March 5, 2024 • 15 mins
Embark on an exciting journey with Zena Courtney, a master swimmer whose prowess extends far beyond her strokes in the pool. In a rare road trip among two great friends, we catch the afterglow of a spectacular showdown between Katie Ledecky and Summer Macintosh, through the eyes of a swimmer who knows the thrill and discipline of the sport inside out. Zena opens up about her transition into a new competitive age group, her strategic weight loss, and how she masterfully merges rigorous USA swimming workouts with her master's team sessions to stay at the top of her game. But Zena's story isn't just about the water; her approach to life echoes the dedication and precision of her swimming, setting a standard for excellence that resonates with anyone striving for their personal best.
In the pool, Zena offers a clinic on the nuances of backstroke racing, from pacing the 200 backstroke to executing flawless starts and turns. Her narrative isn't just about victories and technique—it's a heartfelt account of the joys of the sport, the camaraderie of teammates, and the almost meditative state she finds when slicing through the water. With the Long course Masters Nationals on the horizon, we're reminded that the race isn't just about the finish line, but the invigorating journey that swimming provides. Tune in for a dose of inspiration, practical advice, and the celebration of a swimmer's undying passion for the waves she rides.
Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the award-winning champions mojo,
hosted by two world recordholding athletes.
Be inspired as you listen toconversations with champions and
now your host, kelly Palace andMaria Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hello friends, welcome to the champions mojo
podcast.
I am your host, kelly Palace,and, as usual, I am with my
co-host, maria Parker.
Hey, maria Kelly, it's great tobe with you here today.
Yes, and Maria, this is aspecial edition of champions
mojo from the pool deck and wehave a great interview for you
(00:41):
today.
It's brief, it's short, butit's powerful, yeah and we.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I wasn't there, but I was able to listen to the
interview and some greattakeaways.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, we hope you'll stick around and catch the
takeaways.
And here we go.
We are here with a road tripinspirational interview.
I am driving down the roadbeing very careful while I
interview is Zena Courtney, whois a world record holding master
(01:14):
swimmer, multiple time nationalchampion, multiple time over a
dozen national US master'srecords.
She's also a tremendous openwater swimmer.
She's the American recordholder in the two person English
Channel crossing and she's donethe straight of Gibraltar.
She's both an open waterchampion and an in the pool
(01:37):
champion.
And Zena, we have just drivenover to Orlando to watch Katie
Ledecky swim summer Macintosh inthe 800 free.
Now granted Everybody's indifferent places, training cycle
wise, but first, how'd you likethat?
Speaker 4 (01:52):
race.
It was exciting.
It was amazing to watch thosetwo girls swim.
They'd learn a lot from theirstrokes.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, what did you learn from their strokes?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Summer made it look so easy and you thought she was
going fast.
And then she found another gearor so I don't know how she does
that.
A lot of pace work, that's whatI suppose.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, yeah, it was really fun to watch and it was
just the southern zone sectionalchampionships.
And Katie came down fromGainesville and summer Macintosh
is training over at Sarasotaand these are two of the top
four women swimmers in the world.
They just swam, swam, justranked the top 100 women.
But we're going to talk aboutZena, because we are a master's
(02:36):
swimming podcast and this issuper exciting because Zena has
been referred to on our podcastseveral times.
Zena is a fellow master swimmerwith me on the Swim Melbourne
Masters, a fellow world recordholder on our 800 free relay,
and the big thing that I wantedto talk to you about Zena is
this year you're about totransition it to a new age group
(02:58):
.
You're the youngest one in yourage group, but you've done this
a lot of times.
But what are some of the waysthat you're preparing?
I notice you're a young woman.
You've lost about 12 pounds.
You're doing some things as youapproach this new age group of
65 to 69.
What are some things thatyou're implementing now that you
might not have before?
Kelly is my inspiration andbiggest cheerleader.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
So don't let you think that it's all my idea.
But no, it was my idea to go onthis, my pure health plan, and
lose that baby fat that I'venever lost from my second child
and see what I could do.
So I'm doing hangy thanks toKelly, and that I do have a torn
labor on, but that seems tokeep it at bay and upping the
(03:43):
workout quality training withthe USA swimming.
So those are the things I'mdoing.
Hopefully they'll reachfruition with the new age group
records.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, so we've noticed within the Champions
Bell Joe podcast that a lot oftop master's members do train
now and then not every day, butat least maybe a time or two a
week with USA swim teams, andthen they train the rest of the
time with their regular master'steam because they may need a
little bit more.
So, zina, you are a premierbackstrucker Swam at Stanford
(04:17):
was an all-American backstruckerthere, and so you really do
arrange from the 50 all the wayto the 200 backstroke.
What are some sets that youlike to do for backstroke that
keep you fast?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
200 backstroke is a plethora of 50s on pace and it's
a challenge.
Set right how many 50s you canhold on your 200 pace.
I've noticed that I've beenslacking in the higher 60 to 64
age groups.
We're going to get back on thatthis year.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
You won the 50 back two years ago in San Antonio.
What kind of stuff do you liketo do for a 50 back?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
That is pure chance.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I think it's a rock and start and a really great
turn, too Short course.
Yeah, your target kind of thissummer is the Long Force Masters
Nationals in Mission Viejho.
What other goals do you havefor this summer?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
This summer I want to have fun.
We're going to go after MissionViejho to Oceanside California
and do the open water down there.
I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I know you're making me do that.
I'm just hoping the water issomewhere above 65.
I think the last time Mark andI tried to do it it was 51.
Really, it was truly frigid.
Okay, so you know, we knowwe've talked a lot of X's and
O's here, so we like to justtalk with champions about some
of their routines and rituals,things that make you just a
(05:49):
successful person.
It doesn't even necessarilyhave to be swimming, but what
are some things that you need inyour daily routine that keep
you being successful?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
So I'm very goal-oriented, so I need a goal.
I need something to train for,focus on.
We moved across the country,brought a house in Florida,
remodeled it and picked out allthe finishes.
I don't have an interior designbackground.
I'm constantly learning on whatto do, how to do it and keep
(06:22):
you young, keep your brainactive.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Being a close friend of yours, I do notice, mark, and
I always say you're aresearcher, you like to do your
research on a lot of things, sothat's really cool.
And, zina, what is a bigobstacle in your life that you
have overcome, and how did youdo that so?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I'm guessing the biggest obstacle was coming back
from multiple shouldersurgeries, so I had three
shoulder surgeries, two knees,just every time you got to come
back.
You got to focus on gettingback to where you were before it
happened and then see whathappens and my goal is to try to
slow the aging process.
We were looking at these timeslong-course meet-and-rease girls
(07:06):
were doing and I'm like, oh mygosh, I'm trying to do that
Short course yard.
It all puts it in perspective.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
One thing that I know about you that I would love to
hear some of your secrets.
To me, it seems like when youget behind the block, you are
just a fierce competitor.
If we're swimming a relaytogether, I can always know that
you're going to bring your best.
If I see you behind the block,you're very focused, you're
(07:38):
ready, and I was wondering ifyou have pinpointed what you're
saying to yourself or what makesyou be able to step up.
I've really never seen you swimhorribly.
Just wow, that just was awful.
You just always seem to swimabove where one might think you
would be.
So how do you do that?
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Well, that's a good question.
Maybe it's because I grew up ina family of four.
In order to get noticed, youhad to go above and beyond.
It's just been great to me.
So that's just how I live mylife.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
And when you're behind the block, are you
nervous, are you scared?
What's going through your mindwhen you're back there behind
the block?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
So, nurse, maybe a little bit of nationals, but you
can only focus on yourself.
You can't control anybodyelse's race.
So you just remember all thelittle tricks and the techniques
that you've perfected for 60years of swimming and you got to
trust that it'll come when youneed it.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
And you are a certified coach US master's
coach, certified lifeguard andone of the things that I do
notice about you a lot, zena, iswhen we're done with swim
practice, you're often helpingnewer people.
They may have been triathletesand they've come out to try
swimming, or they might beswimmers that don't necessarily
(09:01):
have a division, one swimmingbackground and will just want to
get better.
What advice might you give tonewer master swimmers that want
to get better, that just maybethey are in a plateau right now
and they just don't feel likethey're getting any better?
What advice might you give them?
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Well, first of all to join a master's team.
So if they're with a master'steam, then they need to leverage
the people around them.
So everybody has a differenteye.
Everybody can pick up on how tomake your technique a little
bit better.
So swimming is surrounding bywater, so technique is highly
important because one littlefalse positioning of your hand
(09:40):
could cause shoulder problems,could cause you to get beat.
So with the new folks, it's anawareness in the water.
A lot of them don't have a bodyawareness.
So giving them drills andexplaining maybe four different
ways on the technique thatyou're trying to introduce to
them seems to work.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yes, I'm in agreement with you right there.
That technique is so importantwith all levels of swimmers,
just whether you're a leadswimmer or whether you're brand
new.
I think everyone can always getbetter with their technique.
All right, zena, so just a funlast question what goes through
your mind when you dive in thewater?
(10:23):
And this is more of a spiritualquestion, it doesn't have to be
technique.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
I love swimming, so when I dive in the water it's
just a Zenfili, If you could sayaha.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yes, I like that.
Thanks for joining us onChampions Mojo today, zena.
You're welcome.
Great to be here, kelly.
Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways.
We've heard from you that yourfavorite section of our podcast
is the takeaways.
Thank you so much for thatfeedback.
But before we get to thetakeaways today, we wanted to
(10:55):
ask you if you would please giveus a five star review.
That way, more people will beable to find our podcast.
Also, if you could subscribe oniTunes or Stitcher or Spotify,
you'll never miss a podcastepisode if you subscribe.
And please share our podcastwith your friends.
And now the takeaways.
(11:17):
So, maria Zina Herman Courtneyshe doesn't go by that anymore,
but a lot.
Some of her accolades,amazingly, were under the name
of Zina Herman, but ZinaCourtney and Zina obviously, as
you can tell, is one of my bestfriends, certainly one of my
best swimming friends, and she'sso humble.
(11:39):
She's just so humble that eventrying to pull her accolades out
of her, we were just blown away.
She's fast in the pool, buttalk about her open water.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, that was a surprise too, Because I met Zina
.
She's extremely humble and ofcourse she wouldn't boast about
anything, but I was reallysurprised.
When you're talking about her,the amazing thing she's done,
the world record she's holdespecially to me, open water is
just oh, how do people do it?
So, yeah, that she has twoperson world record for English
(12:13):
Channel Crossing and open waterswimming, that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That is.
It's truly amazing.
In swimming the straight ofGibraltar, yeah, she still has a
real passion for it.
She's trying to organize a swimhere in our area in the ocean
and it'll be fun to do that racewith her in Oceanside
California.
But anyways, we're only goingto do one takeaway.
It was such a short interview.
What was your first takeaway?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
There were actually several things and even though
it was a short interview, Ithink the thing I'm going with
as one of my favorites is Zinaapparently is a really good
newbie swimmers and people whoare just trying to be
comfortable when the water again.
And one of the things she saidjust really stuck with me.
She said sometimes you have toexplain things four different
(12:58):
ways.
And so true, for me, somebodywill explain something I don't
get it, and if they just say itagain louder, it's not going to
help me.
This is a great takeaway forparents.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I'm sorry, that just cracks me up If they just say it
louder.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Sometimes I've been in that situation where somebody
said, ok, do it like this, doit like this.
I didn't get it the first time,so you need to come at it from
a different direction, and so Ithink that's a great takeaway
for all of us who are incoaching or teaching roles, as
parents or as bosses or whatever.
We need to think of at leastfour ways to explain what it is
(13:34):
that we need done, especially assomething that's technique in
the water, it's esoteric, it'shard to change those things,
it's hard to feel that.
So explain me in a coupledifferent ways.
It's great.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
They say some people are visual learners, some people
are oral learners.
So I love that and I do seeZena after practice so often
with somebody that's brand new.
She was on the NCAA championshipteam at Stanford, besides all
these other things, and she's ahighly certified coach, but I do
see her after practice helpingpeople, so I know she's living
(14:08):
that.
Like you said, there were a lotof takeaways, but the one that I
think is a takeaway is that ifwe want to be more like a
champion, what can I do to bemore like a champion or to get
the mojo from champions?
I think that Zena is like Isaid she's always able to be
(14:29):
relied upon.
So if I'm going to be on arelay with her, or even if I'm
going to meet her for swimpractice, I know she's going to
be there.
I know she's going to step up.
Even if she may not be feelingwell, or maybe her shoulder's
hurting or maybe she's not whereshe wants to be, she still
stands up and gives it her 100%.
And here's the key, withoutcomplaining, without whining,
(14:52):
with just this aura of I'm goingto get this done, and that I
think is a champion, Because Iknow she doesn't always feel
like getting it done and shedoes.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, I love that.
I love that she's reliable andthat is a really important
aspect of champions.
Like you said, you're going todo that and you show up, but you
do it and no excuses and nocomplaining.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
This is definitely an area that I can work on.
You're married to my brother,so you know that we Parkers can
change our mind, but I will sayif you put me on a relay with
you, I'll do my best.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I know you will.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
All right, kelly, yeah, love you too.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Thank you for listening to the Champions Mojo
podcast.
Did you enjoy the show?
We'd be grateful if you wouldleave us a five-star review on
iTunes to help others find us,and we'd also love to hear from
you.
We're on all social mediaplatforms or you can reach us at
championsmojocom.
Welcome to the award-winning champions mojo,
hosted by two world recordholding athletes.
Be inspired as you listen toconversations with champions and
now your host, kelly Palace andMaria Parker.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Hello friends, welcome to the champions mojo
podcast.
I am your host, kelly Palace,and, as usual, I am with my
co-host, maria Parker.
Hey, maria Kelly, it's great tobe with you here today.
Yes, and Maria, this is aspecial edition of champions
mojo from the pool deck and wehave a great interview for you
(00:41):
today.
It's brief, it's short, butit's powerful, yeah and we.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
I wasn't there, but I was able to listen to the
interview and some greattakeaways.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, we hope you'll stick around and catch the
takeaways.
And here we go.
We are here with a road tripinspirational interview.
I am driving down the roadbeing very careful while I
interview is Zena Courtney, whois a world record holding master
(01:14):
swimmer, multiple time nationalchampion, multiple time over a
dozen national US master'srecords.
She's also a tremendous openwater swimmer.
She's the American recordholder in the two person English
Channel crossing and she's donethe straight of Gibraltar.
She's both an open waterchampion and an in the pool
(01:37):
champion.
And Zena, we have just drivenover to Orlando to watch Katie
Ledecky swim summer Macintosh inthe 800 free.
Now granted Everybody's indifferent places, training cycle
wise, but first, how'd you likethat?
Speaker 4 (01:52):
race.
It was exciting.
It was amazing to watch thosetwo girls swim.
They'd learn a lot from theirstrokes.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, what did you learn from their strokes?
Speaker 4 (02:02):
Summer made it look so easy and you thought she was
going fast.
And then she found another gearor so I don't know how she does
that.
A lot of pace work, that's whatI suppose.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Yeah, yeah, it was really fun to watch and it was
just the southern zone sectionalchampionships.
And Katie came down fromGainesville and summer Macintosh
is training over at Sarasotaand these are two of the top
four women swimmers in the world.
They just swam, swam, justranked the top 100 women.
But we're going to talk aboutZena, because we are a master's
(02:36):
swimming podcast and this issuper exciting because Zena has
been referred to on our podcastseveral times.
Zena is a fellow master swimmerwith me on the Swim Melbourne
Masters, a fellow world recordholder on our 800 free relay,
and the big thing that I wantedto talk to you about Zena is
this year you're about totransition it to a new age group
(02:58):
.
You're the youngest one in yourage group, but you've done this
a lot of times.
But what are some of the waysthat you're preparing?
I notice you're a young woman.
You've lost about 12 pounds.
You're doing some things as youapproach this new age group of
65 to 69.
What are some things thatyou're implementing now that you
might not have before?
Kelly is my inspiration andbiggest cheerleader.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
So don't let you think that it's all my idea.
But no, it was my idea to go onthis, my pure health plan, and
lose that baby fat that I'venever lost from my second child
and see what I could do.
So I'm doing hangy thanks toKelly, and that I do have a torn
labor on, but that seems tokeep it at bay and upping the
(03:43):
workout quality training withthe USA swimming.
So those are the things I'mdoing.
Hopefully they'll reachfruition with the new age group
records.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Yeah, so we've noticed within the Champions
Bell Joe podcast that a lot oftop master's members do train
now and then not every day, butat least maybe a time or two a
week with USA swim teams, andthen they train the rest of the
time with their regular master'steam because they may need a
little bit more.
So, zina, you are a premierbackstrucker Swam at Stanford
(04:17):
was an all-American backstruckerthere, and so you really do
arrange from the 50 all the wayto the 200 backstroke.
What are some sets that youlike to do for backstroke that
keep you fast?
Speaker 4 (04:30):
200 backstroke is a plethora of 50s on pace and it's
a challenge.
Set right how many 50s you canhold on your 200 pace.
I've noticed that I've beenslacking in the higher 60 to 64
age groups.
We're going to get back on thatthis year.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
You won the 50 back two years ago in San Antonio.
What kind of stuff do you liketo do for a 50 back?
Speaker 4 (04:57):
That is pure chance.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
I think it's a rock and start and a really great
turn, too Short course.
Yeah, your target kind of thissummer is the Long Force Masters
Nationals in Mission Viejho.
What other goals do you havefor this summer?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
This summer I want to have fun.
We're going to go after MissionViejho to Oceanside California
and do the open water down there.
I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
I know you're making me do that.
I'm just hoping the water issomewhere above 65.
I think the last time Mark andI tried to do it it was 51.
Really, it was truly frigid.
Okay, so you know, we knowwe've talked a lot of X's and
O's here, so we like to justtalk with champions about some
of their routines and rituals,things that make you just a
(05:49):
successful person.
It doesn't even necessarilyhave to be swimming, but what
are some things that you need inyour daily routine that keep
you being successful?
Speaker 4 (06:00):
So I'm very goal-oriented, so I need a goal.
I need something to train for,focus on.
We moved across the country,brought a house in Florida,
remodeled it and picked out allthe finishes.
I don't have an interior designbackground.
I'm constantly learning on whatto do, how to do it and keep
(06:22):
you young, keep your brainactive.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Being a close friend of yours, I do notice, mark, and
I always say you're aresearcher, you like to do your
research on a lot of things, sothat's really cool.
And, zina, what is a bigobstacle in your life that you
have overcome, and how did youdo that so?
Speaker 4 (06:44):
I'm guessing the biggest obstacle was coming back
from multiple shouldersurgeries, so I had three
shoulder surgeries, two knees,just every time you got to come
back.
You got to focus on gettingback to where you were before it
happened and then see whathappens and my goal is to try to
slow the aging process.
We were looking at these timeslong-course meet-and-rease girls
(07:06):
were doing and I'm like, oh mygosh, I'm trying to do that
Short course yard.
It all puts it in perspective.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
One thing that I know about you that I would love to
hear some of your secrets.
To me, it seems like when youget behind the block, you are
just a fierce competitor.
If we're swimming a relaytogether, I can always know that
you're going to bring your best.
If I see you behind the block,you're very focused, you're
(07:38):
ready, and I was wondering ifyou have pinpointed what you're
saying to yourself or what makesyou be able to step up.
I've really never seen you swimhorribly.
Just wow, that just was awful.
You just always seem to swimabove where one might think you
would be.
So how do you do that?
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Well, that's a good question.
Maybe it's because I grew up ina family of four.
In order to get noticed, youhad to go above and beyond.
It's just been great to me.
So that's just how I live mylife.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
And when you're behind the block, are you
nervous, are you scared?
What's going through your mindwhen you're back there behind
the block?
Speaker 4 (08:21):
So, nurse, maybe a little bit of nationals, but you
can only focus on yourself.
You can't control anybodyelse's race.
So you just remember all thelittle tricks and the techniques
that you've perfected for 60years of swimming and you got to
trust that it'll come when youneed it.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
And you are a certified coach US master's
coach, certified lifeguard andone of the things that I do
notice about you a lot, zena, iswhen we're done with swim
practice, you're often helpingnewer people.
They may have been triathletesand they've come out to try
swimming, or they might beswimmers that don't necessarily
(09:01):
have a division, one swimmingbackground and will just want to
get better.
What advice might you give tonewer master swimmers that want
to get better, that just maybethey are in a plateau right now
and they just don't feel likethey're getting any better?
What advice might you give them?
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Well, first of all to join a master's team.
So if they're with a master'steam, then they need to leverage
the people around them.
So everybody has a differenteye.
Everybody can pick up on how tomake your technique a little
bit better.
So swimming is surrounding bywater, so technique is highly
important because one littlefalse positioning of your hand
(09:40):
could cause shoulder problems,could cause you to get beat.
So with the new folks, it's anawareness in the water.
A lot of them don't have a bodyawareness.
So giving them drills andexplaining maybe four different
ways on the technique thatyou're trying to introduce to
them seems to work.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Yes, I'm in agreement with you right there.
That technique is so importantwith all levels of swimmers,
just whether you're a leadswimmer or whether you're brand
new.
I think everyone can always getbetter with their technique.
All right, zena, so just a funlast question what goes through
your mind when you dive in thewater?
(10:23):
And this is more of a spiritualquestion, it doesn't have to be
technique.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
I love swimming, so when I dive in the water it's
just a Zenfili, If you could sayaha.
Speaker 2 (10:35):
Yes, I like that.
Thanks for joining us onChampions Mojo today, zena.
You're welcome.
Great to be here, kelly.
Takeaways, takeaways, takeaways.
We've heard from you that yourfavorite section of our podcast
is the takeaways.
Thank you so much for thatfeedback.
But before we get to thetakeaways today, we wanted to
(10:55):
ask you if you would please giveus a five star review.
That way, more people will beable to find our podcast.
Also, if you could subscribe oniTunes or Stitcher or Spotify,
you'll never miss a podcastepisode if you subscribe.
And please share our podcastwith your friends.
And now the takeaways.
(11:17):
So, maria Zina Herman Courtneyshe doesn't go by that anymore,
but a lot.
Some of her accolades,amazingly, were under the name
of Zina Herman, but ZinaCourtney and Zina obviously, as
you can tell, is one of my bestfriends, certainly one of my
best swimming friends, and she'sso humble.
(11:39):
She's just so humble that eventrying to pull her accolades out
of her, we were just blown away.
She's fast in the pool, buttalk about her open water.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, that was a surprise too, Because I met Zina
.
She's extremely humble and ofcourse she wouldn't boast about
anything, but I was reallysurprised.
When you're talking about her,the amazing thing she's done,
the world record she's holdespecially to me, open water is
just oh, how do people do it?
So, yeah, that she has twoperson world record for English
(12:13):
Channel Crossing and open waterswimming, that's amazing.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
That is.
It's truly amazing.
In swimming the straight ofGibraltar, yeah, she still has a
real passion for it.
She's trying to organize a swimhere in our area in the ocean
and it'll be fun to do that racewith her in Oceanside
California.
But anyways, we're only goingto do one takeaway.
It was such a short interview.
What was your first takeaway?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
There were actually several things and even though
it was a short interview, Ithink the thing I'm going with
as one of my favorites is Zinaapparently is a really good
newbie swimmers and people whoare just trying to be
comfortable when the water again.
And one of the things she saidjust really stuck with me.
She said sometimes you have toexplain things four different
(12:58):
ways.
And so true, for me, somebodywill explain something I don't
get it, and if they just say itagain louder, it's not going to
help me.
This is a great takeaway forparents.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
I'm sorry, that just cracks me up If they just say it
louder.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Sometimes I've been in that situation where somebody
said, ok, do it like this, doit like this.
I didn't get it the first time,so you need to come at it from
a different direction, and so Ithink that's a great takeaway
for all of us who are incoaching or teaching roles, as
parents or as bosses or whatever.
We need to think of at leastfour ways to explain what it is
(13:34):
that we need done, especially assomething that's technique in
the water, it's esoteric, it'shard to change those things,
it's hard to feel that.
So explain me in a coupledifferent ways.
It's great.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
They say some people are visual learners, some people
are oral learners.
So I love that and I do seeZena after practice so often
with somebody that's brand new.
She was on the NCAA championshipteam at Stanford, besides all
these other things, and she's ahighly certified coach, but I do
see her after practice helpingpeople, so I know she's living
(14:08):
that.
Like you said, there were a lotof takeaways, but the one that I
think is a takeaway is that ifwe want to be more like a
champion, what can I do to bemore like a champion or to get
the mojo from champions?
I think that Zena is like Isaid she's always able to be
(14:29):
relied upon.
So if I'm going to be on arelay with her, or even if I'm
going to meet her for swimpractice, I know she's going to
be there.
I know she's going to step up.
Even if she may not be feelingwell, or maybe her shoulder's
hurting or maybe she's not whereshe wants to be, she still
stands up and gives it her 100%.
And here's the key, withoutcomplaining, without whining,
(14:52):
with just this aura of I'm goingto get this done, and that I
think is a champion, Because Iknow she doesn't always feel
like getting it done and shedoes.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
Yeah, I love that.
I love that she's reliable andthat is a really important
aspect of champions.
Like you said, you're going todo that and you show up, but you
do it and no excuses and nocomplaining.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
This is definitely an area that I can work on.
You're married to my brother,so you know that we Parkers can
change our mind, but I will sayif you put me on a relay with
you, I'll do my best.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
I know you will.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
All right, kelly, yeah, love you too.
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Thank you for listening to the Champions Mojo
podcast.
Did you enjoy the show?
We'd be grateful if you wouldleave us a five-star review on
iTunes to help others find us,and we'd also love to hear from
you.
We're on all social mediaplatforms or you can reach us at
championsmojocom.
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