Skateboarding Legend Tom Schaar on How to Fall 999 Times and Still Win | EP 603

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

John R. Miles

Mental Health, Alternative Health, Education, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 779 Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this powerful episode of Passion Struck, John R. Miles sits down with Olympic silver medalist and skateboarding legend Tom Schaar, the first person in history to land a 1080—a mind-blowing three full spins mid-air. But Tom’s story isn’t just about defying gravity. It’s about defying doubt, embracing failure, and staying grounded while the world spins around you.At just 12 years old, Tom did what no one had ever done in skateboarding. But what most people didn’t see were the 999 failed attempts it took to get there. In this intimate and inspiring conversation, Tom opens up about the mental discipline behind his success, how he handles fear, the evolution of his mindset from prodigy to pro, and what keeps him pushing limits even after Olympic podiums.Whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to overcome a personal hurdle—this conversation is for you.Click here for the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/tom-schaar-how-to-fall-999-times-and-still-win/Join the Ignition Room!
Join the new Passion Struck Community! - The Ignition Room: https://station.page/passionstruckKey Takeaways:

What landing the first 1080 really required—physically and mentally
Why failure isn’t a setback but a prerequisite to growth
How Tom manages fear and high-stakes pressure in competition
The surprising truth about balance—on a board and in life
What keeps him grounded and hungry after Olympic glory
How the mindset of micro-improvement has fueled his entire career

For more information on Tom Schaar: https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/tom-schaarSponsors:

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Coming up next on Passionstruck.
0:02.2	At the end of the day, I'm very lucky that this gets to be my job.
0:06.1	And I remind myself of that every day, not to ever really lose my mind over skating or anything like that.
0:12.5	I do take it pretty seriously.
0:14.3	And I do try and do the best that I can always.
0:18.7	But my job is what I wanted to do when I was a kid, so I'm
0:22.6	very lucky in that aspect of it. But I think a lot of random little kids will come up to me at
0:28.4	the skate park, and they tell me how cool it is that I get to do this as my job. And that always
0:35.0	reminds me. It's very lucky that I'm not doing something else.
0:38.1	Hopefully, if someone watches me skate, it can bring them a little bit of joy,
0:40.9	try and inspire kids to be better. I'll try my best be a good example.
0:45.5	Welcome to Passionstruck. Hi, I'm your host, John R. Miles. And on the show,
0:49.5	we decipher the secrets, tips, and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their
0:55.8	wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you. Our mission is to help you unlock
1:02.1	the power of intentionality so that you can become the best version of yourself. If you're new to the
1:07.9	show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays.
1:12.4	We have long-form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to
1:17.4	authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes.
1:24.8	Now let's go out there and become Passionstruck. Welcome to Passionstruck episode
1:29.8	603. Whether this is your first time tuning in, or you've been with us for a while, thank you for
1:35.6	joining a movement that's all about defying limits, living with intention, and making what truly
1:40.3	matters matter most. Now let me ask you something. What does it take to defy gravity, literally and metaphorically?
	...

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