Better Sleep
Better Fence
Watch Daryl's story
Daryl Homer
American Olympic saber fencer
Daryl Homer is an American Olympic saber fencer. While growing up in the Bronx, Daryl started fencing at the Peter Westbrook Foundation when he was eleven. In 2016, he won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. Now, he volunteers his time at the foundation to bring fencing to inner-city kids.
Daryl sat down with Matteo Franceschetti, co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, to talk Olympic training and the role of sleep and meditation in his performance.
How do you start your day?
I start my morning with a cup of hot water, honey, and lemon. It slowly warms me, gets my body and mind going, and helps me settle into the task I have to accomplish for the day.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is that performance is a parabola. Just because someone else figured something out before doesn’t mean that you won’t reach your goal. You just have to stay patient, purposeful, and confident in the midst of your process.
What’s a dream you have yet to accomplish?
On the athletic field, I haven’t won a major international competition yet. I’ve been second at the Olympic Games and second at the World Championships, but thus far gold has eluded me. As a person, I want to continue to listen more than I speak, reduce my ego, and be of higher service to others.
How do you wind down before bed?
I leave my phone and laptop in my living room, burn a candle, turn off the lights, and sit in bed and read.
Sleep and meditation are an important part of how I prepare to keep both my body and mind ready.
What drives you?
Getting better. Every day I think about how I can compete better, prepare more, listen better, be more supportive to those around me, and how I can continue to grow on and off the strip.
How has your relationship with sleep changed over the years?
When I was younger sleep was more of a necessity, now it’s a built-in part of my recovery, my fueling, and keeping myself sane.
What does your ultimate day of recovery consist of?
Sleep, hydration, healthy food, taking time to calm my mind. REST!
What are three things you can’t sleep without?
I love to take a nice shower, brush my teeth, and put some coconut oil on before bed.
What’s keeping you up at night currently?
The upcoming season. It can be stressful knowing you need to prepare your body and mind to perform; you get to know yourself intimately. Sometimes I’m kept up by the soreness you get from a weeks worth of sessions.