Trigger Warning: Suicide & Self-Harm If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out for help.
What does it really take to win, not just in sport, but in life?
In this deeply moving episode of The Transformation Code, I sit down with Steve Mesler, Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Fame athlete, and founder of Classroom Champions, to explore the mindset behind true success, and the hidden battles that come with it.
Steve opens up about his journey from being told he was “a waste of time” to standing at the top of the Olympic podium. But behind the medals was a man wrestling with failure, identity, and mental health.
He shares how years of injuries and disappointment nearly broke him, and the night he stood just five steps away from the C-Train tracks in Calgary, asking himself a question that would change everything:
Do I want to live today?
From that moment came a radical shift. A new understanding of what excellence truly means, and the realization that greatness isn’t about winning; it’s about trust, connection, and purpose.
We dive into how champions handle pressure, how to build teams that win through trust (not talent), and how to move through identity shifts when the spotlight fades. Steve also reveals how he turned his pain into purpose by creating Classroom Champions, a global nonprofit helping millions of students and teachers build resilience, emotional intelligence, and wellbeing.
If you’ve ever battled burnout, questioned your purpose, or felt like you’ve lost your edge, this conversation will remind you that success means nothing without self-trust, and that even at your lowest point, you can rewrite your story.
In this episode, you’ll learn: • The mindset behind Olympic-level excellence • How to move through failure without losing yourself • Why trust and transparency create winning teams • The truth about mental health after success • How to turn pain into purpose
Each week, Sam sits down with world-class thinkers, athletes, and leaders to uncover what real transformation looks like, in business, relationships, and life.
With gratitude,
Sam
00:00 Intro
00:25 Meet Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Mesler: The Mindset of a Champion
01:00 How to Build a Gold-Winning Team and the Psychology Behind Success
02:20 Overcoming Failure: From College Setback to Olympic Comeback Story
03:45 The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything
05:15 High Performance Habits: What It Really Takes to Win
06:40 Why “Not Feeling Good Enough” Can Drive Success (and Burnout)
09:00 Mental Health and Loss: The Hidden Cost of High Achievement
12:00 When Depression Hits After Success: The Moment That Changed His Life
14:00 Identity Shift After the Olympics: Finding Purpose Beyond the Podium
17:00 How to Rebuild Purpose and Motivation After Major Change
20:00 From Gold Medal to CEO: Bringing Olympic Mindset to Business Leadership
22:30 Motivating the Next Generation: Lessons for Leaders and Entrepreneurs
25:00 The Real Meaning of Excellence and Fulfilment
30:00 Olympic Visualisation Routine: How to Train Your Mind Like an Athlete
37:00 Why Trust Is the Secret Ingredient of Championship Teams
47:00 How to Build Trust, Connection and Calm Under Pressure
55:00 From Athlete to Leader: Translating Sport Psychology Into Life
1:00:00 Purpose and Legacy: Building Classroom Champions for the Next Generation
1:04:00 Rapid Fire “Vault” Question: Where Are You Not Fully Free?
1:06:30 Final Reflections: Freedom, Family and the True Meaning of Success
Support Steve & Classroom Champions: Transform student wellbeing with Classroom Champions.
Your support equips teachers with the tools to nurture resilience, confidence, and connection in every child. Learn more or donate: https://www.classroomchampions.org/donate
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Website: https://www.stevemesler.net/mpg/