In this episode of The Sports Umbrella presented by GalwayPlus, host Kelly Okun is joined by former Olympians Shannon Bahrke and Doug Lewis. Shannon is a three-time Olympian and two-time medalist in freestyle skiing and Doug is a two-time Olympian and World Championship medalist in downhill skiing.
Doug and Shannon share their journeys from making the U.S. Ski Team to competing in the Winter Games, emphasizing the importance of mental toughness as a competitive advantage.
They discuss the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games and highlight what to expect in their sports. They also delve into their personal experiences, including the thrill of their Olympic moments and the challenges they faced while retiring from their sports.
Shannon and Doug shed light on their continued passion for giving back through mentoring and have teamed up to form Champions Advantage, a mental skills training program geared toward young athletes.
Chapters:
[00:18] Meet the Olympians: Shannon Bahrke and Doug Lewis
[02:30] Inspiration to Become Olympians
[05:31] Understanding Freestyle and Downhill Skiing
[14:07] Journeys to the U.S. Ski Team
[25:06] Reliving Their Olympic Experiences
[33:13] Overcoming Financial Challenges
[36:09] The Importance of Athlete Stories in the Media
[42:37] Life After the Olympics
[46:56] Empowering the Next Generation
