Triathlon

How did you improve your bike skills for the Tokyo Games?

Overcoming Fear: How Hard Work and Intentional Training Improved My Bike Skills

I have worked. I've been working really hard to improve my bike skills. Since Rio, basically in 2016. In Rio. I had seen the course and everyone was worried about this steep uphill and to me, the uphill was no problem, but the downhills like scared me so much and it took my brain away from focusing on the race as a whole. And I just became all consumed by this fear of descending, this hill. And so after being disappointed with my result and Rio was a turning point for me and it's probably one of the Things that in looking back that ever happened because it was what I worked on since then and being really intentional about working on those skills specific to our racing. So that I would always feel more confident and I am really blessed to have Tommy. My husband be also a training partner. So every day we go out and train and I follow his wheel. He's quite technically good. I would I would really make it an attention to the be as close as possible as I could to him and like use that by doing also. Group rides and just putting myself in a lot of situations to improve so that when it came to the, to the race in Tokyo, when it was what, I felt confident that I'd done. These things before that I've raced in wet weather that I've worked on my skills technically, and that I've improved, so that I felt a lot more confident in Tokyo than I did in Rio.

After being disappointed with my result in Rio, I worked hard to improve my bike skills by intentional practice and following my husband's wheel. This helped me feel more confident when it came to the race in Tokyo, as I had done all the necessary preparation to improve my skills.

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I have been working hard to improve my bike skills since the Rio Games in 2016. In Rio, I had a fear of descending steep hills, which affected my focus during the race. After being disappointed with my result, I made it a priority to work on those specific skills for racing.

Fortunately, my husband Tommy is also a training partner, and I am blessed to have him. We train together every day, and I closely follow his wheel. He is technically skilled, so I make a conscious effort to stay as close to him as possible. I also participate in group rides and put myself in various situations to improve my skills.

By doing these things, I gained confidence for the race in Tokyo. I had experience racing in wet weather, worked on my technical skills, and overall improved. As a result, I felt much more confident in Tokyo compared to my experience in Rio.

How nervous were you before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, how did you manage those nerves?

Triathlete's Surprising Strategy and Supportive Atmosphere at Tokyo Olympics

I feel like before the start of the Tokyo Olympics. I was actually not as nervous as as I have been for other races and my man try going into the race. Was I know how to do this. Like, I know how to race Triathlon and just the mindset of like, this is what I do basically, and it was like, for the warm-up, we were doing a swim warm up, and it was so spots. One through five. It was me the Brits and summer and we were all just practicing starts. And really just like kind of scheming like, okay, like if we, if we get into like this formation like we can all get away and it was amazing because a like it's not something we typically do at any race, but also it was really fun and I think that it made it feel feel fine and it made it feel like I would say a difference from Rio to Tokyo, is that in Rio. I felt like my competitors were competitors. I was intimidated by them and felt like they were bigger than me. Whereas, in Tokyo, I felt like they were my friends and I also think that is being drawn upon like a five years of getting to know people but be how supportive people were when my dad passed away and how they were there for me. And it just created a lot of really close-knit relationships with the triathlon community. So for me like that would made it really fun. And so that for starting on that start line in Tokyo. It was really just like, let's see what I can do. I'm going to try my best and and it made it a little less stressful and a lot less nervous. Fracking.

Going into the Tokyo Olympics, I was less nervous than other races because I had a great warm-up with the other competitors and I felt like they were my friends. This positive mindset made it much easier to approach the race with confidence.

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Before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, I was actually not as nervous as I had been for other races. I felt confident in my abilities and had the mindset of knowing how to race in triathlon. During the warm-up, we were practicing starts with other athletes, and it was a fun and unique experience. It made the whole atmosphere feel more relaxed and enjoyable.

One difference I noticed between Rio and Tokyo was how I viewed my competitors. In Rio, I felt intimidated by them and saw them as bigger than me. However, in Tokyo, I felt like they were my friends. Over the past five years, I had gotten to know many of them, and their support during the difficult time when my dad passed away created close-knit relationships within the triathlon community.

This supportive and friendly environment made the start line in Tokyo feel exciting rather than stressful. I approached the race with the mindset of giving my best and seeing what I could achieve. Overall, the camaraderie and positive relationships within the triathlon community helped manage any nerves I had before the start of the Tokyo Olympics.

What was the USA Olympic team environment like in Tokyo?

US Olympic team's incredible camaraderie in Tokyo

The US Olympic team environment was like really incredible. It was so cool. Because even though like we obviously know each other and have been two races together. I mean summer Rappaport, Taylor nib Morgan Pearson Kevin and I we all have kind of different relationships with one another. Some that are closer where I like see summer a bit more now that she lives in our area. Kevin. I when I got started in Triathlon, he was at the Olympic Training Center, but like for me Morgan and Taylor like I didn't know. Them quite as well. And so leading into the Olympics. We were like really bonded and really had a really good sense of camaraderie leading into the mixed relay. And I think that made a huge difference. Just getting to know each other that week and have meals together. Go to training sessions together and just really, really have like big talk sessions where it's not just passing by as you're really focused on the race and not able to have time together in Tokyo. We actually had quite a bit of time before Before the Race happened.

The US Olympic team environment was really incredible. Even though the members of the team had different levels of familiarity with one another, everyone bonded leading up to the mixed relay race. This camaraderie made a big difference and allowed them to get to know each other better while they were in Tokyo.

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The environment of the US Olympic team in Tokyo was incredible. Despite knowing each other and having raced together before, there were varying levels of familiarity among the team members. Some of us had closer relationships, while others were less acquainted. However, leading up to the Olympics, we bonded and developed a strong sense of camaraderie, especially in preparation for the mixed relay event.

We spent time together, sharing meals and attending training sessions as a team. This allowed us to get to know each other better and have meaningful conversations. Unlike previous races where we were focused solely on the competition, in Tokyo, we had the opportunity to spend quality time together before the race took place. This bonding experience made a significant difference in our team dynamics and overall performance.

Which means more to you, team medal or individual medal from Tokyo? (Both are amazing)

Overcoming adversity: Tokyo's individual medal holds personal triumph

So it's a very tough question. What means more to me, the team metal or the individual metal from Tokyo, I would have to go with probably the individual based off of, just kind of the situations leading into the Olympics between my dad, passing away. And having pretty poor races and just a lot of uncertainty, kind of with my selection towards the Olympic. So after all that it was like A relief to go to kind of prove my selection and prove to myself that I was still capable of achieving all the things that I thought I was. And I also think that that individual metal led to being able to do so well in the in the team relay. So it gave me the confidence that I probably needed to just go into the team relay a little bit more relaxed and especially because I did a leadoff for the team relay and I'd never gone first before, even though I'd done relays before, I'd never actually been in the first position. So I just felt a lot more capable of that after knowing how well, the individual had gone. So, both are super meaningful, both are very different and it was amazing to be part of the inaugural makes team relay at the Olympics, which is just really cool to be part of that history. Hurry. So that's a very tough question but I will go with the individual and hope that that individual result really led to Also, helping with the team team result.

I would have to go with the individual metal from Tokyo because it gave me the confidence I needed to do well in the team relay, and it was meaningful to be part of the inaugural Olympic mixed team relay.

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Choosing between the team medal and the individual medal from Tokyo is a difficult decision. Both are amazing achievements. However, personally, the individual medal holds more meaning for me. The circumstances leading up to the Olympics, including the passing of my father and struggling with poor races, created a lot of uncertainty around my selection for the Games. So, the individual medal was a relief and a way to prove to myself that I was still capable of achieving my goals.

Additionally, the confidence gained from the individual medal translated into a strong performance in the team relay. It allowed me to approach the relay more relaxed, especially since I was leading off, a position I had never been in before. The individual medal gave me the belief in my abilities, which positively impacted the team result.

Both medals hold significant value, but the individual medal's personal significance and its impact on the team performance make it slightly more meaningful to me. It was also an incredible experience to be part of the inaugural mixed team relay at the Olympics, contributing to the historical significance of the event.

Katie Zaferes answers your Triathlon questions. See all the advice Katie Zaferes has and get answers to your own Triathlon questions.

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Olympian🥈🥉, World Triathlon Champion, Super League Triathlon Champion.⁣