Fencer Credits Kobe Bryant Locker Room Advice for Turning Career Around After Olympic Loss
"I'm in the village. And the basketball team walks in and Kobe walks in. He told me this quote, I'll never forget it. I got tattooed on my leg. He says, the best athletes have the shortest memory. You win, you forget about it. You lose, you forget about it. When you're done your career, you can celebrate all you want. And immediately that grin turned into a smile. And then I changed my whole mentality, and then I won the next year."
About this episode
In this episode of On Purpose, host Jay Shetty sits down with Miles Chamley-Watson, Olympic bronze medalist and the first Black American world champion in fencing history, for an intimate conversation that goes far beyond athletic achievement. Chamley-Watson reveals for the first time that he competed and qualified for the Olympics while his 37-year-old sister was in intensive care after suffering a stroke from domestic violence, flying between Japan competitions and Miami hospitals while caring for her children. The episode opens with his origin story—kicked out of two schools in New York after moving from London at age 9, discovering fencing as a punishment, and immediately recognizing it as his purpose. Chamley-Watson discusses enduring years of racial targeting by referees and coaches from age 14 to 18, including receiving five red cards at his first Junior Olympics despite being highly skilled, and how his mother's advice to 'just win' kept him focused. He shares the pivotal 2012 London Olympics moment when Kobe Bryant told him elite athletes have the shortest memory about wins and losses, advice he tattooed on his leg before winning the 2013 world championship. The conversation explores his unconventional preparation strategy of never studying opponents until competition morning, his decision to reconnect with his estranged father after a decade, and how founding the World Fencing League represents his mission to change the sport forever. Chamley-Watson emphasizes that winning is great, but changing a sport for underrepresented kids is bigger than any Olympic gold medal.
Key takeaways
- Chamley-Watson revealed he qualified for the Olympics while his 37-year-old sister was in ICU after a stroke from domestic violence, flying between Japan competitions and Miami hospitals.
- As the first Black American world champion in fencing, he endured years of racial targeting including five red cards at his first Junior Olympics and coaches with racist gestures.
- Kobe Bryant told him in the 2012 Olympic Village that elite athletes have the shortest memory about wins and losses, transforming his mentality before winning the 2013 world championship.
- Chamley-Watson never studies opponents or watches fencing footage until competition morning, believing his unpredictability is his strategic advantage.
- He reconnected with his estranged biological father after over a decade through a 45-second phone call prompted by addressing childhood trauma.
- Founded the World Fencing League which sold out and had over one million live viewers, surpassing Olympics viewership for the sport.
- Believes changing fencing for underrepresented communities is a bigger accomplishment than winning any Olympic gold medal.