Why Talent Isn’t Enough to Build a Champion | Asia Rawls PT 1 | Run it Back

The foundation of a champion is never built alone. In Part 1 of this episode of "Run It Back," Olympic medalist Alysia Montaño sits down with elite coach and ASICS ambassador Asia Rawls to uncover the community and heart behind her journey. From running six-minute miles at just eight years old to becoming a former Eastern Michigan champion in the 400 hurdles, Asia shares how mentorship and resilience carried her further than talent ever could. We explore the critical role of youth sports, the power of showing up for young athletes, and why the "village" is the secret to elite success. In this episode, we discuss: Asia Rawls’ journey from youth track to collegiate champion. The importance of mentorship and community in elite sports. Overcoming challenges with heart and resilience. Why talent alone isn't enough to build a champion. About Run It Back: "Run It Back" is an Allez! Sports series where Alysia Montaño sits down with legendary athletes to unpack the moments and lessons that shaped their careers. ____________________________________ Subscribe to our channel! 🛎️    / @allezsports   Allez! Sports is a global women's sports media company dedicated to women's sports coverage, athlete storytelling, and the moments that matter most. Subscribe for original documentaries, longform interviews, live coverage, talk show episodes, and weekly women's sports content featuring WNBA, volleyball, gymnastics, track and field, soccer, cricket, rugby, and more from around the world. ____________________________________ Follow Allez! Sports: Instagram –   / allezsportstv   (@allezsportstv) TikTok –   / allezsportstv   Facebook –  / 61578048729408   ____________________________________ 📨 Sign up for our newsletter! – https://www.allezsports.com/newslette... 🛍️ Shop ALLEZ! - http://shop.allezsports.com 0:00 Intro & The Power of Passion 1:24 Asia’s Childhood & Finding Confidence 2:51 Running 6-Minute Miles at Age 8 4:26 Transitioning to the 400m Hurdles 5:50 Why Every Child Needs Sports 8:21 Navigating High School & Family Transitions 11:14 Basketball vs. Track: Finding Your Sport 14:00 Becoming a "Diamond in the Rough" 15:56 Tips for Collegiate Recruitment & NIL 19:16 The Importance of Advocacy & Soft Skills 23:08 Life as a Collegiate Athlete at Eastern Michigan 24:13 Discovering the Hurdles in College 27:19 Developing "Heart" as a Competitor 29:34 Leaving It All on the Line ____________________________________ #AsiaRawls #RunItBack #AllezSports #AlysiaMontano #TrackAndField #Mentorship #YouthSports #ElitePerformance #Resilience #ASICS