Video transcript

My Duvet Flip with Beth Shriever Transcript

Hi, my name is Beth Shriever. I am a professional BMX racer, and this is my duvet flip with NatWest Thrive. You've got confidence. Your future self is going to want to look back and go, "I did everything I can.

I was being authentically myself." What would you say is your proudest moment? Getting that gold in Tokyo. I think that was a big shock to everyone, even myself. What's your duvet flip? What gets you out of bed in the morning? My duvet flip. The duvet every day.

It is. Hi, Beth. Welcome to my duvet flip with NatWest Thrive. How are we? I'm great, thanks.

Thanks for having me. You're more than welcome. I'm so excited to hear about your career, your journey, and everything inbetween. First question, what motivates you, and how do you stay motivated? Yeah, so I actually had to do quite a bit of work on this with my psychologist, because as an athlete, motivation is up and down.

Some days you'll wake up and you can't be bothered to go to training and your energy levels are low, you're knackered from the day before. So whenever I feel like this, I always bring it back to the bigger picture and what my future self might think. So when I'm old and grey and sat on my rocking chair, I want to be able to say I made the most out of all my time as an athlete. Like, being a full-time athlete, it doesn't last forever.

Like, everyone knows that. And for a career in BMX, you know, there's some women going at 33 still, but I think at that point for me, I want to have had kids, I want to be focusing on that. So yeah, I'm 25 now, so I want to make the most out of my time as an athlete. So that's what really motivates me to keep going and give it my all in training, just because, yeah, I know it's not going to last forever, and this is a chapter in my life that I just want to make the most of and be happy doing it.

One of the best answers that we've probably had, look at your future self, right? What would your future self think? And is there days that you think to yourself, but I don't want to look at my future self, and I just want to hide under the cover, put the TV on? Like, how do you get into that mindset? Because mindset is really important, right? Yeah, massively. I think it can be quite hard. Like you say, get into training, and if I am flat and I'm tired, and my coach is saying, right, we've got this effort, that effort, and I'm just like, this is going to be a struggle today. But I keep reminding myself, I have to give it my best, because I know it's only going to help me in the future or better prepare me for what big races I've got to come.

So I just constantly just have to keep self-talking, reminding myself of what's coming up and why I'm doing what I'm doing, and that's just to be the better version of myself, try and get these amazing achievements and inspire the next generation as well along the way. I love that, I love that. Tell me a little bit about what you do. Like, tell me a little bit about what does your day look like? I know it's probably different each day, and I know just off camera, talking about your day today has all been different to what you did yesterday, but tell me a little bit about what you do in your role.

Yeah, so basically, it's a lot of gym work, a lot of track work. I now actually have teammates that are girls. I've always been kind of the only girl on the team, so now having more girls around me in training has been great and amazing. But yes, working hard, literally just getting your head down, getting the job done, doing what the coaches say, and I'm really kind of a methodical person, so I like to follow a plan.

So if there's a plan in front of me, I have to stick to it, I have to follow it. So yeah, following the plan step by step, and when I've done that day to day, I know that I've done a good job, so. And finding your potential, it's all about having the right people around you. How important are role models and having people that you can be inspired by, but also you can inspire? Yeah, definitely.

I think my teammates inspire me. Kai White being one of them, obviously getting the medals in Tokyo together was amazing, and I think that really brought us together really close, and he knows now how I operate. I know how he operates in training. So if someone, if I'm feeling a bit down, he knows how to pick me up and vice versa.

So I think, yeah, kind of just watching everyone around you grow, develop, and reach their goals as well was inspiring and makes you want to reach your goals. So yeah, I think it's like a balance of both. I want to show my teammates, the younger girls, that you can achieve what you want to achieve, and this is kind of how you need to do it by staying disciplined, determined, focused, but then also, yeah, admiring what the people around you are doing as well. And do you ever have a day off? Like, how does that work? Yeah, we do have days off, not many, but we do.

And when we do it, most of the time when you are battered and tired, you're just laying on the sofa most of the day, but other than that, we're hanging out with each other, we're mates doing normal life things, like separating that sport life to normal life as well. So yeah, it's good to mix it up and just, yeah, take a break every so often. How does one build their confidence? Like, where, I see so much confidence in you, which is lovely to see. We have some CEOs come in and they've got no confidence, we know where they are, but you, you got confidence, like where's that come from? And how do you build that potential confidence? Was you always confident? I don't think I was, like during school, I wasn't like secondary school, like I had my little group of mates, but wasn't hugely outspoken.

I think as I've gone on in my career and maybe been successful, I think that gold medal in Tokyo definitely forced me to step up a bit and kind of the media attention I was getting from everyone around me, just people recognise me, whatever. I think it kind of forced me to be like, right Beth, you need to step up here and just kind of, I just wanted to be myself. That was where I was coming from. Like even at the games in my, all my interviews, when they were maybe a bit rude as well, but like just being authentically myself and I think it comes from maybe having a great family behind me, support network, but then yeah, I think all the media stuff forced me to kind of bring it out a bit.

I think like my personality and yeah, just to step up and show everyone like this is me really. And how does, what would you advise to be to someone who wants to like step up and do something? Whether that's you're sitting at the back of the classroom and you've got some ideas, but you don't want to bring them forward, whether that's sports or whether that's something that you're really passionate about, how do you step up and step forward? Oh, that's a tough question. I think for me, I think it's just honing in on your beliefs and what you, what's passionate, what you're passionate about. Like it's kind of not bothering about what people think around you as well.

Like I think as soon as people start worrying about what he thinks, she thinks, that's when you go in in yourself. So I think as soon as you kind of put that aside and think, you know what, like everyone's got stuff going on in their lives, like the bigger picture, I think, yeah, then you can step up. And like I said before about your future self, like your future self is going to want to look back and go, nah like I was, I did everything I can. I was authentically me.

So I can't, like I've got nothing bad to say about that time in my life. Do you know what I mean? So yeah, I think not worrying about what other people think. So not worrying about what other people think, understanding that in life, there is a lot going on and other people got other stuff going on and you just only can put your best foot forward, right? Yeah, 100%. And give it a go.

What scares you? Like what scares you? What scares me? Oh, I don't know. Like maybe the unknown a bit. Like, I mean, well with BMX in particular, like anything can happen. So that can be quite scary, but putting that aside, I think to kind of get over that, you just got to focus on yourself and doing your best self.

That's kind of how what I focus on, I think if I do my best, then I know everyone around me is going to be happy. I'm going to be happy and no one can say anything. So I think the unknown of results and what they're going to do, what she's going to do, putting that aside, but then also, well for me, what scares you is also like injuries and crashing, that BMX, there's a lot of crashes involved. So that's part of the sport.

But again, you've kind of got to put it to the side and just focus on doing your best. And if you're going to do your best, usually it's going to work out all right. I agree, I agree. And when you do have an injury, how does it make you feel? And how do you make sure that your mental health and your mind's in a good place? Yeah, I think, well, going into Paris, obviously broke my collarbones.

That was a massive shock. I think for me, what helped me get through that was taking it week by week and not obsessing over the future and the Olympics. It was more like, right, this week, at the end of the week, I want to do a press up. Next week, I want to be pumping around the track.

It was like these small goals every week. And when I was achieving them, I was like, yeah, I felt like I was doing something big. So I think definitely the small goals week by week helped me get through it. But then also talking to people, like when I was worried about, oh, I might not be where I was at before or I might not do this, might not do that.

It's just speaking about it. Like I'm such an open book with my feelings and stuff. I know not everyone is, but I think as soon as I let it off my chest, I just feel a hundred times better. So talking as well helps, but yeah, having a nice plan in place, following the plan and talking about your feelings.

It's like that saying, isn't it a problem shared as a problem halved Yeah, massively. And share it with the people who care about you and you care about to get to the result. Where does this drive come from? Like you've got so much drive and energy and meeting you today, you're so happy. And I know you've had a busy day today, but you've come in with so much grace.

Like where does this drive come from and how can others get this drive if we're thinking about we wanna be, like for instance, if I want to work towards something and be my best potential. Like how do I kind of bottle some of this drive? I think, well for me, I just remind myself how lucky I am. Like look where I am today, like this is crazy. (laughing) Do you like the NatWest Thrive cup? That's what I mean, like it's crazy.

I'm so lucky, I meet amazing people and like, I know I'm a bit of an anomaly. Like I'm a full-time athlete, been to Olympics, but like I'm just a normal person as well. And I just think, I don't know, like, I just love what I do, I love what I do. And I know it's not gonna last forever.

So I'm making the most out of every single day. I know I've got an amazing family and friends who support me. So I know I've got them to fall back on and yeah, I just think I've got ambition, I've got things I wanna achieve, like results-wise, life goal-wise, I've got things in the pipeline and like I said, I like following a plan, so. And have you got a plan for each one of those things set out or are you just going, I'm gonna go with the flow? Cause I know you're kind of a go with the flow type of person as well, aren't you? Yeah, so well with my BMX, it's kind of like a plan in place.

Results-wise, I've got my goals, like there's still a few things I wanna achieve. So still gotta tick them off. But yeah, when it comes to like life goals, again, like it's kind of like roughly in place in my head. But yeah, if something's take a turn, they take a turn.

Like I think in life, everything happens for a reason. That's what I believe. So I kind of just take things with a pinch of salt. And like, if something bad happens, I know I'm gonna come out of it a better person or I need to learn from something.

So I kind of just see everything as learning and something that's gonna help me develop for the future. And what's something you learned recently? Ooh. Cause I'm a big believer that you always learning and like long life learning and what's something that's kind of taught you about life recently? Any stories that you've got like? Yeah, well, I think obviously, I think a big one for me is the Paris Olympics. So obviously I went in as a favorite, won gold in Tokyo.

Obviously broke my collarbone 10 weeks out. So in my head, I was kind of like, oh, we'll see what happens. But I was still getting pressure from people. I'd obviously signed loads of deals with amazing companies.

So like, there's like this low key like pressure that people, I don't think anyone will ever experience the pressure that an athlete feels at the Olympic games. Like that, like it's actually crazy. The anxiety and the stuff that we go through, it's mad. Anyway, so I was kind of a favorite to win.

All my races went amazing. And then in that final, there was literally nothing I could have done. And my race was over by the first jump. Some girl just had a start of her life cut me off.

Race was done. And I think after that, because I drilled in the weeks leading in, like no matter what happens, life doesn't change. I was kind of surprisingly, I was like, all right. And don't get me wrong, it did come in waves.

I was like, oh, like could have done this, could have done that. But because I drilled in life doesn't change, it was good. And I think the fact that people like NatWest have stuck by me now going into another cycle is like, it just proved that point to me. Like it's not all about results.

It's about the person you are and kind of like the image that you wanna portray to people. So I think it was more the image that I, and the way I came across at the Olympics is kind of helped me now going forward and like made me look at the bigger picture in life. I think it's not all about that result. And I think that's what that taught me.

Like not getting that medal obviously wasn't, didn't feel amazing, but going forward, I think it's made me appreciate everything now that I do do. And not getting that result and your, I love that life doesn't change. How can young people use that in their everyday life? Ooh. Like I'm sitting in there thinking, okay, life doesn't change.

The next thing I go into, if I have that kind of methodology that you use to get through it, like how can young people put that into their everyday lives? I think maybe when it comes to maybe like your GCSEs or whatever exams or whatever, uni, like thinking if you have these conversations with your friends and family and they know, like as long as you guys support me and love me, like no matter if the result's good or bad, then it's gonna be all right. I think if the individual knows that, it's like the weight has been lifted. I think as soon as I realised that in my BMX career, it was like I could breathe and I was like, oh, like I'm just, I'm literally just racing and like win or lose, it's all right. So I think, yeah, young people, if they have the conversations and they hear it from their parents, mate, you'd be unstoppable.

Unstoppable, right? Unstoppable. And for anyone who wants to follow your footsteps, what's your like message to them? Like any young person who says, I wanna BMX or I wanna win a medal, like what is your message? Oh, I think my message is it has to start off being fun. It has to start off being fun. I think when I started BMX, it was literally just fun.

I was just messing around with my brothers and trying new things, meeting new people. And then it's about the setting the little goals and achieving little things and bettering yourself every week. Also staying disciplined, you've gotta be committed to doing this thing. Like you can't just, you know, tip-toe around that you gotta throw everything into it.

And I think when you do that and you are committed, you can achieve what you wanna achieve. So yeah, you know, if it is following a plan, if that's how you operate, get a plan in place, get it written up and follow it day by day, step by step. Like that's what helps me get through it. But then also you need to have that good support network behind you as well.

You need to. And especially in BMX, there's a massive community around it. If you wanna do BMX, any BMX track, they'll lend you a BMX helmet and you'd get the help you need. So yeah, if you wanna start BMX, find your local track and get involved.

So it has to start by being fun. That's a really important lesson, isn't it? Because if you're not enjoying it, what's the point? Exactly. What makes you happy? We've talked about what makes you sad. Yeah.

And what scares you, but like what makes you happy? I think my family make me very happy. Like I've got an amazing family. My mum and dad, two brothers. My boyfriend makes me happy.

Hanging out with my mates makes me happy. Like all these things. But obviously BMX is great and doing well makes me happy. I do also enjoy the process of BMX and like the journey.

Like I think a lot of sport, you don't see the behind the scenes and all the training that goes into it. So you've gotta really love the process to do it. But then also yeah, when you win or do well and you're rewarded for it, that feels pretty, pretty good. So, but yeah, the main thing is my family and friends, they're what makes me happy and keep me going.

And do you think the things that make you happy has made you a better BMXer? Yeah, a hundred percent. I think without the support and them being there, rain or shine, win or lose, just cements in my head. Like I'm doing the right thing here or no matter what happens, like I say, they're gonna be there. Like the finish line in Paris, as soon as I came across the line, got put my helmet down, they were all there happy.

So they were proud of me and that's all that matters. Like I was there in tears and they were there hugging me like, it's all good, it's all right, it's amazing. And I'm just saying like, oh my God, this is crazy. So yeah, no matter what, like I know I've got that amazing family network support behind me who will pick me up no matter what.

So to find your full potential, it has to start as fun. It must make you happy and you've got to have a plan but a support network around you, whatever it is. Yeah, yeah. That is how you start finding your full potential.

A hundred percent. And what does it feel like wearing the Team GB shirt? Oh, it's- Because I'm seeing it, I'm just like, go on. Like, wow, like- Yes, it best. Like being a part of Team GB is special.

Like every athlete dreams of it. Going to the Olympics is one thing, but then you kind of like, and when you get kitted out and you get all the stuff, it's like, oh yeah, this is proper. Like you forget about it. And then when you're there on the day, you're like, yeah, okay, I'm part of this now, but this is massive.

So yeah, I'm extremely lucky and grateful to be a part of Team GB. So yeah, it's amazing. Being part of the team made you stronger. Oh yeah, definitely.

I think meeting all these amazing athletes from different disciplines and sports and hearing their stories. Like I've met so many new friends from Team GB. It's crazy, like when we were at the Olympics or even now, just following their journeys, it's so cool. Like reaching out to them and going for a coffee or whatever, I've seen them on shoots, like it's sick.

And it's like, yeah, the world's colliding, it's cool. It does, it happens, doesn't it? When a group of good people who have got a mission and are on the same kind of drive come together, it's just amazing. Yeah, it's cool. So we all kind of look out for each other, you know? And like we all know what everyone's getting up to.

We see it on the Instagram or whatever. So yeah, checking in every so often with people or giving them a phone call, like, yeah, it's just cool. So one interesting fact about me is I've broken multiple bones and I currently have two pieces of metal work in my body. I want to talk a little bit about at the beginning.

Cause everyone focuses on the deadline, not the start line. And I'm a big believer that there's so much power in just starting. Tell me a bit about your journey. Like when you first started, there's any stories where things went wrong, any funny moments, like where did it like start? So I think myself and my brothers, we took to the sport quite quickly.

So we kind of knew we was all right at it kind of thing. So we were just going around. So it's called regional racing. So you go around kind of your county doing little races and then you work your way up to national level, European level, and then world level.

So my brother Luke was actually really, really good as well. So we, me and Luke were kind of going to all these national races, doing all right. Then worked about two European races, but it wasn't smooth sailing. So as soon as you get to junior level, you start racing off a bigger start hill.

And that comes with its challenges. But I managed to get my first junior title and then the following year you get chucked into the elite women category. So you're with all the big, the top girls, top top girls. So I was, I think 18 years old, getting chucked in with all these girls who've been to Olympics, won elite titles.

And it was like, whoa. I was like competing. Get overwhelmed. Yeah, I was.

ou think to yourself, oh my God, wow, all these people. Yeah, massively. I was like, I'm on the gate next to the current Olympic champ, Mariana Pajon. I was like, there's no, like in your brain, there's like, there's no way I'm beating her.

No way I'm beating her. Like that's all it was at that age. And it was until, well, I'd hit rock bottom where I wasn't getting any results. I was doing okay in the kind of qualifiers, but then I'd always get to the semi-final and my brain would just be like, no, you're not good enough.

And it basically got to the point where I was one of the favorites to win at a European championships. And I went out in the semi-final and I was literally there crying on the phone to my mum, like mum, don't do this anymore. Like this is it for me, blah, blah, blah. She's there obviously trying to pick me up, whatever.

And we thought, right, what do we need to do? What do I need to better myself? Like how can I better myself here? And it was the psychology stuff because the potential was there, but my head was always letting me down. So as soon as I sat down with my psychologist and we started working out different scenarios, looking at the bigger picture cues that would help me, that's when I started kind of rediscovering myself and actually my potential. And as soon as I started doing this, that's when the results started, started coming in, coming in, but it was only until Tokyo where I had my big kind of like breakout performance, but until that point, my best result was like 14th at World Cup. So yeah, I think it's never smooth sailing like you say, but you have to start somewhere.

And like, even if it's amazing when you're younger, you kind of have a dip and then you go again. It's like, you're just discovering who you are all the way through. And even now, I'm discovering myself, so. So it is also really important to, in the mindset stuff, right? Not just on the bike, it's actually what happens, how you feel up here.

You talked about looking around you and there's like these fantastic women. You're like, I'm never gonna beat these. That's kind of imposter syndrome, isn't it? And you think, how do you cope with that? And what's your advice to young people who may be doing something and they look around them and there's all these fantastic people and they're like, I shouldn't be here. I get it every day, like I shouldn't be here.

I'm the kid from the council estate. Like, what is your advice to people who feel like that? I think, again, bringing back that everyone's going through their own thing in life. Like for me, well, we're relating it to BMX. Everyone on that start line is nervous.

Everyone is anxious. And no matter what anyone says, like they are. So I think it's kind of like just taking a step back and thinking, oh, like it's not just me in this situation. Like everyone's feeling the same way.

Like whether you're at the start of your journey or near the end of your journey. So I think reminding yourself of that, but then also just thinking, no, like, why can't I beat this person? Like, why am I not good enough? You know, like if the potential is there, if the potential is there and like people without even realizing they're gonna be worrying about you when it regards to BMX, like people, I didn't even realize that people were gonna be worrying about me getting on the gate next to them. Whereas I was worrying about all seven of the other girls getting on next to me. So yeah, like everyone's going through their own thing.

And I think if you just focus on what you're doing to the best of your ability, then it is what it is on the day. And yeah, the results will come in like good or bad, but if you're giving it your best, can't complain. You've achieved so much. What would you say is your proudest moment? I'm sure there's many, but what would you say is your proudest moment? One of my proudest moments, probably obviously getting that gold in Tokyo.

I think that was a big shock to everyone, even myself. But then also there was a world championships in Scotland and that was the first time my family had watched me race in years. So it was kind of like a home world. That's cool.

And I won there. Yeah, so being able to win when the pressure was at its highest, my family were there in front of a home crowd. Like I've never felt anything like that. So that was a pretty proud moment.

But then also I think getting my MBE at Windsor Castle was pretty cool as well. Wow, and an MBE is, what is an MBE? It's basically you get awarded, like you get an award for your services to the sport, basically. So I've got an award for my services to BMX Racing. So I think for like getting it out there, getting it on the map.

And I actually spoke to, I think it was Prince William. So, and he actually said he watched and I was like, "Wow." Like I couldn't believe it. That is cool I was like, "You know, you forgot all these things you think you're gonna say and then you're shaking his hand and you're just like, yeah, yeah." You're shaking, you're like... I was just in shock.

So yeah, that's pretty cool. They're pretty proud moments, right? Yeah, very proud. And what would your advice be to young people who are championing or having their proud moments? Because we can easily forget it, right? We can easily go, "Wow, we're doing really well." I've just shaken hands. I even half forgot my words.

I've just shaken my hands with Prince William. And then you then quickly turn back and go, "But this is not right in my life." Or, "I'm not good at this." It's easy to quickly judge yourself with other people, right? What's your advice to other young people who may be feeling that? I think just constantly, well, just remind yourself, if you're feeling down or sad about that, think of how far you've come, you know? Like, everyone's on their own little journey. So whatever it is that picks you up or makes you feel better and makes you realise how far you've come, just remind yourself, just sit there and just say it out loud or write it down in a journal. Like, whatever it is that shows you, just say it, man, just say it.

Do you journal a lot? Is that your kind of little thing? Everyone has their little thing that they're good at. I can see one thing as your coffee making. But what's like your, everyone has their little thing that makes them successful to reach their full potential. Would it be the journaling for you? What is it for you? Yeah, I think journaling maybe every night, it's mainly every night that I say few things that I've learnt from the day or done well for the day, but then also what maybe I could have done better.

So I think maybe a bit of that, it just helps you kind of bring it back down, bring you back to earth and just see and appreciate the little things, you know? Appreciate the little things. It's the little things, right? It's the little things. What are the small wins you do daily to make you feel good? Small wins. I would say a small win for me is, like I said earlier, following my plan step by step.

I can't miss anything. If it's a gym session, if there's three sets, I have to do three sets. There's no doing two sets. So following my plan step by step, catching up with my family and just reflecting on the day, I would say.

They're really cool. I like them. Thank you. If you're gonna commit to something, do it, right? And commit, that's how you reach your full potential.

I've only got time for two more questions. So my first one of the two is, what's your message to all young people out there right now? My message to all young people out there, set the small goals, weekly, daily, whatever it is, so you feel like you're achieving something and staying motivated. Speak about your feelings, whether it's to a mate, to your family, whoever, speak about it so you feel better. And I don't know, just dream big.

You can have big goals, you can have big ambitions, whether it's to achieve it in 10 years time, five years time, dream big. I love that. And then are you ready for my final question? I think, well, I hope so. What's your duvet flip? What gets you out of bed in the morning? To flip the duvet The duvet every day.

It is. NatWest Thrive edition. NatWest Thrive edition duvet flip. It is to make the most out of every day because I know when I'm old and grey, I wanna be able to say that I made the most out of my time being an athlete.

So giving it everything and yeah, what will be will be. Wow, Beth, I just wanna say thank you so much for your time, your energy, for everything you do. You've really inspired me today. So thank you.

Thanks Jack, thanks for having me. Been great.