive how you handled yourself and the disappointment
because you are being looked up to by a lot
of the next generation of Indigenous athletes, Indigenous girls who
were saying, Oh, Okay, this is what I'm capable of.
(26:40):
This is what it's possible for men. I can be
a track and field athlete. I can get to work
with Nike and Penels and all these incredible brands in
all the lows of the last year. How did that
fall and feel in terms of a big win.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Yeah, I think that's just what it was like, no
matter how heartbreaking it was and where I felt like,
you know, gosh, here we.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
Are again and we're just not good enough or what.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Is it about me and these Zange trials that's not
wanting to work together. But I think despite it all
and how I've been able to recover so quickly and
it not be as gutriching as twenty twenty one is
because of this supportive, outpouring amount of love and encouragement
that has been received from the Native community and my
(27:29):
family and friends and all the relationships I have built
over the course of my career. Just everyone, no matter
what the outcome, good or bad, Like they've just been like,
we love you no.
Speaker 5 (27:40):
Matter what, like keep your head up, like your story
has been so inspiring.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
And I think again, my purpose is so much bigger
than sport, being representation and just knowing that if you
look like me that you can do amazing things and
you can be one of the best, but also just
giving the younger generation hope and being a woman and strong,
I mean powerful, Like all of these things are so
(28:04):
so important that sometimes I forget about that. You know,
there are people watching, there are people tuning in, and
just how impactful it will be to those younger athletes.
So hopefully we get more athletes at this level, but
also hammer throwers, you know, bringing hammer to the world
and introducing it.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
So yeah, it's all been super.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Humbling, but just an amazing experience and I'm so thankful
for all the love that I have received.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Yeah, man, well, I cannot wait to watch you at Worlds.
I cannot wait to watch it compete in Tokyo and
just continue to share what it is to be a growing, learning,
trying new things human being, because I think that it
is so easy to beat.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Ourselves up when we fall short.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
But I also feel like we fall short because we're
trying hard things, you know, And that's why it's hard,
That's why there's so few who are doing it, and
so I think it's much braver to show up and
fail than to not show up. And I'm just really
really stoked that you keep showing up because.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
It matters, So thank you, yeah girl.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Okay, before we get to tiery, we're gonna switch gears.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
This is called Something to sip On, brought to you
by the Sports Bra.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
You may remember this from last season, but I want
to know what are we sipping on these days after
visiting five countries. Did our post meet, post match, post competition,
post competition drink change.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
Oh well, I really haven't told anybody this except for
my close friends, but I have This is the first
season ever that have been sober and it's crazy to say,
but like, first time since seventeen going on longer than
two to three months sober. So it was a really
(29:55):
just powerful moment again to tap into that what can
we change.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
What can we do better to compete at the highest levels?
Speaker 4 (30:02):
And so that was just a little thought and then
once we did it, we're like, can we keep going?
Can we disciplined? Can we say no? I love wine,
I love margarita's, a little brunch mimosa, it's all so yummy,
but really just being diligent in that process and being
sober just to see if it can bring.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
Us to that next level.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
So that is just like a nice little tidbit to
how the season's going.
Speaker 5 (30:29):
Yeah, but so on.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
A mocktail then, so what's the mocktail that we're so
go to?
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Yo, we just.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Go to a Shirley temple. I feel like you can't
go wrong. I love a little cherry right, Yes, I know.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
My go to for your next effort out is I
do a ginger ale with cranberry juice and it is
shockingly good. If they have fresh mint, I put that
in there too, and it is like it's delicious.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
It's when it's because I've.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Been sort of with the same sort of thing, especially
in events and stuff like that, and it's one of
those like, oh, this is nice because it's nice to
have something different at the end of the day, you know,
Like I like my body has learned too much that
there's a drink reward at the end of the day,
So how can we switch this up?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
And I love it. It's like my biggest is my biggest.
I'd go to it all the time now, So I
love that.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
So we're serving mocktails these days because we have a
World championship to win, So I like that.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Our next segment is called powered Up and these are
three things that power you up to get ready to
throw that metal ball as far as you possibly can.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
So I want to know what.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Is the weirdest exercise that is so unique to hammer
that you have to do to warm up?
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Interesting?
Speaker 4 (31:49):
I would say for me now, it's probably just my
back mobility exercises, okay, and just like doing all these
very interesting turns and twists and things that I've never
done before. Like I said, we're getting old, so that's
probably one. But number two is running. I do run now.
Speaker 5 (32:09):
I used to be Team No.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Cardio, and you won't see many hammer throwers being agile in.
Speaker 5 (32:16):
The warm ups.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
And then number three, I would just say pickles because
before every meat, if not during the meat or after
the meat, I always have my own snap pickles on deck.
I don't go anywhere without them. They're a huge part
of my training regimen, for sure.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I love that. Oh my gosh, that's fantastic. That's good
to know.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
What is the one song that if it comes on
your headphones, it immediately gets you into go mode?
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Yes, that is Stadium Pow Wow by Hallucination.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
It is all the emotions tuned in and I really
have to be careful about the timing of when I
play it because it gets the blood going. It gets
me also like teary eyed, because I just it's so empowerful.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
So yes, that one is definitely on the list.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
I like it. I like it.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
And then, last, but not least, what is the one
piece of equipment that you always double triple check is
in your bag? Like, what is the one thing that
you're like, oof, I need to make sure this thing
isn't here. It can be the ball?
Speaker 5 (33:22):
Oh it can or can't?
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (33:23):
No, it can it can?
Speaker 5 (33:25):
Okay, Yeah, definitely in my competition hammer. That is the
biggest thing.
Speaker 4 (33:29):
It's we're just so so picky with knowing and liking
our specific implement to if it wasn't there or somehow
it didn't check into the meat like I'd be, it
would throw me off entirely.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
So yeah, me and my hammer can go hand in hand.
We're locked in.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
I remember, I'm gonna put it over this part of
the podcast because I remember you strutton into some last
year just like carrying the hammer, and it was just
like an extension of your arm.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
You're like, yeah, this goes with me everywhere. I'm never
without it. Do you have to treat that like a
weight in airports? Or like how does that work?
Speaker 5 (34:04):
They ask so many questions.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
I never go through TSA or like open my luggage
when I arrive where I'm at and it's like, t
so you checked your bag. I'm just like, oh, but yeah,
looks a little funky. When I have a carry on
suitcase that I packed my.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
Training hammers, my phone, roll or my.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Speaker, like tripod and everything, and there's probably like five
balls in the corner of the suitcase with like wires
and handles wrapped around they're probably thinking it's some type of.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Not good. Definitely check it. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Every time I go to Kenya, they have security before
you get into the airport, and so they're like, come
over here, and I'm like, oh gosh, here we go.
Speaker 5 (34:42):
They're like, what is this. I'm like, have you hammer, Matilda?
I don't know how to explain.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Have you ever had like have you dialed in your
your answer to these questions like do you do you
already come up with a speech or do you wait
for them to ask questions?
Speaker 5 (34:57):
No?
Speaker 4 (34:58):
I definitely wait for them to ask and then I
usually always just with the language barrier. Sometimes I just
have to pull up my phone and be like athletics
track and field, like tmusa somewhere.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Just let me get these through.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Yeah, You're like, I swear this is allowed on this airplane,
Please just let me through. Have you ever had a
situation where you weren't allowed on or you had to
miss a flight or something like that.
Speaker 5 (35:19):
No, No, it's always in my check bag.
Speaker 4 (35:22):
I've never tried to risk it because I like to
get to the airport right at the latest possible second.
So it just always goes in the check bag and
we just hope it makes it there.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Oh my gosh, have you started putting the air tags
in your check bag because that's what my OCD has
led me to now.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
I have not, thankfully, in a good while, I've not
had anything not come through.
Speaker 5 (35:45):
I did lose a weight one time.
Speaker 4 (35:46):
I packed it in a Pelican suitcase and the weight
through going to an indoor competition. I opened it because
one laugh was kind of up and I was like,
oh no, and it wasn't there when it came around
the baggage plane.
Speaker 5 (35:59):
Oh no, Oh that's a long time. I'm herew indoorway.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Oh no, that's unfortunate.
Speaker 5 (36:04):
Geez, those ones are not cheap.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Yeah, Oh my gosh, that's brutal. Okay, little side pust
down tsa dramas.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
That's funny.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Because my surfboards, I'm always like, I put an air
tag in my board bag now because it like gets
so like airports, It just gets so chaotic with layovers
and stuff that it just helps my anxiety if I
know where it is, so I can't do anything about it,
but it just makes me feel better that like I
know where it is. Okay, And then this question, my
(36:33):
dear has not changed. Maybe you have changed since I
asked to asked you this question. But what does powerful
mean to you?
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Powerful just means strong, beautiful, and resilient, And that's something
I always repeats to myself a handful of times throughout competition,
throughout training, you know, stepping into the circle and taking
me a deep breath, just establishing that confidence and who
you are and what you believe in and where you
come from is super powerful and can make you, you know.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
Unstoppable at what you do.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
And I think that's definitely a huge part in my
journey and overcoming trials and tribulation.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
So yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Well. Thank you for joining us again on the Powerful
It is just incredible to see you navigate this world
and show up as your strong, beautiful, resilient self every
step of the way, amid every success, every disappointment, and
it makes you just one of the easiest human beings
to root for. So I cannot wait to see you
in Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
We'll see you in September, girl, good luck at that competition.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
We're rooting you on.
Speaker 5 (37:41):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Yeah, thanks for joining us on the Powerful podcast to
check us out every Tuesday everywhere you get your podcasts,
and if you really enjoy this and don't want to
miss an episode, be sure to hit that subscribe button.
Hello, friends, and welcome to the Powerful Podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm your host Aja McCord.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
In this podcast, we introduced you to powerful women who
were changing the game in and outside.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Of their field of play.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
These are women's stories, women who happen to be doing
things that many of us can only dream of, but
the lessons and inspiration they share is universal.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
What's up, everybody, It is aj McCord back with another
episode of the Powerful Podcast. And I am so thrilled
because for this episode we actually have our very first
two time guest. You all met her fell in love
with her bravery, her beauty in the first season of
The Powerful Podcast, our inaugural season. Jennay Cassanovoid is a
(00:43):
badass hammer thrower. She is the first Indigenous woman to
have won a hammer medal at a World Championships back
in twenty twenty two, and we had her on in
the lead up to the paras Olympics in twenty twenty
four and everything was poised for her to make that
Team USA and then disaster struck in Eugene. She had
(01:04):
what she has called the worst day of her throwing
career and didn't make the team. And so this last
year has been all about picking yourself up and being
resilient after a very very deep disappointment, and the lessons
that she shares about how she picked herself back up,
about where she is now because spoiler alert, she did
(01:26):
just qualify for another World Championships is so powerful.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
It's the definition of it. So I cannot wait for
you guys to.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
Hear this episode and let me reintroduce you to Jane
and so I am so excited to be welcoming back
Jenny Casanovoid. Oh my gosh, girl, it has been a
year since we last talked to you. You were one
of the inaugural athletes that we had in season one
of the Powerful. You are a badass hammer thrower who
(01:55):
literally just made it to Tokyo for Worlds, your third
World chance, so you're going to be competing in You
had a great performance at Hayward Field at Nationals, which
is what locked in your spot. And in addition to
all the things that you've accomplished so far, I'm just
so excited to talk to you as a human being
because your vulnerability and your strength stuck with me last
season and I have a feeling that we're just going
(02:16):
to dive deeper this time. So thanks for being here.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Yeah, so excited to be back, and I'm happy to
be making the world team this year once again. So
I'm just excited to continue the journey and keep throwing
that metal ball far.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
So that's the goal.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yes, so I probably should have like reintroduced that aspect also,
but Jinay one of the best hammer throwers in the
entire world. So we caught up for the first time
when you were trying to qualify in Paris. Met up
at one of your meets, one of the qualifying meats
in Tucson.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
I got a chance to watch you.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Throw that big, heavy metal ball, and I remained absolutely impressed.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Walk me through what happened shortly.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
After, we got a chance to connect ahead of the
Paris Games.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yes, so as normal, we kind of start our season
early May and then just kind of prepare our best
foot forward for our nationals and with the twenty twenty
four Olympic year is our Olympic trials, and so going
back to Eugene and high hopes and good faith that
we would be making our first Olympic team after falling
(03:21):
very very short in twenty twenty one, but we've come
back stronger, We've grown a whole bunch, and we learned
just a lot more about the event altogether. So taking
that knowledge, taking that confidence, and going after it in
the trials, we just fell really short. I think we
finished sixth at that meet. And there's really no excuse
(03:43):
other than I had probably one of my worst days
in my career, which is unfortunate because that is the
US process and that is the system put in place
to create equality and fairness in our selection process. So unfortunate.
But you know, we keep on grinding and out and
we just focused on what we can do next, and
(04:05):
that's just that's just part of it.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So it is so hard when an entire cycle, an
entire three cycles of season come down to that one
single day. And knowing that it's a part of the
system and the process it does it like sort of
eases this thing, but like in some ways it almost
makes it worse because you're like, oh my gosh, this
(04:28):
is this is it, this is what I worked so
hard for. Talk me through like how you woke up
the next day and said, Okay, I'm gonna pick my
I'm gonna get back up, I'm gonna put another foot
in front of the other and I'm gonna keep going.
Speaker 5 (04:44):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
I definitely think twenty one honestly stung a little bit
harder just because I was so close and I wasn't fourth,
and then the alternate, But coming out of that year
and really just like getting right back to work, it
took very minimal time off, got right.
Speaker 5 (05:01):
Back to work, was able to still hap in a.
Speaker 4 (05:02):
Couple competitions to finish out the season strong, and then
coming back for twenty twenty two and following it up
with my second medal in twenty twenty three, like just
one thing after another just to keep the spirits up
and being like, hey, we do belong here, we are
one of the best in the world. Just regaining that
confidence back in the circle was a huge thing that
(05:23):
I think I needed going into twenty twenty four. But
like I said, if it wasn't meant to be, it
wasn't meant to be.
Speaker 5 (05:29):
Not my day.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
But it still doesn't take away from all the growth
and all the success I have had in this sport.
You know, every great athlete has a bad day, and
so it's hard to hear because I'm so competitive and
so driven and it's what I've worked for right. And
I think the biggest unfortunate part of it is when
people ask me, you know, what do you do or
what sport do you participate in, and I say, oh,
(05:53):
track and field, and their number one sense of being
important or being the best is oh, are you an
Olympian or did you make Olympics? And I got to
say not yet, haven't got that one on the resume,
but definitely working tour it. We're still a two time
world medalist, still, you know, one of the best in
the US and the best in the world. So I
think my purpose as an athlete in sport and out
(06:15):
of sport is bigger than just you know, having that
Olympic title next to my name.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
So a million person And it's so crazy how that's
one of the things that is so hard about these
sports that only come around and get the spotlight every
four years, right, is you're kind of like, well, yeah,
I miss this competition and I understand that, like that's
the one that has all the sponsors and all the
world's attention, But like you just listened on some of
(06:42):
your accolades, and another one being that in twenty twenty
two when you won that bronze in Eugene at Hayward Field.
You became the first Native American woman to meddle at Worlds.
As a hammer thrower, your purpose is so much bigger.
But how did you remind yourself of that in those
moments in those weeks after the trials last year?
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Yeah, I think the big one was having my family there.
It's very hard just with travel to track and Field,
and we're all over the world, and then just they
have a bunch of little ones and so it's very
hard for them to travel and to catch my meat.
So I'm just like super hyper independent in that way.
It's rare track and field, like all of us as individuals,
we rarely even travel with our coach. We don't have
(07:24):
a team, we don't have trading partners, and so going
into that meet, it was amazing to have a handful
of close family and friends there in attendance. And I
think from twenty twenty one, like I was kind of
just there alone and like everyone was sending messages and
like what's going on?
Speaker 5 (07:39):
What happened? Like oh fell so short.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
And I just like did not want to touch my
phone after that, Like it was very very hard, very emotional.
But I think just kind of understanding the process and
accepting it. After I took that sixth round throw and
really set with yeah, okay another year, Like it literally
just slipped my fingertips, like wow, we're here again and
(08:03):
not close this time, but like really far off and
we just completely missed it, you know. But I look
over at my family and of course they're like, oh,
you're so We're so proud of me. You did so great,
and I'm just like, ugh, no, like get away for me.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
I know, want to talk to anybody, but you.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Know, it's all love and they're going to support me regardless.
It's just as an athlete, something you've worked so hard
for that is seen as a huge accomplishment in our sports.
You know, I just wanted it, and I wanted it
really bad. So having them there allowed me to not
basically crumble and turn into a dark corner and just
close everyone off. So kind of releasing the hammer in
(08:44):
the sixth round throw, I just you know, gave a
thank you to everyone for being there and cheering on
because at the end of the day, we still are
going to hold our head up high and keep being
this strong Indigenous woman that we are and holding representation
and like sharing my journey as much as possible, the good,
the bad, ugly, and everything in between.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
So I just read a quote that was talking about
how essentially the heart of it is how it is
so nice and gratifying to get applauded when you do
something really.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Well, but it's almost more.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
There's something different about being thanked for your vulnerability in
the middle of disappointment, because it feels like in your accomplishments,
congratulations you became an Olympian, Congratulations, you won worlds congratulations.
You know, like that is a you thing that so
few people are ever going to be able to relate to.
But in this moment, it feels like you were gracious
(09:45):
and willing to be honest in the middle of disappointment.
And being honest in the middle of disappointment, girl, I
think that is harder than making any Olympic team because
it's something that is so vulnerable, but everyone can relate to.
Everyone can really to being disappointed and to not showing
up the way that you wanted to show up and
to having something go wrong on a big day, and
(10:06):
how you showed up is what is going to stick
with people so much longer than if you'd made the team.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:15):
Yeah, And I didn't realize it in that moment. I
was just like, Okay, it's fine, we're fine. Let's just
thank you all for being here.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Like we tried our best. It is what it was.
Speaker 4 (10:25):
But then like having my mom when I called her
later that evening and she was just like, you know, hey,
I am really proud of like how you carried yourself
and like you didn't give any excuses and da da dad,
Like you just still held your character up high. And
I think that's what I love and have enjoyed watching
about you, but also I think what everyone else can
(10:46):
admire and appreciate.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
So yeah, I'm try.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Well, you did a fantastic job in the moment, and
I was so excited to watch you this past weekend
go back to not the scene of the crime, but
go back to the spot that I'm sure it was
hard to return to where you're like, oh no, I
have to do that. How did you face down those
demons when you walked back into Hayward Field knowing the
(11:12):
last time that you were here things did not go
the way you wanted them too.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Yeah, well, it was really nice. Two weeks prior, I
think it was three weeks in total, but we were
able to compete in the women's hammer throw for the
Diamond Leak at pre Classic. So that was a first
little rip off the band aid. Let's get into this ring,
let's make it better than last time, but also just
get a feel for everything and reset our scenery, reset
our surrounding so that when we come back when it matters,
(11:39):
when we have to be on our a game, we
know how to do it correctly this time. And so
that was the biggest goal going into that competition and
throwing you know, seventy four meters just under seventy five.
I feel like if you can do that consistently anywhere
in the world, like you're gonna be okay. And so
that's just really what I was striving for, is like, hey,
feel the ground underneath you, be connected with the ball,
(12:02):
and no matter what, like just keep trying to do
that over and over. And so I feel like we
did a good job. But through the whole season we
have this, We had the I don't know this pattern
of having our best farthest throw on the last round.
So a definite Lobo season, last one best one, which
I'll take it, but I was like, all right, we
(12:23):
got to switch that order around for usas because we
need it in the first three. I like that we
can still find energy and still get some really good
throws and at the end, but we.
Speaker 5 (12:33):
Need it in the first three.
Speaker 4 (12:34):
And so kind of just when we got back to
Florida after our last competition and priming up for usas
you know, connecting with my team and talking about strategy,
talking about nervous system, kind of how we can approach mental,
emotional and physical, and just we did such a good
job I think all together in communication and just expressing
(12:57):
like this is the goal and how can we get there?
And yeah, I'm really happy with the performance. Of course,
top three is the goal. But knowing that I had
a little bit of a safety net with a wild
card in the field going into that sixth round couldn't
be happier, you know, kind of solidifying my spot on
the team, I could take a breath of fresh air
and then move past this and focus on the bigger
(13:19):
goal down the road.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
What was the what was the strategy that you employed
to get out of the lobo.
Speaker 4 (13:28):
I had to actually be active on the day of
a competition and not just sit around on my bum
all day and reserve energy.
Speaker 5 (13:36):
I actually got up.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
At seven point thirty. I went for a walk, woke
the body up, woke the brain up, went to the
gym and did some mobility exercises for the upper body,
and fired up like my glutes and my hips.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
So I guess I just you.
Speaker 4 (13:52):
Know, it's not recommended, even I've been told my entire
career just to chill out and be super energy reserving.
But this year, working with more strength coach focus and
more people who are involved in like body mechanics and
things of that nature, we just woke the body up,
kept it fired, kept it engaged to allow us to
(14:12):
not kind of work through the series and get warmed up.
We started right from the beginning, and so having the
farthest series now at that first throw is what really
got me through the rest of the competition.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Yeah, that's a wild thing to think about, because I
feel like it kind of goes back to like this
idea that you know, a warm up makes a big difference. Obviously,
you have a warm up before you like get into
the trial or into the competition itself in your first throw,
but there's an element of even learning that process that
because your sport is so niche and because it's like
(14:46):
dominated by so few, it really is such a personal
process to figure out, like what do I need to do.
There's not you know, it's not like a football team
where you all warm up together, or like soccer you
have these drills. It's like you have to figure out
what works best for you. And when you think about
really like the context of your professional career, it hasn't
(15:07):
been like the longest of time, so it makes sense
that you're still dialing it in and figuring out how
to get better. And so then it's so sick to
see that be the result at Hayward to not just
have it be the result obviously where you qualify for
a world and are going to Tokyo, but taking this
like it's kind of this more important main goal of
(15:27):
like as long as I will start strong, that's what
I want to do. How gratifying is that to feel
like this was the goal and this is exactly what
I executed, regardless of what the results were.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
Yeah, And it's like I've been doing this since twenty fourteen,
when I first picked it up as a freshman and
going into k State, where I was just solely hammer thrower.
You know, We're like, hey, throwers don't do warm ups.
Throwers just get right into it and do the bare
minimum and things of that nature. And so I'd bought
into that, and I just realized, Okay, well it's worked
(16:02):
so far, let's.
Speaker 5 (16:03):
Just keep going with it.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
But understanding there is a lot more to your body
and your nervous system that if you can tap into
different areas and try new things. Like I am getting older.
I'm thirty now, so it takes me a lot longer
of a warm up than just strapping up the shoes,
throwing on some tape and like getting into the ring.
So I'm super appreciative of the team that I have
(16:25):
gotten to work with this year.
Speaker 5 (16:26):
We've made a lot of big, good changes.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
So I'm excited to anchor down these next six weeks
and see what we can do in Tokyo.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Were there any moments, maybe after you qualified in Eugene
or along the way in the last year, that really
stand out to you as like milestone moments that you
feel like these were the identifying moments of this last year,
Like this was my low, but this was the time
that I knew I was going to get out of it.
And this was the time that I had the first
(16:55):
proof that I was on my way out of it.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
Do you know what I mean? Like, what were those
moments for you this year?
Speaker 4 (17:02):
I definitely feel like after last season, I was kind
of in an odd point of getting out of working
with my coach. Not in a bad sense, but there
was situations that came up where I was training to
where I couldn't be training outside. We didn't have facilities,
so it's kind of just a struggle training. There were
hiccups and things of that nature. So I didn't want
(17:23):
that to be an excuse or reason or stressful situation
to burden throwing hammer and because that's my focus, and
so I'm able to kind of when life goes wrong
or bad things happen, I'm able to kind of tune
all the noise out and just say, hey, I'm a
hammer thrower. I've done this a million times. We can
still be great regardless.
Speaker 5 (17:42):
And so that.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Transition in April to May, I moved to Florida, and
so I took a big risk, but you know, I
was like, Hey, I need to be somewhere where I
can train all year round. I can be outside you know,
just really buy into the commitment of training and giving
it my best shot for the trials. But unfortunately we
came up short. But still, you know, betting on myself,
(18:05):
taking a risk, putting myself first, and like prioritizing my
health was huge. I didn't want to have someone control
every aspect of my life and throwing and training, and
I just wanted more feedback from multiple brains and people
who can work collaboratively as a team, because I figured
I have progressed and developed over ten eleven years and
(18:27):
I've always went up the ladder and gotten better, and
so falling short having the worst possible me even trusting
my base, trusting the millions of thrones I've taken in
my lifetime, like we can still get through this, and
thinking that my base level is good enough, and it
just really wasn't. And so after the trials it was
definitely a time to take a step back, reflect create
(18:50):
a plan for this year, and just think, let's get better,
but also understanding that if I do go in a
different direction or I leave the coach that I've always
worked with, like it is a scary time and we're
taking a risk and it may not work. Out or
it's a rebuilding face. So I have been coaching myself
technically in the hammer this year, and it's just been
(19:11):
giving me kind of room to breathe and get my
head above water and just appreciate and find love for
the sport again and not having any pressure attached to it.
So taking that time away after the trials, I went
abroad and traveled to five different countries and just competed
for fun.
Speaker 5 (19:29):
And was just like, hey, it's okay, you're still good.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
And then like competing and doing well and performing well
despite not going to the Olympics, when everyone in those
fields of competitions we're going.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
To the Olympics. I was like, it's okay, we're fine.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Just keep throwing and just keep trying to enjoy the
remainder of the season and then we'll take time off
get back after it, but approach it in a different way.
And so it was definitely through the winter months just
seeing my training marks be completely different than years past
was kind of like because I was like, ooh, this
is different, but we also don't know how it's going
(20:03):
to play out, and we train all year round, so
you really.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Just have to buy in, trust it and do the work.
Speaker 4 (20:10):
Until those, you know, may opening competitions happen. And so
going back to Tucson where it's usually my best performance
and throwing seventy six meters where I haven't thrown that
far in the past two years, I was like, hey, okay,
we're okay, We're all right, We're we're in the right spot.
And I think that was a good moment going forward
(20:32):
of like, hey, we're right back where we belong. We
can do this, Like just don't get in your head
too much and just go out and throw. So that definitely,
that may meet was a breath of fresh air. And
then just continuing to go through the plan as as
originally we all discussed as a team. And so yeah,
(20:53):
it's just been fun. It's been it's been great. And
so I've enjoyed Florida.
Speaker 5 (20:58):
I've enjoyed the.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Sticky humidity, and again just getting after it another year
on a team.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
Yeah, you mentioned kind of falling back in love with
the sport again. And I feel like the more often
I talk to athletes at this level, the more often
there is a moment where they have to decide do
I still love this?
Speaker 2 (21:21):
And it's typically after.
Speaker 1 (21:23):
A big disappointment, a big injury, a moment that they're
like oof, that one hurt a lot, right, whether it's physically, mentally, emotionally.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
How did you decide that you still love throwing hammer.
Speaker 5 (21:36):
Oh that's a hard one.
Speaker 4 (21:39):
I do love hammer, and I do love track and field,
just because I've been in it for so long and
when I first started, I had no idea of the world,
especially on a professional level. But I think just all together,
I love being an athlete because if it wasn't throwing hammer,
it'd be sand volleyball, or it'd be pitch softball, it'd
(22:01):
be something that just has a competitive fun atmosphere.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
I love all sports. I love being physically active. I
love just.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Hopping in a game for fun, even if it's like
with my nieces and nephews and I'm.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
Gonna beat them every time.
Speaker 4 (22:14):
Yes, yes, and so I definitely think also just being
the last of my siblings who had so much pressure
to like live up to the name and oh, you're
so and So's little sibling, and I'm like, no, I'm
Jane Casnovoid, and just having this journey of kind of
establishing my own name and establishing my own legacy, like
(22:35):
we haven't fully completed it, but we're still working on
it and just continuing to break barriers and create history
and you know, navigate the space of track and field.
Being one of the first, you know, Indigenous women to meddle,
it's still like I'm still just like how you know,
in twenty twenty two, how am I the first? And
you know, where are we going wrong? Where athletes don't
(22:56):
feel like they can continue or be successful or.
Speaker 5 (22:59):
Be at the time with a level.
Speaker 4 (23:00):
Because just in our culture alone, like we're raw athletes
and a lot of our upbringings and our way of
life and so just kind of continuing to pave the
way and continuing to be an athlete and just just
enjoying life. At the same time, you can sacrifice so
much and work so hard and possibly overtrain and then
(23:22):
get into injury and still come up short. So I
feel like there's a perfect balance of life in sports
to never give yourself to one thing, because I just
feel like I've done that and I've still come up short.
And so I feel like from here going forward, I'll
do the best I can, but I'm also never going
to give myself more than anything. And I know after
(23:46):
sport too. I have so many other passions. I still
want to go to Cornary School. I still want to
finish and get my dietitian degree and be a registered dietitian.
So I have so many aspirations with so little time.
I just feel like, you know, I want to see
the sport career through fully until it's my time to
hang up the shoes. But right now, yeah, we're going
(24:07):
to keep going and hopefully twenty twenty eight we can
see that through.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Yeah, compete on the home turf in twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 1 (24:15):
Yes, I want to talk on this incredible collaboration that
I have out lost my mind over because I think
it personifies some of what you're talking about with owning
and being proud of.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
And representing your indigenous heritage.
Speaker 1 (24:30):
And tell me a little bit about how the collab
with Pendleton came out ahead of the Prefontained Classic, because
y'all about broke the Internet with these blankets, and as
a proud owner of a Pendleton blanket, I was obsessed.
I was like, oh my gosh, this is it, this
is what we need.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Tell me how that came about.
Speaker 4 (24:51):
Yeah, it was really a dream come true. And being
a Nike Athlete is an amazing accomplishment. It's you know
the goal of a lifetime. And also having the collaboration
and partnership with the in seven family, you know, giving
indigenous athletes a platform to share their story and really
just uplifting, inspiring stories and powerful people doing amazing things
(25:13):
like that is top of the notch. Like that's all
I've ever wanted. And so the two of them working
together and working towards the Prefontaine Classic, you know, they
reached out and they were doing the silent auction with
a couple of merchandise pieces and Pendleton was up in
the runnings and they're like, we would love you to
kind of not really be the face, but an athlete
(25:35):
who's competing in pre and who's indigenous with Pendleton, like
just spotlight the release of Sam Akracken, the CEO of
and seven, his specialty design from a twenty thirteen campaign,
they put it into the Pendleton. So I'm just like
in awe, i am speechless. I'm so honored, and of
(25:56):
course I was.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
Like, yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
And so not only was the unboxing like I'm shaking
and about to cry, but then seeing the pictures that we
did take in like Pendleton sharing it. I mean, I'm
just so incredibly honored and humbold to be a part
of it. So yeah, it was a really really great moment.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
Oh it was incredible to see.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
And as soon as I saw it, I just was
thinking back to our conversation last year about how important
it is for you, and that's why I said earlier,
it's so impressive how you handled yourself and the disappointment
because you are being looked up to by a lot
of the next generation of Indigenous athletes, Indigenous girls who
were saying, Oh, Okay, this is what I'm capable of.
(26:40):
This is what it's possible for men. I can be
a track and field athlete. I can get to work
with Nike and Penels and all these incredible brands in
all the lows of the last year. How did that
fall and feel in terms of a big win.
Speaker 4 (26:57):
Yeah, I think that's just what it was like, no
matter how heartbreaking it was and where I felt like,
you know, gosh, here we.
Speaker 5 (27:05):
Are again and we're just not good enough or what.
Speaker 4 (27:08):
Is it about me and these Zange trials that's not
wanting to work together. But I think despite it all
and how I've been able to recover so quickly and
it not be as gutriching as twenty twenty one is
because of this supportive, outpouring amount of love and encouragement
that has been received from the Native community and my
(27:29):
family and friends and all the relationships I have built
over the course of my career. Just everyone, no matter
what the outcome, good or bad, Like they've just been like,
we love you no.
Speaker 5 (27:40):
Matter what, like keep your head up, like your story
has been so inspiring.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
And I think again, my purpose is so much bigger
than sport, being representation and just knowing that if you
look like me that you can do amazing things and
you can be one of the best, but also just
giving the younger generation hope and being a woman and strong,
I mean powerful, Like all of these things are so
(28:04):
so important that sometimes I forget about that. You know,
there are people watching, there are people tuning in, and
just how impactful it will be to those younger athletes.
So hopefully we get more athletes at this level, but
also hammer throwers, you know, bringing hammer to the world
and introducing it.
Speaker 5 (28:23):
So yeah, it's all been super.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Humbling, but just an amazing experience and I'm so thankful
for all the love that I have received.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
Yeah, man, well, I cannot wait to watch you at Worlds.
I cannot wait to watch it compete in Tokyo and
just continue to share what it is to be a growing, learning,
trying new things human being, because I think that it
is so easy to beat.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Ourselves up when we fall short.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
But I also feel like we fall short because we're
trying hard things, you know, And that's why it's hard,
That's why there's so few who are doing it, and
so I think it's much braver to show up and
fail than to not show up. And I'm just really
really stoked that you keep showing up because.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
It matters, So thank you, yeah girl.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
Okay, before we get to tiery, we're gonna switch gears.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
This is called Something to sip On, brought to you
by the Sports Bra.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
You may remember this from last season, but I want
to know what are we sipping on these days after
visiting five countries. Did our post meet, post match, post competition,
post competition drink change.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
Oh well, I really haven't told anybody this except for
my close friends, but I have This is the first
season ever that have been sober and it's crazy to say,
but like, first time since seventeen going on longer than
two to three months sober. So it was a really
(29:55):
just powerful moment again to tap into that what can
we change.
Speaker 5 (29:59):
What can we do better to compete at the highest levels?
Speaker 4 (30:02):
And so that was just a little thought and then
once we did it, we're like, can we keep going?
Can we disciplined? Can we say no? I love wine,
I love margarita's, a little brunch mimosa, it's all so yummy,
but really just being diligent in that process and being
sober just to see if it can bring.
Speaker 5 (30:22):
Us to that next level.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
So that is just like a nice little tidbit to
how the season's going.
Speaker 5 (30:29):
Yeah, but so on.
Speaker 1 (30:30):
A mocktail then, so what's the mocktail that we're so
go to?
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Yo, we just.
Speaker 5 (30:36):
Go to a Shirley temple. I feel like you can't
go wrong. I love a little cherry right, Yes, I know.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
My go to for your next effort out is I
do a ginger ale with cranberry juice and it is
shockingly good. If they have fresh mint, I put that
in there too, and it is like it's delicious.
Speaker 2 (30:57):
It's when it's because I've.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Been sort of with the same sort of thing, especially
in events and stuff like that, and it's one of
those like, oh, this is nice because it's nice to
have something different at the end of the day, you know,
Like I like my body has learned too much that
there's a drink reward at the end of the day,
So how can we switch this up?
Speaker 2 (31:16):
And I love it. It's like my biggest is my biggest.
I'd go to it all the time now, So I
love that.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
So we're serving mocktails these days because we have a
World championship to win, So I like that.
Speaker 5 (31:29):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (31:29):
Our next segment is called powered Up and these are
three things that power you up to get ready to
throw that metal ball as far as you possibly can.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
So I want to know what.
Speaker 1 (31:38):
Is the weirdest exercise that is so unique to hammer
that you have to do to warm up?
Speaker 5 (31:47):
Interesting?
Speaker 4 (31:49):
I would say for me now, it's probably just my
back mobility exercises, okay, and just like doing all these
very interesting turns and twists and things that I've never
done before. Like I said, we're getting old, so that's
probably one. But number two is running. I do run now.
Speaker 5 (32:09):
I used to be Team No.
Speaker 4 (32:10):
Cardio, and you won't see many hammer throwers being agile in.
Speaker 5 (32:16):
The warm ups.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
And then number three, I would just say pickles because
before every meat, if not during the meat or after
the meat, I always have my own snap pickles on deck.
I don't go anywhere without them. They're a huge part
of my training regimen, for sure.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
I love that. Oh my gosh, that's fantastic. That's good
to know.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
What is the one song that if it comes on
your headphones, it immediately gets you into go mode?
Speaker 5 (32:45):
Yes, that is Stadium Pow Wow by Hallucination.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
It is all the emotions tuned in and I really
have to be careful about the timing of when I
play it because it gets the blood going. It gets
me also like teary eyed, because I just it's so empowerful.
Speaker 5 (33:02):
So yes, that one is definitely on the list.
Speaker 2 (33:05):
I like it. I like it.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
And then, last, but not least, what is the one
piece of equipment that you always double triple check is
in your bag? Like, what is the one thing that
you're like, oof, I need to make sure this thing
isn't here. It can be the ball?
Speaker 5 (33:22):
Oh it can or can't?
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (33:23):
No, it can it can?
Speaker 5 (33:25):
Okay, Yeah, definitely in my competition hammer. That is the
biggest thing.
Speaker 4 (33:29):
It's we're just so so picky with knowing and liking
our specific implement to if it wasn't there or somehow
it didn't check into the meat like I'd be, it
would throw me off entirely.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
So yeah, me and my hammer can go hand in hand.
We're locked in.
Speaker 1 (33:44):
I remember, I'm gonna put it over this part of
the podcast because I remember you strutton into some last
year just like carrying the hammer, and it was just
like an extension of your arm.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
You're like, yeah, this goes with me everywhere. I'm never
without it. Do you have to treat that like a
weight in airports? Or like how does that work?
Speaker 5 (34:04):
They ask so many questions.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
I never go through TSA or like open my luggage
when I arrive where I'm at and it's like, t
so you checked your bag. I'm just like, oh, but yeah,
looks a little funky. When I have a carry on
suitcase that I packed my.
Speaker 5 (34:17):
Training hammers, my phone, roll or my.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Speaker, like tripod and everything, and there's probably like five
balls in the corner of the suitcase with like wires
and handles wrapped around they're probably thinking it's some type of.
Speaker 5 (34:29):
Not good. Definitely check it. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:33):
Every time I go to Kenya, they have security before
you get into the airport, and so they're like, come
over here, and I'm like, oh gosh, here we go.
Speaker 5 (34:42):
They're like, what is this. I'm like, have you hammer, Matilda?
I don't know how to explain.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
Have you ever had like have you dialed in your
your answer to these questions like do you do you
already come up with a speech or do you wait
for them to ask questions?
Speaker 5 (34:57):
No?
Speaker 4 (34:58):
I definitely wait for them to ask and then I
usually always just with the language barrier. Sometimes I just
have to pull up my phone and be like athletics
track and field, like tmusa somewhere.
Speaker 5 (35:09):
Just let me get these through.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Yeah, You're like, I swear this is allowed on this airplane,
Please just let me through. Have you ever had a
situation where you weren't allowed on or you had to
miss a flight or something like that.
Speaker 5 (35:19):
No, No, it's always in my check bag.
Speaker 4 (35:22):
I've never tried to risk it because I like to
get to the airport right at the latest possible second.
So it just always goes in the check bag and
we just hope it makes it there.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Oh my gosh, have you started putting the air tags
in your check bag because that's what my OCD has
led me to now.
Speaker 4 (35:40):
I have not, thankfully, in a good while, I've not
had anything not come through.
Speaker 5 (35:45):
I did lose a weight one time.
Speaker 4 (35:46):
I packed it in a Pelican suitcase and the weight
through going to an indoor competition. I opened it because
one laugh was kind of up and I was like,
oh no, and it wasn't there when it came around
the baggage plane.
Speaker 5 (35:59):
Oh no, Oh that's a long time. I'm herew indoorway.
Speaker 2 (36:02):
Oh no, that's unfortunate.
Speaker 5 (36:04):
Geez, those ones are not cheap.
Speaker 1 (36:07):
Yeah, Oh my gosh, that's brutal. Okay, little side pust
down tsa dramas.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
That's funny.
Speaker 1 (36:13):
Because my surfboards, I'm always like, I put an air
tag in my board bag now because it like gets
so like airports, It just gets so chaotic with layovers
and stuff that it just helps my anxiety if I
know where it is, so I can't do anything about it,
but it just makes me feel better that like I
know where it is. Okay, And then this question, my
(36:33):
dear has not changed. Maybe you have changed since I
asked to asked you this question. But what does powerful
mean to you?
Speaker 4 (36:40):
Powerful just means strong, beautiful, and resilient, And that's something
I always repeats to myself a handful of times throughout competition,
throughout training, you know, stepping into the circle and taking
me a deep breath, just establishing that confidence and who
you are and what you believe in and where you
come from is super powerful and can make you, you know.
Speaker 5 (37:03):
Unstoppable at what you do.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
And I think that's definitely a huge part in my
journey and overcoming trials and tribulation.
Speaker 5 (37:11):
So yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (37:14):
Well. Thank you for joining us again on the Powerful
It is just incredible to see you navigate this world
and show up as your strong, beautiful, resilient self every
step of the way, amid every success, every disappointment, and
it makes you just one of the easiest human beings
to root for. So I cannot wait to see you
in Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (37:36):
We'll see you in September, girl, good luck at that competition.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
We're rooting you on.
Speaker 5 (37:41):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Yeah, thanks for joining us on the Powerful podcast to
check us out every Tuesday everywhere you get your podcasts,
and if you really enjoy this and don't want to
miss an episode, be sure to hit that subscribe button.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.