Sweat Equity Entrepreneurs: Linda & Charlie Graves Of Athletic Republic, Part 1

In this episode, we’re talking to a really dynamic pair: Charlie and Linda Graves of sports-training empire Athletic Republic. They bought a groundbreaking but business-challenged performance sport training business, rebranded it, and have turned it into a growing international franchise with over 120 locations. For two people who are both athletes, they are very different people. Charlie was a likely Olympic swimmer before the US boycotted the 1980 summer Olympics. Linda denies being an athlete because she’s done only three Ironman triathlons. He’s a morning person, she’s an evening person, and it can lead to communication challenges. He’s the big-picture guy, she’s the detail-oriented one, which can be helpful. And they’re both passionately in agreement on one thing: Athletic Republic needs to be a safe place for anyone to train—but nobody more than the kids whose parents are sending them there.