ZenGame: Inside the World of College Sports

The ZenGame Podcast features in-depth interviews with college athletes and coaches, highlighting their journeys on and off the field. Each episode offers a unique look at the mental and physical challenges of balancing academics and elite-level athletes.

Hailey D'Lynn Smith: Cheerleading's Olympic Dream and Inspiring the Next Generation

S2 E59 • Aug 25, 2025 • 95 mins

Hailey D'Lynn Smith delves into her dedication to cheerleading and her aspirations to make it an Olympic sport. She shares her experiences on America's Got Talent, the challenges in promoting cheerleading globally, and the obstacles faced with financial and political barriers. Hailey reflects on her transition from gymnastics to cheerleading and the influence of Netflix's "Cheer" on the sport. She discusses the importance of competitions, creating a standardized scoring system, and the impact of motivational figures. The episode also touches on overcoming challenges, balancing growth with character, and the role of social media. Hailey concludes with her future goals and admiration for her coach, Summer Willis.

Key Points

Dedication, determination, and discipline are essential traits for success in any endeavor, and missing even one can hinder achieving one's goals.
The journey to bring cheerleading to the Olympics is driven by a passion for the sport and a desire to create opportunities for future generations.
The challenges and triumphs in cheerleading, including overcoming personal obstacles, highlight the importance of mental resilience and unwavering confidence.

Speakers

Hailey D'Lynn Smith

Guest • 76%

Grant Gurtin

Host • 24%

Chapters

0:00	Dedication, determination, and discipline
0:37	Introduction to the episode and Hailey's excitement
1:21	Passion for making cheerleading an Olympic sport and representing the USA
3:52	Challenges, opportunities, and promoting cheerleading
5:22	Experience on America's Got Talent and setting realistic expectations
8:48	Growing cheerleading globally and financial/political obstacles
12:26	Frustration over lack of Olympic opportunity and scoring issues
17:48	Importance of competitions and creating a standardized scoring system
22:22	Hailey's early start in gymnastics and transition to cheerleading
26:26	Differences between gymnastics and cheerleading
30:41	Discovering cheerleading and impact of Netflix's "Cheer"
37:07	Competition against top schools and partner stunting journey
42:18	Reinventing confidence and inspiration from motivational figures
45:03	Thoughts on "Cheer" Netflix series and coaching comparisons
50:06	Life lessons from Trinity Valley and the importance of communication
54:38	Breakthrough moments and commitment to training
59:22	Growth mindset, importance of feedback, and balancing growth with character
1:03:44	Overcoming cheerleading challenges and achieving consistency
1:05:56	Lack of incentives and the role of social media in cheerleading
1:08:04	Global impact, Olympic aspirations, and mentorship
1:12:23	The importance of losing, partnership development, and team dynamics
1:17:49	Maintaining professional boundaries and supportive relationships
1:20:29	Compartmentalizing emotions and overcoming personal adversity
1:24:29	Team spirit, coping with emotional challenges, and using struggles as motivation
1:29:12	Dealing with social media negativity and being a positive role model
1:32:03	Future goals, admiration for coach Summer Willis, and closing remarks

Transcript

Loading transcript...

- / -