🔥 From the Weight Room to Life: Building Elite Athletes with Chris Smith 🔥

In this episode of Athlete Builder, we sit down with Christopher Smith, Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year at Warren Central HS, to break down what it really takes to develop elite athletes — mentally, physically, and spiritually.

Chris shares how training becomes therapy, why confidence is built through reps, and how his PVO (Positive Vibes Only) mindset is transforming young athletes every day.

💥 In this episode, we cover:

• The 5 traits of elite athletes
• Why process beats instant gratification
• How to build real confidence through training
• The power of energy, leadership, and example
• Chris' 5 A's system for accountability
• Mental performance tools: visualization, recovery, and resets
• Why fear is just energy — and how to use it

🧠 This isn't just about lifting weights… it's about building discipline, identity, and purpose.

⏱ Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Background 02:30 College Mindset & Intentionality 05:00 Welcome to College Football Moment 07:00 Coaching Identity & Values 10:00 Winning vs Development 14:00 Training as Therapy 18:00 Building Confidence 21:00 Coaching Young Athletes 25:00 Elite Mindset Framework 30:00 Physical Performance Framework 34:00 Fear, Faith & Resilience 38:00 Leadership & Energy 41:00 PVO & 5 A's System 46:00 Training Philosophy 52:00 Influences & Favorites 58:00 Ownership & Discipline 01:05:00 Final Takeaways

👇 Connect with Chris: Instagram: @ctaki_44 | @pvo317

📩 Want to level up your mindset? Check out the Mental Edge Academy → Reach out at [email protected]

💪 If you're serious about becoming a better athlete — or building one — this episode is a must-watch.

#AthleteBuilder #StrengthAndConditioning #MentalPerformance #Coaching #Mindset #PVO #Discipline #AthleteDevelopment

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