UNCUT: Full-length interview with Mondo Duplantis

Welcome to a rather special episode of Mind Set Win. It’s a slightly different version to what you’re used to – we give you a full length interview with one athlete, with absolutely no interruptions. Earlier in the series we heard from former Germany and Bayern Munich footballer Mario Gómez, who ended his playing career in 2020 after spending nearly two decades as one of Europe’s most admired strikers. Mario is now technical director for Red Bull Soccer and has plenty of cause for celebration after RB Leipzig’s German Cup final victory in June 2023 meant they lifted the trophy for the second season in a row. Mario had much to say about the highs and lows that are inevitable in any competitive environment. And he told us how, despite setbacks, he managed to maintain confidence that the next chance would always come. But after such a long and celebrated career, Mario had so much more to say, and we thought you’d love to hear his interview in full.

“Through having a challenge you’re able to know a little bit more about yourself and through that you can work your way to another challenge.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews, uncut with no interruptions. This special episode is with French big wave surfer Justine Dupont. Earlier in Series 1 on Episode 5, Justine spoke about the importance of self-awareness and how to use it to your advantage. Now, we’re releasing her interview in full to give you deeper insight into all the lessons she’s learned during her legendary career. Justine outlines how important focus is and illustrates further how she built the self-awareness needed to stay in the present moment, and how her approach changed over the years chasing waves.

“I had used this passion that I had found for the bike - for riding - that I didn’t even know existed, to get myself out of that comfort zone little by little.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews, uncut with no interruptions. This extended episode is with Swiss-American BMX Freestyle rider Nikita Ducarroz. Earlier in Series 1 on Episode 28, Nikita revealed how a supportive environment has helped her evolve into the athlete she is today, but there's so much more to her story. The Olympian recalls her bronze medal-winning run in Tokyo and elaborates on how she knew her coach was the right person to teach her. Nikita also further opens up on how her anxiety shaped her athletic career growing up, and why she felt drawn to BMX.

“Your intellect can change, your physical strength and technical ability can change, if you are willing to commit to the process that it takes to change it.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews, uncut with no interruptions. This extended episode is with American cross-country mountain biker Kate Courtney. Earlier in Series 1 on Episode 6, Kate, who is also a host on Mind Set Win, introduced us to how she develops persistence, which is something she believes is ‘the foundation of everything’ she’s achieved. In this extended version Kate offers further insight into the techniques that have shaped her elite mentality on two-wheels.

“When you’re at the top everybody wants to knock you off, so I think being the hunter and doing the chasing is always easier, instead of being the hunted where you have the added pressure of expectation.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews, uncut with no interruptions. This extended episode is with Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner. You might recognise some of the insight here, as Christian has featured in two episodes of Mind Set Win already! His first episode focused on the power of enjoyment and the other explored how routines can improve your focus. The interview was packed with so much insight though, we had to bring you it all in full. So press play and listen as one of the sport's biggest personalities takes you through his approach to life at the forefront of Formula One.

“There are so many things you can find to improve your everyday life. I’m an optimistic person and always try to seek the best.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a series of full-length athlete interviews, uncut and in their purest form. This extended interview is with Stefanos Tsitsipas, a multiple Grand Slam finalist and an ATP World Tour Finals winner. Back in the second episode of Season 1 Stefanos introduced us to his flow state, which is the zone that’s played an essential part in some of his greatest career moments. In this uncut version, he allows us further into his mind for an even deeper insight into what makes him tick both on and off the court.

“I figured out how important it is to believe that you’re actually doing the right things in order to feel better.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a series of uncut interviews, uninterrupted and packed with insight. This extended episode is with hard-hitting Italian tennis player Matteo Berrettini. Back in Season 1, in Episode 26 Matteo showed us his approach to dealing with, and learning from, tough losses. In this uncut interview, he extends this into his personal life by illustrating his thought process when it comes to navigating the negative emotions associated with challenging situations.

“When I’m happy I’m at the track, when I’m mad I’m at the track, when I’m at my best and lowest, I’m at the track. I commit to this fully.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a series of full-length athlete interviews, completely uninterrupted. This extended episode is with Qatari world champion high jumper Mutaz Barshim. Earlier in Series 1, Episode 11, listeners heard how resilience has been fundamental to Mutaz’s continued success on the world stage. In this uncut interview, he reveals further just how mentally challenging it was to rebuild his career to great heights after a debilitating injury.

“It’s important to always be open for plan C,D,E,F – nothing ever goes according to plan, you need to stay flexible and adjust to the moment.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a series of full-length athlete interviews, completely uninterrupted. This extended episode is with Swiss Ironman legend Daniela Ryf. Earlier in Series 1, Episode 16, Daniela shares how being able to mentally refocus and rest during a race gives her the best chance of being successful. She also gives the inside story on the infamous jellyfish sting that almost derailed her race at the 2018 World Championships! In this extended version, Daniela provides further insight on what has made her one of the most dominant athletes of her era.

"I had no margin for error. What I added was the respect for fear. I started to listen to my fears and make them my best friends." Ahead of Season 2, returning later in 2023, we’re releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews, uncut with no interruptions. This extended episode is with Italian pilot and aviation pioneer Dario Costa. Dario featured in Series 1, Episode 14, and took us into the cockpit with him on his historic Tunnel Pass flight through two road tunnels, a video which has been seen by millions. As he explains to host Kate Courtney, it was a 44-second flight which took him out of his comfort zone like never before. In this uncut episode, Dario reveals more about his Red Bull Air Race career, and offers further insight on just how he embraced his fears and pushed his limits to make aviation history.

“I think self-reflection is a huge part of my personality trait and my journey of trying to be the best version of myself.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re whetting the appetite by releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews. This episode features Australian surfer Molly Picklum who has enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2023, winning her first WSL Championship Tour event. Molly is on a quest to become a world champion and in this episode she reveals how she strives to find balance both on and off the water, and explains how curiosity can be her greatest strength but also her biggest weakness. The New South Wales native, frequently referred to as ‘surfing’s next big thing’, also opens up on what the hardest moment of her career has been and the mental techniques she adopted to help her overcome the situation.

"I'm always a work in progress, and I think that's given me the freedom to push my performance, boundaries, and limits.” Ahead of Season 2 returning later in 2023, we’re whetting the appetite by releasing a selection of full-length athlete interviews. This episode features Carissa Moore, the dominant five-time surfing world champion and Olympic gold medallist (Tokyo). Carissa is a hall-of-fame surfer widely regarded as one of the all-time greats of her sport. In this episode of Mind Set Win, hosted by Cédric Dumont, the American lifts the lid on her aggressive approach to competition and reveals how – by never holding back – she’s left with no regrets. Born into surfing on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Carissa also explains how she finds great joy, adventure and self-expression when out on the waves, and talks us through the mental techniques she uses to connect with her heart, something which enables her to perform at her best level.

"Every day I have to carry myself in a way that reminds me I must push every single time because others are looking – and hopefully I can be that little bit of hope for them." In this bonus episode of Mind Set Win UNCUT, Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi goes in-depth on how he grew into his role as the leader of one of the world’s most iconic sports teams. As the first Black captain of his country’s rugby team, the Springboks, Siya reveals the responsibility he carries to be a beacon of hope for his community and nation. He relives South Africa’s triumph at the 2019 World Cup and also offers an even deeper insight into his ‘why’, the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation that inspires him to keep on pushing every single day. If you’re hungry for more content with Siya, check out Season 2 Episode 2, where hosts Cédric and York uncover how we can all find our ‘why’ and how to use it to positive effect.

“If you go step by step every time you have an unexpected situation, you’ll come out with more success.” After a fascinating episode earlier in the series where we learned how contingency planning is crucial to Daniel Dhers’s success as a BMX rider, we just had to make the full interview available! In this UNCUT episode, Daniel further shares how his dedication and problem-solving mindset has enabled him to become one of the most decorated riders in the history of his sport. Daniel also relives his rise to fame and how it affected him, and reveals deeper insight into how he won a medal in Tokyo at the age of 36. If you’re interested in how you can start incorporating Daniel’s mindset into your own life, listen to episode S2 E5 where hosts Cédric and York break it down and offer an exercise you can action right away.

“When I stood on the platform I looked down on myself and I was wearing the Maple Leaf and it didn’t matter what size I was, I was just up there doing what I love.” As we heard in her episode in Season 1, Canadian cliff diver Molly Carlson shows daily how courageous and brave she is. Firstly during her Red Bull Cliff Diving career in which she jumps off staggering heights, and secondly with her ability to face and overcome any negative inner voices that arise. In the previous episode, we also learned exactly how she manages her inner team to compete successfully at elite level and reinforce a positive mindset that is so beneficial for our performance and satisfaction in everyday life. In this full-length uncut interview, Molly dives deeper into how her mindset has evolved over time, and what it took for her to find the positive space that she’s in today. Check out Season 1 Episode 22 to hear how exactly you go about managing your inner team.

"I'm an athlete who goes all in. For me this is the best tactic." Back in Season 2 Episode 4 we learned how alpine skier Marco Odermatt uses a visualisation technique to ground himself and zone in before he takes the starting gate. It’s a process that allows the reigning Olympic and World Champion to reach top speed under pressure, and often in challenging weather conditions that put additional strain on his body and mind. In this UNCUT episode featuring the extended interview, Marco further shares how his anchor lays the groundwork for him to be able to react positively to the many unpredictable situations that can arise on the mountain. If you want to hear Cédric and York break down the role of mental stimulation and offer some tips to help us all discover our own anchor, listen back to S2 E4 now.

"I have goals and I have dreams and I really push to elevate myself to make sure there are no excuses and that I can do anything I want." TJ Rogers has previously been a guest on this podcast with a powerful episode in which he detailed how skateboarding has been a constant source of positivity in his life while growing up in Canada and recently recovering from cancer. In his words, skateboarding saved his life. Back in Season 2 Episode 9, hosts Cédric and York explored TJ’s positive mindset and his ability to set long-term goals and continue to chase them while overcoming unexpected obstacles. In this UNCUT episode featuring an extended interview, the pro skateboarder allows us a deeper insight into his life and the mindset which has made him one of the most respected skaters in the world.

“Whatever your why is or whatever helps you stay locked in, don’t let it give you anxiety, that’s negative energy.” All the way back in Season 1 Episode 20, coach to the elite stars of the NBA Chris Matthews, aka Lethal Shooter, shared a touching account of how learning to compartmentalise helped him harness his emotions to positive effect. Whether juggling personal challenges like the death of his best friend, or dealing with stressful situations on the court, Lethal Shooter explains in the episode to host Kate Courtney how he’s able to utilise his ability to set aside distracting emotions and focus on the task at hand. Now, in this UNCUT episode featuring the full-length interview, we want to give you the opportunity to spend more time with the incredible skills coach and understand further how he inspires his clients. While detailing more of his personal life, he also elaborates how he approaches various topics and techniques such as compartmentalisation, frustration and how to develop breathing techniques. Listen to Season 1 Episode 20 now and hear host Kate Courtney break down compartmentalisation and how you can use visualisation to aid you in this process.

Competing in the legendary Dakar Rally requires a special kind of survival instinct, and rally raid rider Sam Sunderland knows this better than most. Racing thousands of kilometres across ancient volcanoes, soaring sand dunes and remote mountains, Sam battles alone against some of the toughest conditions imaginable. There is no downtime and staying alert 24 hours a day is the number one priority. A two-time Dakar winner, Sunderland has a pretty good grasp of enduring this chaos, but the desert is unpredictable, and he still needs to know exactly when to deploy his impressive arsenal of mental and physical resources. Finding that sweet spot to maintain top performance throughout the race is key. Listen now to hear more about Sam’s stories from Dakar, and find out how to navigate your path through your own personal rally of life.

What happens when we have to say goodbye to something that’s been all we’ve ever known? Change can be good, but learning to let go of something familiar – whether that’s a job, a hobby or a way of life – can be difficult to navigate. As Andrea Petković knows full well, moving on from her life in professional tennis came with significant challenges, including a loss of identity and the need to find a new passion to fill the void. Professional athletes are not the only individuals to face this challenge. It’s something that eventually everyone will encounter, whether this is transitioning from school to work life, starting a different job or stopping work altogether. In a very honest chat with host Cédric, Andrea talks about how she went through a period of lying to herself before retiring from her professional tennis career in 2022. She also opens up about the grief she had to deal with, and how she learned to take control of the circumstances.

Have you ever ignored your intuition, only to regret it? A big part of being able to let your gut feeling guide you during stressful situations is to have a cool head and remain calm. X Games freestyle skiing gold medallist Kelly Sildaru is no stranger to the pressures that come with competitions, and she's learned to not only override her stress response, but also clear her head to allow for a rational approach to dangerous situations. The Estonian skier can follow her gut feeling and make intuitively sound decisions that are not based on external or internal pressure. Of course, she has experience of what happens when she hasn't done this, so can relate all too well to the importance of letting your intuition dictate your response to fear.

Snowboarding legend Marcus Kleveland uses pressure to thrive and ultimately win the world's biggest competitions, such as the X Games or even the Olympics. Having joined the snowboarding game at just 13 years old, Marcus has learned to turn pressure into something positive. In this UNCUT episode, Marcus reflects on the current state of snowboarding, his personal approach to the sport as well as his short-term and long-term goals. Go back to Season 1 Episode 8 to hear how to use Marcus’s approach to deal with pressure in your daily life.