Monica Aksamit: Crowdfunding An Olympic Dream

After winning a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Monica Aksamit was ready to continue chasing her dreams of a gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo games. 

However, with limited sponsorships in a niche sport like fencing and only $300 per month from the US Olympic Committee, Monica could barely afford to pay her bills let alone the costs of her rigorous training and travel expenses. Rather than give up on her dreams of Olympic gold, Monica launched a crowdfunding campaign and built a community of supporters who helped her raise more than $30,000. 

In this episode, Monica and Andrew have a candid conversation about her journey and the importance of hard work, determination, and community. 

A few show highlights:
3:28 - Managing unknowns
5:12 - Crowdfunding to cover Olympic expenses
10:03 - Getting started with fencing
11:48 - Rigorous high school training
14:38 - Making sacrifices
16:15 - Setting high standards
23:46 - Dealing with pressure

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