Episode 67

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Published on:

22nd Aug 2019

Ep 67 Focusing On What I Can Control With Olympian and Pro Volleyball Player David Smith

Ep. 67 Focusing On What I Can Control With Olympian and Pro Volleyball Player David Smith

In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes David Smith. David is an American professional volleyball player. He is a member of the USA National Team, a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Championship, a 2015 World Cup winner, and a two–time Champions League winner. At the professional club level, he plays for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Today, David Smith takes us on his journey from starting as a young athlete, born deaf in both ears, to becoming a world-class and professional volleyball player.

David begins by describing his dream as a young athlete. He talks about growing up with sports and exploring different sports before choosing volleyball. David Smith delves into how he got scouted to play for UC Irvine and how college volleyball dynamics were much different than that of high school. Living as an athlete with a disability, David explains that he focuses on what he can control, putting in the hard work day in and out. He shares the challenges of going pro and living in a foreign country with his newlywed wife. The episode comes to a close as David admonishes younger athletes to keep their confidence going and focus on what they can control.


Key Points:

  • David's dream when he was a younger athlete
  • Exploring different sports
  • Why David chose volleyball
  • Getting scouted
  • Living as an athlete with a disability
  • The challenges that come with playing as an elite athlete
  • How to keep your confidence going
  • Focusing on what you can control
  • David discusses going pro and living overseas
  • Balancing a family with the challenges of going pro
  • Transitioning into a non-volleyball world

Quotes:

"In the beginning, sports was just a way to be normal."

"I assumed it was going to end when my college ended."

"I knew the way to be at that level was to work day in, day out."

"The key is understanding what I can control."

"Luck is when opportunity meets preparation."

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About the Podcast

The Started With A Dream Podcast w/ Jacolby Gilliam
The Started With A Dream Podcast w/ Jacolby Gilliam
Every great athlete started with a dream. The Started With A Dream Podcast interviews athletes and the community that supports to share their journey and stories. Unlike most sports podcast this interview series with Jacolby Gilliam isn’t about how big an athlete’s name is but about their journey.

Like most athletes, Jacolby had this big dream growing up about being a Division-I college athlete. Somehow he made that happen. However, it wasn’t the exciting big signing day type story, but the tear his ACL his senior year of high school, let me try to walk-on at my dream University type of story. A lot of other stuff along the way.

His story doesn’t make him special, but it’s his journey. A journey that he thought he was alone on because of the stigma that athletes are supposed to be strong and not show weakness.  He started 9INE POINT with the aspirations to spark a new platform for current and the next generation of athletes.

Basically, something he wishes he had growing up. Society always highlights the glamorous lifestyle of being an athlete but avoids talking about the ups and downs that come as well like the anxiety or depression after a bad injury.

So why this podcast? Because it is a place for YOU to hear stories, tips, and advice from athletes from around the world just being real. While also featuring insight from the community that supports them, coaches, nutritionists, and therapists.

Some of these athletes and supporters are very well known. Some are not known at all and that’s the cool part! 9INE POINT and The Started With A Dream Podcast is the first platform giving a voice to all athletes regardless of "popularity" and the athletic community that supports them. What dream YOU may have, the ups and downs YOU are going through as an athlete, we want to make sure YOU never feel like you’re going through it alone.