Olympic Disaster to Gold Medal Triumph: How Hamish Kerr Became the World’s top High Jumper

Hamish Kerr is the best high jumper in the world - and he’s from New Zealand. But behind his Olympic gold lies a story of self-doubt, fear, and finding strength when everything is on the line. In this powerful episode of Moments that Matter, Hamish opens up about the moment at the Paris Olympics that nearly ended his career, the mental tools that helped him come back from the brink, and what it really takes to perform under extreme pressure. From battling imposter thoughts to learning the art of mindfulness and resilience, Hamish shares hard-earned wisdom for anyone chasing a big goal - or trying to believe they’re good enough to reach it. 🎧 In this episode: ⬛ The Olympic moment that almost broke him ⬛ How Hamish rebuilt his confidence and focus ⬛ Why success can feel empty - and how to find purpose again ⬛ The mental skills behind world-class performance ⬛ His advice for anyone told “you’re not cut out for it” 00:00 Intro 01:05 Best in the world 01:39 High jump as a job 02:58 The art of high jump 03:27 Disaster in Paris 09:11 Overcoming the abyss 11:22 The loneliness of high jump 12:26 The gold medal jump 13:20 Engaging the crowd 14:12 Celebrating a gold medal 15:48 Gold medal syndrome 18:03 Mental toolkit 22:50 Advice from the best in the world 23:47 Life after high jump 24:43 Outro 💬 “Not only did I have what it takes to win - I had what it takes to go to a really, really hard place, and actually get through that.” Moments That Matter, hosted by Jehan Casinader, uncovers real stories of resilience, wellbeing, and the pivotal moments that changed lives. For more resources and tools to support your wellbeing, head to https://mentalhealth.org.nz/wellbeing-hub