313. In Pursuit Of Passion: U.S. Top-Ranked Wheelchair Tennis Player Dana Mathewson On Finding Herself Through Sport & Setting An Example

Meet Dana Mathewson: One of the most prominent wheelchair tennis players in U.S. history. Currently ranked No. 1 in the United States, Dana is the first American woman to win a grand slam title in wheelchair tennis and is gearing up for this year’s Paralympic Games which start on August 28th. Dana shares her remarkable story when she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition at the age of 9, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. When her mom introduced her to wheelchair tennis at the age of 13, Dana quickly fell in love with the sport and never looked back.

We talk about how tennis became a quick passion for her as a way to reclaim her independence, her opportunity to attend the University of Arizona on an athletic scholarship, and why she chose to put her academics on hold to chase her Paralympic dream. Dana shares valuable advice around the mental side of training for performance, and sheds light on how she puts her mental skills training into practice on a daily basis, both on and off the court. 

IN THIS EPISODE

What brought Dana to wheelchair tennis and the emotions around those early playing years (3:50)

Self confidence and Dana’s mindset around continually showing up for yourself (12:10)

How Dana’s passion with tennis came to be and a conversation on independence (14:15)

A peak into Dana’s training as a professional wheelchair athlete (22:50)

The excitement around her third paralympic games (26:30) 

Dana’s first professional season and how it grew her love for the game (31:45)

Accepting the ‘what is’ and the mental side of training for performance (36:05) 

Mental skills training in practice (42:40)