GOLDEN SECRETS of BUILDING CURIOSITY and FACING COMPETITION to CLEAR HURDLES with Sharon Hannan, an Olympic Gold Medal Winning Coach

Alloutcoach

A lifelong fan of the Olympics, I recently interviewed Sharon Hannan, an Olympic Gold Medal winning coach in 100 m hurdles and Australian athletics veteran who had coached Sally Pearson to victory at the 2012 games in London. Listen to this truly personal conversation to learn Sharon's scientific approach to building curiosity, drive, confidence through small steps, innovative methods, and successes to winning in sports, business and life. 2:14 How did you get interested in Track and Field? 3:30 How did you become a coach that would train a champion to a gold medal in the Olympics? 6:04 Do you think you were always perceptive of other people and there was a coach in you that manifested later in life? 7:45 What is the role of curiosity and not being an athlete in your success? 8:52 One of the most impactful books I have ever read was Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston who had to cut off his arm to survive. She read the book over and over again to learn about how he faced adversity by the processes he implemented. 9:44 How did you help her overcome adversity? 10:35 Sally Pearson had a navicular stress fracture and Sharon found an innovative way to coach her through it 11:38 She thought "this girl lived on speed which was part of her DNA" so Sharon started to train her with racewalking so that she would feel speed without the impact of sprinting or hurdling not to exacerbate her injury or slow does its healing 12:41 What impact did race-walking have on Sally Pearson's results? 13:33 What were the turning points in your career that allowed you to develop confidence as a coach? 16:20 Sprinting in the pool was another method Sharon had used before with another athlete before Sally Pearson. The athlete keeps their body upright with the head above water and sprints using the arms. Usually, athletes cover 100 meters in 50 strides in about 12-13 seconds, while in the pool they cover 50 strides in 6-7 seconds. 18:20 What was the inspiration behind the technique of racing in the pool? 20:59 Who are the members of the integral team that helped you and your athletes become successful? 21:46 One of the first sports scientists Sharon met was a biomechanist. 22:48 If Sharon had an injured athlete she made it her rule/job and accompanied them to the physical therapist to learn how the injury might have happened. 26:31 What role did teamwork play in the athletes Sharon coached who primarily competed in individual events? 27:00 If you want to be the best you have to train with the best, which may include competitors or your competitors' coaches. The one area in which track and field lags behind is the tendency to avoid competitors or competitors' coaches in training. 28:14 What is the secret ingredient to reaching the pinnacle of competition - the Olympics, and performing at the highest level? 29:29 Secret ingredient - self-drive, small steps, success. My role is to plant the seeds to make incremental progress. 34:07 Your relationship with Sally ultimately ended as you parted ways. What are some lessons you have to maintain relationships with athletes, manage conflict in order to result in the best outcomes? 37:42 How did you recover after parting ways with Sally to continue to coach and leave a legacy among other athletes and coaches? 40:50 Did you find yourself a coach that challenged her athletes more than others would dare? 41:42 Famous in Australia for one rule: if an athlete fall-starts during training their training session is over. Sharon has lost several athletes who did not have the patience for this rule. However, on the contrary, Sharon has had extensive conversations with athletes about their long-term future and their personal lives or plans with their girlfriends/boyfriends. 46:32 Did your daughter continue on her path to becoming a track and field athlete? 54:22 Final message from Sharon