By Leo Adam Biga for VolleyballMag
Jordan Larson selected to not play volleyball this season.
And with the Paris Olympics drawing close to, the USA Volleyball star is unapologetically self-reflective as she prepares for the final stage of a legacy-making profession. Although Larson acknowledges it’s uncommon that her teammates are taking part in abroad and he or she’s not, she confided, “emotionally, I simply wasn’t able to play. There’s not burnout however only a totally different stage of what’s occurring round me and what I wish to spend money on.
“My teammates are all busting their butts abroad and dealing actually laborious and so they’re in all probability taking a look at me, considering, ‘Wait, she’s not taking part in however is sort of within the loop. How is that this going to work?’ ”
Admittedly, she stated, “Me not taking part in is a threat. However I additionally know … that getting my physique wholesome is basically necessary. Staying wholesome, robust and persevering with to ramp up, additionally having help in a tricky transition time, was one of the best factor for me.”
Larson goes all-in on what shapes as much as be her final Olympics. She spurned presents to play professionally abroad or with the Professional Volleyball Federation with the intention to have a singular deal with getting her thoughts and physique proper on the USA Volleyball coaching middle in Anaheim. At 37, she’s by far the oldest participant within the USA gymnasium.
Rigorously following routines helped get Larson to her standing as one of many best ever to put on a USA uniform.
However when her well-ordered life hit a glitch a pair years in the past, the three-time Olympic medalist did a reset. After main the USA. to gold in Tokyo, the place she was named event MVP, she thought-about retiring. Quickly after the Video games she married and took a job as an assistant coach at Texas. The wedding didn’t work out and Larson left Austin for the sanctuary of house – her native Nebraska.
“While you’re touring as an athlete you don’t actually have a house base, you’re sort of dwelling out of your suitcase. I’ve all the time had a way of group being from Nebraska. So coming again, getting grounded once more, being surrounded by individuals who love and pour into me has been a giant a part of constructing myself again up … and determining what my subsequent steps are. That’s sort of what this time has been about.”
Larson performed professional seasons in China and Italy in 2023, dedicated to make one other run on the 2024 Olympics, after which took a job as an assistant at Nebraska, the place she is among the program’s all-time greats.
She rejoined her former coach and mentor John Prepare dinner at Nebraska, the place she led Large Pink to the 2006 NCAA championship. She had a reasonably robust first season: Nebraska misplaced to Texas within the NCAA title match.
“I believed my life was on a reasonably good trajectory, the place I used to be in a great place,” Larson stated. “It’s taken me quite a bit emotionally to construct again up and get in a spot the place I’m like, ‘That is the place I wish to be and the way I need it to be.’ It’s been a tricky 12 months and a half. I’m grateful for the place I’m at with that.”
Thus, she opted for “being in Nebraska, having help, and dealing laborious within the weight room.” In addition to, she stated, “typically as I’ve gotten older taking part in much less is definitely higher on my joints.”
“I’ve given every thing I had”
Whereas Larson doesn’t make her age a difficulty or excuse, she’s real looking about what comes with advancing years.
“Because the years have gone, staying in form has been tougher. The aches and pains, a lot bigger.”
To counteract the toll of time, she stated, “I’m attempting to stay as constant as I can, and I’m fairly routine primarily based. I sort of do a whole lot of the identical issues daily. which in all probability would get monotonous for lots of people. However I simply actually fell in love with the method. I by no means thought I’d be taking part in at this age. At 24 I performed with ladies over 30 and I used to be like, what are they doing with their lives? They don’t have anything higher to do? I like the game a lot and it’s given me a lot. I’m simply grateful I nonetheless get to come back out and compete.
“Each time that point is I step away from the game I can have full confidence in understanding I’ve given every thing I had and poured each ounce of expertise and coronary heart and love into it that I might. I attempt for that each single day. Then I can stroll away with peace.”
Her one-day-at-a-time credo is a concession to the current bumps within the street she skilled.
“As a lot as you wish to plan issues out, life doesn’t all the time go as deliberate. I used to be the final word planner. When issues went awry I used to be like, whoa. Now if issues fluctuate I simply gotta waft. You simply by no means know what can occur. It’s actually simply cherishing every second. All of it appears a lot extra current and actual, and perhaps it’s as a result of I don’t understand how lengthy that is going to final.”
The consolation of returning to her Husker household can’t be overestimated, though, she stated, “Initially once I got here again from Texas I didn’t get entangled with Nebraska out of respect for Texas. I simply didn’t assume it was applicable. I did know I wished to get into teaching, however I used to be evaluating if I nonetheless wished to play. After final Olympics I believe I used to be in a reasonably good place to step away, And I nonetheless am. I really feel like no matter occurs I’m in a great place emotionally and bodily. I can step away at any level. However I’m nonetheless getting alternatives.”
The prospect of successful again to again golds is motivation sufficient. Although she factors out “Paris isn’t assured” for her, nobody’s betting towards the crew captain making the ultimate roster. Then there are the presents from the brand new professional leagues.
“If I can nonetheless do it and I really feel nice and mentally I’m there, then why not? If I’m taking part in at a extremely excessive stage then I’d be ok with stepping away from it. If my play begins to dip or different issues begin to hinder, then perhaps that’s the place I’d reevaluate. However I’m nonetheless getting alternatives and I nonetheless adore it so I’m going to remain in it for nevertheless lengthy I can.”
“Snug in understanding she’s by no means arrived”
Armed with a brand new sense of mindfulness, Larson finds herself appreciative of giving herself grace, which in flip provides her a transparent perspective.
“To be trustworthy I look again on my life and oftentimes I decide myself on sure selections and actions. However as life has occurred I’ve by no means wished to reside with a sense of remorse. And I can inform you that I don’t. There’s not one factor I’d change. I’ve lived an awesome life. Whereas the trail hasn’t all the time been clean it’s been completely value it.”
Revisiting previous failures in her taking part in profession is extra about studying from errors and stoking her aggressive hearth than it’s dwelling on disappointment.
For instance, she lately watched matches from the 2016 Rio Olympics, together with when Serbia upset the top-ranked USA within the semifinals.
“I replayed the fifth set to see how issues transpired and what we might have carried out higher. Watching a failure or a loss can create a temper. It additionally ignites this anger of, effectively, all proper, I’m not going to let that occur once more. On the flip facet, I take pleasure in watching myself and others do issues proper. Having the ability to watch expertise or actions carried out proper helps me create a basis to repeat that motion.”
Veteran sufficient to have seen all of it, she is aware of higher than anybody what success requires.
“It’s so fascinating as a result of I do know that expertise isn’t the one factor that received me right here. I do know there’s much more bodily athletic volleyball gamers than I ever was. I hope my success provides different ladies hope that you simply don’t must have all of it. You don’t must be the very best jumper, you don’t must hit the toughest, you don’t must be the quickest. Are these issues necessary? Sure, they’re. However studying learn how to play the sport, being robust mentally, pushing your self past what you assume you’re able to — these issues set you aside. Continuously striving to be higher the subsequent day — that mindset alone can take you far.”
Even at this stage in her profession, the 6-foot-2 outdoors hitter concedes, “It’s laborious for me to just accept typically there are extra bodily athletes within the volleyball world. However my thoughts has allowed me to play at a excessive stage for a extremely very long time. After I received to the nationwide crew (in 2009) I noticed my expertise solely will get me to this point. To be good I had to determine different methods to be good and that’s perhaps utilizing my voice, studying learn how to win video games with my thoughts. I actually needed to adapt and modify.”
Then there’s her uber competitiveness.
“As a competitor I wish to win every thing.”
Sue Enquist, the retired UCLA softball teaching legend who now does crew constructing work with USA Volleyball, stated Larson shares the identical traits of different “generational athletes,” together with “an unwavering want for enchancment that’s rooted in curiosity.”
“They’re pushed by getting extra solutions and so they equate extra solutions with higher preparation and having extra choices and equipping them to make the second,” stated Enquist. “That’s what iconic athletes do in my expertise. They’re laser-focused on making ready for moments. Due to that they will have nice stamina. Is Jordan Larson a tough employee? Sure. Does she know learn how to have next-play mindset? Sure. Is she a great teammate? Sure. She’s all of these issues. However I believe the separators must do with this unwavering curiosity and this low-burn rigidity of needing to hunt out extra. She sits in mastery. She’s very comfy in understanding she’s by no means arrived. And once you’re comfy in your personal pores and skin that you simply’re on a journey of discovery, then bearing the load of outcomes doesn’t suffocate you.
“It’s important to defend that stamina as a result of it’s such a excessive depth sport. She has such self-discipline round taking good care of her physique and creating life-style that lends to longevity.”
A mind-over-matter method is important for somebody nonetheless at it when her peer group’s retired.
“It’s fascinating this energy of will and dedication,” Larson stated. “I do know what we do in our gymnasium is tough at any age. For me, it’s understanding that being within the gymnasium daily brings out one of the best in me. It’s leaning into this and keen myself do issues I don’t wish to do some days. That’s what makes it extra stunning on the opposite finish.
“The whole lot can’t keep the identical since you’re evolving, the sport’s evolving, individuals round you’re evolving,” Larson stated. “We’re getting extra expertise so far as bounce counts and participant load and all these items. There’s simply extra to know. I really feel like if I had been to remain the identical that might not be a great factor.”
Main by instance
“I’ve been positively extra lead-by-example for almost all of my profession,’” Larson stated. “We’ve got a management council. It’s one thing we always must evolve as a result of our offseason is technically after we’re abroad. Women are attempting to play and focus and do all these items, and so it’s fixed communication of how we will be and adapt higher. It’s frequently asking these questions, what are we doing, how are we doing it, and what can we do to get higher.”
She attributes her management growth to USA coach Karch Kiraly, veteran USA and collegiate coach Hugh McCutcheon, Prepare dinner and Enquist.
“I’m surrounded by high-level, excessive functioning those that wish to be one of the best at what they do. While you’re round it a lot you begin talking that language as a result of it’s what you hear daily.”
Participant engagement and crew constructing by no means finish.
“One of many issues I’ve discovered probably the most is constructing relationships with teammates outdoors the court docket,” Larson stated. “As a lot as I wish to maintain them accountable they’re not going to hearken to me if I don’t have a rapport or hang around with them. So I’ve actually tried to realize a greater understanding of what every teammate wants, how they perform as an individual.
“Studying learn how to be a catch-all after which attempting to determine learn how to be one of the best model for them helps me perceive learn how to assist them within the warmth of battle.”
Now that she’s on the again finish of her profession, she’s additionally mature and assured sufficient to be clear.
“I’ve discovered the older I’ve gotten that toughness is all the time going to be there. However on days once I’m feeling actually tough and I’m weak sufficient to vocalize it, that’s when teammates can present up for you. Permitting that to occur is OK. It’s not an indication of weak point, it’s truly extra an indication of power and belief.”
Getting proper for the Olympics
The USA certified for Paris Olympics final September on the heels of a tricky summer season when the Individuals misplaced to Poland within the Volleyball Nations League bronze-medal match. Larson didn’t play in VNL however within the Olympics-qualifying event the USA misplaced to Poland once more. Within the USA victory over Germany that clinched an Olympic berth, Larson had 11 kills, a team-high three aces and three blocks. She additionally led the crew in profitable receptions with 5 and had 16 digs.
“A minimum of for me, shedding to Poland was unacceptable. Shedding in 4, not best. We’ve had a while to mirror. All proper, what do we have to all do higher? We’ve talked about upping the rigor and having a rigorous mindset. What are we doing on our off days? Are we simply laying on the sofa or are we doing lively restoration? Actually being intentional with that. Hold asking questions on ourselves and the crew — I believe everyone tried to use that this season.
“I hope after we come again everyone’s simply champing on the bit. We’ve got a whole lot of ladies taking part in actually excessive stage volleyball proper now, which is cool to see. I’ve full confidence we’re going to be greater than ready. The crew seems to be totally different than final quad, which is to be anticipated. However I believe we’re actually working laborious on creating our personal id.
“We received a gold medal. OK, effectively, now what? Are we simply going to relaxation in that? Is that sufficient for us? I believe the reply is not any. However what’s it going to take now to come back out on high once more as a result of individuals are not going to sleep on us, not that they had been, however now they’re like, we’re going to verify they don’t win.”
By no means say by no means
Larson is pragmatic sufficient to venture that Paris would be the capstone of her worldwide profession, however nonetheless bold sufficient to not commit someway.
“I believe this will probably be it. However I additionally know I believed the final one was going to be it. I’m hesitant on understanding for certain. Greater than doubtless the excessive chance is that that is it. However I additionally know I don’t wish to shut a door if I don’t essentially must.”
Pals prompt she deflect hypothesis by holding an “annual” retirement get together. Till the tip lastly does come, she stated, “I strive to not take a day without any consideration.”
