405. Robyn Stevens, U.S. Olympic Trials 20K Race Walk Champion

“I said, ‘The best thing for me right now is to just choose life, and to step away.’”

Tomorrow, Robyn Stevens will make her Olympic debut, representing Team USA in the 20K race walk. In June, Robyn won her event at the Olympic Track & Field Trials, officially becoming the fastest female walker in the country. And on this episode, she talks about the long road to becoming an Olympian, which included a 17-year break and retirement from the sport to recover from a severe eating disorder. But now, "Walkin' Robyn" is healthy, cruising at a 7:40/mile pace, and becoming an Olympian at age 38. Plus, Robyn offers a bit of "Race Walk 101" (race walking: it's not just fast walking, it's definitely not slow running, and it comes with lots of rules and regulations!), and shares her excitement about getting to head to Tokyo to compete with her boyfriend, fellow race walk champion and Team USA member Nick Christie.

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What you’ll get on this episode:

What Robyn’s training has looked like between the Trials and Tokyo, and how it feels to be representing Team USA (5:00) What it took for Robyn and Nick to make Team USA (16:15) Race Walk 101 (23:00) How Robyn got into race walking (34:00) “Imagine how much faster she would be if she were skinnier” (45:00) Robyn’s decision to take her life back (1:07:45) On returning to the sport and making Team USA (1:22:30) Why Robyn owns 30+ wigs! (1:26:20)

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