Jackie Dubrovich: Olympic Gold, Then What? Life After Paris 2024 | Direct Elimination Ep. 28

Jackie Dubrovich won Olympic gold with USA fencing in Paris 2024 — then walked away. What happens when the dream is done?The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• How Jackie balanced a full-time corporate 9-to-5 with elite Olympic training — and why she says she couldn't physically do it again at 31• What it's really like to be coached by your husband, share an Olympic gold medal moment with him, and still come home to the same person that night• The paralyzing fear Jackie felt at her final individual Olympic event and how she willed herself through it on pure determination• What identity after sport actually feels like — the aimlessness, the adrenaline gap, and the unglamorous realities of building Polaris Fencing Center from the ground upJackie Dubrovich is a two-time Olympian and Olympic gold medalist with the US Women's Foil Team at Paris 2024, one of the most decorated American fencers of her generation. Since retiring, she has channeled her competitive drive into opening Polaris Fencing Center in New Jersey, where she now coaches the next generation of fencers.What's the hardest part of life after competing at the highest level — losing the sport itself, or losing the person you were inside it? Tell us in the comments.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00:00 Introduction00:01:20 Growing Up in New Jersey00:08:28 The Grind00:11:18 Husband & Coach Dynamic00:20:53 The Pressure of a Final Olympics00:25:26 Opening Polaris Fencing Center00:35:37 What She Misses Most00:37:57 Life After Sport00:43:10 Lessons from the Podcast00:45:12 One Light Answers00:50:02 Closing Thoughts & Shoutout to Polaris Fencing Center💬 BEST QUOTES"My whole life was work like a 9 to 5 and then train in the evenings, compete on the weekends, train on the weekends that I'm not competing.""It was it was a really beautiful, meaningful moment. And then to be able to hug him afterwards.""I was just willing myself to the finish line. I knew that this was it, I just had nothing else to give.""There is no other way to kind of replicate in my day to day life, the adrenaline that fencing gave me."Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell🔗 Connect with Colin📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en🔗 Connect with Jackie📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiedubrovich/🤺Polaris Fencing Center: https://www.polarisfencing.com/Thank you for listening!🔗 Check out FencR🌐: https://www.fencr.app/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fencr.app🔗 Connect with Us🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directelimination📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directelimination/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@DirectElimination🔗 Prieur USA🌐: https://www.prieurusa.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/