Nastia Liukin’s transition from Olympic gymnast to businesswoman was underpinned by advice from the late Kobe Bryant.
“He always said that, ‘You have this idea in your head that you’re the girl in the pink leotard and the scrunchie — and you are so much more than that,’” she continued, detailing the wisdom he imparted. “He helped me believe [in myself] because he’s like, ‘If you don’t believe that, who else is going to believe that?’” she recalled. “[Gymnastics is] not something that defines me. And I think realizing that it’s something I can be proud … but it’s like a job title“He always said that, ‘You have this idea in your head that you’re the girl in the pink leotard and the scrunchie — and you are so much more than that,’” Liukin revealed about the late Kobe Bryant.