Athlete Builder Ep. 122: Building Canadian Olympic Champions with Jeff Osadec
Mon Feb 02 2026
Summary
In this episode, Jim Beebe and Jeff Osaded discuss the intricacies of athletic training and development, particularly in the context of Canadian sports. They delve into the importance of youth development, the impact of the Olympics on local sports culture, and the evolution of training methodologies over the years. Jeff shares his extensive experience working with various athletes, including MLB player Mike Soroka, and emphasizes the significance of building a strong foundation in training, nutrition, and recovery. The conversation also touches on the cultural aspects of sports in Canada, particularly hockey, and how the environment shapes athletes' experiences and performance.
Takeaways
"One workout doesn't make a season, but one workout can ruin a season."
"Doing the basics savagely well is crucial for success."
"Attendance is the number one thing we track that tells us whether an athlete is going to be really good."
"You can't just pick the most talented; you have to optimize whatever kid walks through the door."
"The best athletes are those who can adapt and endure the most."
"It's not about how hard you train, it's about how hard you can train, recover, and train hard again."
"The environment molds the culture and the athletes that come out of it."
"You need to build a habit-forming culture within your training environment."
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
01:43 Personal Experiences and Canadian Sports Culture
07:34 Olympic Sports and Athlete Development
12:52 The Changing Landscape of Hockey in Canada
17:06 Types of Athletes and Their Impact
24:09 The Legacy of the 1988 Olympics in Calgary
27:53 Building a Positive Training Culture
32:50 The Challenge of Size in Water Polo
34:22 Changing Coaching Mindsets
36:42 Basics Done Savagely Well
40:46 Embracing Controlled Chaos in Sports
48:13 The CBC Effect and Talent Identification
AEA Institute: https://www.aea-neuro-fitness-academy.com/
Our podcast links.
Athlete Builder on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Athlete-Builder Athlete Builder on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34QCcodvAqAgj7iwk3tdrj Athlete Builder on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athlete-builder/id1715521920 Athlete Builder on Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b5583cce-62bc-4611-ab54-ff367f41632d/athlete-builder Our social media links.
Athlete Builder on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athlete_builder/ Athlete Builder on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1athletebuilder Athlete Builder on X: https://x.com/AthleteBuilder Athlete Builder on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@athlete.builder Athlete Builder web page: https://athlete-builder.com Athlete Builder e-mail: info@athlete-builder.com Our links to services/products.
Buy the Athlete Builder book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9xiGOWQ Buy the Athlete Builder book on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/athlete-builder-jim-beebe/1146362511?ean=9798218498382 Buy the Athlete Builder book in bulk at: https://bookpal.com/athlete-builder-the-blueprint-to-build-champion-athletes-9798218498382 Buy the Athlete Builder planner on Amazon: (COMING SOON!) Take the Athlete Builder course: https://athlete-builder.com/courses Schedule a time for a Game Plan Session for you to get started: https://link.closersoftware.com/widget/bookings/ab-gameplansession Book for speaking engagements: https://athlete-builder.com/speaking Buy Athlete Builder apparel and swag: https://athlete-builder.printify.me/products Register for the Athlete Builder newsletter: https://athlete-builder.com/newsletter Read the Athlete Builder blog: https://athlete-builder.com/blog Train at Unbreakable Athletics Academy in Plainfield, IN: https://unbreakableathleticsacademy.com Support our charities: the military, breast cancer, and disadvantaged youth: https://theufoundation.square.site
WIN THE DAY!
More
Summary In this episode, Jim Beebe and Jeff Osaded discuss the intricacies of athletic training and development, particularly in the context of Canadian sports. They delve into the importance of youth development, the impact of the Olympics on local sports culture, and the evolution of training methodologies over the years. Jeff shares his extensive experience working with various athletes, including MLB player Mike Soroka, and emphasizes the significance of building a strong foundation in training, nutrition, and recovery. The conversation also touches on the cultural aspects of sports in Canada, particularly hockey, and how the environment shapes athletes' experiences and performance. Takeaways "One workout doesn't make a season, but one workout can ruin a season." "Doing the basics savagely well is crucial for success." "Attendance is the number one thing we track that tells us whether an athlete is going to be really good." "You can't just pick the most talented; you have to optimize whatever kid walks through the door." "The best athletes are those who can adapt and endure the most." "It's not about how hard you train, it's about how hard you can train, recover, and train hard again." "The environment molds the culture and the athletes that come out of it." "You need to build a habit-forming culture within your training environment." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:43 Personal Experiences and Canadian Sports Culture 07:34 Olympic Sports and Athlete Development 12:52 The Changing Landscape of Hockey in Canada 17:06 Types of Athletes and Their Impact 24:09 The Legacy of the 1988 Olympics in Calgary 27:53 Building a Positive Training Culture 32:50 The Challenge of Size in Water Polo 34:22 Changing Coaching Mindsets 36:42 Basics Done Savagely Well 40:46 Embracing Controlled Chaos in Sports 48:13 The CBC Effect and Talent Identification AEA Institute: https://www.aea-neuro-fitness-academy.com/ Our podcast links. Athlete Builder on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Athlete-Builder Athlete Builder on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34QCcodvAqAgj7iwk3tdrj Athlete Builder on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/athlete-builder/id1715521920 Athlete Builder on Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b5583cce-62bc-4611-ab54-ff367f41632d/athlete-builder Our social media links. Athlete Builder on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athlete_builder/ Athlete Builder on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1athletebuilder Athlete Builder on X: https://x.com/AthleteBuilder Athlete Builder on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@athlete.builder Athlete Builder web page: https://athlete-builder.com Athlete Builder e-mail: info@athlete-builder.com Our links to services/products. Buy the Athlete Builder book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9xiGOWQ Buy the Athlete Builder book on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/athlete-builder-jim-beebe/1146362511?ean=9798218498382 Buy the Athlete Builder book in bulk at: https://bookpal.com/athlete-builder-the-blueprint-to-build-champion-athletes-9798218498382 Buy the Athlete Builder planner on Amazon: (COMING SOON!) Take the Athlete Builder course: https://athlete-builder.com/courses Schedule a time for a Game Plan Session for you to get started: https://link.closersoftware.com/widget/bookings/ab-gameplansession Book for speaking engagements: https://athlete-builder.com/speaking Buy Athlete Builder apparel and swag: https://athlete-builder.printify.me/products Register for the Athlete Builder newsletter: https://athlete-builder.com/newsletter Read the Athlete Builder blog: https://athlete-builder.com/blog Train at Unbreakable Athletics Academy in Plainfield, IN: https://unbreakableathleticsacademy.com Support our charities: the military, breast cancer, and disadvantaged youth: https://theufoundation.square.site WIN THE DAY!