Diagnosed With Parkinson's at 27, He Became a World Record Holder & American Ninja Warrior – With Jimmy Choi

24 snips

Mar 18, 2026

Jimmy Choi, an endurance athlete and Parkinson’s advocate diagnosed at 27, rebuilt his life to run marathons, set world records, and compete on American Ninja Warrior. He recounts the fall that sparked change. He discusses forced-exercise trials, training strategies that improve mobility and safety, the role of community and purpose, and how mindset and disciplined routines powered his comeback.

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ANECDOTE

Young Diagnosis And The Denial Period

Jimmy Choi was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's at 27 and spent eight years largely in denial before acting.
The diagnosis came after an insurance physical nurse urged him to seek neurological help, sparking eventual evaluation and confirmation.

ANECDOTE

The Staircase Fall That Triggered Change

In 2010 Jimmy fell down a flight of ten stairs while holding his toddler, which became his turning point.
The fear of being a safety hazard to his son made him decide to change his lifestyle and pursue fitness.

ADVICE

Start With Forced Exercise And Small Gains

Do join clinical trials and forced-exercise programs to test high-intensity approaches and track symptom changes.
Jimmy used forced exercise sessions, then added daily walking, running, cycling and incremental 10% weekly improvements.

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When faced with a challenging situation like a life changing diagnosis, it can be easy to feel defeated or go into denial. But if you can channel your inner strength and tap into the right mindset, most of us would be surprised at what we can accomplish, how vast our capacities actually are, and how we can break past our limits to achieve more than we ever imagined possible. Today, you’re going to hear a powerful story of overcoming.

Today’s guest, Jimmy Choi is an endurance athlete who was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease at the age of 27. Despite his diagnosis, Jimmy is able to maintain an active lifestyle, including running marathons, competing as an American Ninja Warrior and setting multiple Guinness World Records.

On this episode of The Model Health Show, Jimmy is sharing his inspirational story of living with Parkinson’s disease. You’re going to hear about his experience going through denial, how he started training to manage his symptoms, the role of mindset in overcoming health challenges, and so much more. Enjoy!

In this episode you’ll discover:

The story of Jimmy’s diagnosis. (6:02)
How an accident inspired Jimmy to get stronger. (13:33)
Why getting involved with Parkinson’s research helped Jimmy become active. (18:06)
The difference between consistency and perfection. (27:30)
How exercise can help improve Parkinson’s disease symptoms. (29:33)
Why having a purpose in the gym is so helpful in making changes. (32:33)
The difference between motivation and discipline. (58:42)
Jimmy’s approach to diet and nutrition. (1:05:46)
The role mindset plays in managing chronic illnesses. (1:09:50)

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Paleovalley.com/model - Use code MODEL for 15% off!
Peluva.com/model - Get 15% off barefoot shoes with my code MODEL!
The Michael J. Fox Foundation - Learn about Parkinson’s disease research!
Connect with Jimmy Choi Website / Instagram / Facebook / TikTok

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This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Paleovalley and Peluva.

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