Believe: how Olympian tess johnson turned fear into her superpower
Tess Johnson’s story is defined by resilience and joy. Growing up in Vail, Colorado, she was named to the U.S. Ski Team at just 14, becoming the youngest mogul skier ever to earn that honor. By 17, she was on the start line at the PyeongChang Olympics. Since then, she’s captured World Championship medals and World Cup podiums, and in 2025 finally stood atop the podium with her first World Cup victory—an achievement that came after seven years of setbacks, injuries, and comebacks.
What makes Tess stand out isn’t just the results, it’s her mentality. She competes with a smile and has learned to embrace pressure, bounce back from disappointment, and find joy in the process.
For Tess, one word has carried her through each challenge, both on and off the slopes: Believe.
“When I was 9, the same year I started mogul skiing, I got this word customized on a pair of rainbow-colored Converse that I wore into the ground. Ever since then, it’s been the word I say to myself and write in my journal nearly every day. Believing in myself has been the most important thing through thick and thin.”
That belief was tested most in the part of moguls she once dreaded: jumping.
“From when I was really young, I always struggled with jumping in moguls. It’s been a career-long challenge—this fear of failure, embarrassment, all the things. After setbacks such as serious injuries and not making the 2022 Games, I made a recommitment to the sport and to myself to actually learn to love jumping and embrace it. Now, I’m one of the best jumpers in the world because of that mental shift.”
That mental shift paid off in spectacular fashion. Tess became the first mogul skier ever to debut the Back Venom in competition—a trick no woman had competed before. What began as her biggest weakness became her signature aerial component, a breakthrough moment that rewrote what was possible in the sport. She even wears a bracelet with “Venom” as a daily reminder of that transformation.
“The coolest part is getting videos from young girls working on their own venoms, saying, ‘Look what I’m learning, do you have any tips?’ Turning what was once the thing I dreaded into my superpower has been the most meaningful part of my journey.”
Just as Tess was inspired by watching Hannah Kearney win Olympic gold in 2010, she now inspires the next generation.
“Having someone to look up to and learn from makes such a difference, and I love being that person for young athletes.”
As she trains toward Milano Cortina 2026, Tess’s journey proves that joy isn’t found in the absence of struggle. It’s found in the choice to keep going, to keep smiling, and to keep believing.
Now, through Back The Team, Tess is opening the door for young athletes to learn those same lessons firsthand. Our mentorship cohorts connect Olympians and Paralympians with the next generation in small, interactive groups—built around grit, resilience, and confidence.
If you want your athlete to learn directly from role models like Tess, now’s the time. Join Back The Team today and give them the chance to be mentored by the very athletes who inspire them.
