Olympian Status with AJ Barbar

The 2020 (moved to 2021 due to Covid-19) Summer Olympics are now over, but the accomplishments and accolades live on. With all the buzz about the Olympics, we were honored to have the chance to interview former Olympic swimmer AJ Barbar about his path and what he’s doing now.

AJ started out with a love of sports. He loved baseball and basketball and just knew he was going to be a basketball star. He truly excelled in baseball but after years of the game, he was burned out by the time he reached high school.

It was in high school that he found a love for swimming. He joined the team and quickly improved, marking some of the fastest times in his high school’s history. When it came time to go to college, continuing in swim seemed to be the best choice. 

He worked hard in college both in the pool and in his studies and he started gaining the notice of larger teams. Before he made his way to the Olympics though, he had to face off against his worst enemy, his own mindset. 

Listen as he shares how he overcame some of his greatest mental hurdles and why he avidly works to help kids and teens realize their own dreams. He’s had some amazing coaches and his goal is to pass on their love to others. You won’t want to miss this one.

In this episode:

[00:46] Welcome to the show, AJ!

[01:13] He shares his story and his journey to the Olympics.

[04:48] Listen as AJ discusses how he kept the passion and competitive spirit for his sport.

[07:29] He speaks about what he did once he left high school.

[11:47] He believes you should go to college, where you have a coach that cares about you.

[14:11] AJ discusses the training he went through in college to get to the level he was at.

[17:08] He talks about some moments during his college years when he wanted to give up.

[22:04] Live each day at the moment and treat each practice like it’s a championship practice.

[25:05] The Olympics were his end goal, and he worked each day to make his dream come true.

[32:00] He shares what he did when he wasn’t training.

[33:50] He speaks about transitioning out of swimming and what he did next.

[38:12] AJ discusses how he got the job he has now.

[42:26] He talks about the pros and cons of being in professional sports.

[46:37] He shares how to reach out to him.

[50:27] Thank you for being on the show and sharing your life.

Links and Resources:

A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Connect with AJ Barbar:

Legacy Staffing Associates

AJ Barbar TikTok
AJ Barbar Instagram  

The Barbar Shop Podcast

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