"It saved my life." Olympic bronze medallist Nikita Ducarroz shares her journey from battling anxiety attacks to becoming a champion in BMX freestyle park. She discusses the impact of BMX on managing fears, the intricacies of competition, and the importance of being open about mental health.
BMX became a life-saving sport for Nikita Ducarroz, providing her with a sense of freedom and a supportive community to overcome anxiety.
Nikita Ducarroz emphasizes the importance of open conversations about mental health, building a support team, and using her platform as a BMX athlete to raise awareness and support others.
Deep dives
Nikita Dukro's Journey from Anxiety to Bronze Medalist
Nikita Dukro, a Swiss American BMX athlete, shares her journey from struggling with anxiety attacks as a teenager to winning bronze in the Olympics. She discusses how BMX became a way for her to escape anxiety and find a supportive community. Nikita emphasizes the importance of building a support team and being open about mental health. She talks about the challenges of planning and performing tricks in BMX freestyle park competitions, highlighting the need to overcome fears and manage anxiety. Nikita also mentions her advocacy for mental health, using her platform to raise awareness and support others who may be going through similar experiences.
The Impact of BMX on Nikita Dukro's Life
Nikita Dukro discusses how BMX became a life-saving sport for her. She explains that BMX offered her a sense of freedom and the ability to participate without the pressure of being on a team. Despite the initial perception of BMX being an anxiety-inducing sport, Nikita reveals how her passion for BMX triumphed over her anxiety and how she learned to manage her fears. Through BMX, Nikita discovered a supportive community and found ways to overcome her anxiety and panic attacks. She also highlights the importance of recognizing that even successful athletes have their own struggles and encourages open conversations about mental health.
Nikita Dukro's Path to Olympic Success and Beyond
Nikita Dukro talks about her experience competing in the Olympics and winning the bronze medal in the freestyle park event. She reflects on the surreal feeling of participating in such a renowned event and the sense of accomplishment from the hard work and dedication she put into her sport. Nikita shares her excitement for the future, expressing her desire to continue learning and pushing herself in BMX. She emphasizes the importance of setting goals and constantly progressing in her sport, while also acknowledging the need to be smart and aware of her limits as she gets older.
Nikita Dukro's Advocacy for Mental Health
Nikita Dukro discusses her role as an advocate for mental health, sharing her own experiences with anxiety and panic attacks. She explains how speaking openly about her struggles has helped create awareness and support for others. Nikita highlights the importance of building a support team and finding people who understand and can provide assistance during difficult times. She encourages others to have open conversations about mental health, reduce the stigma surrounding it, and offer support to those who may be struggling. Nikita strives to use her platform as a BMX athlete to inspire, educate, and bring hope to those facing similar challenges.
“It saved my life.” BMX competition helped the Swiss-American athlete fight anxiety attacks, which left her unable to leave home as a young teenager. The Olympic bronze medallist is now a mental health advocate.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode