Monday Nov 20, 2023

Winning Despite being Beaten with Olympic Racquetball Player Rhonda Rajsich

Winning Despite being Beaten with Olympic Racquetball Player Rhonda Rajsich 

Rhonda Rajsich is an Olympic athlete, a professional racquetball player, speaker, coach, and author. She started playing racquetball at 2 by breaking out of the nursery at the health club her parents went to. She comes from a family of accomplished professional athletes and excellence was expected of her from a young age. Instead of being intimidated by this, she felt inspired by it and knew she would be great. Turns out she was right and today she is the most decorated professional racquetball player in United States history.

However, her journey was anything but easy. 

Flashback to late Saturday night, June 1st, 2008 in Hermosa Beach California. Rhonda had the World Championships coming up in just 6 months when she was blindsided and attacked by two men with brass knuckles. She had the presence of mind to stay on her feet, avoid escalation, and make bold choices that kept her alive. She ended up with several facial fractures that required an extensive 12-hour reconstructive surgery and a grueling recovery process. As hard as the attack was on Rhonda, it was devastating to her loved ones. Instead of receiving comfort, she ended up being the one comforting her girlfriend and family. 

After she got home from the hospital, Rhonda was confronted for the first time by her coach with the fact that she wouldn't be able to compete in the World Championship. True to her nature, Rhonda wasn't accepting no as an answer. They never caught who did this to her, but Worlds was the only thing on her mind. At this point, she was using a walker, unable to eat solid food, and had lost 37 pounds. Despite all the odds, she did it. 

Jumped on June 1st.

Reconstructive surgery on June 11th.

Stopped all pain medication on July 5th.

Won a tournament the second week of July. 

Flew to Ireland on July 29th.

 

Won her first world title, undefeated, on August 4th.

 

Leading up to the competition, she couldn’t move around her house let alone train. This is where intense visualization and understanding of the mind-body connection came into play. By visualizing each step in the training process, using all five senses, and showing complete dedication to where she wanted to be, Rhonda was able to stay at the top of her game without ever stepping foot on a court. Everything takes place in the brain and rehearsing perfection results in perfection. 

 

Today, she is still competing and still undergoing surgeries. She is still in pain and still overcoming the odds. In spite of all of this, she never entertains anger or resentment and she she says the attack gave her more than it took. Her excruciating daily pain is a reminder of everything she has to be grateful for and everything she has accomplished. She never has to prove anyone else wrong. She only has to prove herself right. 

“Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.”

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • What was happening on a psychological level for Rhonda when she was being attacked? 
  • Why a little bit of questioning medical professionals in the right circumstances can be useful sometimes.
  • The power of using all five senses in visualization when she couldn't use her body to train.
  • Why, if she could go back, Rhonda would not change a thing. 

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