The GOAT Mindset: Simone Biles on Pressure, Failure, and Resilience | WTP with Mikaela Ep. 7

Comparing Elite Sports

• 💡 Simone Biles (gymnastics) and Mikaela Shiffrin (ski racing) discuss their experiences, highlighting differences between summer and winter sports.
• ❄️ Mikaela describes the extreme cold of ski racing, often competing in spandex at -20 degrees, while Simone, who dislikes cold, notes she rarely sweats.
• 🛠️ They discuss equipment and condition variations: gymnastics equipment can differ globally (floor bounce, beam grip), and ski slopes are injected with water to create icy, stable surfaces for fair competition.

Navigating Fear and Danger

• ⚠️ Both athletes admit to experiencing fear and doubts as they've gotten older, particularly concerning the risk of catastrophic injuries in their high-stakes sports.
• ⛷️ Mikaela details the dangers of skiing at up to 90 mph, including potential crashes into fencing, and the importance of knowing how to crash safely by lifting skis.
• 🤸‍♀️ Simone expresses terror about certain scenarios, acknowledging that even at her elite level, things can go wrong unexpectedly, as seen in Tokyo.

Olympic Pressures and Setbacks

• 🌍 The athletes discuss the immense global pressure and scrutiny that accompanies Olympic success, which can be overwhelming and lead to unexpected outcomes.
• 🤝 They recount their mutual support during difficult Olympic moments (Simone in Tokyo, Mikaela in Beijing), emphasizing the empathy and solidarity among athletes.
• 💬 Both chose to tell their own stories in the mix zone after setbacks, aiming to prevent speculation and allow others to relate to their struggles and emotions.

Mental Resilience and Support

• 🧠 Simone attributes her successful return to Paris to therapy and extensive mental work, focusing on competing