To celebrate Father\u2019s Day, we asked athletes how they bonded with dad and what lessons they learned from him. From weekend sweats to zany bets, you might be surprised at these sweet responses.<\/p>\n
Getting Fitspiration From Dad<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Kikkan-Randall\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050445\/Kikkan-Randall.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Kikkan Randall<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Cross-Country Skiing
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0A four-time Olympian and 17-time U.S. National Champion, this pink-haired,\u00a0Kashi-sponsored skier<\/a>\u00a0holds a slew of international awards. In 2013, she won five World Cup events and is a three-time World Cup Overall Sprint champion.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/b>How Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0Early on, Randall\u2019s father taught her how to overcome frustration when learning something new. \u201cMy dad would help me break the problem into smaller pieces until I could see my way through,\u201d she says. \u201cThe little successes would build my confidence.\u201d Even if Randall didn\u2019t reach her goals, her resiliency and willingness to keep trying, both instilled by her father, gave her a sense of pride and allowed her to get more out of every experience, she says. And that grit and determination came in handy this year when she was victorious at the World Cup after a tough Olympics.<\/p>\n
![\"Jeff-Provenzano\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050446\/Jeff-Provenzano.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Jeff Provenzano
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n\u201cHe taught me to get out there and get after it because no one is going to come knock on your door and hand you anything in life, so you need to earn it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Skydiving and B.A.S.E. jumping
\nWhy He\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0Get high for a living? Not necessarily the way to make parents proud \u2014 unless you\u2019re Jeff Provenzano. Adrenaline junkie and accomplished\u00a0B.A.S.E. jumper<\/a>\u00a0Provenzano has jumped out of planes over 16,000 times and has won 14 national and international competitions. A pioneer of original high-flying acrobatic moves in a new sport known as\u00a0swooping<\/a>, he is the four-time champion of the U.S. Pond Swoop Nationals.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0\u201cHe taught me to get out there and get after it because no one is going to come knock on your door and hand you anything in life, so you need to earn it,\u201d says Provenzano of his father, explaining that sports were his dad\u2019s way of passing down this life philosophy. His favorite memories with Dad revolve around sports and the outdoors. From baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, skiing, ice-skating, tennis, Frisbee, running, biking and swimming, the two didn\u2019t spend much time on the couch!<\/p>\n
According to Provenzano, the best advice his dad imparted was during a simple game of catch: Keep your eye on the ball. \u201cI find myself repeating these words in my head throughout life\u2026 Focus on what\u2019s important to succeed in achieving your goal, your target, your mission, your landing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
![\"Lauren-Fleshman\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050442\/Lauren-Fleshman.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Lauren Fleshman<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Running
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0This decorated distance runner\u2019s got serious hustle on and off the track. She won the 5K event at the US Championships in 2006 and 2010, and has competed at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) championships three times. An energy bar entrepreneur who\u2019s created the\u00a0Picky Bars<\/a>\u00a0brand, Fleshman also makes time to connect with runners of all levels and answer questions on\u00a0her blog<\/a>.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0The 34 year-old track star fondly recalls bonding with her father during camping trips where she learned to \u201cdismantle fear\u201d in the great outdoors. From building a fire by pouring lighter fluid at an \u201carguably unsafe distance\u201d to cliff jumping and making new friends, Dad instilled a healthy sense of adventure in his daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as we packed up the car for a trip, I knew we\u2019d be pushing boundaries,\u201d she says. And apart from fun-filled camping trips, Fleshman says her dad encouraged her to fight for her beliefs and \u201cnot take [crap] from anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Photos:](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050444\/Graham-Holmberg.jpg\")
Photos: Graham Holmberg\/Reebok<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGraham Holmberg<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0CrossFit
\nWhy He\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:\u00a0<\/b>Not many parents can claim their son has been the \u201cFittest Man on Earth,\u201d but Holmberg\u2019s can. In 2010, this CrossFit competitor won the title by placing first at the CrossFit Games. A dedicated athlete since his days playing college football, Holmberg has placed in the top 20 athletes at four Games. In between\u00a0WODs<\/a>, coaching, and spending time with family, Holmberg recently opened his own box,\u00a0Eleventh Element: Crossfit Hilliard<\/a>, in Ohio.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0Holmberg cherishes memories of his father bringing him to the sports fields before everyone else showed up for a game. \u201cMy father expected the most out of me in whatever challenge, sport or job that I took on,\u201d he says. But Dad was always the one to lead him in the right direction. Holmberg still goes to his father for words of wisdom. \u201c[He] taught me to love God, love my wife and family,<\/ins>\u00a0and to treat others the way I wanted to be treated,\u201d says Holmberg, who is now a father himself.<\/p>\n![\"Sally-Fitzgibbons\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050443\/Sally-Fitzgibbons.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Sally Fitzgibbons<\/b><\/h3>\n\u201cNo problem is too big to overcome and sometimes all you have to do is take a different approach.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Surfing
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0This 25-year old Aussie became the youngest\u00a0surfer<\/a>\u00a0to win a Pro Junior event (eligible for those under 21 years old) at the tender age of 14. Since then she\u2019s gone on to ride the waves to international victories: At 16, she won her first of three world titles. Fitzgibbons, now sponsored by Roxy, is the first surfer to hold the U.S.\u00a0and\u00a0Australian Open titles at the same time. And this past year, she won the Fiji Women’s Pro Championships for the second year in a row.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0According to Fitzgibbons, her father\u2019s positivity and willingness to accept all challenges has inspired her throughout the years. \u201cHe taught me no problem is too big to overcome and sometimes all you have to do is take a different approach,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
The craziest way Dad motivated his daughter? The two had a longstanding bet that Mr. Fitzgibbons would shave off a 35-year old mustache if Sally won a pro event. And in 2011, Dad had to make good on his word when she took first place at Bells Beach!<\/p>\n![\"Seimone-Augustus\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050441\/Seimone-Augustus.jpg\")
Photo: NBA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSeimone Augustus<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b> Basketball
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud: <\/b>A two-time Olympic gold medalist, hoops star Seimone Augustus has won the WNBA championship twice with the Minnesota Lynx. But her basketball career started taking off well before she turned pro. Prior to entering high school, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Women<\/a>, <\/i>and would soon lead the Louisiana State University women\u2019s team to three consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances. She now plays for the Minnesota Lynx.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b> \u201cHe kind of tricked me into training and having fun with him at the same time,\u201d Augustus says of her father, who used to take her on bike rides to local rec centers, where the two would run basketball drills and play in rec league games. But her father taught her more than how to shoot layups and three pointers. \u201cWorking two to three jobs, he would leave one job, go straight to the next, then come home and be a father,\u201d she says. Dad led by example, showing Augustas the importance of developing a strong work ethic.<\/p>\n
![\"Matt-Hagan\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-life.dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/10050444\/Matt-Hagan.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Matt Hagan<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0A four-time Olympian and 17-time U.S. National Champion, this pink-haired,\u00a0Kashi-sponsored skier<\/a>\u00a0holds a slew of international awards. In 2013, she won five World Cup events and is a three-time World Cup Overall Sprint champion.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b>How Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0Early on, Randall\u2019s father taught her how to overcome frustration when learning something new. \u201cMy dad would help me break the problem into smaller pieces until I could see my way through,\u201d she says. \u201cThe little successes would build my confidence.\u201d Even if Randall didn\u2019t reach her goals, her resiliency and willingness to keep trying, both instilled by her father, gave her a sense of pride and allowed her to get more out of every experience, she says. And that grit and determination came in handy this year when she was victorious at the World Cup after a tough Olympics.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jeff Provenzano
\n<\/b><\/h3>\n\u201cHe taught me to get out there and get after it because no one is going to come knock on your door and hand you anything in life, so you need to earn it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Skydiving and B.A.S.E. jumping
\nWhy He\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0Get high for a living? Not necessarily the way to make parents proud \u2014 unless you\u2019re Jeff Provenzano. Adrenaline junkie and accomplished\u00a0B.A.S.E. jumper<\/a>\u00a0Provenzano has jumped out of planes over 16,000 times and has won 14 national and international competitions. A pioneer of original high-flying acrobatic moves in a new sport known as\u00a0swooping<\/a>, he is the four-time champion of the U.S. Pond Swoop Nationals.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0\u201cHe taught me to get out there and get after it because no one is going to come knock on your door and hand you anything in life, so you need to earn it,\u201d says Provenzano of his father, explaining that sports were his dad\u2019s way of passing down this life philosophy. His favorite memories with Dad revolve around sports and the outdoors. From baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, skiing, ice-skating, tennis, Frisbee, running, biking and swimming, the two didn\u2019t spend much time on the couch!<\/p>\n
According to Provenzano, the best advice his dad imparted was during a simple game of catch: Keep your eye on the ball. \u201cI find myself repeating these words in my head throughout life\u2026 Focus on what\u2019s important to succeed in achieving your goal, your target, your mission, your landing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lauren Fleshman<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Running
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0This decorated distance runner\u2019s got serious hustle on and off the track. She won the 5K event at the US Championships in 2006 and 2010, and has competed at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) championships three times. An energy bar entrepreneur who\u2019s created the\u00a0Picky Bars<\/a>\u00a0brand, Fleshman also makes time to connect with runners of all levels and answer questions on\u00a0her blog<\/a>.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0The 34 year-old track star fondly recalls bonding with her father during camping trips where she learned to \u201cdismantle fear\u201d in the great outdoors. From building a fire by pouring lighter fluid at an \u201carguably unsafe distance\u201d to cliff jumping and making new friends, Dad instilled a healthy sense of adventure in his daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as we packed up the car for a trip, I knew we\u2019d be pushing boundaries,\u201d she says. And apart from fun-filled camping trips, Fleshman says her dad encouraged her to fight for her beliefs and \u201cnot take [crap] from anyone.\u201d<\/p>\nPhotos: Graham Holmberg\/Reebok<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGraham Holmberg<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0CrossFit
\nWhy He\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:\u00a0<\/b>Not many parents can claim their son has been the \u201cFittest Man on Earth,\u201d but Holmberg\u2019s can. In 2010, this CrossFit competitor won the title by placing first at the CrossFit Games. A dedicated athlete since his days playing college football, Holmberg has placed in the top 20 athletes at four Games. In between\u00a0WODs<\/a>, coaching, and spending time with family, Holmberg recently opened his own box,\u00a0Eleventh Element: Crossfit Hilliard<\/a>, in Ohio.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0Holmberg cherishes memories of his father bringing him to the sports fields before everyone else showed up for a game. \u201cMy father expected the most out of me in whatever challenge, sport or job that I took on,\u201d he says. But Dad was always the one to lead him in the right direction. Holmberg still goes to his father for words of wisdom. \u201c[He] taught me to love God, love my wife and family,<\/ins>\u00a0and to treat others the way I wanted to be treated,\u201d says Holmberg, who is now a father himself.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sally Fitzgibbons<\/b><\/h3>\n\u201cNo problem is too big to overcome and sometimes all you have to do is take a different approach.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Surfing
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0This 25-year old Aussie became the youngest\u00a0surfer<\/a>\u00a0to win a Pro Junior event (eligible for those under 21 years old) at the tender age of 14. Since then she\u2019s gone on to ride the waves to international victories: At 16, she won her first of three world titles. Fitzgibbons, now sponsored by Roxy, is the first surfer to hold the U.S.\u00a0and\u00a0Australian Open titles at the same time. And this past year, she won the Fiji Women’s Pro Championships for the second year in a row.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0According to Fitzgibbons, her father\u2019s positivity and willingness to accept all challenges has inspired her throughout the years. \u201cHe taught me no problem is too big to overcome and sometimes all you have to do is take a different approach,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
The craziest way Dad motivated his daughter? The two had a longstanding bet that Mr. Fitzgibbons would shave off a 35-year old mustache if Sally won a pro event. And in 2011, Dad had to make good on his word when she took first place at Bells Beach!<\/p>\nPhoto: NBA\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSeimone Augustus<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/b>Passion:<\/b> Basketball
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud: <\/b>A two-time Olympic gold medalist, hoops star Seimone Augustus has won the WNBA championship twice with the Minnesota Lynx. But her basketball career started taking off well before she turned pro. Prior to entering high school, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Women<\/a>, <\/i>and would soon lead the Louisiana State University women\u2019s team to three consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances. She now plays for the Minnesota Lynx.<\/p>\nHow Dad Helped:<\/b> \u201cHe kind of tricked me into training and having fun with him at the same time,\u201d Augustus says of her father, who used to take her on bike rides to local rec centers, where the two would run basketball drills and play in rec league games. But her father taught her more than how to shoot layups and three pointers. \u201cWorking two to three jobs, he would leave one job, go straight to the next, then come home and be a father,\u201d she says. Dad led by example, showing Augustas the importance of developing a strong work ethic.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Matt Hagan<\/b><\/h3>\n
\u201cHe taught me to get out there and get after it because no one is going to come knock on your door and hand you anything in life, so you need to earn it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Skydiving and B.A.S.E. jumping How Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0\u201cHe taught me to get out there and get after it because no one is going to come knock on your door and hand you anything in life, so you need to earn it,\u201d says Provenzano of his father, explaining that sports were his dad\u2019s way of passing down this life philosophy. His favorite memories with Dad revolve around sports and the outdoors. From baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, skiing, ice-skating, tennis, Frisbee, running, biking and swimming, the two didn\u2019t spend much time on the couch!<\/p>\n According to Provenzano, the best advice his dad imparted was during a simple game of catch: Keep your eye on the ball. \u201cI find myself repeating these words in my head throughout life\u2026 Focus on what\u2019s important to succeed in achieving your goal, your target, your mission, your landing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n <\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Running How Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0The 34 year-old track star fondly recalls bonding with her father during camping trips where she learned to \u201cdismantle fear\u201d in the great outdoors. From building a fire by pouring lighter fluid at an \u201carguably unsafe distance\u201d to cliff jumping and making new friends, Dad instilled a healthy sense of adventure in his daughter.<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as we packed up the car for a trip, I knew we\u2019d be pushing boundaries,\u201d she says. And apart from fun-filled camping trips, Fleshman says her dad encouraged her to fight for her beliefs and \u201cnot take [crap] from anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/b>Passion:<\/b>\u00a0CrossFit How Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0Holmberg cherishes memories of his father bringing him to the sports fields before everyone else showed up for a game. \u201cMy father expected the most out of me in whatever challenge, sport or job that I took on,\u201d he says. But Dad was always the one to lead him in the right direction. Holmberg still goes to his father for words of wisdom. \u201c[He] taught me to love God, love my wife and family,<\/ins>\u00a0and to treat others the way I wanted to be treated,\u201d says Holmberg, who is now a father himself.<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem is too big to overcome and sometimes all you have to do is take a different approach.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Passion:<\/b>\u00a0Surfing How Dad Helped:<\/b>\u00a0According to Fitzgibbons, her father\u2019s positivity and willingness to accept all challenges has inspired her throughout the years. \u201cHe taught me no problem is too big to overcome and sometimes all you have to do is take a different approach,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n The craziest way Dad motivated his daughter? The two had a longstanding bet that Mr. Fitzgibbons would shave off a 35-year old mustache if Sally won a pro event. And in 2011, Dad had to make good on his word when she took first place at Bells Beach!<\/p>\n <\/b>Passion:<\/b> Basketball How Dad Helped:<\/b> \u201cHe kind of tricked me into training and having fun with him at the same time,\u201d Augustus says of her father, who used to take her on bike rides to local rec centers, where the two would run basketball drills and play in rec league games. But her father taught her more than how to shoot layups and three pointers. \u201cWorking two to three jobs, he would leave one job, go straight to the next, then come home and be a father,\u201d she says. Dad led by example, showing Augustas the importance of developing a strong work ethic.<\/p>\n
\nWhy He\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0Get high for a living? Not necessarily the way to make parents proud \u2014 unless you\u2019re Jeff Provenzano. Adrenaline junkie and accomplished\u00a0B.A.S.E. jumper<\/a>\u00a0Provenzano has jumped out of planes over 16,000 times and has won 14 national and international competitions. A pioneer of original high-flying acrobatic moves in a new sport known as\u00a0swooping<\/a>, he is the four-time champion of the U.S. Pond Swoop Nationals.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nLauren Fleshman<\/b><\/h3>\n
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0This decorated distance runner\u2019s got serious hustle on and off the track. She won the 5K event at the US Championships in 2006 and 2010, and has competed at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) championships three times. An energy bar entrepreneur who\u2019s created the\u00a0Picky Bars<\/a>\u00a0brand, Fleshman also makes time to connect with runners of all levels and answer questions on\u00a0her blog<\/a>.<\/p>\nGraham Holmberg<\/b><\/h3>\n
\nWhy He\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:\u00a0<\/b>Not many parents can claim their son has been the \u201cFittest Man on Earth,\u201d but Holmberg\u2019s can. In 2010, this CrossFit competitor won the title by placing first at the CrossFit Games. A dedicated athlete since his days playing college football, Holmberg has placed in the top 20 athletes at four Games. In between\u00a0WODs<\/a>, coaching, and spending time with family, Holmberg recently opened his own box,\u00a0Eleventh Element: Crossfit Hilliard<\/a>, in Ohio.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nSally Fitzgibbons<\/b><\/h3>\n
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud:<\/b>\u00a0This 25-year old Aussie became the youngest\u00a0surfer<\/a>\u00a0to win a Pro Junior event (eligible for those under 21 years old) at the tender age of 14. Since then she\u2019s gone on to ride the waves to international victories: At 16, she won her first of three world titles. Fitzgibbons, now sponsored by Roxy, is the first surfer to hold the U.S.\u00a0and\u00a0Australian Open titles at the same time. And this past year, she won the Fiji Women’s Pro Championships for the second year in a row.<\/p>\nSeimone Augustus<\/b><\/h3>\n
\nWhy She\u2019d Make Any Dad Proud: <\/b>A two-time Olympic gold medalist, hoops star Seimone Augustus has won the WNBA championship twice with the Minnesota Lynx. But her basketball career started taking off well before she turned pro. Prior to entering high school, she was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Women<\/a>, <\/i>and would soon lead the Louisiana State University women\u2019s team to three consecutive NCAA Final Four appearances. She now plays for the Minnesota Lynx.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nMatt Hagan<\/b><\/h3>\n