HYS Ep. 33 -- Dancing Through The Tough Times: In conversation with Christilot Boylen

It's not often you get the chance to have a conversation with someone who helped shape a sport for an entire country, but Tracey had that very opportunity in this episode of Hitting Your Stride. She welcomed six-time Olympian and three-time PanAm gold medalist Christilot Boylen to the podcast to share her lifetime of experiences -- from learning how to learn in the most foreign of circumstances, how to get the message across to students who aren't sure of their footing, and how goal-setting never goes away. Christilot opens up to Tracey about the influences she's had in her life, starting with her mother's get-it-done attitude upon arriving in Canada in 1951 and ranging to the different coaches she learned from and is still influenced by to this day. One of her most important lessons comes in the form of advice for young riders needing to learn how to dance so they understand the concepts of rhythm and beat, and another she borrows from a fellow Canadian icon, Ian Millar, about always being on the lookout for learning opportunities. Showing the singular focus it takes to be a world-class athlete, Christilot talks about her ability to shut out the outside world when she needed to most, but also opens up about the need to develop yourself as a more complete person and take the time to be joyous and celebrate many aspects of life. You need to learn what you really enjoy in life, especially outside of the ring, to truly enjoy life inside of it. Even as her competitive riding days are winding down, Tracey finds out that Canada's First Lady of Dressage still has a lot she wants to get done. They touch on Canada's place among the best equestrian nations in the world, how she still enjoys shaping the future of horses, riders and those who coach them, and what she thinks about taking time to appreciate the finer things in your life.