From Ironman to Cancer Survivor: The Mental Toughness That Transforms Every Battle

What happens when the mental strength that once fueled your athletic success becomes the very thing that helps you survive the toughest challenge of your life?

That’s the powerful story of Kelly Vo, Co-Founder of Pink Ribbon Army, an Ironman athlete turned breast cancer survivor who learned that true toughness goes far beyond the finish line.

In this episode of The Elite Competitor Podcast, Coach Bre sits down with Kelly to explore what it really means to be mentally strong, especially when life throws a curveball you never trained for. Whether you’re a mom, an athlete, or simply navigating your own battles, this conversation is about redefining what it means to win.

💪 Meet Kelly Vo: From Ironman Finisher to Pink Ribbon Fighter

Before her cancer diagnosis, Kelly was no stranger to endurance. As an Ironman triathlete, she knew what it meant to push through pain, fatigue, and self-doubt. But when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she realized that physical training was only half the story.

Her journey through treatment, filled with uncertainty, fear, and perseverance, revealed the kind of resilience that doesn’t show up on race day. Instead, it’s the quiet strength that shows up every single day when you decide to keep going, even when you don’t know what the finish line looks like.

🧠 The Real Meaning of Mental Toughness

Through her story, Kelly reminds us that mental toughness isn’t about pretending you’re fine. It’s about staying grounded, hopeful, and adaptable when things don’t go your way.

She shares how the same mindset tools athletes use, like visualization, positive self-talk, and focusing on what you can control, became her survival tools during chemo and recovery.

And perhaps the most powerful lesson? Learning to let others in. True toughness doesn’t mean going it alone. It means allowing yourself to be supported.

🎀 The Birth of The Pink Ribbon Army

After overcoming cancer, Kelly co-founded Pink Ribbon Army, a movement built to unite and uplift those fighting breast cancer through community, strength, and positivity.
Her mission is simple: help others find their inner Ironman, the mental, emotional, and spiritual endurance that pushes you through life’s hardest races.

Through The Pink Ribbon Army, Kelly is empowering women to see survivorship not as the end of something, but as the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with purpose, gratitude, and connection.

🌟 Lessons for Moms and Athletes Alike

Kelly’s story resonates far beyond athletics. As Coach Bre highlights in this conversation, the mental tools that athletes build, focus, resilience, and mindset, are the same ones we need in everyday life.

For moms raising athletes, it’s a reminder that sports are training grounds for life. The discipline your daughter learns now could one day help her face challenges far beyond the scoreboard.

❤️ Final Takeaway

Mental toughness isn’t just for the game, it’s for life.
Kelly’s journey shows us that the same grit that gets us through training can get us through anything life throws our way.

Because when we train our minds to believe in what’s possible, we find strength in places we never knew existed.

👇 Come hang out with Kelly

Follow Kelly and join her movement on Instagram at @thepinkribbonarmy, or learn more about her mission at www.pinkribbonarmy.com.

Episode Highlights: 

[00:00:00] Coach Bre opens the episode with an important reminder for moms ages 30–50 to schedule their annual breast cancer screening. She introduces guest Kelly Vo, a breast cancer survivor, Ironman athlete, and founder of the Pink Ribbon Army, a Seattle-Tacoma-based nonprofit that supports women through their treatment journeys.

[00:02:41] Kelly joins the conversation, sharing how her diagnosis at age 40 led her to create the Pink Ribbon Army. As a lifelong athlete and “super aunt,” she reflects on how community and purpose helped her turn a difficult experience into a movement for good.

[00:05:27] Kelly recounts the moment she received her diagnosis after her first routine mammogram. Despite being stage one, the journey involved surgery, chemo, and reconstruction—a year-long process that transformed her perspective on life and health.

[00:08:33] She describes the emotional and physical toll of treatment and how witnessing the lack of support for other women in waiting rooms inspired her to act. That spark became the Pink Ribbon Army—built on strength, community, and compassion.

[00:10:45] Coach Bre reflects on Kelly’s story and how her health and fitness made the diagnosis even more shocking, reminding listeners that prevention and early detection are essential for everyone, regardless of lifestyle.

[00:11:27] Kelly emphasizes that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. She shares how many friends admitted they hadn’t yet scheduled mammograms—and encourages every listener to get checked. Early detection, she stresses, can make the difference between a manageable journey and a life-threatening one.

[00:14:33] Both Kelly and Coach Bre talk about the importance of self-care not just as a luxury, but as responsibility. Preventative checkups—dentist appointments, annual physicals, and mammograms—are acts of love for the people who depend on you.

[00:15:08] Kelly debunks the myths around mammograms, assuring listeners they’re quick, manageable, and nothing to fear. She shares that healthcare providers perform them every day and encourages women to prioritize their peace of mind.

[00:18:49] The conversation shifts to mental toughness. Coach Bre asks Kelly how her athletic background and mindset helped her through treatment and recovery.

[00:19:37] Kelly explains how endurance sports built her resilience. Competing in Ironman events taught her to push through pain, discomfort, and doubt—skills she later applied to her battle with cancer.

[00:24:04] She shares how she reframed her cancer journey as her most important “Ironman.” Each stage—surgery, chemotherapy, recovery—became her version of the swim, bike, and run. Her mindset: stay steady, stay focused, finish strong.

[00:23:25] Kelly discusses how the mental tools she developed through sport helped her handle uncertainty, fear of recurrence, and moments of exhaustion. “It’s the same muscle,” she says—training the mind to stay calm and keep moving forward.

[00:26:30] She reflects on how sports teach life lessons that go far beyond competition. Mental toughness, self-belief, and perseverance prepare athletes not just for the field, but for whatever challenges life brings.

[00:30:40] Kelly dives into her daily practices for positivity, including using a five-minute gratitude journal, reframing tough moments, and staying thankful for even the smallest blessings.

[00:33:30] Kelly shares how gratitude and support from her husband, family, and friends became her lifeline, reminding her she wasn’t alone.

[00:35:22] Coach Bre and Kelly reflect on how the mental skills developed through sports help athletes face the bigger challenges in life.

[00:36:00] Kelly gives an update on The Pink Ribbon Army’s annual October event featuring a golf tournament, 5K, and after-party that raises funds for women undergoing treatment.

[00:38:42] Kelly encourages listeners across the nation to get involved virtually by signing up for the 5K, donating, or becoming sponsors.

[00:39:45] Coach Bre proudly notes that The Elite Competitor has been the lead sponsor since the first year, helping raise over $250,000 to support families in need.

[00:40:23] Kelly closes with a heartfelt reminder for listeners to get their screenings, trust their intuition, and face fears early—because early detection saves lives.

Next Steps:

• Join our FREE Training for Sports Moms – How to Strengthen Your Athlete Daughter’s Mental Game so She Believes in Herself as Much as You Do
• Visit our podcast website for more great episodes

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