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Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Vincent Zhou on How to Make Your Gold Medal Dreams a Reality | 588

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

John R. Miles

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

4.7 • 779 Ratings

🗓️ 21 March 2025

⏱️ 81 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this powerful and inspiring episode of Passion Struck, Olympic figure skater and gold medalist Vincent Zhou joins John R. Miles to reveal what it truly takes to make your gold medal dreams a reality. From his early days as a fiercely competitive child to landing the first-ever quad Lutz in Olympic history, Vincent shares the grit, sacrifice, and relentless mindset required to compete at the highest level.He opens up about the unimaginable heartbreak of missing his individual Olympic event in 2022 due to COVID, the resilience it took to keep going, and the symbolic weight of finally receiving his gold medal—two and a half years later.Vincent also dives into the power of mentorship, community, and character-building, and how he’s now using his journey to inspire and support the next generation of elite athletes through the Institute for Civic Leadership (ICL).Full Shownotes here:  https://passionstruck.com/vincent-zhou-make-your-gold-medal-dreams-reality/What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
  • How to turn early passion into an elite-level career
  • - The power of grit and why talent alone isn’t enough
  • - How to overcome setbacks and mental blocks in high-performance fields
  • - What it was like to compete against childhood idols—and win
  • - Why mentorship and community are critical for long-term success
  • - The emotional toll of losing an Olympic opportunity and how to recover
  • - How Vincent ultimately achieved his gold medal dream—and why it meant more than just winning
For more information on Vincent Zhou: https://www.instagram.com/govincentzhou/Sponsors:
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  • Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at “MINT MOBILE dot com slash PASSION.”
  • Hims: Start your journey to regrowing hair with Hims. Visit hims.com/PASSIONSTRUCK for your free online visit.
  • Quince: Discover luxury at affordable prices with Quince. Enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/PASSION
Next on Passion Struck:
In the next episode of Passion Struck, John sits down with Anne Marie Anderson, an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, sports journalist, and leadership expert. Anne Marie has spent years breaking barriers in sports media, navigating high-stakes environments, and coaching top athletes and executives on leadership, resilience, and communication. In our conversation, we'll dive into the mental frameworks of high performers, the art of storytelling, and how to build confidence in any field.For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals.Join the Passion Struck Community!
Sign up for the Live Intentionally newsletter, where I share exclusive content, actionable advice, and insights to help you ignite your purpose and live your most intentional life. Get access to practical exercises, inspiring stories, and tools designed to help you grow. Learn more and sign up here.Speaking Engagements & Workshops
Are you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I’m available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let’s work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking.Episode Starter Packs
With over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’ve curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks.Catch More of Passion Struck:If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.How to Connect with John:Want to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com and find out today!

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Disclaimer

The Passion Struck podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Passion Struck or its affiliates. This podcast is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological advice.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Coming up next on Passion Struck.

0:02.0

I just remember the feeling of stepping on the ice and not knowing what I was doing there.

0:06.0

And that's a really scary feeling because when you've been passion struck your whole life,

0:12.0

and all of a sudden you step into the familiar arena, but you feel nothing.

0:17.0

You feel nothing. It's terrifying.

0:18.0

It feels like you question everything.

0:20.0

You don't know what's happening. You don't know why it's happening. You realize it's probably up here, but you start trying to find physical reasons to turn it around because that's something you can tangibly change in the moment. But at the end of the day, that's the wrong reason. So you end up seeding more doubt and more doubt into your mind. And it's just a negative spiral. Welcome to Passionstruck. Hi,

0:43.4

I'm your host, John R. Miles. And on the show, we decipher the secrets, tips, and guidance of the

0:49.3

world's most inspiring people and turned their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you.

0:55.8

Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the best

1:02.2

version of yourself. If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions

1:07.4

on Fridays. We have long-form interviews the rest of the week with guests

1:11.7

ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders,

1:19.2

visionaries, and athletes. Now, let's go out there and become Passionstruck. Hey, Passionstruck,

1:25.3

fam, welcome to episode 58. Whether you're a long-time listener

1:29.2

or joining us for the first time, I am so ecstatic you're here. You've turned into a movement

1:34.5

dedicated to unlocking your potential, living with intention, and making what truly matters matter most.

1:41.1

Before we dive in, let's take a moment to reflect on the powerful conversations

1:45.2

from earlier this week. On Tuesday, I sat down with NIR AIL to discuss how we can break free

1:51.5

from distractions and master the art of deep focus. Then, on Thursday, Anne-Marie Anderson

1:57.8

joined me to explore the intersection of storytelling, leadership, and performance,

2:03.3

and how we can show up more powerfully in every area of our life. If you've missed either of these,

...

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