top of their game

How six athlete sensations are preparing their minds and bodies for the 2024 Paris Olympics

- amanda lucci

Ashleigh Johnson, water polo, page 65

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Mental fortitude. Unapologetic authenticity. Ability to pivot. Upward failure. Calculated risks. Immense pride.

When you ask the following six athletes what strength feels like to them, no one refers to the awesome feats of physical power they achieve daily, their hard-won PRS and accolades, or even the possibility of wearing a shiny gold medal on the most revered podium in the world. When they want to channel true strength, they look inward, reflecting on and growing from the life lessons that molded them into world-class athletes. Each moment of triumph represents the culmination of a long personal journey. And the real prize is in the process.

Ahead of their much anticipated trips to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, Women's Health asked six of Team USA's brightest stars to meet us, quite appropriately, on top of the world-at a sun-kissed observation deck in New York City, on a serene cliff in Malibu, in the legendary mountains of Colorado-and give us a peek into their world. Here, they share what inspires them to attack their sports with determination, passion, and, of course, undeniable strength.

Sunny Choi Breaking

Age 35

Hometown Louisville, KY

Top Honors Silver, 2022 World Games; Gold, 2023 Pan American Games

Long before breaking was on her radar, Sunny Choi was a promising gymnast who quit the sport after a series of injuries and reinjuries.