As the Winter Olympics unfold and headlines remind us how fragile even the strongest bodies can be—most recently with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn suffering a devastating injury—this conversation couldn't be more timely.
In this powerful episode of the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast, co-hosts Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with two-time Olympic medalist and U.S. Ski Team veteran Shannon Bahrke Happe to explore what it really takes to compete at the highest level—and to come back when everything feels uncertain.
Shannon competed in Olympic moguls skiing, one of the most physically and mentally demanding events in the Winter Games—where athletes race down a steep, bumpy course at high speed while performing aerial jumps. The constant impact, fear management, and precision required make mental toughness and injury resilience essential to success.
The conversation takes a deep dive into Olympic injuries, the emotional devastation they bring, and the mental battle athletes face when wondering: Is this a short-term setback—or a career-ending injury? Shannon opens up about how returning after injury was far more difficult mentally and emotionally than physically.
To rebuild confidence and compete at an Olympic level, Shannon immersed herself in sports psychology, working with experts to develop the mental tools she still relies on today: • Positive self-talk (including literally talking to herself in the mirror) • Visualization • Meditation and mental focus
These practices aren't just for elite athletes. Shannon explains how they translate into motherhood, entrepreneurship, leadership, public speaking, and navigating hard seasons of life—helping us all build "sturdier legs to stand on" as we age and evolve.
She also reflects on the highs and lows of Olympic competition, what it truly feels like to stand on the podium, and how she successfully transitioned from Olympian to "real life"—becoming a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee, mother of two, keynote speaker, and CEO of Team Empower Hour and Champions Advantage.
This episode offers timely insight for anyone watching the Winter Olympics, following stories of athlete injury and recovery, or looking for real-world tools to build resilience, confidence, and mental toughness—on and off the slopes.
🎧 A must-listen Winter Olympics episode on injuries, recovery, mental strength, and healthy aging.
Shannon Bahrke Happe
2 X Olympic Medalist, CEO
TEDx Speaker, Cert. Mindset Coach
E [email protected]
W ChampionsAdvantage.com
W ShannonBahrke.com
W TeamEmpowerHour.com
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