THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCAST · Dominic Schlueter

Annie Kunz on Talent vs. Systems — How an Olympian Who "Wasn't the Most Talented" Built Her Edge Off the Track

February 18, 2026·47 min·4 clips
Annie Kunz compares the thrill of scoring a winning goal to the adrenaline of an Olympic starting gun.
Host Dominic Schlueter interviews two-time Olympian Annie Kunz about her unique journey as a dual-sport athlete in soccer and track, focusing on systems over talent, mindset coaching, and nutrition. She shares insights on overcoming burnout, winning the Olympic trials, and how faith helped her navigate adversity.

As heard by us

A grounded look at how Annie Koons turned raw talent into an Olympic edge.

Annie Koons is one of those sports stories that keeps opening up the longer it goes on. It starts with a late move into track, runs through an all-SEC soccer career at Texas A&M, and still ends up at two Olympics and an Olympic trials title.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Hear how a late-blooming Olympian built her edge off the track.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on