Episode #3

Mar 26

I Played the Olympics With a Torn MCL

Kaleigh Quennec is a Swiss professional ice hockey player and member of the Swiss national team. A two-time Olympian, she represented Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, where the team brought home the bronze medal.

At club level, she plays forward for SC Bern Frauen in Switzerland’s top women’s league. Growing up around the sport, hockey has been part of her life from an early age, eventually leading her to compete on the world’s biggest stage.

Beyond competing, Kaleigh is also passionate about helping the next generation of players through mentoring and development initiatives such as ProPath Hockey.

“When you finally win a medal, it’s hard to process how much work went into that moment”

Competing at the Olympic Games is a dream for many athletes - but the reality behind that moment is often very different from what people imagine.

In this episode, Swiss ice hockey player Kaleigh Quennec joins the podcast to share what life is really like inside elite international hockey. From growing up in a hockey environment to representing Switzerland on the Olympic stage, Kaleigh talks about the path that led her to the highest level of the sport.

We dive into the rhythm of professional hockey - the training, the travel, the preparation, and the mindset required to compete at the international level. Kaleigh explains how athletes balance on-ice training with strength and conditioning, recovery, and the constant push to improve performance.

She also shares her experience competing at the Winter Olympics, including what happens behind the scenes during the tournament and what the atmosphere is like in the Olympic Village among athletes from around the world.

One of the most memorable parts of the conversation explores the emotional moment of winning an Olympic bronze medal with Switzerland. What does it actually feel like when years of training lead to that moment? And how quickly does life return to normal after such a massive event?

We also discuss the evolving role of technology and wearables in professional sports, the realities of injury management, and how elite athletes approach recovery and preparation.

Beyond the competition itself, Kaleigh reflects on the human side of elite sport - the sacrifices, the routines, and the experiences that shape an Olympic athlete.

Whether you're a hockey fan, an athlete, or simply curious about life at the highest level of sport, this conversation offers a rare look behind the scenes of the Olympic experience.

In this episode: