In honor of the upcoming Winter Olympics we asked our resident Olympian, women's water polo head coach
Dan Klatt, to give us an inside look at what athletes will be going through in PyeongChang.
Klatt competed as a member of the U.S. Men's Olympic Water Polo team at the 2004 Athens Games then served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team, earning back-to-back gold medals in the London (2012) and Rio (2016) Olympic Games.
INSIDE THE MIND OF AN OLYMPIC ATHLETE
All of the athletes, regardless of where they are from have very similar mindsets, on their training and the way they operate their lives.
The difference between the fan experience and the athlete experience – Viewers might see all the glitz and glam but the athletes view it as just another competition, tournament or another game.
The better job you can do to focus on preparing for the games as just another competition – the better people usually perform.
Every moment in the Olympics matters – there is nothing that isn't significant. Everything is advancement based, if you slip up one time, you could miss your chance.
The pressure and anxiety is constant the entire time, it can be insane.
It's not just a regular-season game, the playoffs or even the Super Bowl. It's a four-year process that you build up for over time and if you succeed it's the best feeling in the world, but if you fail it can be devastating.
The feeling of the pressure, anxiety and adrenaline from the Olympics never goes away. I felt it as a player and as a coach and I feel it every time I watch as a viewer.
I have to be careful watching the Winter Olympics because it's right in the middle of our season. Even just watching the athletes compete takes me right back to when I was there and all the feelings I had as an athlete and coach.
THE OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONIES
They are exciting and very overwhelming. There's noise coming from everywhere, 365 degrees of noise, people and action.
I tried to enjoy the experience without holding a camera or my phone up to record it, I just wanted to live it and feel in the moment.
It's fun because you get lots of messages from people at home who see you on TV at the ceremonies.
Some athletes and a few of my teammates would try to walk close to the Dream Team, or at the last Olympics everyone wanted to be close to Michael Phelps.
The closing ceremonies are more of a party, everyone kind of mixes together with other countries in the middle of the stadium to talk and celebrate together.
THE VILLAGE
The village is the coolest place and the place that can be the most distracting at the same time. You are surrounded by the most amazing athletes from every country that are the best at what they do.
It can be distracting because you want to get out and see things and meet new people.
You could have a gold medalist walk right by you from a sport you don't follow and you might not even know who they are.
The fun part is meeting athletes who are the best at what they do but you hadn't heard of them before the Olympics.
Everyone is so humble and nice. You never know who you are going to overlap with or run in to, whether it's in the training room, riding the same bus or in the cafeteria.
It's a very peaceful environment. You're surrounded by people who all work very hard and almost have a sickness of dedication towards their craft and you can feel that mutual respect breeze around the village. There's really just a feeling of tranquility.
The food is always amazing. They cover a wide array of cultural foods so everyone has the opportunity to be comfortable with their diet.
THE USA FAMILY
Being a U.S. athlete, the USOC does a great job making sure the athletes have the best chance at success and they make sure everything is perfect and every crack is filled.
The support staff is amazing behind the scenes. They work tirelessly to make sure every athlete has what they need and everything runs smoothly.
All of the funding for the U.S. teams and athletes comes from fundraising, partnerships and the USOC, none of it is government funded like some other countries.
WHEN THE GAMES ARE OVER
The Olympics provide special moments – you don't necessarily feel that in the moment, but more so in reflection after the games because you're so focused on what is going on while you are there.
It's so exhausting while you're there, the days are jam packed with video, practice, game, training and meals. When you get home you just want to veg in front of the TV. I just wanted to come home, relax and spend time with my family.
It really takes a lot of time to reflect and go back into the memories of being there. Sometimes I will see a picture from the Games and it will take me right back into the moment of being there.
Being there is such an intense environment so coming home is the biggest relief you can imagine.
