Imagine – you step onto an Olympic court. Your eyes scan the stadium. Your heart pounds through your shirt. The roar of the crowd echoes through your body; it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for.

For Don S., a two-time USA Indoor Volleyball Olympian, this was his reality. Having grown up in Albania, Don and his family never dreamed of being in the U.S. He described his childhood as oppressed and closed off, but after the fall of communism in their home country, Don and his family moved to the U.S (an idea spawned by his grandmother’s request). He recalls speaking very poor English, and working many tough jobs as a young kid in Boston, but his hard work eventually paid off. Don was admitted to USC on a full-ride scholarship thanks to making the university’s volleyball team. He shared how much of a blessing it was to him, since his family had only $1,000 in savings. It was a dream come true; Don was a four-year starter for a nationally-ranked team and quickly became one of the top volleyball players in USC history.

Little did he know even greater opportunities awaited him…

Don was pronounced a two-time All-American athlete and awarded the NCAA Player of the Year award his senior of college. His incredible talent, passion and drive helped catapult him to Olympic glory. Don was at an all-time high.

The Change

In 2014, Don retired from the Olympic team due to knee injuries. Playing the sport for over 20 years had taken its toll on his body. He was tired of the grueling workouts, endless travel and the pressure of winning/losing. He needed a break. In the year following Don’s retirement, he stopped working out and going to the gym. He began noticing that he became increasingly tired, both mentally and physically. He gained more than 20 lbs., became slower, less toned, and no longer had that competitive edge. Then the unthinkable happened. Don woke up one morning and noticed he could not walk straight. His left leg and arm started to get numb, and so did his face. Scared, he jumped into the car and drove to the hospital where the diagnosis revealed that he had suffered a minor stroke.

He was shocked. He felt angry, because he knew he had let himself go. Don admitted that is was a rough wake-up call.  The doctor told Don that he needed to eat healthier and exercise more, which came as another shock because that was Don’s routine was for most of his life. However, the year of inactivity had taken its toll and increased his cholesterol, while lowering his athletic drive. Don chalks up the change in his lifestyle to multiple factors: transitioning into the business world, wanting to relax more, and no longer exercising. Don found that a lot of the networking events he was attending typically offered food and drink, which contributed to his weight gain.

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