Ava Ziegler laced up her first pair of skates at 15 months old and by 17 was an NHK Trophy champion, rising from fifth to first in one of the fastest grand prix comebacks in US figure skating history. But behind the medals was a six-year battle with a hip injury that led to two surgeries.

In this episode, Ava opens up about training through pain nobody believed was real, the two-second rule for getting back up after falling mid-program, and the moment in Croatia when she realized she was done, retiring at 19, weeks before what would have been her Olympic season. She talks candidly about faith, working with a sports psychologist since age 15, and what it really means to walk away on your own terms.

A conversation about discipline, identity, and redefining what winning looks like when the crowd goes quiet.

Dans ce deuxième épisode de Mind Over, Adrien s'entretient avec Aurélien Duarte sept fois champion du monde et 4 fois champion d’Europe de sports de combat et aujourd'hui préparateur mental pour le GIGN et l'équipe de France de boxe olympique. Diagnostiqué avec la maladie des os de verre étant enfant, Aurélien raconte comment il a construit une carrière incroyable malgré cette fragilité et ce que plus de cent combats lui ont appris sur la peur, la discipline et la douleur. Ils évoquent ses rituels d'avant-combat, le piège de la comparaison aux autres, et pourquoi la seule façon de surmonter une peur est de la vivre. Aurélien donne aussi des conseils sincères aux jeunes qui rêvent de haut niveau mais peinent à parler de ce qui se passe dans leur tête. Une conversation brute et touchante sur l'entraînement de l'esprit, pas seulement du corps.

In this second episode of Mind Over, Adrien talks with Aurélien Duarte, a seven-time world champion in combat sports and now a mental performance coach for France's elite GIGN unit and the French Olympic boxing team. Diagnosed with brittle bone disease as a child, Aurélien shares how he built an incredible career despite early fragility and what over a hundred fights taught him about fear, discipline, and pain. They talk about his pre-fight rituals, the trap of comparing yourself to others, and why the only way through fear is to live through it. Aurélien also offers honest advice for young people chasing big dreams who struggle to talk about what's going on in their heads. Both version are available. A raw and moving conversation about training the mind, not just the body. 

This episode was recorded in French and has been AI-translated into English.

Boo Nieves opens up about his journey from growing up in a family of athletes to reaching the NHL with the New York Rangers. He explains how discipline was shaped early on by his family environment before sharing the lessons hockey taught him about confidence, handling pressure, injuries, and mental health. Drawing from his experience at the highest level, he shows that a strong mindset is built through daily habits, the humility to keep learning, the ability to accept criticism, and the courage to ask for help. An inspiring conversation that reminds us the greatest performances are built long before we reach the top through discipline, resilience, and a commitment to constant growth.