Victim vs Victor: Choosing to Win Every Day

In a recent episode of the Let's Go Win podcast I sat down with Athena Brownson — a professional freestyle skier turned realtor, developer, and entrepreneur based in Denver. Athena's story is one of grit, reinvention, and an unshakable decision to be a victor, even while living with a debilitating chronic illness. What follows is a distillation of our conversation: her path from elite sport to real estate, the life-changing Lyme diagnosis, the daily systems she uses to show up despite severe pain, and practical ways you can help or learn more.

From Breckenridge to the World Stage: Early lessons in resilience

Athena grew up in Breckenridge, Colorado, the daughter of a professional skier. She strapped on skis at two or three years old and quickly fell in love with a sport that became her everything. Skiing taught her more than tricks and medals — it taught discipline, accountability, and the ability to treat adversity as part of the process.

She pushes herself at extremes: "I was throwing myself off 100-foot jumps," she told me. The cost of that passion was high. Athena endured nine ACL surgeries, multiple neck operations, broken bones, and countless injuries. Still, she credits skiing as "the best business school" she's ever attended — it trained her to set goals, work backward to actionable steps, and surround herself with elite coaches and teammates who made giving up an option she rarely considered.

Reinventing identity: Moving into real estate

After university (she studied art history and architecture), Athena slid into interior design and then into real estate — a field she initially resisted. A mentor, the owner of the company she joined, changed her mind. Around that time she began building the systems and proximity she values today: a network of people who lifted her, clear goals, and an arena where input matched output.

That momentum was interrupted: what started as a minor neck surgery revealed something far more serious. Athena began experiencing severe symptoms that didn't match any single procedure — chronic fatigue, GI infections, runaway joint pain, and neurological issues. When her neurosurgeon tested her, the results were shocking: she had Lyme disease, with multiple strains and co-infections.

Lyme disease: A diagnosis that flipped life upside down

Lyme hit Athena at a time when she was physically fit and professionally successful. Within months she was incapacitated. She explains how Lyme can be stealthy and individualized: it "attacks your genetic weaknesses" and can pass through the blood–brain barrier, producing symptoms that mimic other conditions and are often misdiagnosed.

Athena lived through an especially difficult period during COVID when she was hospitalized for months with tubes and frequent plasma transfusions. She estimates she has not woken up feeling "great" in nine years. The disease also triggered autoimmune complications that have become major challenges in their own right.

Choosing victor over victim: Daily habits that make showing up possible

One of the central themes of our conversation was choice. Athena admitted there were times she felt angry and tempted to surrender, but ultimately she decided not to let illness define her identity. To do that she developed routines and mental tools that allow her to be productive and present even on hard days.

• Pre-run rituals and visualization: Athena uses visualization extensively. Before attempting a jump as an athlete she would visualize the course and see herself land every trick. She applies the same technique today to business and life: "If I saw myself do it in my head, then I had confidence to execute."

• Transforming fear into excitement: She intentionally reframes nervous energy as excitement — "our brain does not know the difference" — using music and affirmations to shift her physiology and mindset.

• War paint and morning structure: Her morning is ritualized: music to pull her out of bed, podcasts while applying makeup (what she calls "war paint"), written affirmations, celery juice and coffee, and a daily plan. She writes goals in the present tense and outlines a realistic schedule that reflects her energy that day.

• Calibrated action and flexibility: Because symptoms vary day to day, Athena plans each morning — sometimes working from home, other days attending appointments and showings. She uses a calendar to stack probability in her favor and limit the time available to ruminate on pain.

• Delegation and a trusted team: Chronic illness taught her to build a team she can rely on. That network allows clients to be served when she's getting treatments (for example, she receives plasma transfusions that limit her capacity for several days each month).

"I could either be sitting at home feeling really bad and not getting anything accomplished or I can keep myself busy doing what I love to do." — Athena Brownson

Proximity matters: Curate who you let close

Athena repeatedly emphasizes proximity — the people and environment you choose shape how you respond to setbacks. Elite coaches pushed her as a skier. Today, her "tribe" keeps her motivated, honest, and accountable. Going through illness also clarified who her true friends were and helped her drop relationships that were superficial or draining.

Practical advice on Lyme disease and how you can help

Athena urged awareness and early treatment. A few practical takeaways from our conversation:

• If you get bitten by a tick, seek medical attention right away. Even without a rash, early treatment (for many cases, a short course of doxycycline) can prevent chronic Lyme.

• Lyme is frequently misdiagnosed — it can present like autoimmune disease, psychiatric conditions, Bell's palsy, and more. Trust your instincts if symptoms escalate and persist.

• Spread awareness and support research organizations focused on Lyme. Athena mentioned the International Board of Lyme disease (IADS) as one nonprofit doing research and advocacy.

• If you or someone you know is navigating Lyme, connect with people who have been through it for referrals to doctors and resources — Athena offers her help and resources to others facing Lyme.

Where to connect with Athena

Athena continues to work in real estate in the Denver metro area and to support others facing chronic illness. You can reach her through her website, which includes her contact info and social links. If you're looking for support, referrals, or want to learn more about the resources she uses, she welcomes outreach.

Final thoughts: Small systems, big outcomes

Athena's story is a reminder that hardship and identity often collide — and how we respond matters. She didn't start life as a "victor" by birthright; she built that identity through ritual, proximity, discipline, and the daily decision to show up. Whether you're recovering from injury, changing careers, or navigating a chronic condition, her framework is broadly applicable:

1. Get clear on your why and identity.

2. Create small, repeatable rituals that stack probability in your favor.

3. Surround yourself with people who push you toward your goals.

4. Reframe fear into excitement and use visualization to build confidence.

5. Ask for help and build a team you can trust.

Athena's life demonstrates that winning often begins inside — in the tiny rituals we repeat every morning and the courage to choose action over sympathy. If her story moves you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that we can choose to be victors even when life hands us the hardest tests.

Watch this full episode of the Let's Go Win podcast on YouTube.