Team USA Athletic Trainer on Championship Wins, Identity, and Purpose

Today on the No Former Athlete Podcast, we’re joined by 2019 World Cup gold medal-winning athletic trainer, Katie Donnelly. Katie reveals how she transitioned from an active kid trying out every sport imaginable (after School Sports Specialist anyone?) to becoming a vital part of the support staff for professional athletes on the world stage. She shares her conflicted experience immediately following a World Cup victory, and opens up about the complexities of athlete identity, including the extreme highs and lows that often come hand and hand with competition. We discuss the camaraderie and sense of purpose often found in sport, and Katie's insights into the mental and emotional toll of injuries, the sacrifices made for the grueling schedule on the road, and the process of finding a new identity after sports.