Flame Bearers: Pathways to Paris

In this episode, we sprint into the life of Jodie Williams, a 3x Olympian from Great Britain, beginning with her early days as an unstoppable young athlete. Jodie recalls her first taste of victory, winning races at school sports days and even being pitted against older boys in a heptathlon when “no one could beat me.” That moment fueled a drive that would guide her to track and field, where she quickly became a standout. That said, her journey to the Olympics wasn’t without setbacks. She reflects on the heartbreak of missing the London Olympics due to a torn hamstring and feeling overwhelmed in her first Olympic experience in Rio. But by Tokyo, she had found a new mindset: “I just looked up... there was no crowd, but I felt at peace. I thought, 'Wow, I’ve done it.'” Jodie opens up about the highs and lows of pursuing her dream, describing how fear has been ever-present: “Fear is a huge part of it… if you're dreaming that big, there’s going to be a lot of fear involved. That’s part of the journey.” Learning to manage her inner dialogue, she says, has been essential, as she’s worked to “make friends” with her inner critic and celebrate each small victory. Jodie shares how wherever you are in your journey, she wants you to stop to congratulate yourself today. "Say, 'Good job for getting out of bed, for getting dressed,' because sometimes, that’s the biggest achievement of the day." Beyond her athletic career, Jodie founded the Listen Journal, a platform for women to share their stories authentically. She’s also found a passion for coffee, seeing it as a way to build community and raise awareness around its history. --------------- Flame Bearers is a multi-platform media movement illuminating the stories of our world's best women athletes. We tell stories via video, podcast, and live events, centering her story in her words. For more videos about elite women in sport, subscribe to our YouTube channel ► / @flamebearers Follow us - Instagram - / flamebearers Facebook - / flamebearerspodcast Linkedin - / flame-bearers Tiktok- / flame_bearers X- / flame_bearers OUR WEBSITE - https://flamebearers.com/ Leave a comment and tell us what you liked in the video. If you like the content, subscribe to our channel!