 Hello, 8% nation. Surprise, it's not Cody, you get Lauren today. And I am with Shontae McMillan, my horse now, because she did get married. And I am so lucky because she happens to be my best friend. So I get the honor of doing this live interview and talking to her about why, what it took to get to the next level and become an Olympian and do all that good stuff. So Shontae, tell us a little bit about yourself and your story and then we'll get into the nitty gritty of... Nitty gritty, okay. Well, thank you for having me on. And thank you for inviting me to speak at this amazing event. Thank you so much. It means a lot to have you a part of it. Yeah, so I've been an athlete for how long? I don't know, Cody said I'm old so it's been a really long time. I've been, Chuck and Phil just happened, I just happened to be good at it when I was younger and I just kept getting better at it and made it to the Olympics after working kind of hard. Oh, not really hard. So I'm still actually training, gonna just do the javelin now, not the half tap on and continue trying to be better at life in all aspects as well as being a mom now. So... Maybe Otto, she just, she has a 16, is today the 16th? She has a 16 day old son, Otto Kennedy Langhorst. I love him dearly, but she's a new mom and she is taking time to bring Otto, oh today's the 17th. Cody, he's got a white board helping him out. I think it's the very thing as a mom. Tell, for those of people that don't know, a lot of people don't know what the half tap on is. It's not in a lot of high school programs. I think it's getting into more maybe. I don't know who told me. So what is the half tap on? Yeah, no one ever knows what the half tap on is. It's always like, is that five of them? Is it eight? I'm like, no, did you not take math, like geometry review ever? So half tap on seven. You start with four events on the first day and three events on the next day, 100 hurdles, high jump, shot put, and then 200 and then long jump, javelin and the 800 the next day. So very long. It's fun though. It's challenging. That's why I loved it. I was looking to challenge my body more and more. So did that and then, yeah, cause I was recruited to Nebraska for just long and triple jump and I was bored just doing those two. So that's why I picked up the half tap on. When you were training, like I watched you because we ran track together or I tried to keep up with you in high school. What was the hardest part of training to get to the Olympics? I know you had several injuries and a lot of setbacks. Injury-wise, that challenged you mentally. How did you get past all that to reach your dreams, to make that a reality? Okay, so I'll go to high school even when I experienced my first major injury. Like I, I guess I stretched out a ligament and never recovered. I had to have surgery my freshman year at Nebraska. So that was my first major injury retracting field. Took me out of going to state in four events. I was only able to go in one event and somehow I still got second place in long jump jumping off of a terrible ankle. But I guess that shows the competition in Missouri. But anyway, I went to Nebraska. I guess just my coach was amazing at teaching me the half tap on never did half the events that are in it. And just he kept me focused on everything and getting better each year like I did. And then I did blow out my patella tendon in August, 2011, nine months before the Olympic trials. And that was one of the most amazing, I mean, it wasn't amazing. It was, I mean, it was an amazing experience to just stay so determined and focused throughout that, that like thing that could have ended my career and having like a coach and a PT just believe in me so much that there was no looking back at, or looking at negative or looking at this isn't gonna happen. You're not gonna make the Olympic trials. So just overcoming those things was super amazing. It's hard to overcome those thought processes because I'm sure that when you tore your patella tendon and you had nine months to make it to the trials, what, when you had a negative thought, what process did you take to get yourself out of that? So you're like, and you have this big goal. What did you tell yourself or what did you do to get out of that? Yeah, so main goal clearly is Olympic trials in what was the end of June. And so, but you gotta look at the day by day. So you gotta stay in the moment, stay in, what can I do this day? I'm gonna stay focused on what my PT has listed for my schedule for today. And only focus on that because finishing everything today is gonna lead or build up to getting everything done for that week, everything for the month. And then essentially to the ultimate goal of being at the Olympic trials. So just staying in the moment, one stinking exercise at a time, trying to be the best at that exercise, even though I did have like breakdowns. I remember specifically one day just crying to my PT and he's like, look, it's hard, but we're in it. Like we have this goal and you've been so focused and determined throughout it. Just keep in it, like stay focused on each exercise and getting better. I broke down because I couldn't do an exercise, but it was like progressing me to the next exercise because I did accomplish the initial exercise and I was just frustrated because I wanted to be able to do it, but I couldn't yet, but eventually clearly I did. Yeah, so you're walking into, and the Olympic trials for those that don't know are in Oregon. And what was it like walking into that stadium knowing I just recovered, this is my moment? Like tell me about your emotions. What were you going through? Like what was your thought process like? I had nothing to lose, right? I could only gain making the Olympic team. So I was just in there having fun, just living in the moment. I understand and believe that God already has my journey, my plan written out. So I was just like go and do what you've been practicing for the past like four months on the track with your coach and you're gonna do what's planned. So I had nothing to fear. I was just out there going all out. So how can insurance agents, like how can we relate that to insurance? Like take that thought process. You kind of know like Cody's insurance background a lot. Agents struggle, they've got this big goal. What would be one thing you'd tell them as like a little sneak peek of your speech? This is how you can translate what I went through into the insurance industry. Right, I mean we all, I mean we should all have goals written out what we wanna achieve throughout this time period of course, seeing it visually. And then you want to not fear anything along your journey. So why wouldn't you work as hard as you can and have a, I guess a plan to conquer each day to reach that goal, right? Absolutely. And that's what I, I love that you wanna be a part of this event so much because I've watched you go through the struggles of your injuries and everything and make your goal like the day I got this text message. I was just like the proudest best friend in the whole world because this is so cool. Like you went through a lot to get to this point. And so I was just so proud and that was just so cool. Like if you work hard, you can make your dreams a reality and I think you're like a great, great, great story of that. Yes, thank you. Wake up with those reasons that you wanna achieve the biggest goal ever. Like you wanna be the best. Like wake up and go chase it, right? Absolutely. Okay, so one question, talk about the 800. The 800 for those of you that don't know as Tay described is the last, the last minute. It is what I call, it's gut check time. It's all out, it's go time. Back in hundred of trials. What was going through your mind? Okay, so the 800 is for some reason the most scariest event to hip-tap athletes. No matter how many times you ran it, it's still scary like your heart's racing as butterflies in your stomach feel like you're gonna throw up every time before the 800. But it's the last event on the hip-tap on it's always the same order. I was on the line, there's pictures of me just standing there like blank face. Very nervous, like I knew what I had to run. My coach was like go run 217 and we're in. I was like that's a three second PR. I don't know if I can do that. I think it was more than three seconds actually. It was more than three second PR. Okay, so you told me that but then they announced or messed up and told me she only has to run this. I was like my coach lied to me. It was cool, they had to believe in me. So they get through the first lap. I'm on pace and then I start to slow down. I always slow down going into the 500. Well, yeah, the curve of the first, yeah, you get it. Maybe you don't want to run in traffic. So going into the next lap, I'm slowing down because I always slow down in that curve and this girl passes me and she's like, come on Chantay, I'm like, whoa, why are you cheering for me? It was cool though, I loved it. I thanked her afterwards. But she's like, in my head, I'm like, she's right. I gotta go, like, you gotta go, like it's time. And so in my head, I pick it up after getting off that curve on the back straightaway. In my head, I pick it up. Like I've seen the video, it doesn't look like I get any faster. But in my head, I was going like, I was sprinting. And then finally it looks like I pick it up going into lap 200 of the race. And I did and I think and made that team. It's so cool. I think what you just said right there that you are in the last right of the USA Olympic trials to get to London and your competitors are cheering you on. That is major. Like that's what the 8% Nation Conference is literally all about. It's coming together to cheer each other on to help improve one another so that we all can reach our goals. Like I just, I love it. Like that's my favorite story. I'm so glad you brought it up because that's what it's all about. Like it's not competing. Is yes, we're all in the same industry. This is about helping each other in that it's just makes my heart happy. Yeah, I've always loved that about being a hip athlete because we're all competing against each other but essentially we're competing against our own score. So we are able to be out there and be in a friendly competition at the track meets. It just, I love it. I love it, I love it, I love it. Okay, so my next question for you is you make it to London. You're showing up the opening ceremonies of the Olympics is this big hoopla. Walk me through that feeling of wow, I'm representing the United States of America. Like what is that like? Yeah, I wouldn't want to represent any other country. Making the US team is more than anything. Like I, yes. Before the opening ceremony, we spent literally three hours in the village taking pictures with every USA athlete, waiting to walk out like, I didn't know it was gonna take three hours but we stood out there in our opening ceremony outfit, waiting for them to say, all right, go time. And then we started walking into the stadium and just seeing other, just seeing people in the crowd like waving the American flag, just like you connected with them. And it was amazing how it brought everyone together for just how many weeks the Olympics is. It was cool. I, so I'd already know the answer to this question but for those of that are watching now and going to watch, who did you get to walk out with? Oh, that got me on the TV? Yes. Oh yeah, I was, I tried to stay next to Kobe so I could get on TV and it worked. I love it. I'm saying this so you can get on TV from everyone on the TV of me. You got LeBron somewhere close in that? Oh, LeBron, yeah, I took, I tried to take pictures of everybody. Yeah, I got LeBron and take a funny picture with me, a funny face today. That's so cool. I just love that. I think it's neat. My best friends mixed in with these great athletes because you're great and it makes me so happy. Okay, so we haven't really hashed out your speech 100%, it'll be done today. But one thing that people, you want people to really take away from your message that you're going to deliver from the stage? I've always been very goal oriented and so I hope that others can make sure that they know how to reach a goal, I guess. It's not always easy, you got to see it. For me, I have to see it every single day, like make sure like, okay, what are you going to do today to reach that ultimate goal? So hopefully I can help others, I guess, focus on the discipline that it takes to reach that goal that they desire. Absolutely, I love that. And you will be speaking Saturday at 11.15 in the morning. I don't know if I get the pleasure of introducing you or not. Cody hasn't given me the green light on that, but hopefully I'll be the one introducing you and I can't wait. Thank you so much for taking time out of being a mom to do this interview with me. It means a lot. And for those of you that are on the fence about attending, this girl right here, you can learn a lot from. I love her to death. So you will not want to miss seeing Shontae Langhorst if you Google her. Oh, oh my gosh, we can't get off of this yet. One of your coolest things ever. What? The body issue. My gosh. This girl happened to also be on ESPN's body issue. That is pretty cool too. So maybe, what? Yeah, it was legit on my bucket list to be in that issue. I never thought it would happen, but when I got that email, I was like, wow, this is happening. But what's so cool is like my favorite thing is you literally changed the way your whole body looked from going from high school to the Olympics. Like the process and the time and dedication that it took, anyone can learn from that. It doesn't have to be about the body. It just is what you went through in the mindset you had to get to there to know that was a bucket list thing. Like that right there is huge to me. Yeah, it's crazy looking at pictures from high school to college, being a professional and just like, wow, my body changed so much. I thought I was good in college, but no, you're good now. And it's crazy too. I looked back and I'm like, wow, you did not have any traps even in college. But now you have these huge traps and you don't even work for them. I can't believe with my hands up here anymore and like my arms fall asleep because of my traps. Anyway. I just think that's so cool because it's not every day that you see someone willing to do whatever it feels and you truly do that. So I'm so proud of you. Again, Chante speaks Saturday at 11.15 in the morning at Nissan Stadium. If you have not gotten your tickets yet, please go to 8percentination.com and click the shop button because I'm not sure if you're aware, but I don't know which way I need to go. There are eight days until this thing goes down. So you don't wanna miss out. Tay doesn't want you to miss out and we wanna take a picture with ya. Maybe it'll be a Lauren and Tay picture. I don't think you're gonna get that. Okay, anybody have questions? My mom says good luck, Tay. She's great. Anybody have any questions for Chante? Share this. If you know anyone that wants to come and meet us, we would appreciate it and... Yeah, it's a great opportunity to come out, get some resources, listening to people, even being in an event, in an environment with all these other people trying to reach goals that you're probably reaching, trying to reach too. Yep, I love it. Thank you for those final words, Chante. You're the best. I'll see you shortly, eight days, and thank you all so much for watching. Bye.