The Athletes Zone Podcast

Guðlaug Edda Hannesdóttir is Iceland's best triathlete, the 2018 Aquathlon World Champion and looking to qualify for the Paris Olympics. We talked about how she got through extremely tough times following difficult injuries and broke free from the constraints of her "good-girl syndrome". She discusses the importance of being grounded to operate from a place of joy rather than fear. W...

This episode is all about mastering competition preparation. After dedicating countless hours to training, you want your hard work to shine through on competition day. That's where mastering the preparation becomes necessary. Join me as I share my comprehensive 7-step mental preparation strategy, complemented by insights into the importance of physical readiness and mental resilience. Let'...

Valgarð Reinhardsson is a European Championships finalist on vault from 2018, World Cup finalist and is currently in the final stages of trying to qualify for the Paris Olympics. In our conversation, he shares how he learns complicated routines faster, bounced back from career-threatening injuries, reignited his passion after a period of complacency and the rigorous journey he's undertaking to...

In this episode I address a sensitive subject: Body Image issues among athletes. The pressure to conform to certain physical standards and the relentless scrutiny of athlete's bodies often lead to body dysmorphia. My own journey reflects this struggle. Despite achieving success in my sport, I struggled to appreciate my body for it's strength. Instead, I fixated on it's flaws and resort...

Meet the powerhouse from Iceland, Eygló Fanndal Sturludóttir. This rising star not only clinched the European U23 Weightlifting Champion title in the -71 kg category in 2022 but also secured a solid 4th place at the European Championships now in February. She is not just going for glory on the platform as she is in the final stages of the qualification process for the Paris Olympics but she also b...

Ever wondered what it really means to focus on the process? In today's episode I broke down what that truly entails in real-world scenarios and explored its significance in achieving peak performance. I even offered 6 actionable tips to help you embrace the process to unlock your full potential. If you are eager to elevate your performance when the pressure is on, this episode is a must-listen...

Kelsey Lee Barber is the Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo 2021 and the only woman in history who has successfully defended her World title in javelin. Known for her mind of steel, Kelsey consistently rises to the occasion when the pressure is on. But this isn't luck, it's the result of meticulous mental training since the early days of her career. In this interview she shares with us how...

Axelina Johansson is a World Championships finalist, NCAA champion and one of the best shot putters in the world at only 23 years old. Despite her young age, Axelina has been on a fast-track to success, consistently performing at her best when it matters the most. Although she makes it look so easy it hasn't always been smooth sailing. In our chat she gets honest about grappling with performan...

In today's episode I talked all about how you can turn a failure into success. I shared my 7 practical tips to avoid feeling like you failed, turn your mindset around and make that failure be the best thing that ever happened to you. If you have a hard time dealing with it when things don't work out like you wanted to then go ahead and listen to this episode. If you got value from this epi...

In today's episode I discuss mental training. I share my 5 basic methods to train your mind and discuss all the benefits you as an athlete will get from it. I even share a few stories from my own career where it was an absolute game changer! If you have ever wondered how you can train your mind or if it will be worth your time then give this episode a listen. And if you want my help the drop m...

Kristín Þórhallsdóttir is multiple World and European Championships medalist in classic powerlifting. She competes in -84 kg category and has an impressive best of 580 kg total, 230 kg squat, 125 kg bench and 240 kg deadlift. In this interview we talk about how she got into powerlifting at 35 after her son got diagnosed with a disability, became one of the strongest women in the world and fought h...

Maria Andrejczyk is the Olympic silver medalist in javelin from Tokyo 2021 and finished 4th in Rio 2016. Her best of 71.40 m makes her the 3rd best javelin thrower in history. From those highest highs she has seen the lowest lows as well struggling with injuries in between her Olympic successes. In this interview we talk about how she developed her fighter mindset, how mental training helped her t...

This is the time of year when so many are setting New Year's Resolutions or simply goals for the upcoming year. In this episode I give you 6 tips for how to do it right and set yourself up for achieving your big goals for 2024. If you got value from this episode then leave me a rating and tell me all about it. Follow the podcast on Instagram to stay connected, get a backstage pass and shape fu...

Kara Winger is a 4x Olympian, '22 World Championships silver medalist in javelin, Diamond League winner, American record holder and the list goes on. But it wasn't always sunshine and roses! She went through 12 years of not improving, suffering three catastrophic injuries in the meantime and losing her American record. In this interview we get a glimpse of her mindset, how she got through...

Thomas Röhler is the Olympic Champion in javelin from 2016 and European Champion in 2018. His best of 93.90 m makes him the 3rd best javelin thrower in history. He has struggled with one injury after another since 2019 but is healthy now and as motivated as ever. In this interview we talk all about how he became one of the best throwers in history, his reactions to disappointments and how he has g...

Anton Sveinn McKee is a 3x Olympian and going for his 4th in Paris. He is also a double World Championships finalist and just took silver in the 200 m breaststroke at the European short course Championships on December 9th. In this interview we talk all about Anton's mental preparation that made his dream of a Championships medal come true and his entire experience of the Europeans. He also sh...

In this first episode of the Athletes Zone Podcast you get to know me, your host and triple Olympian Ásdís Hjálmsdóttir Annerud. I talk about my personal journey into the world of mental training and how it inspired me to create the Athletes Zone. You will also discover what awaits you listening to this podcast. I give a quick preview of the amazing content coming your way. Follow the podcast on I...