Sasha Sessions: A Team USA Podcast

Paralympic gold medalist Matt Scott joins Sasha on this week's podcast. They chat about his longevity in wheelchair basketball and the important role he plays on the dominant U.S. team. Sasha explores Matt's positive attitude and constant desire to grow, even after being at the peak of his sport for more than a decade.

Show Notes

Show Notes:
:30 – How Matt has stayed at the top of his game so long
1:30 – Evolving his training as a mature athlete
4:09 – Goal setting and winning gold in Rio
6:29 – Culture of Team USA’s wheelchair basketball team and Matt’s role on the team 
8:57 – Dealing with burnout or loss of motivation
12:05 – What shapes Matt’s positive attitude 
16:15 – How Matt thinks about retirement and his identity as an athlete 
19:24 – The challenge of being present and sharing your life on social media 
21:55 – Seeing visible vs invisible disability in everyone 
24:17 – Matt’s experience competing for Team USA as a Black man
27:48 – Being hospitalized in late 2018 and the recovery process to get back to the court 
30:34 – Coming back from being in a coma to qualifying for Tokyo within a year
32:08 – Decision to compete professionally in Europe 
33:54 – Growth of the Paralympic movement and hopes for the future 
36:07 – Introduction to wheelchair basketball and start of Matt’s Paralympic dream 
37:42 – Advice for a young kid with a disability 
40:02 – Goals and challenges for Matt’s fifth Paralympic Games 
42:19 – Olympic or Paralympic moment in life 

What is Sasha Sessions: A Team USA Podcast?

Exceptional individuals share the stories that shaped them, how they define identity, and the motivations, habits, and opportunities that led to personal reinvention. Guests feature athletes from all sports and backgrounds, whose accomplishments inspire millions on the Olympic & Paralympic stage, and people outside of sports, whose work has challenged how we think about the world today.