Share
))
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
…
continue reading
Manage episode 522722769 series 3586709
Content provided by Study & Play USA and Play USA. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Study & Play USA and Play USA or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.
We are thrilled to introduce a new partnership for our Study & Play USA families. Listen as we sit down with NCAA Division I runner Vicki Data from The Hidden Opponent to unpack the hidden realities of college sport as an international and the power of a community that says 'it’s okay not to be okay'.
German athlete Vicki explains how The Hidden Opponent is breaking stigma with practical action: campus captains, mental health game days, and resources that make support easy to find.
She shares candid stories about moving from Germany to the United States, adjusting to new training loads and gym work, and navigating the business side of American college athletics where results can impact coaching jobs. Her playbook is clear and compassionate: communicate early, ask for help, and keep your identity bigger than your performance.
Claire and Vicky cover:
- American athletes generally come into college knowing what to expect vs internationals not always knowing
- A lot of your American teammates may not know what you don't know
- Victoria's experience with being injured for 6 months and how she dealt with that mentally and physically
- College can be an amazing experience but also hard at the same time - both things can coexist
- Speaking up can be hard, but it is so important to speak up if you need help
- The importance of familiarising yourself with the gym before heading over to college for the first time
Vicki’s biggest takeaway lands with heart: sport is a business, but your self-worth is not. When injuries occur or homesickness hits, stay connected to your team, lean on counselling, and let team community carry you through the hard bits. The Hidden Opponent’s expanding international chapter proves that vulnerability travels; when others share openly, you don’t have to. If this conversation helps you or someone you love, subscribe, share it with a teammate or parent, and leave a review so more athletes can find the support they deserve.
Vikki Datta Instagram: @victoriadatta_
The Hidden Opponent - The Founder's Ted Talk:
youtube.com/watch/?vSdk7pLpblls
Chapters
1. Partnership With The Hidden Opponent (00:00:00)
2. What The Hidden Opponent Does (00:02:44)
3. Moving Abroad And Early Culture Shocks (00:05:18)
4. Building Community As An International (00:09:06)
5. Being The Only International On A Team (00:14:08)
6. Injuries, Honesty, And Staying Involved (00:19:08)
7. It’s A Business: Pressure On Coaches (00:24:15)
8. Communication With Coaches And Adapting (00:28:16)
9. Counseling, Campus Resources, And Normalising Help (00:33:20)
10. Preparing Before You Go: Training And Admin (00:38:10)
11. Parents’ Role And Staying Connected (00:42:10)
12. Growing The Hidden Opponent Internationally (00:44:20)
13. Closing Reflections And Open Invitation (00:48:20)
63 episodes
