Ep. 67 Focusing On What I Can Control With Olympian and Pro Volleyball Player David Smith
In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast, Jacolby Gilliam welcomes David Smith. David is an American professional volleyball player. He is a member of the USA National Team, a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and the 2018 World Championship, a 2015 World Cup winner, and a two–time Champions League winner. At the professional club level, he plays for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Today, David Smith takes us on his journey from starting as a young athlete, born deaf in both ears, to becoming a world-class and professional volleyball player.
David begins by describing his dream as a young athlete. He talks about growing up with sports and exploring different sports before choosing volleyball. David Smith delves into how he got scouted to play for UC Irvine and how college volleyball dynamics were much different than that of high school. Living as an athlete with a disability, David explains that he focuses on what he can control, putting in the hard work day in and out. He shares the challenges of going pro and living in a foreign country with his newlywed wife. The episode comes to a close as David admonishes younger athletes to keep their confidence going and focus on what they can control.
Key Points:
- David’s dream when he was a younger athlete
- Exploring different sports
- Why David chose volleyball
- Getting scouted
- Living as an athlete with a disability
- The challenges that come with playing as an elite athlete
- How to keep your confidence going
- Focusing on what you can control
- David discusses going pro and living overseas
- Balancing a family with the challenges of going pro
- Transitioning into a non-volleyball world
Quotes:
“In the beginning, sports was just a way to be normal.”
“I assumed it was going to end when my college ended.”
“I knew the way to be at that level was to work day in, day out.”
“The key is understanding what I can control.”
“Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.”
