“One of the big things for me is, I had no idea how rewarding it was being involved in someone else’s performance ... because it was all about me when I was an athlete and then after sport it was a real eye-opener how much intrinsic reward, enjoyment and pure joy you can gain by serving others. I think that for me is where it’s at.” – Leon Taylor

Leon Taylor is curious, passionate, and accomplished. And he is fiercely committed to what he chooses to focus on.

In 1996 Leon attended his first Olympic Games in Atlanta at the age of 18, representing Great Britain in diving. His commitment and training drove him to compete at the Olympic level twice more in the 2000 Sydney Games and the 2004 Athens Games. In Athens, he and his diving partner Peter Waterfield secured Britain’s first medal in the sport in 44 years, winning a silver medal in synchronized diving. His career lasted more than 20 years, which is astounding in of itself for such a physically punishing sport. His successes brought diving to the attention of the British public and led to additional investment in the development of the sport and its athletes in Great Britain.

Retiring from diving in May 2008, Leon is now an integral part of the BBC Sports Olympic coverage and has also been mentor to, among others, diving sensation Tom Daley. This latter role led him to write his first book. "MENTOR - The most important role you were never trained for" aimed at organisations wishing to engage and nurture talent through mentoring.

Leon is a yoga teacher, much sought after professional speaker, conference host, workshop facilitator and executive coach. His reputation and profile in these areas have steadily built over the last decade as he continues his role as a Brand Ambassador for BMW, BT and Lloyds bank, lululemon athletica and SSE. Leon’s curiousity remains peaked as he considers what exciting adventures are next and waiting to be discovered.

Selected Links and People Mentioned from this episode:

Connect with Leon Taylor:

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Leon Taylor: Coaching and Speaking

MENTOR: The Most Important Role You Were Never Trained For by Leon Taylor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daley_Thompson

yogahaven

Team GB: Leon explains Olympic Diving

Show Notes

[02:10] Patrick introduces his next guest: Leon Taylor [05:06] Let’s get started. Where Patrick and Leon met, and Patrick subsequently got his ass kicked a little by Leon! [06:24] Patrick sets the stage for Leon and their forthcoming conversation. [07:21] Leon navigates the seemingly simple (but not at all) question: Leon, what do you do? [10:25] In his mentoring role, what is Leon looking for in a young athlete when he decides to work with them? Intentionality, clarity and “spidey senses” all play a part. [13:45] Before getting into Leon’s journey both before and after the Olympics, let’s hear about Leon’s background and where he comes from. [17:34] Leon’s first two loves in sport naturally combine to bring his focus to diving. [18:43] Leon recounts the story of his introduction to the Olympic games and the decisiveness of his own journey at the age of six. [22:23] Leon explains how his parents nurtured his interests and those of his sister, while allowing them both to be responsible for their choices around it. They also gave Leon little nudges to stay on track with school! [25:00] Beyond personal desire, Leon describes the pivotal point at which he realized he could compete at a world-class level. A significant conversation with his Dad, defines a clear path for Leon. [29:32] Leon describes the excitement of learning that his dream of going to the Olympic games is going to come true, sooner than he thought. [32:23] Did Leon have expectations around winning at the 1996 games? [34:25] Leon talks about the sacrifices he chose to make toward realizing his dream, and the regular check-ins and self-questioning about whether it was worth i...