Episode 146: Pedaling with a Purpose with USA Track Cyclist McKenna McKee

Some athletes chase medals. Others ride with a mission.

In Episode 146 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, “Pedaling with a Purpose,” Coach Matt Thomann sits down with Team USA track cyclist McKenna McKee—16‑time National Champion, LA 2028 hopeful, nursing student, and a powerful example of what it looks like to turn a “disadvantage” into an advantage. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just six years old, McKenna could have walked away from sports entirely. Instead, learning to manage her blood sugar, nutrition, and energy became a crash course in discipline and self‑awareness that now fuels her elite performance on the velodrome.

In this episode, you’ll hear how early ownership of her health forced McKenna to learn how to fuel and listen to her body long before most athletes ever think about it. She shares how that so‑called limitation became one of her greatest strengths and how it helps her keep cycling from becoming her entire identity, even as she trains daily on the same LA track that will host the 2028 Olympic Games while pursuing nursing school on the side. You’ll also get an inside look at the high‑speed, tactical chaos of sprint track cycling—Kierin races behind a motorbike at 40–50 mph, match sprints, and the training blocks, gym work, and mental routines required to compete for Team USA.

Beyond the medals, McKenna talks about her role as an ambassador with Team Novo Nordisk, a global team of athletes with diabetes who race to show what’s possible and represent everyone affected by the condition. She explains how connecting with other diabetic athletes, learning to advocate for herself, and speaking openly about her journey has shaped her purpose: to reach the highest level of her sport while inspiring others not to let a diagnosis, label, or obstacle define their ceiling.

Whether you or your athlete are navigating a chronic health issue or just wrestling with something that feels like a built‑in disadvantage, McKenna’s story is a masterclass in “forging mettle”—taking what happens to you and turning it into something that happens for you. Her example will challenge you to rethink your own setbacks and ask how they might become fuel for growth, discipline, and a deeper sense of who you are beyond performance.

If this episode encourages you, be sure to subscribe for more conversations on mental performance, resilience, and mindset from athletes across all sports. To learn more about the American Paragons Foundation and their work supporting underfunded Team USA athletes, visit americanparagons.org, and explore additional mental training resources and the free Resilient Parents Playbook at mentalmettlecoach.com and resilientparentsplaybook.com.