Olympic Gold and the Mental Game with NZ’s Finn Butcher

In this episode, I sit down with Finn Butcher, Olympic gold medalist and canoe slalom cross champion, to delve into his incredible journey from Central Otago to making history in Paris.

Finn shares how his passion for kayaking, mental resilience, and the support of his community shaped his path to success—and how he stays grounded through the highs and lows of elite sport.


We cover:

Finn’s mindset strategies: overcoming imposter syndrome and staying focused under pressure.

The pivotal role of mentors, including the late Sarge, in fostering his love for the sport.


How Finn balanced setbacks, including missing the Tokyo Olympics, with resilience and growth.


The mental skills he developed with Kylie Wilson, including mindfulness and visualization.


Finn’s thoughts on unconditional support from parents and coaches for young athletes.


If you’re curious about what it takes to win Olympic gold, stay humble, and love the process, this conversation with Finn Butcher is for you.

This episode was proudly sponsored by NZ Mortgages. You can contact them here - https://www.nzmortgages.co.nz

Connect with Finn on Instagram here - https://www.instagram.com/finnbutcher/?hl=en

Learn more about Finn here - https://www.canoeslalomnz.org.nz/Performance-Pathways/Olympians/finn-butcher-2024

Get the Growth Weekly Newsletter sent straight to your inbox and join 1000’s of other high-performers on the road to self-mastery  - https://www.jjlaughlin.com/newsletter


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Website: https://www.jjlaughlin.com


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James Laughlin is a High-Performance Leadership Coach, Former 7-Time World Champion, Host of the Lead On Purpose Podcast and an Executive Coach to high performers and leaders. James is based in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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