Tank Schottle became a Special Olympics Texas athlete in 2001. He’s a seven-sport athlete who loves playing softball, like me. We talk to Tank about being a Special Olympics athlete, what it adds to his life, and to share his advice for other athletes: “Don’t let your disability define who you are.”
We talk about his 73K Twitter following and his message of love on social media. There’s always hope. Don’t let your bad days get to you. Always focus on the good things in life. These are the messages you see from Tank every single day, and we’re thankful for his positivity.
Enjoy this discussion & find other episodes of Hustle & Pro.
Show Notes
- [00:34] Quick hits with Tank Schottle
- [01:20] Tank’s athlete profile
- [02:20] Tank’s message of love
- [04:15] Handling the negativity on social media
- [7:00] Texas Special Olympics
- [11:16] Milestone in Tank’s weightloss journey
Resources within this episode:
- Texas Special Olympics: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
- Tank Schottle: Twitter
- Kelly Walker: Instagram @kelly_walkertexas | Twitter: @kelly_walker_TX
Connect with Lifestyle Frisco:
Transcript: (machine-generated)
Welcome to Hustle and Pro season two, talking sports in Frisco from youth to pro. Now here’s your host Kelly Walker.
Kelly:
Welcome to this episode of hustle and pro. So many of us draw inspiration from professional athletes that we see on TV or who are on our favorite sports teams. But we also get inspired by athletes like Tank Schottle a Special Olympics Texas athlete, since 2001. I’m excited to hear from Tank today. So thank you for zooming with us, Tank. How are you?
Tank:
I’m doing great. Thank you for asking.
Kelly:
Fantastic. Okay. Let’s jump in with a couple favorite quick hits to get to know some of your sports favorites. So who is your favorite athlete?
Tank:
I like JJ Watt of the Houston Texans.
Kelly:
Me too. What are your favorite sports to play?
Tank:
I like to play softball. That’s one of my favorite. I like to catch balls and hit balls and be part of the team.
Kelly:
You and me both. Softballs my favorite sports to play also. What’s your favorite sports movie?
Tank:
I like, uh, man, there’s so many good ones. Um, but if I had to choose one, I, I would have to go with, Remember the Titans. Ah, that’s a good one.
Kelly:
Okay. So can you tell me really quick, tell our listeners your story in sports, tell us some of the sports that you played. And then I know that you, um, in seventh grade you started, um, with special Olympics, Texas. So tell us about your sports background.
Tank:
I do softball, basketball, volleyball, track, bocce, golf, and soccer. So that’s seven sports. Uh, I’ve been playing for softball, basketball track. I’ve been doing that since 2001. I started, I started volleyball in 2014 and for, for golf and bocce, I started around, I will say, I can’t remember what year that was. I was probably like around either think it was like 2018, I believe, or someone like that. And then I, then this past March, I just started soccer until this whole pandemic happened. So that’s that
Kelly:
One thing I’m curious about that I’ve just kind of met you through the world of Twitter. You have a 73,000 followers on Twitter. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That’s huge. First of all, congrats. I mean, you really, there, it feels like you’re there every day to inspire people and to just spread kind of spread the love and everyday little things, just telling people hello and have a great day and that you love people. And, um, you get some really awesome feedback. People comment that you are amazing. You’re perfect. You’re important. You’re loved. Um, so kinda tell me about why you do that.
Tank:
Well, because I want you and everyone to hear this that, you know, I love you all very much, even. I never, even though I never met everybody on social media and I’ll want people to know that, you know, there’s love in inside them. And I, and I want people to know that, you know, there’s always hope everybody out there and, and, uh, and I love to be positive. I love to share my messages to everybody out there that love you. And I like to keep myself happy just to spread love to them. And I love to help people. I love to inspire people not to give up on their life, you know, do much of, I can to inspire them, to keep them strong every day and don’t let their bad days or anything get to them. And I just like to tell people that, look, there’s going to be good days and bad days, but don’t let the bad days get to you want you and everyone to know that that always focus on the good things in life. And don’t worry about what’s going on on those bad days.
Kelly:
Yeah. And that’s hard, especially right now, it’s, it’s easy to get down and have those bad days right now. So, um, that’s, I love your message. I think it’s, it’s a nice and uplifting cause there’s, there’s some haters out there, especially in the Twitter world. Right. And unfortunately, um, there are those kinds of trolls on Twitter who seem to just be out there to pick on people and kind of bully people or, um, I don’t know, just be negative. And I sense that you, you feel some of that, unfortunately. Um, so how do you handle those, those negative people that are just kind of picking on you on there?
Tank:
Yeah, no, that’s a good question. You know, I tell bullies many times on Twitter, you know, I don’t know why people do that. I don’t have the answer to that, but you know, I can say this. I mean, look, it’s, I can’t control, I can’t control what people say or what people do when it comes to social media. I mean, you know, and the only thing I could tell you is that, you know, I have, can’t let negative or mean people, get to me because look, I do pray for these people. I do pray that they become a better person someday. I believe they could. I can’t help them. It’s up to them to do it themselves. But for me, I try to not let any of that stuff get to me because sometimes it does get emotional when people said that said things that on like the year, and sometimes it’s hard to, it’s hard to move forward when you, when, when that comment is still there and they can’t remove it, which is what it is.
Kelly:
I feel that too tank, like I, I try, I try really hard and I feel like I’m successful at it to not be mean or negative ever to people in real life. But, you know, I’ve been tempted when things really fire me up on online on social media or something it’s tempting to try to get under somebody’s skin, I guess. But I try really hard to, to make sure I’m only positive and trying to post things that are helpful for somebody or encouraging or supportive for somebody. But it gets to me too to where, if somebody says something about a comment I made or picks on me or calls me, you know, says something stupid. It’s really hard for me to let it go and forget it. Like, I’ll go to sleep at night, still like mad that somebody said something mean to me. And it really like gets in my heart and hurts me. It’s hard to let it go sometimes isn’t it?
Tank:
Yeah. It’s, it’s difficult. I mean, look like I said just now. We, I can’t control what they say. I mean, but I will continue to pray for those people in this world. And I do pray to have a good heart and they do become a better person one day, but who knows, they’ve made, they make me become a better person. You just never know what could happen in their life. I mean, yeah. I would definitely pray for those people.
Kelly:
That’s fantastic. Well, well, before all of that world began, you started with the Texas special Olympics in 2001. Right. So tell me about your journey with them and how that’s helped you. And along the way?
Tank::
Well, when I first started in 2001, I from my opinion, I did not know what special special Olympics was all about back then, because you know, this is 2020. So when I go back in that year, I mean, I was very young during that year, that year in 2001. And yeah, when I think about special Olympics, there in that year. I mean, during that time, when I ever since I’ve been with special Olympics, it continues to grow. I mean, not just for the state of Texas, but the entire world and our country as well. It’s been growing for the special organization. And you know, what really, what really expired me about this organization is that, you know, like it continues to grow on me. I think that all the athletes that, and I think it’s really happy for me because, you know, I got to spend time with parents that had kids and any type of disability.
Tank:
And I want the parents never wanted to know the joint special one because it’s a wonderful organization. And I think that, you know, I been doing it for 19 years. I mean, I there’s been a lot of changes since I’ve been part of it. And you know, and I’m very grateful to share my story to the world about special Olympics, how it changed my life, how, what can I do to improve the organization, try to try to get everybody together, to spread love to all the athletes that have any type of disability. And I want the parents to know that love your athletes. And I want to be with them to support them and do whatever I can to, to make their life better, try to help them and spreading love. And I don’t. And I always tell people, don’t let your disability define you, who you are, because you just love the way you are right now. Don’t let it define you, this is your life. It’s your moment. Embrace it, enjoy it. And I want parents to know that I’ll always be there for your athletes and love you. I love you. I love them as a human being. And I don’t define them as a disability because I think everyone has your ability to do something special in life. And I want that people to hear that.
Kelly:
Yeah. And you, you mentioned the parents so much. Um, I, I would imagine that, the special Olympics is just as impactful for the parents as it is the athletes, right. For them to be able to give that experience or be a part of giving that experience to their kids. Is that how you feel when you’re part partaking in it?
Tank:
Yeah. I mean, you know, my dad’s been a, my dad’s been a special olympics coach for many years from my team. And, you know, he’s very grateful to be with the athletes. He loves on it. It’s really heartwarming for me to have my dad, the coach special olympics. And, you know, I’m, I’m just so blessed and thankful to meet so many wonderful parents and ever since I’ve been doing special Olympics and I’m so grateful to, to inspire their son or daughter or any relatives that are part of the special Olympics. And I’m very grateful to share my story to the parents out there, not just for the state of Texas, but for other States and around the world as well. And, and I’m so grateful to have my message, my message shared to the entire world as well. And I’m so blessed to share.
Kelly:
I mean, that’s important to share that. So you started when you were around seventh grade, so like 12 years old, um, and you still, I mean, you still play as an athlete now. So my question is what are, what are these age ranges? I mean, how young can somebody get into it and how old can somebody still play in it?
Tank:
Well, if you participate in special Olympics, I think, I don’t think there’s no age limit. I think he, I think you can continue to do special Olympics that as long as you want to, I mean, there’s no age limit on that as far as being young, if you want to start, I mean, you pretty much have to fill out the application. I mean, there’s websites to look at and, and they probably gonna have to ask you what your disability and all that stuff. And, well, yeah, I mean, there’s no age moment. As long as the me, there’s no age limit on how long you want to do special olympics, because it all depends if you want to keep doing it or not, that’s up to them.
Kelly:
So I know that obviously you love to play sports. And, um, I have learned that you also have gotten into working out lately and you’re kind of into this, this journey with you’ve hit a major milestone lately. So do you want to tell us about that?
Tank:
Yeah, so far I, I so far right now I have lost 52 pounds right now. Um, my goal is to get back to 180. So I mean, my weight has been going up and down a bit here and there. Um, but you know, I’m trying to stay active, everything, not doing special Olympics. Not of course I, I, I do a job. Of course I used to work. I work with the [inaudible] here. Of course you’re not having bat boys here because coronavirus here, but, you know, I’ve tried to stay active, to stay healthy and work out and try to keep myself in shape until hopefully one day or someday. I’ll get to go back out there and compete for special Olympics one day.
Kelly:
Me too. Surely you will. So did this weight loss journey start before? Like how long has this been happening? Was this something that kind of kicked into gear when we were kind of shut down? Or was this already in motion
Tank:
Before I’ve been, I started working now since April around there. And so, I mean, I still in shape still. I mean, I’m still working out and there’s gonna be days that there will be days that I don’t feel like I don’t want to do anything, but I have to push myself to deal it. I can, you know, there will be days I get lazy at times, but I can’t let being lazy to stop me for doing something. I want to keep myself in shape. And they know sometimes you can’t let your mind telling you, well, I can’t work out, blah, blah, blah, but I have to keep telling myself I have to work help because I have to keep myself motivated, keep pushing myself to do it. And I want people to hear that always keep yourself motivated. He pushing yourself and take it one day at a time and you make great progress in your life. And I think that’s
Kelly:
Harder now than ever when we’re all in this different kind of sheltered isolated more on a daily basis. And so even over just what, the five months I’ve personally gone through those moments, when I’m really motivated to go and be active and work out and let’s lose weight. And then there’s days when it’s like super low priority, I’m just not feeling it. And you kind of get you go in and out of these little funks kind of quickly. It’s, it’s interesting. Um, and I do think it’s super important to have somebody that sort of helps you with accountability or that sort of knowing you’re on this journey. And so that you can check in, even if it’s a Twitter, check-in like you do talking about moving and working out somebody to just nudge you and remind you, Hey, don’t forget you, you do need to be moving today. And it, and that, that alone, I think, changes your mind so much that gives, makes you have a better day. Do you think that,
Tank:
Oh yeah, no doubt. I, I just, I always want to have a better day every day. I mean, there’s gonna be good days and bad days. I try always have the best day every day, enjoy life every day.
Kelly:
That’s fantastic. I love all of these quotes. Like I’m trying to write down some of the things you’re saying, it’s really great little takeaways and quotes, but, um, I just really like your story and your spirit and your positivity. So, um, I have a small, I turned 40 in the fall and I have a small tattoo. It means positivity. And people ask me all the time, it’s teeny tiny and they’ll see it on my wrist. And they’ll say, what, what is that? And, um, there’s two arrows for my two children, but the tattoo, the meaning is every day. I see it. And I, I just, as a quick little reminder that a positive attitude really changes your, your life. It, it turns everything. I mean, you just, you have so much control when you have a positive outlook on your day on your attitude, your words, your actions. And I do truly believe that it makes the world a better place for everybody around you too. So I just appreciate your message. And I, I wanted to hop on and be able to hear it straight from you instead of just reading it on Twitter. So I will share your Twitter handle. It’s at tank schottle, which is S C H O T T L E. But I’ll share that at the bottom of this, um, podcast post, so people can go and follow you. So your, your Twitter famous for sure, with all those followers. So I appreciate you taking time out of your day to hop on here with me and chat.
Tank:
Yeah. Thank you for adding me, Kelly. I enjoyed it. I mean, I’m happy, you know, I love you, Kelly. I love everyone. I’m blessed to share you my story. I had a good time.
Kelly:
Fantastic. Fantastic. Thanks tank. Have a great rest of your day.
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