VANESSA FROST-PIEDRAHITA
“Take pride in your work and embrace opportunities with confidence. If an opportunity presents itself, lean in—it might just change your career.”
Meet Vanessa, a strength and conditioning coach with a lifelong passion for sports. She has competed nationally as an athlete and coached collegiate athletics, bringing her expertise to the highest levels of performance. Today, she works with firefighters, helping them meet the demanding physical requirements of their jobs, all while keeping up with her two energetic young boys.
SEEING THE POWER OF SPORT
“I grew up competing in swimming on a European military base, where our annual championships were held at Olympiapark in Munich, Germany, home of the 1972 Olympic Games. At ten years old, I witnessed thousands of people from multiple countries come together to watch children swim. That’s when I realised how much love is truly in sport.”
A MENTOR’S LASTING IMPACT
“My mentor, Clete McLeod, never made me feel like a good ‘female’ coach but simply a good coach. When he was leaving to work elsewhere, he left me as the interim head strength coach for a Division I collegiate program at 25 years old—and I was completely terrified. He grabbed my shoulders, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, ‘You are an outstanding coach; if anyone has this, it’s you.’ A decade later, those words have stuck with me.”
THE ROLE OF COACHES
“Unfortunately, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the fire service. As a coach in this field, it’s at the forefront of my mind because health and performance don’t exist in a vacuum separate from a person’s mental health. We have a responsibility to those we work with to connect as human beings, check in on them, and be a trusted person who can help them access resources when they need them.”
THE ROLE OF SPORT
“The message I hope to leave behind through my own journey is that what we accomplish through sport and training is merely a vessel to inspire and change ourselves and others. As an athlete, participating brings you joy, which you then share with the world. As a coach, it’s about the many lessons you pass on to those you work with.”
