Zoe Atkin: From Fear to Freeski Champion
Zoe Atkin, the reigning world champion in freeski halfpipe, once stood frozen at the top of a 22ft ice wall, paralyzed by doubt. “I can’t do this,” she whispered to herself. Unlike her older sister, Isabel Atkin – Great Britain’s first skiing Olympic medallist – who fearlessly launched from incredible heights, Zoe grappled with intense fear, a feeling that had haunted her since childhood.
“For so long, I thought something was wrong with me,” Atkin shared in an interview with The Athletic. But she persevered, becoming a two-time X Games winner and the top qualifier for the freeski halfpipe Olympic final, where she’ll compete against defending Olympic champion Eileen Gu. The fear hasn’t vanished; it’s a constant companion. However, this British Olympian, born in Massachusetts to a British father and a Malaysian mother, has learned to not only accept it but to harness its power.
Embracing the Uncomfortable
“There’s a huge stereotype that we’re all just crazy adrenaline junkies who don’t think about the risks,” Atkin explained. “But fear has consumed me in many ways – the fear of injury, the fear of failure, and the frustrating fear of messing up a new trick.” She used to experience anxiety *about* the fear itself.
A pivotal moment came four years ago when learning an alley oop flat five – a complex maneuver involving an uphill rotation and a 540-degree spin. She landed it consistently, then fell. Suddenly, fear gripped her mid-air, causing her to pull out of the trick and land awkwardly. She knew she was capable, but lacked self-trust. Repeated attempts ended in falls, and she understood that avoiding commitment increased the risk of injury. Her brain was simply trying to protect her.
After a break, Atkin’s 2024-2025 season saw three World Cup podium finishes, but a fourth-place finish at the X Games left her deeply disappointed. “It lit a fire in me,” she admitted.
The Power of Mindset
Since 2021, Atkin has worked with sports psychologists, shifting her focus from eliminating fear to finding comfort within it. “It’s not about getting rid of the fear,” she clarified. “It’s about finding comfort in that uncomfortable feeling. I don’t want to feel this feeling, but it is just a feeling. I’m scared, but I can do it scared.”
As a student at Stanford University, majoring in symbolic systems, Atkin’s cognitive science classes have provided valuable insights into the workings of the mind. She understands the biological processes of fear and the extent of our control over our experiences. She recalls a class taught by Dr. Alia Crum, which highlighted a study demonstrating the power of mindset. Participants who believed stress enhanced performance actually performed better under pressure than those who viewed stress as inhibiting. Research on stress and performance supports this idea.
Atkin now reframes her thoughts, viewing anxiety as a sign of caring and stress as a catalyst for alertness. She acknowledges her feelings, whether it’s nervousness about speaking in class or a racing heart at the top of the Olympic pipe. Tools like meditation and mindfulness help her stay present and prevent spiraling thoughts.
A Turning Point and a New Perspective
After two weeks of dedicated practice leading up to the 2025 World Championships, Atkin finally landed the alley oop flat five. “It felt amazing,” she said. “I was doing things I was afraid of doing every single day.” She won the world title, proving to herself that she had overcome her mental block.
Her approach to the sport has transformed. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she focused solely on results, finishing ninth and even considering retirement. A break at Stanford allowed her to rediscover the joy of skiing. Now, she recognizes that her identity extends beyond her performance on the slopes. “I feel so much more whole as a person,” she said. “Before, skiing results were everything that mattered.”
Atkin understands that fear is not a weakness, but a natural part of the process. When she achieves that flow state, it’s an unparalleled feeling. She knows the fear will return, and she’s prepared to confront it. She relies less on her sports psychologist, seeking guidance only when needed, confident in the strategies they’ve developed together.
“Going into the season and the Winter Olympics as world champion and world number one, I have a lot of confidence,” Atkin stated. “I feel really mentally strong. I’ve put so much work into this and I feel more established in my sport. I’m really excited to go and showcase to the world what I’ve been working on.” When she stands on the podium, she’ll be listening to upbeat music, embracing the fear, and doing it anyway.
Charlotte Harpur is a women’s sports writer, specialising in women’s football for The Athletic UK.
