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In Part 2 of our conversation with Youth World Champion Mateo Coates, we dive into the mindset behind his meteoric rise. Drawing from lessons learned alongside fellow world champion and friend Weka Bhanubandh, Mateo reveals how humility and a relentless refusal to settle fuel his success. He takes aim at the doubters who said an American couldn’t win gold—proving that the U.S. belongs on the podium. And at the heart of it all? His parents. Mateo opens up about the sacrifices they made, the belief they never wavered in, and how their quiet, steady presence has been the anchor behind every victory—on and off the water.

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Part 1: The Win, the Shock, and the Sacrifice Behind It

In 2025, David Mateo Coates won the US' very first gold medal at the Youth Sailing World Championships in 23 years in the men's ILCA 6 Class. In this episode, he describes it as “the most unique moment in my life,” as something “hit me inside” when he realized what he had achieved. Mateo also gets personal about where his motivation comes from. From “the amount my parents had to sacrifice” so he could be where he is, to his personal drive, tune into this interview with Mateo to hear first-hand from one of the best youth sailors in the world.

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Tune into to part 2 of our conversation with Eliza Denning - the very first Bahamian to win a gold medal in any sporting discipline at the Junior Pan American Games.

In this episode, Eliza continues explaining her unconventional path and the pivotal mindset shifts that helped her overcome disqualifications, setbacks, and self-doubt. From training in England to discovering her true competitive home in the Bahamas’ unique sailing scene, she reveals how she learned to embrace her underdog status, turn pressure into rocket fuel, and stay relentlessly motivated by her love for the sport and the honour of representing her country.

Now setting her sights on the biggest stages, Eliza shares her bold vision for 2028 and beyond — Olympic qualification, Pan Am success, and the specific goal-setting strategies she uses to keep breaking her own limits.