From 27th to Olympic Silver in less than 24 Hours: A Lesson In Mindset from Jaelin Kauf
Today, Mogul Freestyle Skier Jaelin Kauf stood on the Olympic podium, becoming a back-to-back Olympic silver medalist in women’s freestyle moguls.
But today’s silver medal is only the surface of this Back The Team mentor’s story. The real story lives in the 24 hours that came before it. Yesterday, in Qualification 1, Jaelin finished 27th out of 29 athletes. Third to last. For most athletes, that kind of result would feel deflating, rattling, even demoralizing.
Today, she became the first athlete in moguls history to advance from Qualification 2 all the way to the Olympic podium. Less than a day separated a subpar performance from one that wrote her name in the history books.
So what changed? Not her technique. Not her talent. Not her ability.
None of her physical preparation changed. She leaned in and found strength in her mindset.
Composure Over Reaction
Elite athletes know a single result is never the full story. Jaelin didn’t let one run define her, because she has years of evidence that she can compete with the best in the world. Confidence isn’t a feeling you wait for; it’s something you earn by showing up, again and again, even when things don’t go your way.
Trust In Her Training
Nothing miraculous happened overnight. She didn’t reinvent herself. She returned to what she knows works. Her body knows how to ski. Her mind knows how to compete. The difference was believing that her preparation was enough. Jaelin didn’t need to prove anything today, she simply needed to execute what she’s done thousands of times before. And she did.
Why This Matters
Jaelin’s comeback isn’t just an Olympic highlight, it’s a blueprint for all athletes. Setbacks happen. Results fluctuate. But resilience, composure, and belief can take you further than you could ever imagine.
Today, Jaelin reminded us: You are not your worst day. You are what you do next. That’s the Mental Game of the Games.
This is exactly why Back The Team exists. Mental toughness is a skill that can be trained. This past November, skiers from around the world strengthened their mental game through Jaelin’s Back The Team cohort. If you’re looking to elevate your mindset through real connection with Olympians and Paralympians, follow along on our socials (@backtheteam) to be the first to know about our upcoming world-class mindset mentorship opportunities.
