Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles and Kristie Mewis on 'Trying to Take Over' the Sports World as Female Athletes (Exclusive)

"This generation is showing that women have just as much presence in sports as men,” Richardson tells PEOPLE on set of Danone's "Nourish Your Hustle" campaign

The girls are going for the gold... and more!

Athletes Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles and Kristie Mewis have their sights set on goals larger than medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris — goals not only for themselves, but for women in sports as a whole.

Track sensation Richardson, gymnastics phenom Chiles and soccer star Mewis have their sights set on representing Team U.S.A. when the Olympics kick off in July. But first, they’re teaming up with Danone to prep themselves and inspire others through the yogurt brand’s “Nourish Your Hustle” campaign.

The three athletes sat down with PEOPLE exclusively on set in December during a behind-the-scenes, first look at the campaign to talk about why they wanted to team up with Danone, how they’re preparing for the Olympics, their goals for the Games and beyond.

Related: Olympic Torch Lit for Paris 2024 Games in Olympia, Birthplace of Ancient Games

“Working with amazing, beautiful and strong-minded women” is what drew 22-year-old Chiles to the campaign, highlighting the Oikos, Activia and Too Good & Co. brands. “Our voices are very important” to “make everybody understand that women are strong and powerful,” she tells PEOPLE.

Mewis, who shared a couch with Chiles and Richardson, admits this is the first campaign she got to work with women from different sports — an “empowering” experience for the 33-year-old soccer player who says she “feels at home” with the girls beside her.

Richardson’s involvement was “a no-brainer” because Danone is “on the path of change and prosperity,” she says. “I will offer that when it comes to the ladies and women’s sports… This generation is showing that women have just as much of a presence in sports as men.”

She clarifies, “Actually, we're trying to take over.”

Richardson’s statement has proved to be true in 2023 alone, a pivotal year for women in sports — but also for the 24-year-old runner herself, who went from being disqualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to making history in 2023 as the women's 100-meter world champion.

“I’m not back, I’m better,” is the quote Richardson famously said after breaking the record in Budapest, Hungary. “That slogan comes from knowing that I've been in the world. I've been in the world in a way that not necessarily is the way a lot of people could handle or really bounce back or survive,” she tells PEOPLE.

“And the fact that I'm able to stand here and be the athlete I've been, I've been the woman I've been,” Richardson says, “I’m wiser. I'm calmer, I'm disciplined and I'm more focused on the responsibility that I have as well as my passion for what I do.”

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Richardson is locked on that mindset as she prepares for Paris. “I’m super, super excited since my last Olympic cycle,” she says, sharing that she’s specifically “focused in on” disciple and nutrition this time around.

While the runner is a self-proclaimed "pasta girl," who notes she's had the "same eating routine" the night before a race since high school, Richardson says she's been turning to the Oikos drink because "it's so quick" — and nutritious, too!

"It just flows with me," says Richardson of the yogurt beverage comes in both shot and drink sizes and is packed full of nutrients and flavor. "It flows with my pasta, it tastes good. It's like a little dessert after."

As for her day-to-day training on the track, the record-holder is keeping it the same. “You're going to train hard regardless if you have a passion for it,” says the elite runner no matter the “event” or “year.”

Related: Record-Breaking Sha’Carri Richardson Wins 100-Meter Championship: ‘She Is the Best in the World’

In comparison, Chiles’ mentality was a bit different since her last Olympic cycle. “After Tokyo, I didn't think I was going to go for Paris,” the silver medalist reveals.

Chiles pursued an education at UCLA right after, a time she was “enjoying” before suddenly having the thought: “I'm not done yet… Let's just go for it again. Let's try for Paris.”

The biggest difference in Chiles' mindset when training for the Olympics this time around is "understanding" that she's "done it before." Aside from switching up her breakfast routine with her Too Good & Co. smoothies, the gymnast says she's "just chillin' and relaxing" in the months leading up to the Paris Games.

Related: Gymnast Jordan Chiles Says Being Named After Michael Jordan Helps Her 'Keep Grinding' (Exclusive)

Chiles practices in the morning and competes at night, with hours in between. For someone who's "not a breakfast eater," having the cultured dairy smoothie drinks "in hand" is a way for the athlete to quickly nourish her body before physical exertion.

Mewis agreed with the girls, revealing that her "training is the same" in the lead up to the 2024 Olympics. "When you are at this level, you know what it takes," she says. "We've been doing this our whole lives. There's nothing different."

She explains, "You’re training hard, you're putting your body through hell. You're missing so many things in your life to do what we love... We're like psychos about it. It's what we do and it's who we are."

However, the way the soccer star fuels her body has changed. "I can't have McDonald's three times a week like I used to be able to!" she says with a laugh.

Mewis reveals that traveling all over the country for games has "really taken a toll" on her over the years, which is why she prioritizes gut health specifically to support her immune system. "Activia is such an easy way to get in so many probiotics and I honestly feel so much better when I have probiotics in my lifestyle," she says.

While she admits she enjoys a good "plain" pancake before every game when her "stomach acts up," Mewis turns to the low fat yogurt drink because it's a "quick and easy" way for her to get the necessary amount of live and active probiotics to perform her best in the gym and on the field.

The start of the Paris Summer Olympics are officially 100 days away, kicking off on July 26. For Chiles and Mewis, qualifying would mark their sophomore appearance in the Games for Team U.S.A. — continuing to fulfill their longtime dreams as athletes.

Related: USWNT Stars and Sisters Kristie and Sam Mewis on Inspiring Each Other on Journey to Olympics

"I have been playing soccer since I was five," Mewis tells PEOPLE, revealing that she's "always dreamt" about the Olympics. "I went to my first and only Olympics when I was 30 years old... It was definitely a long journey for me, but I'm so happy that I was able to kind of complete my childhood dream."

Chiles knew she wanted to be an Olympian since 2008. "I was seven years old and watching the 2008 Olympics," the gymnast recalls. "Making that dream come true is like having a perfect ice cream sundae."

If Richardson qualifies, she'd make her anticipated Olympic debut — a dream the 24 year old knew she wanted to chase since 2016. "The Rio Olympics was really that moment where I was watching I was like, 'Okay, this is something that I can actually do for myself,'" she says.

"I started to educate myself on track and field and learned that I can have a career in this, taking care of my family being the biggest thing for me," she explains. "I just knew that I was blessed in a way to be great, so when I decided to just hone in on track, it just took off."

Richardson makes clear: "This year is the 2024 Olympics. It's going to be a great show."

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