Follow us on Patreon for bonus content, extended interviews, and exclusive clips. Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/divebeyondsportpod⁠⁠⁠⁠ In this episode of Dive Beyond Sport, Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson shares his remarkable journey from a young diver in Calgary, Alberta, to a distinguished athlete competing internationally. Yohan discusses how he began diving at seven years old, his transition to studying neuroscience and competing in NCAA diving at Northwestern University, and his eventual decision to represent Jamaica in diving — a move that helped him connect deeply with his heritage. Yohan elaborates on the powerful partnership he formed with Yona and the historical impact they made together. Despite narrowly missing the Olympic qualification, Yohan bravely transitioned to bobsledding, continuing to chase his Olympic dreams in a new sport. He reflects on the values, resilience, and experiences from his diving career that prepared him for this new challenge. Yohan's story is one of open doors, embracing diverse identities, and finding strength and purpose through sport. Show Notes • What happens when an elite athlete has the courage to walk away from one sport and start again in another. • How does transitioning from competitive diving to elite bobsleigh challenge identity, confidence, and self-belief. • What does it mean to represent a country, culture, and heritage while navigating global elite sport. • How do athletes cope with uncertainty, near-misses, and the emotional toll of Olympic qualification. • What role does adaptability play in surviving and thriving across different high-performance environments. • How can embracing discomfort and “open doors” unlock unexpected opportunities in sport and life. • What are the hidden psychological challenges of switching disciplines at the highest level of competition. • How do elite athletes learn to separate self-worth from results, rankings, and selection outcomes. • What lessons do failure, reinvention, and transition teach about resilience and long-term growth. • How can sport become a vehicle for perspective, connection, and meaning beyond medals and performance. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Diving and Bobsled Transition

00:48 Lessons from Missing the Olympics

01:59 Overcoming Fear and Building Resilience

03:08 Unlearning Diving Techniques for Bobsled

05:49 The Power of Full Commitment

07:02 Pursuing the Olympic Dream

13:58 Mentorship and Lifestyle Changes

19:21 Retirement from Diving and Future Goals

23:30 Applying Sports Lessons to Medicine

26:22 The Value of Connections and Relationships

28:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Guest Pick: Book: The Emergency by Thomas Fisher Link (paperback): ⁠https://amzn.to/4pKRO5V ⁠

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Follow the Guest and Hosts on Instagram:

Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/yohan.esk ⁠

Freddie Woodward: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/freddie_woodward⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Yona Knight-Wisdom: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/yonakw⁠⁠

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