Annie Drews: From Game Changer to Record Breaker – The Mindset Behind Olympic Success

Today’s guest is an accomplished athlete from Elkhart, Indiana, a two-time state champion at Penn High School and an All-American at Purdue University. She was named the 2019 Best Opposite at the FIVB World Cup and USA Volleyball Player of the Year, having been a member of the national team since 2017. A key player on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team that won the first-ever gold medal for U.S. Volleyball, she came off the bench as a game-changer before starting the final games, leading the team with 97 points and 88 kills. In 2024, she followed up with a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and broke the all-time points record for a U.S. volleyball player, surpassing the previous record set by Destiny Hooker.

Most of our listeners will truly appreciate Annie Drews's willingness to explore the role that mindset training can play in elevating performance at this point in her career. Please welcome Annie Drews to the Max Out Mindset podcast.

Annie shares her thoughts on maxing out, emphasizing the importance of physical and mental effort.

Some key highlights:

  • Having the courage to reach out to Dr. Widman to work on her mindset.

  • The Olympic quad, highlighting the challenges and the team's resilience.

  • The team's struggles and the importance of putting egos aside to achieve success.

  • The volatility of roles and rosters during the Olympic quad and the importance of flexibility.

  • The need for teammates to hold roles loosely and support each other through changes.

  • The importance of being ready and the practical side of maintaining a competitive edge.

  • The challenges of being a role player and the lessons learned from that experience.

  •  Annie shares her experience of being told she was getting in her own way by Jordan Larson.

  • The process of addressing her self-doubt and the support from teammates and coaches.

  • The importance of being consistent and contributing to the team, regardless of the role.

  • Annie shares her values of "play big" and "fearless," emphasizing body language, communication, and risk-taking.

  • The importance of being fearless and the impact of physical and mental preparation on performance.

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