Episode Twenty One : Jessie Hodges - Driven to Ride

Reel Tails with Sweens - Podcast By Dwayne Sweeney

Episode Twenty One :

This episode I sit down with New Zealand track cyclist Jessie Hodges. Jessie is going to be competing at the 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo.

When most people think of Olympic athletes they assume a lifetime of dedication to their chosen sport, with Jessie this definitely isn't the case. She only developed a passion and drive for the sport of cycling when she suffered a serious knee injury in her last year of high school competing in her then, chosen sport of netball. It was the hours spent on a stationary bike during her rehabilitation that fuelled a fire in her that has seen her go on to represent New Zealand within her first two years in the sport and now become an Olympic athlete.

During this podcast we discuss some great topics and get an insight into the life of an extremely promising Olympic athlete.

From her sporting childhood and extremely supportive family to her four world cup medals in her first year of international competition, what drew her to track cycling and her rapid rise in the sport.

We also discuss dealing with concussion and the dangers of track racing, the focus she has on her mental skills, her hatred of peanut butter, training with New Zealand high performance, the beauty in enjoying the moments and so much more.

@jessie.hodges

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Show Notes:

2:21 - Introduction, how we met and the start of her cycling career

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5:12 - Her sporting childhood, Dads rugby career and her extremely supportive family and how much that means to an athlete

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10:56 - Some insight into her main three disciplines, the dangers of track racing, dealing with concussion, the importance of looking after your body as an athlete and training with high performance New Zealand

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22:47 - The transition from Netball and the dream of being a Silver Fern to becoming a New Zealand track cyclist, competing with the best in the world, the enjoyment she has for pushing herself to the limit

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28:25 - How winning in cycling and being successful puts a target on your back, enjoyment of competing in front of family and friends, how hard it is that her family can’t witness her first Olympics in person

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36:13 - The power of the mind and constantly learning from wins and losses, the impact that David Galbraith has had on both of our careers, importance of preparation and doing it your way

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43:54 - The beauty in the sounds of sport

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46:50 - Olympic preparation and what that looks like at the moment, the skills involved in the Madison race

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51:02 - Insight from good friend Nina Wollaston and her hatred of peanut butter but love of speculoos spread

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55:04 - Importance of mechanics with the bike and your body, insight into her gym routine

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1:00:59 - Immediate goals and the focus for Tokyo

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1:01:57 - The role David Galbraith plays and how he helps us to compete at the highest level, the importance of taking in the moments

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1:09:10 - The moment she was named in the Olympic team and sharing the news with her family, taking people with you on your journey as an athlete

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1:13:25 - Insight into the ones to watch at Tokyo, the high performance sporting hub that Cambridge has become, preparations for Tokyo as an athlete

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1:15:56 - What competition prep is like and the importance of diet, what hitting the wall is really like, fangirling so hard it caused her to hit the wall once

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1:29:15 - Final thoughts