In this episode of the Perform Happy Podcast, I sit down with NCAA gymnast Lacie Saltzmann to talk about building confidence, overcoming mental blocks, handling fear, and finding joy in gymnastics even when things don’t go according to plan.
Lacie opens up about being a hesitant gymnast who struggled with confidence and mental blocks when she was younger. She shares how learning how skills worked helped her build trust in herself, and how visualization became an important part of her preparation.
We also talk about a difficult moment at UNC when Lacie was overwhelmed by what-ifs, fell on a dismount, and had to find a way to trust herself again. Instead of allowing that experience to define her, she used visualization, positive self-talk, and the support of her coaches and teammates to move forward.
Lacie shares why setbacks can become opportunities for growth, why finding small wins matters, and why young athletes should learn to enjoy the journey instead of putting all their happiness on the outcome. She also talks about prioritizing sleep, recovery, and time away from gymnastics as part of becoming a stronger athlete and person.
In this episode you will hear
- Why confidence is built over time
- How visualization can help with fear and mental blocks
- Why setbacks don’t have to define your gymnastics journey
- How parents, coaches, and teammates can support athletes
- Why recovery is part of training
- How to find joy in the hard days
This conversation is a powerful reminder that confidence doesn’t mean never being scared. It means learning that you are capable, trusting the work you’ve put in, and continuing to move forward when things get hard.
