For Anyone Who’s Sick of Almost Winning

Did you know that the average Olympic athlete trains for 10 years before earning a single medal?
In today’s episode of Mental, we meet Erika, a 22-year-old track athlete at the University of Nebraska. She's talented, relentless, and respected—but she's never been the one to cross the line first. For years, she’s been second: in races, in rankings, in recognition. But what if second place was never the loss we thought it was? What if it was preparing her—and maybe you—for something bigger? This is the story of grit, heartbreak, and one final race that redefines what it means to win.

🎧 This one’s for anyone who keeps coming in second and wonders if it’s ever going to be enough.