Katie Zaferes: From World Champion to Coach - Building the AUXO Collective

In this episode of the Real Coaching Podcast, Joel Filliol is joined by Katie Zaferes, former World Triathlon Champion and double Olympic medallist turned coach. The discussion delves into Katie's transition from being a world-class athlete to embarking on a coaching career. They explore Katie's reflection on her experiences, the inception of her new project 'AUXO Collective' based in North Carolina, and her vision of creating a supportive and growth-oriented training environment for athletes. Katie shares her coaching philosophy emphasizing simplicity, sustainability, and fostering athlete independence. The conversation highlights the challenges in setting up a new program, her approach to recruiting the right athletes, and the valuable lessons learned from her own career that she aims to pass on to her trainees.

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TIMELINE

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:02 Katie Zaferes' Coaching Journey

00:52 Goals and Philosophy of Katie's Coaching Project

02:01 Support and Challenges in Coaching

02:09 Encouraging Curiosity and Openness in Coaching

04:47 Katie's New Coaching Project in North Carolina

06:24 Katie's Reflections on Coaching Nuances

09:51 The Importance of Daily Training Environments

18:35 Challenges and Evolution of the AUXO Collective

22:06 Learning from Other Successful Programs

28:02 Balancing Community and High Performance

37:51 Katie's Coaching Philosophy and Approach

49:24 Balancing Autonomy and Decision-Making in Coaching

50:39 Connecting with Different Athlete Personalities

51:39 Building a Supportive Training Environment

53:14 Handling Challenging Athletes and Group Dynamics

56:12 The Importance of Athlete Buy-In

01:00:00 Transitioning from Athlete to Coach

01:02:32 Applying Personal Athletic Experience to Coaching

01:06:19 The Role of Reflection and Process in Coaching

01:10:46 Managing Training Intensity and Athlete Well-being

01:22:11 Advice for Aspiring Coaches and Athletes

01:30:21 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans

SHOW NOTES

AUXO Collective instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auxocollective/ 

Katie Zaferes instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kzaferes6/