Growing Up As A Professional Athlete with Julie Lengweiler

In this episode of The 9INE POINT Started With A Dream Podcast,
Jacolby Gilliam welcomes Julie Lengweiler, a professional
volleyball player playing in Spain. Volleyball has been in
Julie’s life for as long as she can remember. This propelled
Julie to go pro at the young age of 16 in Switzerland. Julie is
duly represented by Athletes Abroad Management and today, she
shared with us the challenges and wins she has faced as a pro
athlete and advises young athletes to dream big so they can live
their dream.


Julie begins with her dream as a younger athlete: to play in the
big leagues. She shares with us how that dream became a reality
and how she began playing volleyball professionally at 16. This
also came with struggles, having been the youngest on the team.
However, she was determined never to quit. Her resilience carried
her further as she later played in Finland and now in Spain.
Julie’s story inspires us that we can achieve much if only we
dare to dream.


Key Points:


Julie’s dream when she was a younger athlete

Making the dream a reality

Julie talks about being a role model

Falling in love with volleyball

Playing pro at 16

Why Julie refused to quit

Figuring who you are outside of the sport you play

Navigating agents when trying to go pro

Playing in Finland

Advice to younger athletes

What’s next for Julie?



Quotes:


“I want to inspire more kids to dream big, because I also felt
that with my dreams, I was very lonely.”


“It's a very weird feeling. It was something I worked for. And it
was something I wanted. But when it happened, I did feel like
wow, this is maybe a little bit too much.”


“It's so much more than being ready for that level. It's being
ready for loads of practice and pressure and games and
expectations.”


“Who am I without the sport?”





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