At the highest echelons of sport, physical prowess is merely the price of admission. The factor that truly separates champions from contenders is the mind. The ability to perform under pressure, overcome self-doubt, and adapt to unforeseen challenges is what defines an elite athlete. But what happens when a world-class athlete in one discipline decides to start over in a completely new one? This transition tests not only their physical adaptability but, more profoundly, their psychological resilience. Kehri Jones’s journey from a Baylor University track star to a World Champion bobsledder is a masterclass in the mental fortitude required to master a new world.
When Jones first stepped into the world of bobsledding, she was armed with the explosive power and speed that made her a decorated collegiate sprinter. Physically, she was a perfect candidate. Mentally, however, she faced a formidable opponent: imposter syndrome. In a sport populated by athletes who often have a larger, more imposing physical stature, Jones felt out of place. "Typically, the girls that you see in bobsled don't look like me. I'm pretty short, I have a pretty small stature," she confessed. "And so I was pretty intimidated."
This internal battle with self-doubt is a challenge many athletes face, but few talk about so openly. Jones recounted the intense psychological shift required during her transition in an in-depth conversation on the GMTM Podcast, admitting she was "super nervous" and "pretty intimidated" at first. This feeling of not belonging can be a powerful inhibitor, creating mental barriers that even the most gifted athlete can struggle to overcome. For Jones, the key to breaking through that barrier came from representation.
She found motivation in the success of Lauryn Williams, another track-and-field-star-turned-bobsledder with a similar athletic build. Williams had won a silver medal at the Olympics, proving that there wasn't just one body type for success in the sport. "I have a very similar body type to her, so that kind of gave me the little bit of motivation that I needed to think that I was going to be pretty good," Jones explained. This is a powerful lesson in the psychology of performance: seeing someone like you succeed makes success feel attainable. It transforms an abstract dream into a tangible possibility, providing the psychological fuel to push through moments of doubt.
Armed with this newfound belief, Jones had to navigate the next mental hurdle: embracing the beginner’s mind. In track and field, she was an expert, possessing an intuitive understanding of every nuance of her sport. In bobsled, she was a novice. While her sprinting ability was a seamless fit, the technical skill of pushing the sled was entirely new. This required a level of humility that can be difficult for established athletes. She had to be willing to be coached, to fail, and to learn from the ground up, all while surrounded by more experienced competitors.
Her ability to manage this psychological dynamic—balancing the confidence from her established athletic gifts with the humility of a beginner—was crucial to her rapid success. The pressure was immense. She didn't have years to slowly acclimate; she was immediately thrown into the elite pipeline. Her rookie season saw her make the World Cup team, a mind-blowing achievement that validated her decision but also intensified the stakes. Suddenly, the abstract idea of competing for her country was a startling reality.
The culmination of this mental journey was not just competing, but winning at the highest level. The highlight of her career, she says, was winning the World Championship. This victory was more than a physical feat; it was the ultimate conquest over her initial intimidation and self-doubt. It was proof that she not only belonged but that she could dominate. She had successfully transferred her physical skills and, more importantly, had forged the psychological resilience to thrive in a new and demanding environment.
Kehri Jones’s story offers invaluable lessons that extend far beyond the world of sports. Anyone who has undertaken a major career change or stepped into an intimidating new role can relate to the feelings of self-doubt and the struggle to adapt. Her journey illustrates a clear path forward: find role models who make success feel possible, embrace the humility of being a learner, and build the mental resilience to turn pressure into performance. Physical talent may open the door, but it is the mastery of the inner game that ultimately allows you to walk through it and claim your place on the podium.
