At just 12 years old, Tom Schaar landed a trick no one thought was possible: the world’s first 1080 on a skateboard. It didn’t just change the sport—it made history. But what most people didn’t see were the hundreds of failed attempts, the bruises, the setbacks, and the mental battle it took to get there.
In this episode of Passion Struck, Tom joins John R. Miles to discuss what it really means to push past fear, master your mindset, and get back up 999 times so the 1,000th try changes your life. From Olympic glory to personal resilience, Tom shares the deeper story behind the fame—and how the same principles apply far beyond the skatepark.
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“Fear is part of it. If you’re not scared, you’re probably not doing anything that really matters to you.”
tom schaar
The Skater Who Outgrew the Podium: Tom Schaar on Purpose, Pressure, and Life Beyond the Olympics
What You’ll Learn in This Episode With Tom Schaar:
- How Tom built mental toughness to deal with fear, pressure, and expectation at an early age.
- Why Olympic glory isn’t the endgame—and what truly matters after the lights fade.
- How snowboarding changed his perspective and helped him fall back in love with movement.
- The truth about burnout—even when you’re “living the dream.”
- Why letting go of structure and returning to play brought back his creative edge.
- The surprising impact of meeting Snoop Dogg on his post-Olympic mindset.
WHY IS THIS EPISODE WITH TOM SCHAAR A MUST-LISTEN?
Because behind every highlight reel is a human story—and Tom Schaar’s is one of transformation. This episode goes deeper than the skatepark and into the heart of what it means to grow up in the spotlight, learn who you really are, and redefine success on your own terms. If you’ve ever hit a wall after reaching your goals or struggled to find purpose beyond performance, this conversation will leave you thinking, reflecting, and inspired to shift your own path.
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Inside Tom Schaar’s Olympic Rollercoaster: Pressure, Performance, and Meeting Snoop Dogg
When Tom Schaar talks about the Olympics, he doesn’t romanticize it—and that’s what makes his story so real and refreshing. In the episode, Tom gives an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to compete on skateboarding’s biggest stage… and it’s not all gold medals and glory.
First off, Tom didn’t even expect to qualify. He tells John that he entered the Olympic qualifiers more as a fun challenge than a serious career move. But one thing led to another, and suddenly he was headed to Tokyo, repping Team USA in the first-ever Olympic park skateboarding event.
Tom opens up about the sheer pressure that came with it—representing not just himself, but his country, in front of the world. He shares how the vibe at the Games was intense in a way that even the X Games or Dew Tour couldn’t compare to. Unlike those other events that felt more laid-back and community-driven, the Olympics were tight, super structured, and full of expectation. And because COVID restrictions were in place, there wasn’t much of an outlet—no crowds, no cheering fans, just this weird bubble where athletes were kind of isolated from the world.
That pressure wasn’t just physical, it was mental. Tom talks about how hard it was to stay in the right headspace. Even though he’s been competing since he was 11, he says this felt completely different. There was this weight of proving yourself, not just as a skater, but as an Olympian.
He even admits that he didn’t have his best day in the final. He fell on his runs, which was tough to swallow, especially with everything leading up to it. Instead of letting it break him, Tom reflects on it as a moment of growth. “It made me realize I was ready for a break,” he says in the episode. That Olympic experience became a turning point where he started thinking about what else he wanted from life beyond constant competition.
Oh—and yes, he did meet Snoop Dogg. Tom laughs as he tells how Snoop was just casually chilling in the Olympic village, and how surreal it was to chat with him. As wild as it sounds, that moment became one of the few lighthearted memories from a high-stakes event.
So yeah, the Olympics weren’t just about skating for Tom—they were about realizing what he wanted next. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. It was amazing, stressful, eye-opening, and ultimately the start of a new chapter.
THANKS, Tom Schaar
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RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW WITH TOM SCHARR
Please note that some of the links on this page (books, movies, music, etc.) lead to affiliate programs for which The Passion Struck podcast receives compensation. It’s just one of the ways we keep the lights on around here. Thank you so much for being so supportive!
- Tom Schaar’s Website
- Tom Schaar’s Instagram
- Passion Struck Core Value System: https://passionstruck.com/the-passion-struck-core-belief-system/
- Listen to Passion Struck’s interviews with New York Times bestselling authors Gretchen Rubin and Seth Godin.
- Check out Passion Struck’s Episode Starter Packs on Spotify or Passion Struck starter packs to get started with the podcast.
My solo episode on The Mattering Mindset in Love – Choose the Love You Deserve
My episode with The Art of Listening: How to Make People Feel Like They Matter
Catch my interview with Laurie Santos on How to Matter in a Busy World
About Today’s Guest, Tom Schaar
Tom Schaar is a professional skateboarder and history-making athlete best known for landing the world’s first 1080 on a skateboard at just 12 years old. By the time he was 16, Tom had already racked up gold medals at the X Games, Dew Tour, and Vans Park Series, becoming one of the youngest and most consistent forces in competitive skating.
In 2021, he represented Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics during skateboarding’s historic Olympic debut. Known for his calm focus, relentless drive, and down-to-earth personality, Tom is not only a pioneer in the sport but also a role model for young athletes chasing bold dreams. Today, he’s exploring life beyond the podium while staying rooted in the skate culture that shaped him.
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Passion Struck aspires to speak to the humanity of people in a way that makes them want to better, live better, and impact the world.
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