Imagine conquering your fears in front of thousands of people as you perform death defying acts. Sound pretty out there? Not for Alevtyna Titarenko. She has spent her life as a sports acrobat competing in events and performing in various shows for Cirque Du Soleil.  In spite of her fear of heights and deep water, Alya has performed in some of the most dangerous Cirque shows. She has been training and performing since her earliest years in primary school and only recently decided to switch her focus.  In between Cirque shows she also competed in competitions around the world, to include the Arnold Classic put on by Arnold Schwartzenneger. She won that competition and even got to meet the man himself.  Hers is a riveting story with many crazy twists and turns. Listen to this first part as she talks about competing, her Cirque shows, and why holding onto tradition and routine are so important.  Then come back to listen to part II. She’s sharing all about her work on Wonder Woman 1984 and why she’s now looking to switch gears into personal training.    Links and Resources: Connect with Alya: Alya on YouTube Alya’s Email Alya on LinkedIn Alya on Instagram  Connect with Siobhan:  Industry ExplorersIndustry Explorers Facebook GroupIndustry Explorers on FacebookIndustry Explorers on InstagramIndustry Explorers on YouTubeIndustry Explorers on TikTokBook a Connection Call Love the show and want to help support us? Donate to our Ko-Fi Account. We love providing you with these stories, tips, and recommendations, but it takes a lot of time and resources. Keep the podcast going and donate today!   In this episode: [01:27] Welcome to the show, Alevtyna! [01:43] She shares her background and journey to acrobatics. [05:38] She joined Cirque du Soleil in 1997. [06:43] Alya talks about what it was like to audition for Cirque back in the 90s. [09:18] She shares the challenges she faced while performing with Cirque du Soleil. [10:15] Learning to pace yourself is something that comes with experience. [11:45] Routine was her method for pushing herself when she felt too tired to perform. [13:50] She is afraid of deep water and heights, but her first show, O, was in the water. [15:20] She shares a tragic story and why she says you must respect the height. [20:16] She conquered her fear five meters at a time. [21:22] Alya won athletic awards while working with Cirque. [23:53] In 2012, she won the Arnold Classic and got to meet Mr. Schwarzenegger. [27:13] Stay tuned next week for the conclusion of my conversation with the amazing Alya Titarenko.