Heather Mitts Feeley

Yeah, I mean, you're right. It's a lot on both. And I think the one thing that I am so grateful for is... that I always had the mental side of it. That is what helped me to, um, achieve my goals. Um, clearly as you know, my, my body was probably like, please stop. Um, and eventually I knew when it was time, uh, was in 2012 and 2011 was like a really hard year for me. Um,

Yeah, I mean, you're right. It's a lot on both. And I think the one thing that I am so grateful for is... that I always had the mental side of it. That is what helped me to, um, achieve my goals. Um, clearly as you know, my, my body was probably like, please stop. Um, and eventually I knew when it was time, uh, was in 2012 and 2011 was like a really hard year for me. Um,

Yeah, I mean, you're right. It's a lot on both. And I think the one thing that I am so grateful for is... that I always had the mental side of it. That is what helped me to, um, achieve my goals. Um, clearly as you know, my, my body was probably like, please stop. Um, and eventually I knew when it was time, uh, was in 2012 and 2011 was like a really hard year for me. Um,

Would have been my first world cup to start and play. I had an injury earlier in the year. I barely made the roster. And so after the world cup, they, they actually cut down the roster from 21 to 18. And so I knew that my chances of, of making that roster were pretty slim. And so I actually thought about retiring.

Would have been my first world cup to start and play. I had an injury earlier in the year. I barely made the roster. And so after the world cup, they, they actually cut down the roster from 21 to 18. And so I knew that my chances of, of making that roster were pretty slim. And so I actually thought about retiring.

Would have been my first world cup to start and play. I had an injury earlier in the year. I barely made the roster. And so after the world cup, they, they actually cut down the roster from 21 to 18. And so I knew that my chances of, of making that roster were pretty slim. And so I actually thought about retiring.

Um, I had told a couple people, um, that I was going to retire cause I just didn't, I didn't think I was going to make it. And I was at the time afraid of failure. And my husband also, we had this agreement, like you plan one world cup and then we're going to start a family. And so I knew that's what he wanted. I was getting older and he knew I wasn't ready.

Um, I had told a couple people, um, that I was going to retire cause I just didn't, I didn't think I was going to make it. And I was at the time afraid of failure. And my husband also, we had this agreement, like you plan one world cup and then we're going to start a family. And so I knew that's what he wanted. I was getting older and he knew I wasn't ready.

Um, I had told a couple people, um, that I was going to retire cause I just didn't, I didn't think I was going to make it. And I was at the time afraid of failure. And my husband also, we had this agreement, like you plan one world cup and then we're going to start a family. And so I knew that's what he wanted. I was getting older and he knew I wasn't ready.

And so he said, all right, give it a go. And so from that moment on, I just, I did everything. I made that team. Luckily we won gold. And so then when I stood up there on that podium one last time, I was just like, we did it. This is everything that I ever dreamed of. And now I can walk away on my own terms. I can start a family. I can do whatever's next. And yeah,

And so he said, all right, give it a go. And so from that moment on, I just, I did everything. I made that team. Luckily we won gold. And so then when I stood up there on that podium one last time, I was just like, we did it. This is everything that I ever dreamed of. And now I can walk away on my own terms. I can start a family. I can do whatever's next. And yeah,

And so he said, all right, give it a go. And so from that moment on, I just, I did everything. I made that team. Luckily we won gold. And so then when I stood up there on that podium one last time, I was just like, we did it. This is everything that I ever dreamed of. And now I can walk away on my own terms. I can start a family. I can do whatever's next. And yeah,

I know how fortunate I am because I know a lot of athletes don't get to do that. But I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have been given by those coaches to even be on that roster, for my teammates to help me win that gold. You know, it's a dream come true.

I know how fortunate I am because I know a lot of athletes don't get to do that. But I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have been given by those coaches to even be on that roster, for my teammates to help me win that gold. You know, it's a dream come true.

I know how fortunate I am because I know a lot of athletes don't get to do that. But I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have been given by those coaches to even be on that roster, for my teammates to help me win that gold. You know, it's a dream come true.

A lot of it had to do with my age.

A lot of it had to do with my age.

A lot of it had to do with my age.

You know, it's, it's tough. I think even tougher being a female, because for me, I, I knew I had a lot of teammates that could do the juggle, but I, I knew I didn't want to. And, um, I just knew how tough it would be. So, you know, I, I knew when the time was for me to come to an end. And I think, you know, it helped that my body just wasn't cooperating at the end.

You know, it's, it's tough. I think even tougher being a female, because for me, I, I knew I had a lot of teammates that could do the juggle, but I, I knew I didn't want to. And, um, I just knew how tough it would be. So, you know, I, I knew when the time was for me to come to an end. And I think, you know, it helped that my body just wasn't cooperating at the end.