One minute, Kelsey Bing's trying to be a goldfish. The next, she's designing software to help planes land autonomously.
The first describes how Bing navigates her life as a goalkeeper for the U.S. Olympic field hockey team. Short memories are vital in the position, where shots come in at more than 60 mph.
The second describes her "daytime" job as a software engineer for Xwing, an autonomous technology startup. The company recently partnered with the U.S. Air Force on a project, which Bing worked on.
"My focus with Xwing is, 'How can I continue to develop my mind and improve myself as a human being?'" she said.
Juggling both responsibilities can be a lot, but it's not a crazy change from her time at Stanford, where she played field hockey from 2016 to 2019.
There, Bing was a formidable presence on the field. She became the program's all-time leader in saves with 418, was a three-time America East Conference Goalkeeper of the Year and led the Cardinal to three conference championships. Her accolades also include being a two-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American and a four-time NFHCA All-West Region team member. She was also an Academic All-America First Team member in 2020 and America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2019.
Bing works as a software engineer for Xwing, where she develops autonomous flight systems. Her analytical skills and attention to detail make her a standout in both her athletic and professional careers. (Photo by Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
"I feel so fortunate to have been a part of both Stanford's educational system and Stanford athletics," she said. "For me, both academics and sports are incredibly important. It's such a special place where both can be at the forefront. It teaches you a culture of high performance that's needed to succeed at the international level. I feel so grateful that I've had the opportunity."
In her role at Xwing, she develops physics and math models of airplanes for their autonomous flight systems. Despite the demanding nature of her dual careers, Bing finds joy and fulfillment in both.
"I love all the little details and nuances. Goalkeeping is a bit like engineering — analytical, diligent, and requiring personal reflection and analysis," she said.
Bing's commitment to mindfulness has been a crucial part of her athletic routine. It keeps her grounded through the highs and lows. She experienced both in connection with the Olympic Games. She started in goal when the U.S. lost its final qualifying opportunity for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was also on the field when the team redeemed itself in January by clinching its spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics with a series of upset wins at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier in January in Ranchi, India.
"Mindfulness is a huge part of my routine as an athlete. All you can control is the next three seconds of the game," Bing said. "As a goalkeeper, they always say you've got to have a goldfish mentality. You can't be dwelling on past mistakes, past goals or even good goals because then you're not focused on the present and doing the best that you can do."
Bing is also passionate about growing the game of field hockey and increasing visibility for women's sports. She hopes her journey from a high school soccer player who stumbled into field hockey to an Olympian and software engineer can be an example for young girls of what they're capable of.
"I hope our team can be a beacon for young athletes of any background or gender to be inspired by the Olympic movement," she said. "I know sports has given me so much joy, and I've learned so much from it. I only hope that other people can have that same experience."
