Breaking Gravity: Olympic Gymnast, Nastia Liukin, on Defying Limits, Labels & Expectations
In the second episode of the brand-new season of Breaking Precedent, Leah Solivan sits down once again with Olympic legend Nastia Liukin — and the conversation hits deeper than ever. They revisit their first encounter and trace the arc of Nastia’s extraordinary career, from the early days in the gym to the unforgiving expectations that come with being one of the world’s top athletes.
Nastia opens up about what the pursuit of perfection really cost her, the pressures and politics behind gymnastics judging, and the emotional toll of constantly performing at an elite level. She and Leah dive into the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hard-earned wisdom that came from both.
Beyond the medals, Nastia reflects on rebuilding her identity after competition, the ventures and creative projects that now drive her, and her commitment to guiding and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Nastia Liukin is an Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneur, and broadcaster who became one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world at just 18 years old. After retiring from competition, she transitioned her passion into building a brand, founding the annual Nastia Liukin Cup, and inspiring the next generation of athletes through mentorship and community. Today, she’s a sought-after speaker and role model, sharing lessons on resilience, identity, and redefining success beyond the podium.
Learn more about Nastia Liukin at NastiaLiukin.com and on Instagram @NastiaLiukin.
Resources:
Marie Claire Power Trip (San Francisco event)
Show Notes:
00:00 Introduction to Breaking Precedent
00:05 Reminiscing Old Memories
00:52 Icebreaker: Sacrifices and Reclaiming Life
01:49 Balancing Career and Personal Life
02:58 The Journey of Self-Discovery
07:38 The Foundation of a Gymnastics Legacy
10:40 Immigrant Beginnings and Family Sacrifices
16:57 Overcoming Physical Challenges in Gymnastics
19:43 Mental Strength and Focus
25:53 Defining Success Beyond Gymnastics
29:00 Breaking Age Narratives in Gymnastics
34:30 Reflecting on Personal Struggles and Resilience
35:36 The Defining Moment: 2012 Olympic Trials
36:53 Lessons from Falling and Getting Back Up
41:05 “We will never be defined by a salary, a title, a relationship, a company, or even a gold medal. Those are things we’ve done, not who we are.”
45:26 Navigating Subjectivity in Gymnastics
53:00 Life After Gymnastics: Embracing Imperfection
01:11:22 Inspiration and Future Aspirations
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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.
Connect with Leah:
Website: breakingprecedent.com/
Instagram: @labunleashed
