Closed Mouths Don’t Get Fed

Priscilla Loomis didn’t get to the Olympics by waiting her turn. She got there by speaking up, stepping forward, and creating her own opportunities.

She lives by a simple but powerful mantra: “Closed mouths don’t get fed.”

Too often, athletes are told to keep their heads down, train hard, and hope someone notices. But Priscilla knows that silence doesn’t open doors. You have to create opportunities for yourself, whether that means asking a coach for feedback, reaching out for support, or stepping up when others hesitate.

Her career is proof of that. Every step of the way, she chose to take action. She asked for the chances others might have been too afraid to seek. She put herself in situations where she could grow, fail, and try again. And because she spoke up, she earned opportunities that shaped her path to the Olympic Games.

Now, as a mentor with Back The Team, Priscilla encourages her cohort to do the same:

• Don’t wait for the “perfect time.” There’s no such thing.

• Don’t sit back and hope someone else gives you a chance. Flip the odds in your favor and create your own.

At Back The Team, this is exactly the mindset we pass along to the next generation: confidence is not built on talent, but on courage and self-advocacy. Because opportunity doesn’t often come calling. You have to call for it.