mindbodygreen: You’re getting ready for the Paris Olympics.
The brightest spotlight on the biggest stage.
How do you mentally prepare for big matches?
Kristen Nuss:My approach may be different than most.
So I attempt to be a little more laid back.
Taryn probably talked you through our routine of listening to the same AirPod [ed.
So, in warm-ups, I just make a run at keep it fun and relaxed.
it’s possible for you to find me jamming out to whatever song is playing in my head.
Chatting with our coaches.
I’m not super focusedkeeping it very light.
It’s just having fun.
Because, honestly, that is what I find I need to perform my best.
mbg: What do you have to have with you on the sand?
What are your game-day essentials?
Nuss:In beach volleyball, we don’t have a ton of equipment.
We get on the court, and we’re in our bathing suits.
But an absolute necessity is sunglasses.
I could not play this sport without sunglasses.
We wearZenni Optical Sport Performance Sunglasses.
We like them because they have a lot of options for competition sunglasses with different lenses and styles.
Or depending on what the sun is doing that day, we’ll pick lenses to help performance.
The different lenses will help with visibility based on the sunshine.
Or other lenses don’t block as much of the sunlight.
Some lenses will help adjust the color you’re seeingso it’s a little yellow or a little darker.
A lot of that depends on your personal preference.
Oh, and thensunscreenand my hat.
That’s pretty much it.
That’s pretty much all the equipment and everything that I need to perform during the competition.
mbg: How do you sleep before a big match?
Nuss:Sleeping issues before something big is for sure a thing.
If that’s the caseif it’s one of those nightsI tend to focus on mybreathing.
I just take really deep breaths, in and out, and really just hone in on that.
Then I’ll also just start counting and I’ll just count.
It gives my brain something to do other than think about that one thingthe match.
What’s the play?
How am I going to perform?
Other than that, before I go to bed I like to get off my phone.
Reading just helps me calm down and get off the screen.
mbg: What meals help you feel strongest and fuel your body?
That is a solid pregame.
It’s the perfect snack to give you the energy and carbs that you need.
We [Kloth and I] eat them a lot when we travel.
Day to day, I follow a high-proteindiet.
It’s just about eating a ton of protein in every meal that we get.
That’s the goal.
mbg: How do you build up resilience?
Nuss:I give a ton of credit to our coach.
You want practice to be harder than the game itself.
I feel like if you might push through that in practice, then you’ll be OK.
In a game you have adrenaline pumping through you, so you knowOK, I can get through this.
mbg: What’s your favorite workout that has nothing to do with your sport?
Nuss:Do you consider walking?
mbg: Oh yeah, absolutely.
Nuss:Well, I absolutely love just going on a walk.
Especially when we’re at these tournaments internationally and we’re at these events set in these glorious places.
It’s so fun to explore!
That’s something Taryn and I really enjoy doingjust going out and exploring.
mbg: I’m so interested in teammate dynamics and what makes a good teammate.
Beach volleyball is unique because you have one teammate, so I’m curiouswhat makes a good teammate?
Especially in beach volleyball, you need your other half on the court to be successful.
I’ve seen situations where someone might get a bad set, and the teammate will roll their eyes.
A good teammate is going to be someone who is still there and they’ll still have utmost trust.
I think that is something that Taryn does so much for me.
I know that she trusts me so much that in hard times she still believes in me.
And that belief is something that’s hard to come by.
mbg: What advice do you have for young women or girls who want to play volleyball?
Nuss:Dream bigno dream is too big.
I’m a little undersized compared to most other beach volleyball players.
Every single time I turned on the TV, no one looked like me height-wise.
I would look up the heights of players and everyone was at least 2-3 inches taller than me.
But I just kept on going.
Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s possible for you to’t.
