Ep. 136: ⁠How Jasmine Jones Built a Champion Mindset: Resilience & Discipline

Jasmine Jones is an Airman in the United States Air Force, a High-Performance Athlete with Team USA Bobsled, Mid-American Conference Most Outstanding Track Performer, First Team College All-American, Bobsleigh Bronze Medalist in the 2026 Winter Olympics (which ended EMU’s 42-year drought without a US Olympic medal for the university’s athletes) and a single Mom.

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Quick Episode Summary:

Air Force Olympian Jasmine Jones discusses resilience, motherhood, bobsled journey.

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People and Names mentioned in the episode:

Riley Tejcek

Alex Klein

Kelly Curtis

Coach Chris Best / Eastern Michigan

Coach Christopher Fogt / USA Bobsled Coach

Elana Meyers Taylor

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🔥 Torch Takeaways Include:

◼ Embrace the Power of Perseverance: Jasmine Jones overcame personal and professional setbacks, showing that the drive to keep going, even when doors seem closed, can lead to extraordinary achievements.

◼ Prioritize Mental Fitness: Success isn’t just physical. Jasmine Jones credits her growth to strengthening her mindset, highlighting the importance of mental health practices, visualization, and having a strong support system.

◼ Lead by Example and Lift Others: As a single mom and athlete, Jasmine Jones models for her daughter and listeners alike that with discipline and purpose, you can thrive in multiple arenas, and inspire those around you to do the same.

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Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Balancing work, parenting, and training

03:45 Joining the Air Force and training

07:14 Gaining discipline through life challenges

12:26 Mindful practices and rituals

16:19 Perseverance and staying motivated

19:21 Importance of mental health

20:35 Mental fitness in professional sports

25:28 Riley's dedication and hard work

29:12 Favorite celebratory meal

30:46 Dreaming of a hometown event

33:22 Balancing career and parenthood

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Quotes to open episodes:

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive”

“If God said it, that’s the end of it.” - Christine Vincent 

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Jasmine's Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayye_jazzj/ 

Transcript

Full Podcast Summary: Ep. 136 | How Jasmine Jones Built a Champion Mindset: Resilience & Discipline

Jasmine Jones joins Passing The Torch to share her remarkable journey from working everyday jobs and raising a daughter as a single mother to becoming an Olympic bronze medalist, Air Force athlete, and one of Team USA's top bobsled competitors. The conversation centers on resilience, mental fitness, discipline, faith, and perseverance. 

Episode Overview

Jasmine's story is not one of overnight success. She discusses how she balanced work, childcare, and athletic training while pursuing a dream that often seemed out of reach. Her path included setbacks, financial struggles, family loss, self-doubt, and missed opportunities before ultimately reaching the Olympic podium. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes that success is built through consistency, mindset, and refusing to quit. 

Key Themes

1. From Ordinary Jobs to Olympic Glory

Before becoming an Olympian, Jasmine worked numerous jobs, including:

• Call center representative
• Sporting goods retail associate
• Security guard at a General Motors plant

While working full-time and raising her daughter, she trained for bobsled whenever she could. She explains that survival and determination forced her to become resourceful and disciplined. 

2. Why the Air Force Changed Everything

Jasmine credits the Air Force and the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) with helping her pursue elite athletics while maintaining career stability.

The Air Force provided:

• Financial stability
• Structure and discipline
• The ability to focus on training
• Long-term security for her daughter

She describes joining the Air Force as a pivotal decision that accelerated her athletic development and eventually helped her become an Olympic medalist. 

3. Motherhood Became Her Greatest Motivation

One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers on being a single mother.

Rather than slowing her down, motherhood:

• Increased her sense of responsibility
• Strengthened her work ethic
• Gave her a deeper purpose
• Motivated her to create a better future

She explains that when another person depends on you, quitting becomes less of an option. 

4. The Transition from Track & Field to Bobsled

Jasmine was an elite collegiate track athlete and All-American performer at Eastern Michigan University.

After college, she received an invitation from Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor to explore bobsled.

Initially unfamiliar with the sport, Jasmine saw it as another pathway toward competing at the highest level. What started as an opportunity eventually became her Olympic career. 

The Mindset Behind Success

5. Learning to Believe She Belonged

Jasmine discusses the moment she stopped feeling like an outsider and began believing she belonged among elite athletes.

Her confidence grew through:

• Small victories
• Technical improvements
• Competition success
• Evidence of progress

Instead of waiting to feel confident, confidence emerged through action and consistent growth.

6. Letting Go of Pressure

A major turning point came after the death of her grandfather ("Hook'em").

She realized she was carrying excessive pressure and trying to succeed for everyone else.

Eventually, she learned:

• Loved ones would be proud regardless
• Performance improves when pressure decreases
• Success must come from internal motivation

This mental shift helped unlock higher performance and greater peace. 

7. Mental Fitness Is the Hidden Competitive Advantage

Perhaps the strongest recurring theme throughout the episode is mental health and mental fitness.

Jasmine argues that athletes often focus heavily on physical training while neglecting mental conditioning.

She credits her growth to:

• Therapy
• Visualization
• Mindfulness
• Breathing exercises
• Strong support systems
• Faith

According to Jasmine, mental fitness can elevate performance just as much as physical preparation. 

Faith and Preparation

8. How She Handles Olympic Pressure

When years of preparation come down to a few seconds on the starting line, Jasmine relies on:

• Visualization exercises
• Breathing techniques
• Bible verses
• Gospel music
• Pre-race rituals

Rather than trying to eliminate pressure, she creates routines that help her remain calm and focused. 

One of her favorite verses is:

Isaiah 40:31

A verse centered on perseverance, strength, and endurance. 

Lessons on Perseverance

9. Keep Going

When asked what she would tell a younger version of herself after missing Olympic opportunities, her answer was simple:

"Keep going."

She emphasizes:

• Failure is temporary
• Missing one opportunity doesn't end the dream
• Persistence creates future opportunities

Her Olympic bronze medal was the result of years of continuing forward despite disappointment. 

10. Turning Adversity Into Fuel

Jasmine encourages listeners to:

• Acknowledge pain
• Process grief
• Seek help when needed
• Avoid allowing personal struggles to define performance

Her message is not to ignore hardship, but to learn from it and continue moving forward. 

Top Takeaways

1. Discipline Creates Freedom

Structure, responsibility, and consistent effort allowed Jasmine to pursue her biggest goals.

2. Mental Fitness Matters

Elite performance requires mental training just as much as physical training.

3. Progress Builds Confidence

Confidence isn't something you wait for—it grows through action and evidence.

4. Purpose Fuels Perseverance

Motherhood gave Jasmine a mission larger than herself.

5. Keep Going

Many dreams are lost not because people fail, but because they stop trying. (Buzzsprout)

Memorable Quote from the Episode

“It's a privilege to be overwhelmed. It's a privilege to train. It's a privilege to provide for my daughter.”