In this powerful and inspiring episode of Passion Struck, Olympic figure skater and gold medalist Vincent Zhou joins John R. Miles to reveal what it truly takes to make your gold medal dreams a reality. From his early days as a fiercely competitive child to landing the first-ever quad Lutz in Olympic history, Vincent shares the grit, sacrifice, and relentless mindset required to compete at the highest level.

He opens up about the unimaginable heartbreak of missing his individual Olympic event in 2022 due to COVID, the resilience it took to keep going, and the symbolic weight of finally receiving his gold medal—two and a half years later.

Vincent also dives into the power of mentorship, community, and character-building, and how he’s now using his journey to inspire and support the next generation of elite athletes through the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL).

Full Shownotes here:  https://passionstruck.com/vincent-zhou-make-your-gold-medal-dreams-reality/

• How to turn early passion into an elite-level career
• - The power of grit and why talent alone isn’t enough
• - How to overcome setbacks and mental blocks in high-performance fields
• - What it was like to compete against childhood idols—and win
• - Why mentorship and community are critical for long-term success
• - The emotional toll of losing an Olympic opportunity and how to recover
• - How Vincent ultimately achieved his gold medal dream—and why it meant more than just winning

For more information on Vincent Zhou: https://www.instagram.com/govincentzhou/

Sponsors:

• Factor Meals: http://factormeals.com/factormeals50off and use code “FACTOR MEALS 50 OFF”
• Rosetta Stone: Unlock 25 languages for life at “ROSETTASTONE.com/passionstruck.”
• Prolon: Reset your health with 15% off at “ProlonLife.com/passionstruck.”
• Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at “MINT MOBILE dot com slash PASSION.”
• Hims: Start your journey to regrowing hair with Hims. Visit hims.com/PASSIONSTRUCK for your free online visit.
• Quince: Discover luxury at affordable prices with Quince. Enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/PASSION

Next on Passion Struck:
In the next episode of Passion Struck, John sits down with Anne Marie Anderson, an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, sports journalist, and leadership expert. Anne Marie has spent years breaking barriers in sports media, navigating high-stakes environments, and coaching top athletes and executives on leadership, resilience, and communication. In our conversation, we'll dive into the mental frameworks of high performers, the art of storytelling, and how to build confidence in any field.

For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals.

Join the Passion Struck Community!
Sign up for the Live Intentionally newsletter, where I share exclusive content, actionable advice, and insights to help you ignite your purpose and live your most intentional life. Get access to practical exercises, inspiring stories, and tools designed to help you grow. Learn more and sign up here.

Speaking Engagements & Workshops
Are you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I’m available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let’s work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking.

Episode Starter Packs
With over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’ve curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks.

Catch More of Passion Struck:

• My solo episode on Fading into Insignificance: The Impact of Un-Mattering in Our Interconnected Era
• Catch My Episode with Jennifer B. Wallace on the Consequences of Prioritizing Achievements Over Mattering
• Can’t miss my episode withArthur C. Brooks on Finding Success, Happiness, and Purpose
• Listen to my interview with Robin Sharma on the 8 Forms of Wealth That Determine Success
• Check My solo episode on Why We All Crave To Matter: Exploring The Power Of Mattering.

If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.

How to Connect with John:

• Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles
• Follow him on Instagram at @John_R_Miles
• Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel and to our YouTube Clips Channel
• For more insights and resources, visit John’s website

Want to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com and find out today!