How Kristen Nuss Is Preparing For The Olympics

Heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics to signify Workforce USA in seashore volleyball is a celebrity duo often called TKN. Final week, we chatted with one-half of that pair, 27-year-old Taryn Kloth—and right now, we get to meet up with the opposite half, 26-year-old, 5-foot-6-inch athlete Kristen Nuss. 

The duo heads into the Olympics with a number of buzz: They at present rank second on the planet and effortlessly clinched the primary spot on Workforce USA with almost three months left to spare through the qualifying timeline. 

Kristen Nuss: My method could also be completely different than most. I’ve discovered over time that if I get tremendous targeted and “locked in” that I really do not carry out properly. So I attempt to be a little bit extra laid again. 

Taryn in all probability talked you thru our routine of listening to the identical AirPod [ed. note: In Kloth’s Game On interview, she shared that they listen to the same music by sharing AirPods during warm-ups to help them get in the same mindset]. So, in warm-ups, I simply attempt to maintain it enjoyable and relaxed. You’ll find me jamming out to no matter music is taking part in in my head. Chatting with our coaches. 

Nuss: In seashore volleyball, we do not have a ton of apparatus. We get on the courtroom, and we’re in our bathing fits. However an absolute necessity is sun shades. I couldn’t play this sport with out sun shades.

We put on Zenni Optical Sport Performance Sunglasses. We like them as a result of they’ve a number of choices for competitors sun shades with completely different lenses and types. It is nice to have the ability to have enjoyable with it—even with the ability to match the colour of our lenses with our fits. Or relying on what the solar is doing that day, we’ll choose lenses to assist efficiency. The completely different lenses will assist with visibility primarily based on the sunshine.

For instance, if there aren’t any clouds and it is simply pure solar, a number of the lenses are higher for that. Or different lenses do not block as a lot of the daylight. Some lenses will assist alter the colour you are seeing—so it is a little bit yellow or a little bit darker. A number of that depends upon your private choice. 

Nuss: Sleeping points earlier than one thing large is for certain a factor. There’s been numerous nights earlier than a giant sport or a championship match laying in mattress, and I am similar to, Fall asleep, fall asleep, fall asleep. However I can’t shut my mind off!

If that is the case—if it is a type of nights—I are inclined to give attention to my breathing. I simply take actually deep breaths, out and in, and actually simply hone in on that. Then I will additionally simply begin counting and I will simply depend. It offers my mind one thing to do aside from take into consideration that one factor—the match. It makes my mind give attention to one thing aside from, OK, what is going on to be the climate tomorrow? What is the play? How am I going to carry out?

Nuss: Truthfully, earlier than a giant sport—and particularly relying on after we play— ol’ peanut butter and jelly sandwich. That could be a strong pregame. It is the proper snack to provide the power and carbs that you just want. We [Kloth and I] eat them so much after we journey.

Everyday, I observe a high-protein food plan. It is nearly consuming a ton of protein in each meal that we get. I personally love doing increased protein, decrease calorie, and a number of amount as a result of I’m somebody who enjoys that feeling of fullness.

Nuss: I give a ton of credit score to our coach. He constructions observe the place there are some days that it is simply getting in to get reps—however then there are the times we simply get after it. 

You need observe to be more durable than the sport itself. That is the place the resilience will get constructed—in these observe moments if you’re in a extremely onerous drill, he is simply crushing balls at you, you then’re having to do some form of serve obtain and consistently simply execute. You get to the purpose the place your mind is like, Go, go, go—however your legs are dying and simply cease working. 

Nuss: Properly, I completely love simply occurring a stroll. It is also simply good for the psychological facet of issues—simply leaving the cellphone at residence and simply going for a stroll. 

Nuss: I feel for me, an important staff is somebody that is going to instill confidence in you and construct you up. Particularly in seashore volleyball, you want your different half on the courtroom to achieve success. 

I’ve seen conditions the place somebody would possibly get a nasty set, and the teammate will roll their eyes. It is like, Why are you tearing down your associate? Your associate is the one one that you want essentially the most to succeed at this. 

So I feel teammate is somebody who instills that confidence and belief in you throughout these onerous instances, like say, if you aren’t taking part in your finest sport. A great time goes to be somebody who continues to be there they usually’ll nonetheless have utmost belief.

Nuss: Dream large—no dream is just too large.

I am a little bit undersized in comparison with most different seashore volleyball gamers. Each single time I turned on the TV, nobody appeared like me height-wise. I might lookup the heights of gamers and everybody was at the very least 2-3 inches taller than me. However I simply saved on going. 

Do not let anybody inform you which you can’t.