
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim opens up about the mental battles most people never see behind the podium, including competing injured, an ADHD diagnosis that reframed her entire career, and why winning everything still left her searching for peace. You will walk away with a new way of thinking about pressure, self-worth, and what it actually means to show up for yourself.
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Lewis Howes
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Chloe Kim
I did not give up when I could have. People were telling me that maybe it wasn't a good idea to do this. I was not gonna let up. Like I wanted to believe in myself and show myself that I could deal with this. I don't know if you can ever truly eliminate self doubt. I think you can maybe quiet the noise a bit, but the minute something doesn't go your way, that self doubt's gonna come right back.
Lewis Howes
At just 17 years old, she became the youngest woman to win Olympic gold in snowboarding, establishing herself as one of the most dominant athletes in her sport. We have the inspiring Chloe Kim in the house.
Chloe Kim
My dad later on told me that if I didn't make it by the time I was 13, we wouldn't be able to afford it anymore. The most pressure I felt from them was actually as we Got closer to my first Olympics. I had to have a sit down with my parents. Like, guys, this doesn't feel good.
Lewis Howes
Really.
Chloe Kim
This feels really intense. I am so grateful that I got to go through some really intense moments at such a young age, because now I feel like I can get through whatever and accomplish whatever I put my mind to.
Lewis Howes
And what was the greatest lesson you learned from that experience?
Chloe Kim
I think grit. Like, true grit.
Lewis Howes
Before I had you on here today, we had another snowboarder on. I don't know if you know Amy Purdy.
Chloe Kim
Love Amy.
Lewis Howes
And she was just singing your praises, saying how much she loves you.
Chloe Kim
I love her to death.
Lewis Howes
And I was like, amy, if you could ask her one question, you know, about Chloe, what would it be? And she goes, how does she perform under pressure and just look so free? And that was one of the things she was asking about, like, how does she look so free at the highest stages in the world? And I'm curious, how do you perform under pressure and make it look so effortless?
Chloe Kim
I just made a face when you said that, because I feel like I feel the same way about her.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yeah. So I feel like the call is coming from within. Amy. No, Amy's amazing. She's such an inspiration. She has such an incredible story, and everything she's done for her sport, it's been, like, so cool.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And she's so cool.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
So gorgeous and smart, so kind. Yeah. It's kind of not fair. Yeah. She's everything to me. I would say for me, personally, I don't know, I don't think I think about it too much.
Lewis Howes
Pressure.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. I mean, obviously I do feel pressure, but I think I need a moment to just sit with myself and recognize that the pressure is actually, I feel, like, outside voices, people with expectations and people who want things for me, which is such a blessing in disguise sometimes, but I see it as a blessing. I really appreciate that people believe that I could accomplish all these things. So I think I had to make that mental shift at a pretty young age, really. And kind of recognize that, you know, there's a lot of voices out there, but at the end of the day, it's because, you know, they believe I can do it. So I feel like I have cheerleaders instead of, you know, all these, like, scary expectations. I think I kind of. When I started to make that shift, things felt a lot easier and smoother for me.
Lewis Howes
Do you feel like when you compete, you're not thinking about the pressure then, or is it more about just wanting to have fun?
Chloe Kim
It's a little bit of both. I love competing. I'm a very competitive person even outside of my sport. You know, video games, any. Like, PE was my favorite day at school growing up, and I just loved competing. I loved playing games, like, all of it. So it's very rewarding for me when I get to compete in something that I'm really good at. And. Yeah, but I also do want to have fun. I try to have fun. You know, transparently, I never, like, wanted to snowboard. That was the sport of my choice.
Lewis Howes
What was the choice you wanted?
Chloe Kim
Oh, my gosh. Well, I wanted it a lot. I wanted to be a jockey.
Lewis Howes
A jockey.
Chloe Kim
I love horses.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
And I loved just anything horse related. And in my mind, it was like horse racing, really, when I was like, three.
Lewis Howes
Because you grew up in SoCal, right?
Chloe Kim
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I. I don't know. I was just always obsessed with horses. My favorite movie growing up was Spirit.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
I don't know if, you know, your kid, maybe your girls are like, be obsessed with it one day, but, yeah, I really wanted to be a jockey. I really loved figure skating, but my dad was the one that, you know, kind of wanted me to get into a sport. And so when I told him figure skating, he was like, well, what about speed skating or hockey? And I was like, no, like, I'm not gonna do that. So we started snowboarding.
Lewis Howes
Right.
Chloe Kim
Snowboarding was what he, you know.
Lewis Howes
But you were. Grew up in, I think, was it Torrance you grew up in or like you grew up SoCal area or.
Chloe Kim
I grew up all over. We moved a bunch. So I've lived in Cyprus, la Pal. Torrance, La Habra.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
And then I moved to la. I lived in Newport for a year, and then I moved to la.
Lewis Howes
But you started. Was it more in Mammoth, where you started, really, snowboarding then? So you'd go up there and.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, well, I actually learned in Mountain High, and I always want to give credit to Mountain High. I love it there.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
Good mems, good mems, bad mems, crazy, all of it.
Lewis Howes
That's where it started.
Chloe Kim
That's where it started. And then as I started getting better and getting, you know, more serious, we started going to Mammoth.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
That's cool. I mean, your dad. You mentioned your dad. And he. He. He really started to invest in you early on that. Right, with snowboarding. Didn't he leave his career to kind of like, go all in with you?
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So when you. When you have a parent who's that much of a cheerleader and Supporting you. How did you not also feel the pressure then of like, oh, this needs to work out. Like, I need to actually be good and succeed because he's invested his life in this as well.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, I think that is definitely something that I thought about a lot, really. And my dad later on told me that if I didn't make it by the time I was 13, like, we wouldn't be able to afford it anymore because my parents invested everything into my sport, which is such a risky decision, honestly to make. But I didn't know that. And funny enough, at 13, I started doing really well and started to like, you know, kill it in my sport. But I think the most pressure I felt from them was actually as we got closer to my first Olympics, because I think that was the dream. Finally did it. I qualified for Sochi when I was 13.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
I don't know if you know this.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
Was too young to compete.
Lewis Howes
So you qualified, but you couldn't compete.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. That's qualified in second.
Lewis Howes
Oh, my gosh.
Chloe Kim
So I wasn't able to go. So I feel like there was so much anticipation that built from that moment. And once I was getting closer, like, that 201617 season was the scariest season of my life. Just the air every time I walked into the, like, spaces was just so tense and stressful. I feel like everyone's getting really intense hoping to qualify for the Games. Now I'm in contention to qualify for the Games. Like, my. I had to have a sit down with my parents. It's like, guys, this doesn't feel good.
Lewis Howes
Really.
Chloe Kim
This feels really intense. Like, I understand that you guys, you know, obviously want this for me, and I do too, but. But I need a sense of normalcy because everywhere else I go does not feel normal either. So I just need home to feel like home.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, it's a lot of pressure.
Lewis Howes
I mean, you were 16 going in 17, I guess around that time. So it's almost like, oh, what if I make a mistake or don't qualify or I fall? Then all this expectation crumbles, I guess.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. And I want to say, too into my first Games, qualifying was hardcore. I mean, there still are really good US snowboarding girls, but back then it was mostly us podium suites for the most part. They were awesome. And so qualifying was really intense because it's almost like you had to bring your A game if you qualified for the Olympics in the US it almost just felt like you were guaranteed a medal at that point. Because they were so good. Yes. And so.
Lewis Howes
So it wasn't guaranteed it wasn't like, oh, this is gonna be easy.
Chloe Kim
No, I knew I had a good shot. Cause I was podiuming consistently, but I've never experienced that type of pressure and like that type of expectation before. And so I remember, like going into all my runs for the qualifying events. So a little more about the qualification process.
Lewis Howes
All right, tell me, tell me.
Chloe Kim
So basically it's the season before the Olympics. There are. I might be completely wrong, but there's somewhere. But I think it's five events. Four or five events. And basically it's the top four girls based on all those events. So the way, the best way to guarantee a spot is to like win a couple of them.
Lewis Howes
Top four, go. Top four.
Chloe Kim
Top four. Yes, top four go. And based on your results in those events, they'll. I think they take like the top three results or something and then they average them out and then that's how they decide who goes. So that was. So you kind of have to be awesome for at least three events right
Lewis Howes
over like a six month window or is that like a year or how long is that?
Chloe Kim
No, it's like a two month window.
Lewis Howes
Oh. Oh, man. If you mess up in two months, you're done.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. So it's like you start the season, you're like, okay, like, I might go to the Olympics. And it's like, boom, it's over. And then people are going to the Olympics. It's so fast. It's back to back. I think the first qualification events in December, like early December, and then the rest of them are low key in January. And then we go and you leave
Lewis Howes
like a couple weeks later in February.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. So it's really intense.
Lewis Howes
How did you feel going into this recent Olympics then? Because you were injured.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Like, how was your.
Chloe Kim
You feel good?
Lewis Howes
You didn't feel good because you'd previously won two gold medals. But then you're going into this next Olympics a little injured, not feeling good. Like you said, how do you stay confident and also not let the fear of the pressure, or what if I fail? Or what if my injury holds me back? Or the expectations of the world now, how do you navigate that?
Chloe Kim
I mean, it was tough. I think that was definitely a really hard moment. Probably one of the more difficult things I've had to navigate in my career. I've been so blessed and fortunate to go into every single game completely healthy. And luckily I had actually qualified for the Games the season prior.
Lewis Howes
So you didn't have that stress?
Chloe Kim
I didn't need to qualify that season, which was Great.
Lewis Howes
That's great. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Awesome.
Lewis Howes
But you got to be healthy.
Chloe Kim
Exactly. And so, you know, the plan was, okay, I'm not going to compete that much this season. I'm going to just train for the Games and then go. And that's what I did going into Beijing as well. But unfortunately, the first training camp I had planned in the winter, that's when it happened, like the second or third day. So I had no reps going into this.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
Came straight back home, rehabbed as much as I could, because it wasn't necessarily a pain issue. It was more that my shoulder kept coming out. And if your shoulder comes out, there's, like, not much you can do. Yes, you can pop it back in, but it will just keep coming out.
Lewis Howes
This is your left shoulder? Your right shoulder?
Chloe Kim
Yeah, my left shoulder. And so it was one of those things where I think I spent a week, maybe 10 days here in LA doing my rehab and then trying to get back on snow as soon as possible to get a little reps in.
Lewis Howes
It's also part of the fear of if I fall and hurt the shoulder, like, the damage that that could have, too.
Chloe Kim
Right, exactly.
Lewis Howes
And I don't want to get hurt before I go into the Games.
Chloe Kim
Totally. But I had already come up with a plan in my mind that was maybe insane, but I was like, what was that? Well, if it comes out, just put it back in. You know, let's just put it. Pop it back in. It's fine.
Lewis Howes
It wasn't painful.
Chloe Kim
Like, yeah, it hurts, but, like, also
Lewis Howes
put it back in. You're an athlete.
Chloe Kim
I live in a world of pain. Like, I am always in pain. So this. Let's just add this to the list of things that hurt. But no, I think I was like, all right, well, we'll just pop it back in. I'll do everything I can. We'll get a brace. But the most annoying thing was just that I had to relearn how to do all my tricks without this arm.
Lewis Howes
Because you really need to, like, use the force of it, right?
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So how did you do that to,
Chloe Kim
like, hyperextend it almost? And that's when it's the most vulnerable. Like, when I'm throwing my tricks, I need all my arms because you're really
Lewis Howes
swinging in the area.
Chloe Kim
I'm literally doing the most, like, flailing, like, twisting, all of it.
Lewis Howes
Because people watching might think, oh, it's actually a lot of twisting of, like, the hips, which I guess it is. But you need the wind up with the upper body as well, right? Interesting.
Chloe Kim
Yes. So it was really hard. So the very limited days I had on snow, I just had to, like, try to relearn how to do all
Lewis Howes
my tricks with one arm.
Chloe Kim
With one arm. And it's so disappointing because it's almost annoying. I almost wish that it was this kind of dark, but I had almost wished that it was a more serious injury, if that makes sense, because then it was just clear that, like, I couldn't do it or, like, I. You know. But this whole gray area was really rough for me to navigate because I'm like, I feel fine. I feel like I can do this, but my shoulder comes out in the middle of my run. There's nothing I can do. I have to stop. So that's where it's really frustrating. And that's also where it was frustrating, because I felt like people wouldn't understand what that was like either.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. I mean, I don't know if. Did you ever have the fear of, like, okay, I'm going whatever, 50ft in the air, and if I fall on it, then also the pain of that, you know, I might be done, I guess, if it's already vulnerable. Yeah, for me, I'd be afraid of that.
Chloe Kim
I mean, I was never one to worry about pain again. Like, I. I've had chronic back pain since I was 15, so it's not a big deal. It was just more inconvenient for me, I think is the best way to put it.
Lewis Howes
So how do you navigate that? I guess, how do you visualize before going out for a run at the Olympics when you're uncertain if you can actually complete the run?
Chloe Kim
I think it's hard. Like, mentally, there's always this little voice in your head that's like, all right, well, this could happen. Really prepare yourself for that. I did the best that I could. You know, I knew that I was at a severe disadvantage because everyone else has trained, ridden all winter long, and I'm coming in. I think the night of the final was my eighth day on snow.
Lewis Howes
Wow. Total in like, six months or something.
Chloe Kim
Right. So it's like, I'm not where I could be, but I'm also dealing with this, which is part of the sport. I'm just gonna do my best and whatever. That's what I had to get to. Just like, whatever.
Lewis Howes
So what is the mental rehearsal that you have then? Either, you know, the morning of an hour before or right before to eliminate the self doubt?
Chloe Kim
I think that's interesting, and I'm curious to see what our listeners will think. But I Don't know if you can ever truly eliminate self doubt. I think you can talk yourself up to, you know, maybe quiet the noise a bit, but the minute something doesn't go your way, that self doubt's gonna come right back.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And so it is hard to truly get rid of it. And I think that's just normal too. It's like natural. You know, human brains and minds were kind of like always fearful of the unknown. And that's where I was at too. So I'm not gonna sit here and be like, well, I didn't doubt myself at all. I felt so confident that's not the case. But I think I kind of have to sit there and remind myself that I have to rely on body. Muscle memory.
Lewis Howes
Yes.
Chloe Kim
Muscle memory is going to be my best friend here and I'm just going to hope for the best, you know, maybe things won't go my way. That's okay. I feel really fortunate to be in a position in my career where I've accomplished everything under the sun and more. And so I didn't feel like really strongly about, you know, winning, if that makes really.
Lewis Howes
So you weren't, you weren't really concerned, like if I get the gold or if I don't get any medals, you were going to be okay.
Chloe Kim
My goal was to get a medal.
Lewis Howes
Right. And you did it.
Chloe Kim
I did it.
Lewis Howes
Let's go. Let's go.
Chloe Kim
Thank you.
Lewis Howes
You did it.
Chloe Kim
I did it. You know, and that was really challenging in itself because there's so much new talent. I've been doing this for over 10 years professionally. You know, I'm 26 now.
Lewis Howes
And you've won everything.
Chloe Kim
Pretty. I've won everything multiple times.
Lewis Howes
X game, world championship, Olympic gold. Multiple times.
Chloe Kim
Multiple times. And I think I'm really grateful to have had that experience. I've done it all. There literally isn't a single thing I want you feel complete, which feels funny, you know, And I kind of got to that place in my early 20s.
Lewis Howes
That's incredible.
Chloe Kim
So I feel like this last time I. This past one, I just wanted to have fun. Just wanted to like, enjoy it, you know. Obviously this didn't make it as enjoyable as it could have been, but I think I enjoyed every minute of it and there's not a thing I would change.
Lewis Howes
Really.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
That's beautiful.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So you don't feel like, you know, you wanted. Your goal was to get a medal. It didn't matter if it was any metal.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
And. But you've won multiple golds.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So was there anything Inside of you that was like, okay, you know, I got a silver, but it wasn't the gold. Was there any part of you that felt like maybe, I don't know, that was let down in any way?
Chloe Kim
Yeah, I mean, I think that there's always going to be a sentiment of, like, disappointment. Of course. Like, this is, again, something that I've trained for for three years going into it. I'm also not gonna sit here and be like, oh, well, I'm fine with that. But I think it's important to be kind to yourself in these moments and give yourself that reminder that, like, I also wasn't coming into this Games. Like, I had the two other times. You know, I can't.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. Healthy and fully ready and.
Chloe Kim
Right. And like, going into the other Games, I had like two, three months of training under my belt going into the Games, and. And I. Here I go into my third one with 8 days period. Crazy like that. It's not fair for me to. Yes, I can dream and yes, I can hope, but if we're gonna be realistic, it. I do. It's gonna be very, very difficult. And I am gonna need some sort of miracle here, you know.
Lewis Howes
And you gave your best. And so your mind, you're like, yes.
Chloe Kim
And also, I wanna say the first two days I had training. Cause now we have to count the days. The first two days I had, I had to learn to not get scared of snowboarding again.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, yeah. Not like falling.
Chloe Kim
And then day three, it's like I'm throwing myself as hard as I can to do all my tricks that I hadn't done in so long.
Lewis Howes
And thinking of your routines and what you're gonna do. Yeah, right.
Chloe Kim
Like, I haven't done my run. Like, I haven't learned my tricks. Back with you. Now I have to do it with one arm, like a tech. Danielle, winning is awesome. But being able to show up on such short notice and just like, do what I could is something that I've never done before. And I think at the end of the day, though, it wasn't the outcome that, you know, maybe I would have hoped for and everyone else would have hoped for. I still walked away with a very valuable lesson that I don't think I could have learned. And what was that any other way?
Lewis Howes
And what was the greatest lesson you learned from that experience?
Chloe Kim
I think grit. Like, true grit. I did not give up when I could have. People were telling me that maybe it wasn't a good idea to do this. I was not gonna let up. Like, I wanted to Believe in myself and show myself that I could deal with this and I could just. That, like, I could make something out of this. And, like, I. Going to the Olympics is such an honor and a privilege in itself, and I, you know, still had the best result out of the US Women's. I really think I accomplished so much more, in a way, because. Yeah. I don't know. Like, I know if I were healthy and it was, you know, I had
Lewis Howes
all the reps. You would have crushed it. You would have.
Chloe Kim
I would have done exactly what I wanted to do. I had to do such a chill version of what I was planning to do and prepping to do. So, yeah, that's where I'm at, the grid.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
I mean, I think it's like being at peace knowing that, like, okay, I could have won if I was healthier, if I had a full season to train, I knew I could have done. You've already done it before. But it's. What I'm hearing you say is like learning how to stick through it with the uncertainty, with the pain, with having to learn my routine on eight days and having fun and being positive and knowing that I may win or lose. That's the real lesson. That's what I'm here to say.
Chloe Kim
That's the real lesson. Yes. Thank you. Beautiful.
Lewis Howes
That's beautiful.
Chloe Kim
Beautiful. Way to articulate.
Lewis Howes
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Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Is there any sports psychology you've learned over the years or picked up? Whether it be, like, inner game tricks on breath work, meditation, mindset, visualization, or anything else that has supported you in believing in yourself and being ready and prepared for competition? Or have you just been a badass since the womb? You just came out, you're just like, I can do this, no problem.
Chloe Kim
Oh, my gosh. I don't know. I actually recently got diagnosed with adhd, like last week.
Lewis Howes
Last week?
Chloe Kim
Yeah. And everything made sense.
Lewis Howes
Tell me more.
Chloe Kim
Wow. I definitely had, like, just this. I was very impulsive. I. And it was funny because when I was meeting with my psychiatrist, we were like, walking through the list of symptoms and I was like, I have every single one of those symptoms. But it was masked so well in my sport because I think in a way it helped me, you know.
Lewis Howes
Your ADHD helped you in sports?
Chloe Kim
Yes.
Lewis Howes
How so?
Chloe Kim
Well, because I couldn't focus, but I. But with snowboarding, that was like, the thing I could really lock in on
Lewis Howes
because you gotta be in the flow on the slopes. You can't be distracted in the air.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. And I wasn't. I was so focused whenever I was. When I had my snowboard attached to my feet, like tunnel vision.
Lewis Howes
You're in the zone.
Chloe Kim
In the zone. And I feel like, you know, another symptom I had was just chronic exhaustion. So I. After snowboarding, like, I didn't wanna go hang out with friends. Like, I didn't wanna go out. Like, I just wanted a rest. And so I feel like when I was on snow, all I did was snow word and recover. Snow word, recover, Snow word, recover. And I also feel like I never really experienced fear. Like, I really wasn't really, like, scared of trying tricks. And I have a very vivid, just imagination. So I feel like if I wanted to try a trick I could visualize it before, you know, without even doing it. If I watched videos of other people doing it, I could like gauge what they would be seeing. And that was always fun because then I'd go try it and I would see what I thought I would see.
Lewis Howes
And you didn't have fear that what, you would fall or hurt yourself or not make it or.
Chloe Kim
No.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yeah. Which is kind of crazy, huh? Yeah. So that I would say that's maybe my one superpower that I had in my sport was just. I was always ready to go hug myself.
Lewis Howes
Fearless. But do you think the ADHD helped you become fearless or is it just part of it?
Chloe Kim
I think it kind of. I don't know how to describe it, but it's almost like because my mind was always so occupied and busy, I'm always thinking and, you know, snowboarding being my sport, it was always about snowboarding for the most part. And so I feel like I've thought about everything snowboarding related. And then I would just always think about how I could be better at that. Cause that was the one thing I could focus on. So if I had a bad day on, you know, in training, I'd come back home and really just like think about where it went wrong. What I need to try different things that I could try. Like I would just hyper analyze, really focus on that.
Lewis Howes
Is this like watching videos of yourself doing this or watching other videos of other people and seeing how you could make this happen in your mind or how.
Chloe Kim
Or like maybe like remember seeing what I was seeing when I was training and then trying to like alter that and correct that in your mind? In my mind.
Lewis Howes
So not watching video and doing this, but like a mental rehearsal.
Chloe Kim
Mental rehearsal. Non stop, obsessive, non stop. My mind is so loud. So it did affect my sleep in a lot of ways.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. Would you be thinking about this all in bed at night, like just rehearsing tricks in your mind?
Chloe Kim
Yeah, like whenever I had a moment.
Lewis Howes
Interesting.
Chloe Kim
Because I'm competitive, you know, I want to go out there the next day and get it right. I also hate wasting time. So I'm like, all right, I have two more weeks here. Also, sport being weather dependent.
Lewis Howes
Right, Right.
Chloe Kim
I'm like, okay, there's two sunny days. I need to lock in and get this done on these sunny days. So what can I do right now to prepare for tomorrow?
Lewis Howes
Do you feel like the constraints of not having snow year round actually allowed you to be better than if you had the ability to practice, you know, every week, all year round?
Chloe Kim
I Mean, you still can practice every week all year round.
Lewis Howes
But you were living here, I guess.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. But, you know, when I first started and started going pro, I would go to New Zealand. I would go to Switzerland. Switzerland. Like, go on Mountain hood in Oregon. I'm always on snow. I'd maybe get a month off each year.
Lewis Howes
Got it.
Chloe Kim
But then I got to a point where. Catching up to me a lot.
Lewis Howes
Right.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. I remember when I turned 20, I was like, I don't think I can do this anymore. Like, it hurts. Hurts. I also went to college for a year, so I feel like when I came back from that, I was like, wait, there's so many things I'm interested in, and it's sad that I don't get to experience those things. I want to give myself a little more time to become a whole person and not just snowboard. Snowboard, yeah.
Lewis Howes
Not just the greatest snowboarder of all time, but someone else that also has a life.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. I would love to have a life, seemingly. I don't know. You know, there are other things that I love and I'm very passionate about, and I feel like I started to realize that when I was at school, actually, and started meeting people that had nothing to do with sports, action sports in general, but were just so smart and passionate about other things in their lives and were working towards those things. Yeah, I wanted that, too. And I feel like I'd already accomplished it in snowboarding. And I think naturally I developed some curiosity for the other sides of the world and the other sides of things that, you know, maybe I could experience.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And so after that awakening, I'll call it, I was like, I don't think I can travel this much anymore. I want to, because I also recognize that I am not going to snowboard forever. And I think when I was at school, I had this scary realization of what am I going to do after.
Lewis Howes
Right.
Chloe Kim
You know, what am I going to do?
Lewis Howes
Who am I after? Sports.
Chloe Kim
Exactly. And I feel like I wanted to nurture that when I was still, you know, a teenager, you know, 20, 19, 20. So I started taking more time for myself. I stopped going to New Zealand and all these places, and I would start training, you know, like mid fall, as opposed to starting in mid summer.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Interesting. And I also. I don't know, correct me if I'm wrong, but I also heard you never really worked out or you didn't like working out in the gym. Yeah, but we actually met in the gym and you're working out.
Chloe Kim
I know.
Lewis Howes
Wended that Through Roy. So shout out to Roy. But when did you start working out or, you know, enjoying it or liking that process?
Chloe Kim
I mean, I still don't like.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, it's still hard.
Chloe Kim
It's still hard.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chloe Kim
You know, I'd much rather be eating.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, yeah. Sugar candy all day, eating brunch, you
Chloe Kim
know, with my girls instead of being at the gym for an hour. But I think so when we first met. When was that?
Lewis Howes
Probably a year and a half, two years ago, maybe. Something like that. Somewhere on there. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Okay.
Lewis Howes
Is that kind of when you started?
Chloe Kim
That's when I started being more consistent.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Why did you decide to. From never working out or not working out that much? Except for on the slopes, which is a workout. But going to the gym and working out, I guess, given types of working out.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Why did you decide to take that on?
Chloe Kim
Well, it was kind of. My fitness journey is definitely a journey. So let's talk about it. So I think after the first Olympics 2018, I. Some people were telling me that maybe I should look into a trainer because I had partially torn my ACL when I was 15, and I don't know, I just wasn't that strong in that leg. And so obviously. Okay, let's work out and hit the gym. Cool. Met a trainer through Nike. That's also how I met Vinnie, was through this trainer. And I just, like, wasn't really consistent. Like, I would do it for a bit, and then I wouldn't, and then I'd do it. Yeah. But I'm like, oh, I'm so young, and, like, I want to have fun doing the summers. Like, I didn't really learn time management well. Yeah. You know, schedules and structure. So then Covid happened. I went to school, and then Covid happened into going into my spring semester, and I put on a lot of weight when I was at college.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
But, like, whatever. But then Covid hit, and we doubled down. Yeah, it was bad.
Lewis Howes
You double down on the weight gain.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, just like, eating and eating, you know, chilling, not going outside.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, of course.
Chloe Kim
I. I think that's also when I started to work with Roy, because, like, during COVID like, the 2021. 2022, I think. And then I went back to snowboarding, and it hurt, like, oh, my gosh.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yes, because I gained 40 pounds.
Lewis Howes
Come on.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So I was 40 pounds of muscle, though, right? You know you were.
Chloe Kim
I wish. I really wish. But yeah. So I was sitting at, you know, 40 pounds heavier than I was the last time I snowboarded.
Lewis Howes
And it hurt just like the recovery. I mean, being on the slopes or landing or all of it, you know?
Chloe Kim
And I think I was like, oh, my gosh, I'm getting old, because this hurts for the first time. But when you think about it, you were like, 20. I know. I know. It should be fine, but it'd be like, if I fall on my butt kind of hard, I'd be bedridden for a week.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Because, you know, we fall from pretty
Lewis Howes
high, like, 30, 40ft in the air. I feel like.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. Because the wall's 22ft. So then you add how much you go from there, and then you fall. It's like, a lot.
Lewis Howes
When I go snowboarding and I jump, like, three feet, I'm, like, scared to fall. If I do a 180, I'm like, I don't want to hurt myself.
Chloe Kim
You're going so high, so high and doing all these spins and falling a lot. And it just really felt like I was getting beat up. Then I somehow made it to Beijing, but I was still, you know, carrying extra weight on me. And after that season, I was like, I can't do this anymore. This is so painful. It makes me never want to do this again.
Lewis Howes
It's not enjoyable.
Chloe Kim
It's not. It's so hard, and I don't like being in this much pain. I'm used to pain, but this is excessive.
Lewis Howes
Yes.
Chloe Kim
Over something so small. We fall on our butts all the time, and the fact that I couldn't handle it was just really hard for me.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And so that's when I just locked in after Beijing. I just locked in, and I was like, I'm going to be consistent. I'm going to go every morning. I'm really going to stick to this. I'm going to start jogging. Roy got me onto jogging, started doing Pilates, and I feel great. Yeah.
Lewis Howes
You look fit.
Chloe Kim
Thank you.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, we met in the gym. I'd say there a few different times, and I was like, she's fit.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
She's shaped strong.
Chloe Kim
Yes. I love it so much.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
And I think now I feel good, like, after a workout, so I enjoy how I feel afterwards.
Lewis Howes
But getting there and starting.
Chloe Kim
It's Getting there is rough.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
You know. You know, when he has a start on the bike, that's rough. Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Roll your feet on the thing first and roll the bike. What? How do you feel getting in the gym? The last four years supported you physically for this time around at the Olympics.
Chloe Kim
Then I think that if I hadn't put that much work In, I don't think I would have been able to come back in the way I did.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yeah. Because, you know, people will still compete in their respective sports with injuries, and sometimes you need, like, expedited rehab to get you there, you know, for something like the Olympics, like a really important game or whatever. I think the reason why a lot of athletes are able to do that and have such a quick turnaround is because they put in the work before. You know, our muscles do protect us from a lot of things, you know, people. I have a partially torn acl, and so I got my legs really strong, and now everything's supported because my legs are strong. I even think with my shoulder, you know, my arms are strong, so, like, it can just support it a bit more than if I didn't have all those, you know, just put all that time into it. And I think that overall, I just feel healthier. Like, I feel like I'm not in as much pain as I typically would be after a season, because even one trip to snow, you get pretty banged up.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
You know, and so it's nice that when I come home, like, yes, I'm sore, but I can bounce back pretty quickly and find just peace and painlessness pretty quickly.
Lewis Howes
I mean, now, when was the. Was it a couple months ago that the Olympics ended? Right. Yeah, a couple months ago. Now that you had a little bit of time to kind of reflect, what's the vision for the next few years for you? And you've accomplished everything. Like you said, you accomplish your goal this time around, it, you know, is it trying to create new experiences in life? Are you still trying to train? Like, what's next for your sports career?
Chloe Kim
I think, you know, I like to give myself time. I feel like I still haven't fully settled.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Because we get. We are so busy post Olympics interviews all over the place. Yeah. So I feel like I'm still in the midst of. Of the chaos.
Lewis Howes
But you're still in the Olympics.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, I'm still there. Yeah. But I don't. So, yeah, I don't know. I don't know, and I don't think I need to know anytime soon. I feel like I have time to make decisions, and I feel like there's a lot of, like, big decisions that are going to need to be made, and I also want to honor that. I am a person outside of this, too, and I want to continue to nurture that side of myself. And so I'm, again, really blessed to be in a position where there's not something else I want really badly enough to where I'm gonna have tunnel vision and just lock in on that one thing. I think now I'm in a position where I can kind of do what feels right for me.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And makes sense.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. I've been watching some of your content, just of you talking about your interests outside of sports and, you know, you talking about your relationship a lot more online and sharing photos of you guys. I'm curious, what's the biggest lesson that he's taught you through this journey as he's topping the world of what he does? And shout out Cleveland Browns. But I'm from Ohio. But is there any lesson that he's taught you through this journey from one elite athlete to another?
Chloe Kim
First of all, so inspirational. It's been really fun to be by his side and support him and watch him do all of these amazing things. There's. He's the most deserving. He works so hard, hard. And I think that's definitely a big takeaway. So consistent. Like, he's always working his butt off, no matter what. Sick. When he. Sometimes he's like so sick. I remember one time he was like coughing all night, did not get much sleep, still shows up, goes to the gym, does his ridiculously hard two hour workout. The only trade off is, is he'll take like a six hour nap.
Lewis Howes
He's like, I'm out. Yeah, he's.
Chloe Kim
But he's getting everything he needs to do first and he's, you know, sleeping.
Lewis Howes
Body work, everything. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Me on the other hand, I'm like, absolutely not. Like, I am not doing this. I need to be babied. I need someone to take care of me.
Lewis Howes
If I'm coughing, I'm sleeping.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, exactly.
Lewis Howes
That's interesting.
Chloe Kim
So that's something I really admire about him.
Lewis Howes
So he's very disciplined no matter what.
Chloe Kim
So disciplined. So stubbornly disciplined.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
There are moments where I'm like, maybe don't push yourself so hard. Like you slept for two hours. Like, this can't be good for you. He's like, no, I gotta go.
Lewis Howes
He wants to be great.
Chloe Kim
And I now I'm like, do your thing. You know?
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
Lesson learned.
Lewis Howes
So that mindset. But it seems like he has a lot of fun too. With you. I mean, at least. What's the looks?
Chloe Kim
Yeah, that's good. Yeah. I mean, it's fun because we have so many things in common. So it's really easy. And I feel like us both being athletes, we get each other too. There are a lot of times I'm like, yeah, yeah, you're good.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, you're good.
Lewis Howes
So when was the first time you won a big competition? What year was that or how old were you?
Chloe Kim
I think I've won multiple big competitions for the first time. Like, the first big competition I won was like, for the youth division. I was nine.
Lewis Howes
Nine?
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
Okay, cool. It was my first international competition and I was like 15 and under. Was that you?
Lewis Howes
And you won at nine?
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
You beat 15 year olds. That's crazy. Wow.
Chloe Kim
I know.
Lewis Howes
So that was. What is that, 15 years ago? 15, 16 years ago, like your first big competition that you won. Right. International level. If you could go back and speak to 9 year old Chloe with all the wisdom and lessons you've learned, knowing everything you're going to accomplish over the last 15, 16 years, what wisdom or advice would you share with her if she was sitting right across from you?
Chloe Kim
I feel like this is a very common question and I love the idea about, like, you know, I love the idea. At the same time, though, I don't think I would say anything. And I think that's also a very common response because not that it's a bad question or anything. I think it's more so just I became who I am because of everything I experienced in the way that I did.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And I don't think I would change anything about my journey to get here. I think everything that I endured, whether it be amazing or incredibly difficult, was all meant to be. And I think that's how I learned to navigate such difficult moments in my life. I think sport is one of the greatest lessons.
Lewis Howes
Yes, it is.
Chloe Kim
And, you know, I. I am so grateful that I got to grow in a sport and go through some really intense moments at such a young age, because now I feel like I can get through whatever and accomplish whatever I put my mind to. Yeah.
Lewis Howes
That's beautiful. What's the biggest lesson your dad taught you from all those years of supporting and coaching and encouraging and investing in time to support you in accomplishing your dreams and goals as well. Hmm.
Chloe Kim
My dad's taught me a lot, and I think very common in Asian families. But dads typically tend to be a bit more emotionally distant. And that's where we butt heads the most.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yeah. Because I would just be having a bad day, whatever, and he would just be so frustrating to me. And, like, my dad's such a talker. He loves talking. Like, if you run into him on the street and say, we know each other, like, he will talk to you for hours. So much to say. But I think my dad is. He taught me. It's a good question. He's taught me so much. Is there anything that really stands out in that way? I think he just taught me how to be like to. He taught me what? Support. Like the true definition of love and just support as a parent. Just blindly trusting that this is gonna work, that we're gonna do everything we can on our end to make this happen. And, like, he's going to love and support me unconditionally, you know, even though some days he's spending all this money to send me off to training and I had a terrible time training, always just like, believe that it's gonna work out some way, shape or form, and that he's going to support me until the very end, until we go completely broke. Which is when I was. Which is when I was going to be 13.
Lewis Howes
And then you started making some money and started working out.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, yeah. Now we're moving now. Like, now we can, like, buy tickets for planes.
Lewis Howes
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Chloe Kim
My advice to you, as someone with
Lewis Howes
no kids, as someone who sounds like a father, that was really encouraging. And I'm sure it wasn't perfect all the time. And it was like, maybe he was hard or whatever. But from what you experienced with your father, any advice of what to do, what not to do, or encouragement for fathers out there?
Chloe Kim
I would say just to be as present as possible. Honestly, I think experience is the greatest teacher. And we can't sit here and be like, well, support them. Like, that could mean different to your daughters. That could mean something entirely different to you. But I think you have to be open to learning and growing and evolving with them and just being present, you know, and just being there.
Lewis Howes
Do you feel like your dad was pretty present most of the time, or was he just driven on you accomplishing and getting better?
Chloe Kim
Mostly, I think he was. My. My dad also definitely has adhd.
Lewis Howes
He's all over the place, too.
Chloe Kim
He's like, all over the place, but he always showed up.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And he. He is the most reliable person in my life. You know, I'll call him and if I'm washing my hands on FaceTime and he hears the sink make a funny sound, he's like, I'm coming over tomorrow afternoon to fix that. Sounds like the water is, like, weird. I think he always similar to me, and I feel like I kind of took this from him. But before I was obsessively thinking about how to be a better snowboarder, he was doing that for me. And so he'd always come up with cool new ideas. My dad recognized one time randomly that, so I'm goofy, right?
Lewis Howes
Which people means what does it mean for people that don't. You're silly in life too?
Chloe Kim
No. So goofy. And snowboarding means that your right foot is forward. But my dad felt like if my back arm was flailing while I was snowboarding, it would make me really unstable.
Lewis Howes
If your left arm was flailing like, my back arm. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
So my dad attached this, like, little tennis keychain. It was a little ball on my pants, and he made me hold that while I was snowboarding and doing tricks. Pretty much.
Lewis Howes
That's interesting.
Chloe Kim
And so now when I snowboard, it was so. But it worked. Like, my arms are very stable as
Lewis Howes
opposed to, like, out here, flailing around out there. And that's what he used to do.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. So it works. My dad was an engineer, so he has this engineer mind, and he's always thinking all these things. And he also. This is before it was common. So when I started doing well in competitions is because I became really good at writing Switch. So switch means I'm riding in the opposite way. So now my left foot is forward, just unnatural to me.
Lewis Howes
So hard. Every time I switch into goofy, I'm like, I feel like I'm going to fall. Every time. Yeah. So you got good at riding both sides.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. So my dad would make me, you know, he'd get mad when I didn't do it because it was so important to him. And in hindsight, for me as a snowboarder now to be good at riding Switch. So whenever I was getting on the chairlift, it had to be switched. Whenever I was riding down to the half pipe had to be switched. Everything had to be switched. I had to, like, do a whole day in the half pipe, just switch. Hitting all the. Going off all the jumps. Switch. Doing everything I could. Switch. Because he really wanted me to get good at writing Switch. And he recognized before I did that. Switch. Writing is going to be really, really helpful. Huge.
Lewis Howes
Oh, it's gonna be huge.
Chloe Kim
Right?
Lewis Howes
And now it's like, you have to, like, reverse almost to be good.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, exactly.
Lewis Howes
It gets you more points, right?
Chloe Kim
Yes. Yeah. So back then, though, no one was really doing that, except for the Sochi gold medalist, Caitlin Farrington. She's really good at spinning backside and was really good at riding. Switch.
Lewis Howes
And you were what, 13 then? Is that right? So he was like, you need to start doing this in order. He really saw the future.
Chloe Kim
He saw me do it way before then, though.
Lewis Howes
Wow. But he saw the future like, okay, when you're 16, when you're 20, when you're 24, if you're not doing this, you're not going to win, or this will give you a greater chance. That's some great vision from your father.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. So we definitely butt heads a lot because to me, I'm like, this is so dumb. Like, I should just be working on bigger tricks in my Natural way. But he was like, no.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So you gotta listen to your dad sometimes. Right. Even if you don't want to.
Chloe Kim
And I do. Yeah. I mean, now we have a much better relationship. I think after the first Olympics, he was kind of able to let me go. He definitely was a tiger parent.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
A thousand percent. Again, I didn't want to snowboard. Like, that wasn't my sport. So I kind of just did it. And, you know.
Lewis Howes
You did it because he wanted you to do it.
Chloe Kim
Pretty much.
Lewis Howes
But at least he was showing up with you all those times. Right. He was like. He had to be on the slopes with you.
Chloe Kim
Exactly.
Lewis Howes
So you're spending some, I guess, quality time together too. You're spending a lot of. Yeah, but he was on top of you.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. My dad was a very intense person, so it was hard. It was hard. I definitely have some trauma, but. But we're in such a good place now that I think as I reflect, you know, whether it be in therapy or on my own, I am really grateful for him. I think, you know, at the end of the day, regardless of how much you love somebody, you can still hurt them. And we definitely hurt each other.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
So, yeah, I think very forgiving. Like, I understand where he's coming from. Like, could he have been a little better? Absolutely. But I can't hold that against him.
Lewis Howes
But he also helped you become the greatest of all time, so that's exactly. And he didn't ruin the relay, he didn't ruin the relationship, which is good. I'm curious. You've mentioned therapy. You've mentioned you've talked to a psychologist before. I've worked with sports psychologists. I've worked with different therapists over the years from my own personal healing journey. What is the biggest lessons you've learned through therapy and starting to create awareness around having ADHD and your own healing experience?
Chloe Kim
I think. I think I started really actually going to therapy. I think it's been almost two years now, and it wasn't sport related, but I. I tried to go to, you know, see sports psychologists and whatnot to get better in my sport, but I. I was getting kind of frustrated because just felt like you guys don't know what I'm talking about. So I don't really want to sit here and explain everything to you because I feel like if I have to explain it to you, you don't understand.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
And I'm paying you to trust them.
Lewis Howes
Yes.
Chloe Kim
Right. I don't trust you at all. And so I was like, okay, maybe I need Therapy. The reason for therapy wasn't sport related. It was mainly because I felt that I wasn't. It just felt like I wasn't being
Lewis Howes
a good person in life. In life, like friends, family, press, or
Chloe Kim
like friends, family, relationships, all of it. I just felt like I was not showing up in the way that I should. And I think that made me very concerned because my intentions are always good. Like, I always want to be a good person, but sometimes it was so hard to be that.
Lewis Howes
And did someone confront you and say, hey, you're not showing up for me? Or you're kind of like, got a bad attitude every time you're around me? Or is it more an intense internal. I'm really, you know, I saw someone was hurt or whatever. Like, how did you come to this?
Chloe Kim
I think it was a combination because I think that everyone in my life is so kind and so supportive and so giving and genuine. And I think that, you know, they also were very understanding that I'm experiencing a lot. You know, they see how busy my life is. They see how much pressure, you know, people are putting on to me. They're seeing all of it.
Lewis Howes
And you're so young at the time. You're 20, 21, whatever it is. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Very unstable feeling. Very unstable person.
Lewis Howes
What are you trying to figure out your life.
Chloe Kim
Exactly.
Lewis Howes
And then start figuring things out. Till my early 30s, yeah. It's like you really don't know who you are. You're as a 21 year old.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
And you have all this pressure and everyone's asking you questions like, yeah.
Chloe Kim
So really grateful for everyone being so understanding. But I think for me, I. I would also catch it, you know, catch it, be like, damn, I don't think that was nice. Yeah. I'm like, I don't think I should have handled things that way. But it was so hard for me to recognize that in the moment, like, stop myself from getting there. So I was like, okay, I'm gonna try to go to therapy. And I love my therapist. She's great, awesome. Love catching up with her. And we made a lot of progress, like, a lot of progress with my mentality. Like, the way that I expressed myself, it was a lot of hard work. I was seeing her three times a week.
Lewis Howes
I've been there. I've done that before. Three times a week. Like five hours on a weekend. Or, you know, I couldn't. Yeah, you gotta go.
Chloe Kim
All emergencies.
Lewis Howes
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chloe Kim
Like, hey, like, I know it's 11, but like, oof, girl, I need you.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
You know, so shout out to her for showing up for me always. But the adhd, I just felt like, you know, I have been working on myself for two years, not expecting a full 180 in two years, but it still feels like a lot of time and, like, a lot of sessions. And she's great, and I feel like I'm being very receptive and I'm doing my best, and I can recognize the changes that I've made through our sessions. However, there's this one little thing that wouldn't quite go away, and it was. I. I just, like, was a very reactive person.
Lewis Howes
Like, if you were triggered by something, you would react.
Chloe Kim
Boom. Explode, explode.
Lewis Howes
Like, how would this be? You'd scream, you'd say something you didn't like, you would walk away.
Chloe Kim
Like, I would feel it. Like, my. I would get so hot, like, so warm. So, like, I. I don't know, like, maybe see red kind of vibes, but not really. Like, I would never hurt anyone. Sure. But just, like, just feel my heart starts racing. Like, my mind is going a million miles an hour. I'm thinking about all these things. And I hated that because I always wanted to be calm, understanding, logical, assess the situation before, you know, having any type of reaction. But I couldn't even do that. I was like, instant boom. I don't like that. That triggered me. Bleh.
Lewis Howes
You say whatever you said.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Or you do something or you walk away or whatever.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, yeah. And like, you know, I'm not breaking stuff.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, yeah.
Chloe Kim
I'm like, you know, very upset. And I didn't like that. And so I just felt like it was more than, like, I didn't feel like. I felt like it was too big of an issue for me to wait another two, three years for it to get better, if that makes sense.
Lewis Howes
Because it wasn't getting better by itself.
Chloe Kim
It wasn't getting. Yeah. Like, you know, I think if I wasn't good at communicating or, like, expressing my emotions, you know, outside of a really, like, triggering environment, that, okay, we can take the two. Two to five years to work on that. But, like, me feeling enraged in that way is not something I want to work towards for another three years.
Lewis Howes
Wow. So you're like, I need this to happen now. I need to resolve this because I
Chloe Kim
didn't like how I felt after. It made me really sad because it's regret, but I just felt like there was nothing I could do to get out of that in those moments. So. Psychiatrist. And mind you, this, these wouldn't happen often. Sure. That's another thing. Like, it wasn't, like, screaming every day, like, freaking out every day. No. But, like, I like structure. I like consistency. I like all of that. And so when all of those things would fall through, like, I would start feeling it.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
So, yeah, I saw a psychiatrist, and he was like, wow. So you have, like, severe adhd. It's severe. And you also have depression and anxiety. But he was like, your ADHD is so severe. Let's regulate that first. Because the depression and the anxiety can also be caused by the adhd.
Lewis Howes
Okay.
Chloe Kim
So, yeah, I feel good.
Lewis Howes
But you feel, like, a lot more, like, calm and relaxed and less reactive.
Chloe Kim
More calm, relaxed. Like, I feel like I had multiple situations come up in the past week where that would have been kind of not triggering, but, like, a little stressful to me and anxiety inducing. But I was like, okay, no worries. Like, let's just pivot.
Lewis Howes
I was like, wow, look at you starting to shift.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, I know. And I also had my A session with my therapist yesterday, and I was like, I still want to work with you, but I feel like now during our sessions, I can actually start just healing my trauma and, like, talking about those things because I'm not so caught up emotionally about what happened two days ago. Now I can start talking about, like, things that I should.
Lewis Howes
Interesting. So a lot of your sessions were around, like, this just happened. I need to figure out what to
Chloe Kim
do now because my mind just is freaking out over here all the time. I was. I was so insane. I would, like, talk to myself in the car because my mind is so crazy that I'm, like, having conversations with myself in the car because my mind will not shut up. Sleeping was terrible, nonstop. So it was like, snowboarding was the most chill time for me because I could just focus on snowboarding.
Lewis Howes
You're in the zone.
Chloe Kim
But the minute I got out of it. Oh, my gosh. Wow.
Lewis Howes
And so now what I'm hearing you say is when you meet with your therapist, you can actually go back to the root of what's causing the stress or where the trigger lies or wherever the wound is, emotionally or psychologically. Right.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. Because I was going to. My therapist already triggered.
Lewis Howes
You're like, I just had this happen today.
Chloe Kim
I don't know how to deal with this. Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
So I'm really excited about that.
Lewis Howes
So you haven't. You haven't unpacked what that kind of deeper root cause is yet. It's just now starting.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Well, I'm excited for you.
Chloe Kim
Thank you.
Lewis Howes
Because this is where I mean, it sounds like you've done a lot of work to get here in the last couple of years, and I encourage you to keep diving deep because it can be terrifying and scary. Yeah, but it can. I used to have chest pain for years, like. Like a sharp chest pain. And I used to feel like someone was choking me.
Chloe Kim
Oh, my gosh.
Lewis Howes
Just because of the psychological and emotional wounds that I was holding on to from the past. And I remember after going deeper and deeper into therapy, I. I got to a place where I could finally, like, heal my heart. As weird as this sounds, like the pain, in a moment, it, like, all made sense in my nervous system where the pain went away and I felt free for the first time.
Chloe Kim
Wow, that's amazing.
Lewis Howes
The first time. This is about four or five years ago.
Chloe Kim
And how long did that process take?
Lewis Howes
I mean, I've been doing different therapy. I mean, I started when I was. I'm 43 now, so I started when I was 30, kind of going to workshops and doing therapy. I did that for maybe a year, two years. And it really helped me heal a lot. I mean, I went through a lot of stuff as well. But then I maybe didn't go back for many years because I felt, like, a lot better. But then new things came up from a different relationship that triggered me, and I was like, oh, there's still more inside of me that's holding me back, and why do I have this pain and why is this going on? So I went back again, and I felt like, it doesn't mean every day is perfect. I still get frustrated, but I don't hold on to the pain. Yeah, I still can get triggered and reactive, but I don't explode like I did 10, 15 years ago.
Chloe Kim
Right.
Lewis Howes
So I react in different ways. I catch myself much faster, and I typically respond a lot better. Yeah, I'm not like, yeah, I shouldn't have done that anymore. You know, Whereas in the past I was like, I really need to apologize. You know, what I said or how I reacted.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Lewis Howes
Now I'm just like, okay, I just didn't feel good. But I learned to respond with more peace, where I learned to, like, pause and not say anything until I was ready or. I didn't send that email from her anger. I slept on it, and then I edited it, and then I said that, you know, it's like. It's learning. Yeah, I guess. The psychological and emotional tools.
Chloe Kim
Damn, you're sending off heated emails.
Lewis Howes
I mean, text emails. I mean, all sorts of stuff, probably. I mean, I can't remember how this stuff you know, but it's like, I got into fistfights, you know, playing basketball games in West Hollywood. Probably right near. Right near where you train.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
I was in the basketball court 13 years ago, and I got a fistfight for just being triggered by a guy.
Chloe Kim
Oh, my gosh.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. It was, like, explosive. And so I've had to learn how to heal. But it's all coming from a root cause of, like, the wounds.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, totally.
Lewis Howes
And, you know, you had different wounds, I had wounds. Everyone's got wounds. But it's learning how to mend those wounds have given me a lot of peace.
Chloe Kim
Absolutely.
Lewis Howes
And then it's also refreshing and staying in that process of healing, as it's always. It's an ongoing journey.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
You know, it's just like, I could easily fall back into it if I'm not practicing. And so that's why I'm really excited to hear this about you, because I think a lot of people might see you and say, you know, Chloe's got it all figured out. She's a world champion. She's the greatest of all time. She's got it put together. She's got the great relationship. You know, she's Fashion Week. She's doing all the cool things. But to hear you speak about this, wow. It's not a facade. It's a part of what you've created. But what I'm hearing you say, this is the stuff I'm most excited about, because I think so many people hearing this, it gives them permission to say, oh, okay, if I've got some triggers, it's okay for me to go and look into it. And it's not something I have to be ashamed of. It's something I could be excited about figuring out how to respond differently. And so I'm really excited that you're sharing this.
Chloe Kim
Thank you. And thank you for sharing. Wow. Look at us. You deserve one of these. Look at us.
Lewis Howes
I just think it's, you know, as an athlete, I grew up playing sports, and I was. You know, I played arena football, so I was never good as your boyfriend, but I played arena football, and I was a decathlete, and.
Chloe Kim
Oh, wow.
Lewis Howes
And I'm currently, you know, I was on the usa.
Chloe Kim
That's intense.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. I mean, I've had my own sports journey, and I love your advice as well. I don't know if you see this over here. This is a handball. I'm currently. I've been on the USA national team for team handball for almost a decade, so I'm still pursuing my olympic dream in LA 2028. And I haven't been on the USA team in about five years, but I played for almost a decade with the team. So I'm trying to get back into the USA National Team to go to the Olympics here in LA to In two and a half years. And it's my own journey because most of the athletes are 23 years old. I'm 43, so I'm 20 years older than most of the athletes. So I've got my own challenges that I'm facing right now. And at this age, it's not about training 10 hours a day and over going the extra mile. It's actually about doing the bare minimum at the highest level as possible so I can recover more.
Chloe Kim
Right, right.
Lewis Howes
And so I'm curious, and I really believe the emotional healing has given me the longevity as an athlete as well. So I'm curious your advice for me as an athlete trying to pursue the Olympic dream where there's no guarantee for me and this will be my last chance. LA 2028. What advice do you have for me as I've been pursuing this for 16 years, trying to being on and off the USA National Team, and I'm still pursuing it at this season of life. Any advice you have for me with all the experience, wisdom, and success you have as an Olympian.
Chloe Kim
Oh, my gosh. I feel like I can't give you advice on this because what you're doing is so incredible.
Lewis Howes
Thank you. There's no guarantees I'm gonna make the team.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. But I don't think that matters. I think what matters right now is that when you are working so hard to accomplish this dream of yours, I think that's incredible in itself. I think the only thing I would say maybe, is to not compare yourself to anybody. You know, you truly don't know what's going on. It maybe isn't all glitz and glamour, like, as we're learning about ourselves. Just do what you do best. You know, there's only one you. And just because you're a little bit older than everyone else doesn't mean that you won't be able to accomplish it. I think at the end of the day, hard work beats talent, and it sounds like you're working pretty damn hard.
Lewis Howes
Working hard. Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
Chloe Kim
I mean, you've already won.
Lewis Howes
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Chloe Kim
Control what you can control. You know, like you. The things you can control. You can work hard, you can be disciplined, you can, you know, be mindful about your recovery. Invest in yourself. Though it may seem selfish in the beginning, it's not. I think investing in yourself is the greatest gift that you could give yourself. I think set little goals and I think it makes the journey much more exciting than dreadful. Yeah, I think it's so easy to look 2, 5, 10 years into the future and being like, oh my gosh, that's so crazy. Like, I don't know if I'll be able to do that. I'm not. Maybe, you know, I'm not good enough yet. I don't know if I'll be healthy. I don't know what my life is going to look like that I'm scared. My therapist tells me that humans are naturally scared of the unknown. So that anxiety, the feeling fear, the doubt is so natural and normal. But at the end of the day, if you set small goals for yourself, control what you can control. I feel like you're going to look up one day and be exactly where you wanted to be. Yeah.
Lewis Howes
It's so interesting now we're talking and you're saying this to me, that you're actually a part of my Olympic journey dream. Because two years ago I hadn't played in four years because I got injured. I hurt my Achilles. So I was playing up until about 2020 and then Covid happened. I was going through a breakup, I hurt my Achilles and I was like, maybe I'm done, maybe this Olympic dream is over. And then a couple years go by and I start recovering and I actually call Vinnie and I say, vinny, this dream is still alive, this Olympic dream. I go, can you help me? Give me a game plan and work with me. And he goes, connect with Roy. Come in here. Come into mild detox. I'll work on you. Connect with Roy. And so I started training with Roy and probably, I don't know, six months after that I meet you and I see you in there and he's like, yeah, Chloe's in here and she's working on her stuff. And so you're actually a part of my Olympic journey is inspiring me. When we were in the gym together and it's kind of cool, you know, two years later now we're talking about this and there's two more years to go for this journey for me.
Chloe Kim
But I'm so excited for you.
Lewis Howes
Yeah, it's cool. I'm curious about you mentioned like this doubt again and I've got a few more questions for you. But you mentioned about this doubt. How do people, a lot of people, tie their self worth with their performance and the results? How have you learned to not tie your inner self worth with the results of Olympic gold or success?
Chloe Kim
I think you just have to be present. I think we accomplish so many great things on a day to day basis. You know, whether it be getting up in the morning, you know, taking care of ourselves, spending time with our loved ones, whatever that may be. I think that it's so again easy to look at other people's lives and compare yourselves and maybe wish that that were yours. But I Always think that you're exactly where you're supposed to be. And, like, I think awards and all of that are great. It's instant gratification. You're standing at the top of the podium, you're walking away with this big trophy. But as somebody who's experienced it multiple times, I would say that at the end of the day, it never. After the first. The first gold medal, it doesn't hit the same.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yeah. And I think I wish that I had celebrated maybe, like, my smaller wins, and maybe if I had done that, all my wins would have met a bit more.
Lewis Howes
Did you ever celebrate the wins or did you just kind of like, on to the next. On to the next?
Chloe Kim
It was always on to the next.
Lewis Howes
Really?
Chloe Kim
Yes. Like, after my first gold, I started prepping for my next competition, and it was a little hectic because I had to do a bunch of press after the Olympics. And, like, you know, even after my first X Games medal when I was 13, I was, like, the youngest to get a medal. It was just straight to the next. I went to, you know, Switzerland in my next event. Like, I never took a moment to celebrate my wins.
Lewis Howes
Do you even. Do you even have, like, dinner afterwards and say, okay, let's celebrate this and have a moment? Or was it more of, like.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, but I feel like I also just was. I am more of an introvert. I just want to lay in bed. I'm tired. I'm overstimulated. I just want to lay down. But I also think that my mindset was a bit messed up because I always felt like every time I was on the podium, I was like, well, yeah, sorry, I shouldn't be.
Lewis Howes
I'm meant to be here.
Chloe Kim
I'm meant to be here. Like, I have to be here. And that was really hard for me. And I experienced that for over 10 years. I was like, yeah. Well, I felt like if I didn't win, that was a problem, you know, then I did bad if I didn't win. And that was something I had to talk my way out of.
Lewis Howes
Like, mental. Mental talk. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Because it became so toxic, and I didn't like the way it made me feel.
Lewis Howes
How'd you learn to talk? What did you say? To talk yourself out of that, or what did you think?
Chloe Kim
I think that. I don't know if I really had to. I think it was more of a shift in perspective where I recognize that I love all the girls I compete with, and I'm so happy for them. And genuinely, I am. And I'm not saying Like, I would be bummed if I didn't win. You know, I've gotten, like, yes, I've won a lot, but I've also not won a lot. And at the end of the day, I'm so happy for all the girls. And I think it had to happen to me once where, you know, I was on. Had a winning streak, and then, like, one of my good friends took the gold. And I genuinely was so happy for her because in that moment, I was like, dude, we train together.
Lewis Howes
This is her dream also.
Chloe Kim
Yes. Like, you are working your butt off just like I am where you're. I've seen her get injured. Like, I've seen her come back stronger. I've seen her. Her name's Korault. She's Spanish. I love her to death. But she kind of broke this winning streak I had, and I was like, I am so happy for you. And I think once I experienced that, it's like, okay, yeah, this is fine. This is great, because I do love them. I just think I needed to experience it to form an opinion on it.
Lewis Howes
Because you hadn't lost in, like, years, probably.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
You're like, eight years in. I haven't lost.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Interesting.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
So you took. I mean, and you probably got second or third or something, I'm assuming. So it wasn't like, oh, you know. But what did losing teach you about your life?
Chloe Kim
Well, one, I think. I don't think you could ever call it losing. And that's something you have to learn. Teach yourself, too, as you navigate this, because there's no such thing as losing. I think everybody. It's such an easy thing to say and an easy way to describe something that is complex. So it's almost unfair. So I think not winning a goal doesn't mean that you failed. It means that you showed up. You still showed up, and you still got there, and you still went out there and gave it your all. And I think that alone is winning. I think that's the whole point of sport is showing up even in moments of doubt, even in moments of, like, you know, just hardship and struggling and all of that. There are so many moments where I'm like, I don't know if I could make it to tomorrow. I don't know if I can show up tomorrow. I don't know if I have it in me. I had such a hard day today. I suck. Like, I'm so scared I'm not going to do well in my competition tomorrow. And if you remove yourself from it, it doesn't matter. Like, it doesn't matter. I'm so grateful for all the experiences I've had because, again, there's so many lessons I've learned through snowboarding that I would have learned so much later down the line in life that I'm at an advantage in life. Like, now I'm in this place where I'm turning 26 this year, and I feel like I have 60 years of wisdom.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
That's beautiful.
Chloe Kim
I'm sure you've experienced that, too, through sport. Right?
Lewis Howes
I mean, sports taught me everything. I mean, I didn't do well in school. I was, like, bottom of my class, and I couldn't pay attention, you know, so sports was my outlet. It's where I learned all my lessons.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
And it's. It's taught me so much. I want to be where I am without sports.
Chloe Kim
Exactly.
Lewis Howes
But you know what I'm hearing you say, there is no losing. It's either you win or you learn. It's kind of what I'm hearing you say. It's like you're learning about how you showed up. I think that's really cool, and I'm really grateful for you showing up. Chloe, I've got two final questions. That's okay. Before I ask you the final questions, is there any question you wish people asked you more?
Chloe Kim
Is this one of the final questions?
Lewis Howes
No, it's not. It's not.
Chloe Kim
I don't think so. I think I really appreciate people's curiosity towards me. I really do appreciate it. I think wanting to be known is to be loved. So, you know, if you see me, obviously, unless you're asking me a good, genuinely stupid question that you know is stupid, like, I. And I feel like I could sense that, or if you want to joke with me, no worries. Like, I'll laugh along, whatever. But I, you know, if people see me out and about, I want them to ask away. I feel like I love sharing whatever I can. I love. I would love if people could learn a little something from me. It doesn't have to be much whatever, whether it be, like, the type of blush I use to, like, you know, my mindset going into the competition. Whatever you need from me about you. Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Well, in some other interview, they can ask you about the blush you use. I'm going to go about the mindset. You got other platforms for that? For me, I'm fascinated about mindset. And for me, it's like, you are the best in the world at what you do, and this is the school of greatness, not the school of Average. So it's about understanding the way you think, the way you feel, how you respond. And I'm grateful that you're opening up about the things you're learning at this season of life with all the success you have, knowing there's deeper levels of peace and prosperity and abundance in you. So I'm really excited about that. I think it's going to help a lot of people. So thank you for sharing that. This is a question, the final two questions. Before I ask them, I want people to follow you on social media. Chloe Kim, on Instagram and all the different places you're on a media run right now, you're still in the Olympic season. So again, I want people to watch all your stuff and check you out on social media and see what you're up to. Is there anywhere else we should send people to. To follow you or to be a part of your platforms?
Chloe Kim
You know what's so funny is I am so bad on social media. I got social media a lot later than my friends did.
Lewis Howes
Just your parents wouldn't let you or there was that.
Chloe Kim
I just had no interest.
Lewis Howes
You're like, I just want to snowboard.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. And I was also the kid that, you know, growing up. I have two sisters. They're my half sisters. And I only say that because there's a quite, quite a big age gap, 10 and 15 years. So while they're watching TV in the house, like, I was digging up isopods in the front yard, like, trying to find bugs and, like, you know, finding little spiders and stuff. I just like being outside more.
Lewis Howes
That's great.
Chloe Kim
So I actually got social media out of necessity because it was when I was 13 and I just qualified for the Olympics. Couldn't go. And everyone was like, you need to get Instagram. That's where things are going. Yeah, but I'm trying. But also, like, don't be surprised if in five years, my Instagram's completely gone and I'm on a ranch somewhere. That's my dream.
Lewis Howes
That's good.
Chloe Kim
Yeah.
Lewis Howes
Okay, cool. This question is something I ask everyone at the end. It's called the Three Truths. So it's a hypothetical question. Imagine you get to live as long as you want to live on this earth, and you're as old as you want to be, and you get to create and experience and accomplish all of your wildest dreams from this moment until that day. And maybe that's you living on a ranch for the rest of your life. I don't know. But hypothetically, it's the end of Your life. And for whatever reason, everything you've seen, shared this conversation, all the videos you've ever made are gone. This hypothetical world. But on the last day, you get to leave behind three lessons, three truths that you feel are true to you from your experiences, that you would share with people. And this is all we would have of your lessons and your content. What would those three truths or three lessons be for you?
Chloe Kim
I feel like on my PR ones I were like, be kind, be grateful,
Lewis Howes
you know, but what's the real. What's really. What's really inside of you, though?
Chloe Kim
Well, I think three might take me a while, but the first one that jumped at me was keep learning. And I only say this because my dad is 70, he's currently in Japan going to culinary school.
Lewis Howes
That's cool.
Chloe Kim
And my dad.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
Is also learning Japanese.
Lewis Howes
Wow.
Chloe Kim
And he is walking to his classes every day. It's a two mile walk. And he just has always had such a curious mind and just this need for knowledge. And I think he's really inspired me to just, no matter how old you are, you can always try something, learn something, experience something new for the first time.
Lewis Howes
That's cool.
Chloe Kim
So chills, right? He's awesome. I love. I'll show you a picture of him in his school uniform. He looks so cute.
Lewis Howes
That's cool. Yeah, please. Deal. Keep learning would be your first truth.
Chloe Kim
Yes. My second truth. Take care of yourself. Kind of a broader lesson, but whatever that means to you, for me, taking care of myself is putting myself first. I will always do my best to achieve my dreams, my hopes, my ambitions. And taking care of myself also means to show up for others because that means a lot to me. I love being the supportive character in one's life. So that's a big part of it. Third, have fun. Honestly, have fun. Just have fun. Live your best life. I know this is so cliche, but like, I mean, I guess when I was a teenager, everyone was like, yolo, yolo. You only live once. But like, you do only live once. You enjoy it.
Lewis Howes
That's cool.
Chloe Kim
And I think these days, whenever I'm going through a difficult time, I try to think about things that I'm grateful for, things that make me happy. I am surrounded by the most incredible people. I feel like I have such a great support system. You know, if I'm having a bad day, I'll call Miles and like, we'll play games together and that cheers me up. Or like call my best friends. They'll always cheer me up, sharing funny stories. I think the Goal is always to start my day with a smile and end it with one.
Lewis Howes
That's beautiful.
Chloe Kim
That's. That's what I strive for. I don't know if those are good lessons. I'm, like, so powerful.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. And maybe at the end of your life, you'll have different ones, but I think that's. Those are three great ones.
Chloe Kim
I know. Should I meet back here in, like, 30 years?
Lewis Howes
Yeah, sooner than that. Yeah, sooner than that. You'll be back here. Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Update.
Lewis Howes
Exactly. I'll do an update in a few years. Before I ask the final question. Chloe, I want to acknowledge you because for me, I'm always trying to find people to bring on here who can share unique experiences of life. And you have such a unique experience. And I just think you have a fascinating mindset, the way you analyze how you live your life. I know you're laughing, but for me, it's like, most people never have access to this type of information. And I haven't seen you share this much on how you think about pressure, performance, overcoming challenges, therapy, healing, psychology, all in one place. Maybe there's little different things around, but. So for me, this is like a masterclass of understanding your mindset of how to live the best life possible.
Chloe Kim
Does it make sense?
Lewis Howes
For me, it does.
Chloe Kim
Okay.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. For me it does. No, for me, it does. But it's like, I've been asking these questions for people for 13 years on, I guess, every week. So I think it's fascinating because you. And from this conversation, I've learned that for most of your life, you were driven to accomplish and achieve at the highest level. And in some ways, it came easily for you because you were talented, but it became easily because you were obsessed with, like, going all in and visualizing and rehearsing in your mind and seeing an idea and saying all night, how can I make this happen tomorrow? And then doing it and acting. Acting that for 20 years, essentially, almost, you know? So for me, that level of commitment to accomplishing a dream is really inspiring. But then also on the other side, saying, okay. I also recognize there are certain parts of me that I don't like right now or maybe I didn't like a couple years ago. And so how can I become better at those things as well? How can I use what I learned in sports for myself? I think that's beautiful. How can I be a better human, a better friend, a better partner, all these different things, A better daughter? You know, it's like. And how can you show up for yourself first at this season So I think it's really beautiful. I think it's inspiring, and I hope a lot of people get value from your lessons.
Chloe Kim
Thank you.
Lewis Howes
And I just think, again, this is a master class that you've shared here on the school of greatness. So I'm grateful. And I acknowledge you for opening up and for being real and authentic and showing us a little bit more behind the way you think. Because I think a lot of people, it will help them understand their own life by understanding. So. So, yeah, and hopefully we get you back on in a few years and you can give us more lessons about healing and therapy and all the things you're learning.
Chloe Kim
Yeah. I love yapping.
Lewis Howes
Perfect. Just like your dad, right?
Chloe Kim
Exactly. But I'm like, introverted.
Lewis Howes
I know, but I like yapping. You like it? Yeah.
Chloe Kim
Like a shy yapper.
Lewis Howes
I like it. I like a shy yapper. Hashtag shy yapping. Final question, Chloe. What is your definition of greatness?
Chloe Kim
My definition of greatness? Me, myself, and I. So funny. Me, myself and I. I think, yeah, I'm great. I bet I deserve it, you know, and I think we all do.
Lewis Howes
Yeah.
Chloe Kim
I think there's no greater feeling than accomplishing everything you've wanted and more. But then it's funny because I want more than that, too, you know, there's so many other things I want to be great at. So I feel like definition of greatness to me, today is going to shift and I'm going to be achieving, like, the best version of myself, you know, in like, whatever journey I decide to go on next. But I'm pretty good, right? I'm going to sit in my greatness for a couple, maybe a little bit more, and then I'll think about the next definition.
Lewis Howes
I love it.
Chloe Kim
But, yeah, everyone's great. You're great.
Lewis Howes
Yeah. Awesome. Chloe, thank you so much for being here. Appreciate you.
Chloe Kim
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Lewis Howes
I hope you enjoyed today's episode and it inspired you on your journey towards greatness. Make sure to check out the show notes in the description for a full rundown of today's episode with all the important links and if you want weekly exclusive bonus episodes with me personally as well as ad free listening, then make sure to subscribe to our greatness+channel exclusively on Apple Podcasts. Share this with a friend on social media and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts as well. Let me know what you enjoyed about this episode in that review. I really love hearing feedback from you and it helps us figure out how we can support and serve you moving forward and I want to remind you if no one has told you lately that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter. And now it's time to go out there and do something great.
Chloe Kim
Walmart business saves you time, money and hassle. Which means you can focus on what really matters. Like putting the money you save back into what you do. Spending more more time training your team, filling orders and finding new clients. Anything and everything. Right down to, oh, that's the one choosing the best hold music. Walmart Business. It's the Walmart you love now for your business. Learn more@business.walmart.com
Lewis Howes
I checked Allstate first and saved hundreds on my car insurance. Really smart. Unfortunately, I didn't check if I took the gas hose out of my car's tank.
Chloe Kim
Oh, not smart.
Lewis Howes
And I drove off while still attached to pump number three.
Chloe Kim
Yeah, checking first is smart. So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. Potential savings vary, subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.
Podcast Summary: The School of Greatness
Episode: How to Perform Under Pressure Without Losing Yourself | Chloe Kim
Host: Lewis Howes
Guest: Chloe Kim, Olympic Snowboarder
Release Date: April 29, 2026
In this inspiring episode, Lewis Howes interviews Chloe Kim, the youngest woman ever to win Olympic gold in snowboarding and an icon in her sport. Chloe dives deep into the mental, emotional, and physical challenges she’s overcome on her journey, sharing raw insights on performing under pressure, managing expectations, and finding balance beyond the podium. She vulnerably discusses the struggles behind the gold medals, her recent ADHD diagnosis, her evolving relationship with herself and her family, and the lessons learned through both therapy and competition. The conversation is rich with practical advice on grit, self-doubt, healing, and defining self-worth beyond external achievements.
The conversation is open, heartfelt, and deeply honest, blending the practical wisdom of an elite athlete with the lived experience of a young woman growing into herself. Chloe’s down-to-earth, humorous, and candid style breaks the stereotype of the unreachable sports superstar, making her story resonant and relatable for anyone who chases big dreams or wants to heal and grow along the way.
This episode delivers far more than tales of gold medals. It’s a masterclass on resilience, humility, and holistic greatness—on the mountain, in relationships, and within oneself. Both Lewis and Chloe model that the real work (and the real win) is learning how to show up authentically, stay kind to yourself through adversity, and keep growing, no matter what the scoreboard says.