What's Your "Y"

Interview with Julian Rip, USC Upstate GA Strength & Conditioning Coach

Give us a brief background of how your sport journey has evolved?

I started playing baseball once I was 5 years old. Throughout my journey I played for the National Team, won 2 National Championships and 3 European Championships.

What (or who) has been your main source of motivation over the years?

My biggest motivation source over the years has been my family. My parents have always supported me in everything I do, as much as traveling across the world to support me.

Where do you find more motivation: doubters or supporters?

Definitely the doubters. It lights my fire, to prove them wrong.

What is the biggest mental challenge you've had to face in your sport and how have you conquered that?

It would definitely be my freshman year of college. I came from the Netherlands, where baseball is a lot smaller, so I was decently good growing up. Once I got to college, the level was so much higher and I was the worst player on the team.

This made me work even harder and harder.

What do you do to make sure you're physically and mentally prepared for competition?

Mentally I like to visualize. Physically I like to make sure I know I have put in the work, so it will come naturally. Also I take good care of my nutrition, fueling my body.

Describe your recovery strategies. 

Daily strategies are mainly fueling my body the right way. Making sure I eat enough and healthy. Getting plenty of nutrients to take care of my recovery. My YOLKED products help me significantly with this process.

What's Your "Y"? 

My "Y" is to become the best version of me that I can be.

I live by the 1% rule.

I'm just trying to get better 1% every day. Cumulative this will put me above everyone else.

Where do you see yourself as an athlete in 5 years?

I see myself as a high-level athlete, competing at the highest international level.

Favorite motivational quote.

"You can play 10 years or you can play 1 year 10x"


YOLKED fuels my elite level of training and helps my recovery and fuels me for the next workout. I couldn't have done it without YOLKED.