250: The Power of Small Steps, Visualization & Belief - Olympian Lindsay Shoop

Ella
Mar 26, 2026
2 min read

Updated: Aug 1, 2025

On Air with Ella - podcast episode 250

SHE STARTED WITH SMALL STEPS & FINISHED WITH GOLD

Lindsay Dare Shoop wasn't born superhuman. In fact, she was late to the sport that would make her famous - showing up inexperienced, out of shape and slower than her peers. Today she's an Olympic gold medalist (2008 Beijing Olympics), a 3x World Champion, and a National Rowing Hall of Fame inductee.

Lindsay talks to us about overcoming our self-imposed limitations, and embracing the lessons of wins and losses to achieve greatness however we define it.

The best way to [proceed] was to keep an eye on the ground right in front of me and just a short distance ahead. If I fixated on the peak, I would easily become disheartened. - L.Shoop

In this episode, I'm talking to Gold Medal Olympian Lindsay Shoop about:

The secrets of her success... aren't what you think they are
The life-altering power of small steps
How to keep showing up, on a bad day, when you're in a rut, or after a failure
This well-kept secret to success: being willing to be the “least"...surrounding yourself with people who challenge you, who are “better” than you at something
The true joy that comes when you’re working to be your best at something

RESOURCES MENTIONED

On the Shortness of Life: Stoic Principles for Self-Improvement - Seneca
Better Great Than Never, Believing It's Possible Is Where Champions Begin - Lindsay Shoop

Our first step was to change our minds. To risk believing in where we wanted to go and then to embrace the challenge despite its uncertainty. - L.Shoop

ABOUT LINDSAY SHOOP, OLY, MSEd, CSCS

Lindsay Dare Shoop is an Olympic Champion rower and a US National Rowing Hall of Fame

inductee. Over the past decade, she has coached at every level from youth to elite, and has been a sports commentator for NBC Olympics, ESPN, ACC Network, and USRowing (to name a few!).

Lindsay is the author of Better Great Than Never, which chronicles her life-changing journey to Olympic gold. Currently, Lindsay is a coach and speaker having presented before major corporations, academic institutions, and national conferences.

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY

Instagram: @LindsayDareShoop
Web: www.LindsayDareShoop.com

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