Olympic Gold And What Comes Next.

Written By Almost Pro

Episode: #039.

Rosie Popa.

Athlete: Rowing.

A lemon farm in Chile probably isn't where you'd expect an Olympic Gold Medal story to go.

But for Rosie Popa, that chapter may have been just as important as standing on top of the podium in Tokyo.

From growing up around Olympians to missing the Rio Olympics, studying at Berkeley and Oxford, winning Olympic Gold, and learning how to redefine success beyond sport, Rosie shares a refreshingly honest perspective on ambition, achievement, fulfillment, and life after elite competition.

This isn't just a conversation about rowing. It's a conversation about identity, perspective, external validation, burnout, self-leadership, and the lessons that can come from both success and disappointment.

CHAPTERS

  • 00:00 Introduction

  • 01:37 Growing Up Around Olympians

  • 04:27 From Basketball To Rowing

  • 09:23 Missing The Olympics Changed Everything

  • 17:38 Oxford, Lemon Farms & Perspective

  • 25:07 Winning Olympic Gold During COVID

  • 45:00 Achievement vs Fulfillment

  • 48:48 This or That

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

✅ How missing the Rio Olympics changed Rosie's approach to sport and life
✅ Why a lemon farm in Chile became a turning point in her journey
✅ The mindset shift that helped her win Olympic Gold in Tokyo
✅ What it was like preparing for the Olympics during COVID
✅ Why achievement and fulfillment aren't always the same thing
✅ How to navigate external validation, pressure, and perfectionism
✅ What healthy success looks like beyond elite sport

ABOUT ROSIE POPA

Rosie Popa is an Australian Olympic Gold Medalist, Oxford graduate, former University of California Berkeley student-athlete, and passionate advocate for helping athletes navigate life beyond sport.

🌐 Rosie's Website: [www.rosiepopa.com](http://www.rosiepopa.com)

Stream Episode. 52:41mins.

 
 
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