Episode 157: Full Send: Paralympic Powerlifter Ashley Dyce on Persistence and Progress

In Episode 157 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Team USA Paralympic powerlifter Ashley Dyce for a conversation about persistence, progress, and the power of choosing one path and fully committing to it. Ashley’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when faith, discipline, and mental toughness come together over the long haul.

Born with spina bifida and dealing with health challenges throughout much of her life, Ashley did not arrive at the Paralympic stage by accident. She found para sports after seeing the Paralympics on TV, started in track and field, then shifted into powerlifting and built herself into a world-level competitor through more than a decade of steady work.

Choosing a lane

A major theme in this episode is the importance of choosing a lane and sticking with it. Ashley did not bounce from one goal to the next hoping for quick results — she committed to para powerlifting and kept showing up even when the progress was slow, messy, or interrupted by setbacks. That kind of long-term focus is what allowed her to move from a 145-pound bench early in her journey to roughly 275–280 pounds now, with 300 pounds still in her sights.

Matt highlights how rare that kind of persistence is, especially in a world that often rewards instant results. Ashley’s story shows that real growth often comes from years of repetition, patience, and the willingness to stay in the work even when the road is not linear.

Setbacks and resilience

This episode does not gloss over the hard parts. Ashley talks openly about injuries, surgeries, health issues, time off from training, and competitions where progress stalled or moved backward before it moved forward again. Instead of treating those seasons as proof that she should quit, she treats them as part of the process.

That perspective is one of the strongest takeaways from the conversation. Ashley explains how failing in the gym taught her how to fail without folding, and how every missed lift became another chance to learn, adjust, and return stronger. For athletes, coaches, and parents alike, that is a valuable reminder that resilience is not about avoiding setbacks — it is about responding to them well.

Faith and mindset

Ashley also shares how faith has helped anchor her mentally through difficult seasons. Growing up in the church and serving as a minister in her own congregation, she sees prayer and Scripture as key parts of how she stays grounded when training or competition gets hard. In one of the most meaningful parts of the episode, she explains how a difficult season before the Paris Paralympics still ended in qualification, reinforcing her belief that she was in the right place for a reason.

Alongside faith, Ashley credits sports psychology with changing how she approaches performance. Visualization, routine, and reframing anxiety as excitement have all become important tools in her mental game, helping her show up with more confidence and less fear. That combination of faith and mental skills gives the episode a strong, practical message: mindset is built, not wished into existence.

Representation and purpose

Ashley also speaks powerfully about representation. As a woman with a disability competing at the highest level, she knows that her presence matters beyond the scoreboard. She wants kids — especially girls and young athletes with disabilities — to see what is possible when they stop shrinking themselves and start chasing something bigger.

That sense of purpose is what gives the episode extra weight. Ashley is not just lifting for medals or rankings; she is lifting to show others what resilience can look like in real life. Her journey is a reminder that excellence can open doors for people watching from the outside, especially those who need to see someone like them doing the hard thing.

Why this story matters

Episode 157 is a strong listen for anyone who is trying to stay committed when progress feels slow. Ashley’s story speaks to athletes chasing performance goals, parents trying to support a child through setbacks, and anyone who has ever wondered whether the effort is worth it. Her answer is clear: keep going, keep adjusting, and keep choosing the path you believe in.

If you need a reminder that progress is not always linear, this episode delivers it. Ashley Dyce’s “full send” approach to life and sport shows that persistence is not flashy, but it is powerful — and over time, it can take you further than talent alone ever could.

Episode 157 is a reminder that when you commit fully, keep learning, and refuse to back off when it gets hard, progress is still possible.