Episode 148: Reborn in the Ring: Gabi Jacobs on Walking Away, Coming Back, and Trusting the Process

March 30, 2026

Watch on Youtube Listen on Apple Podcasts

Gabi Jacobs joined track in 7th grade just to hang out with friends, but she became a three-time All-American and SEC champion discus thrower at Mizzou. After fouling out at the 2021 Olympic Trials and juggling elite training with demanding jobs, she walked away from the sport entirely—thinking she was done for good.

From Burnout to Comeback

Two years off changed everything. Watching SECs, USAs, and Worlds in Budapest reignited her fire, especially seeing former competitors shine on the global stage. A chat with her dad, a longtime high school track coach, gave her simple advice: Start throwing again, keep going if it brings joy, stop if it doesn't. Now back in Columbia, Missouri, training with Coach Dane Miller at Garage Strength, Gabi structures her life around part-time work, recovery from a knee injury, and daily process goals.

Trusting the Process

Gabi holds a master's in positive coaching, so her insights blend lived experience with psychology. She credits SMART goals, training journals, and celebrating small wins—like better lifts or consistent effort—for building high-performance mindsets that survive burnout. Her why shifted too: No longer chasing sponsorships or status, she focuses on personal growth and enjoying the grind toward the 2028 LA Olympics.

In Episode 148 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Gabi shares raw details on quitting without regret, rebuilding joy, and why stepping away can clarify your path. Perfect for athletes, parents, or coaches facing pressure.

Listen now and grab the free Resilient Parents Playbook at www.resilientparentsplaybook.com. Learn more about our partners at americanparagons.org.

Are you ready to forge your mettle?

More From Mental Mettle

Why Individual Mental Performance Coaching Matters for Athletes

Athletes train their bodies, sharpen their skills, and study the game, but many still struggle when pressure rises. Individual mental performance coaching helps bridge that gap by teaching athletes how to think, respond, and compete with more confidence, composure, and control.

Episode 154: Secrets Behind the Third Skill Set: Mental Performance

Most athletes train hard in two areas: sport skills and strength. But there’s a third skill set that often gets ignored, and it may be the one that matters most when pressure hits. In Episode 154 of The Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann breaks down the real difference-maker in sports performance: mental performance.

Ember to Inferno: Building Mentally Tough Athletes Through Coach Development

Coaches spend countless hours perfecting physical training and game strategies, but mental toughness—the ability to thrive under pressure, regulate emotions, and respond to adversity—often gets overlooked. That's where Ember to Inferno comes in.

Episode 111: Tips for Mastering the Mental Game with Coach Brandon Beery

How do elite athletes and coaches rise above the noise, pressure, and setbacks to achieve peak performance? In Episode 111 of the Mental Mettle Podcast, Coach Matt Thomann and fellow mindset coach Brandon Beery break down the science and art of mastering the mental game.

Episode 153: From "Raging Psychopath" to Transformational Coach with Lee Mateer

Episode 153 of The Mental Mettle Podcast features a powerful conversation with Coach Lee Mateer of Taylorville High School, a 24-year coaching veteran and fellow Millikin alum. This episode is about more than coaching philosophy — it’s about what happens when life at home forces a coach to rethink everything he believed about toughness, leadership, and success.

Episode 152: "Throwing it into the pole" with Olympian Joe Brown

Episode 152 of The Mental Mettle Podcast is a powerful conversation about what it looks like to keep going after failure, setback, and rock bottom. Our guest, Olympian discus thrower Joe Brown, shares the story behind his journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the final-throw pressure that defined his career, and the mental tools that helped him keep fighting when everything felt like it was slipping away.

View all