Chasing Dreams: From Pan American Glory to Olympic Ambitions – Jessica Gaudreault on Resilience, Pressure & Performance

In this international episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, I speak
with Jessica Gaudreault, goalkeeper of the Canadian women’s
national team, about her journey through the Pan American Games,
World Championships and the Olympic Games in Paris — and her
ongoing dream of competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Jessica shares unforgettable memories from the Pan American Games
in Toronto, where she experienced the feeling of a mini-Olympics on
home soil with her family in the stands. She explains why
multi-sport events are so special for athletes and how demanding it
is to perform at the highest level in five games in five days,
sometimes early in the morning before most people even have their
first coffee. We compare the Pan American Games and the Olympic
Games, and Jessica gives powerful insight into her experience at
the Paris Olympics, including the emotional impact of playing in
front of thousands of spectators, living in the Olympic Village and
competing under the highest imaginable pressure. A central part of
the conversation is about career setbacks and resilience. Jessica
speaks openly about the disappointment of not making the Tokyo
Olympic roster, how that moment became a turning point in her
career, and why mental strength, patience and belief in the process
helped her reach a new performance level afterward. She also shares
valuable advice for young female athletes: – Why resilience is
essential – How to deal with doubters and criticism – Why setbacks
can become your biggest breakthroughs – How to take control of your
personal narrative We also talk about: – Her brief experience as a
college coach at the University of Michigan – The reality of
full-time coaching in the NCAA – Why she currently prefers
specialized goalkeeper coaching – The responsibility coaches carry
beyond the pool – Future tournaments with Team Canada and
international club teams Topics of this episode: – Pan American
Games vs. Olympic Games – Paris Olympics experience – Goalkeeper
mindset at elite level – Mental resilience after setbacks – Not
making the Tokyo Olympic team – Advice for young female athletes –
Coaching vs. playing careers – NCAA water polo coaching – Olympic
dreams & LA 2028 – Life inside national team programs This
episode is a must-listen for players, young athletes, parents and
coaches worldwide who want to understand how mental resilience,
setbacks and belief shape an elite sports career. More about the
podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de