“I’m unstoppable. I’m a Porsche with no brakes. I’m invincible. Yeah, I win every single game.” While Sia’s anthem Unstoppable has become a soundtrack for athletes around the world, it isn’t really about never failing. It’s about believing in yourself enough to keep moving forward—especially after you do fail.
That spirit perfectly describes 15-year-old Lila Gustafson of Eagle.
This August, Lila will represent Idaho as the state’s only teenage female competitor selected for the Patriot Games, a nationally televised competition celebrating athleticism, leadership, teamwork, and patriotism. After an extensive national application process, she earned one of just 100 coveted spots from across the country—a testament not only to her athletic ability, but to the character she’s built through years of hard work.
“It still feels crazy,” Lila said. “There are so many high school students in Idaho who are patriotic and would love to compete in something like this. The fact that I’m the one who gets to represent the state is really humbling.”
The journey to the Patriot Games began months ago with a rigorous application process. Athletes submitted videos, answered interview questions, wrote essays, and advanced through multiple rounds before the final 100 competitors were chosen.
Now she’ll travel to Geneva, Ohio, where competitors will tackle everything from military obstacle courses and presidential fitness tests to dodgeball, kickball, and varsity-style athletic challenges. The field will narrow each day until only the top athletes remain.
While the events may be new, the preparation isn’t.
For the past six years, Lila has dedicated herself to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, where she trains at Alliance Jiu Jitsu in Eagle and competes in tournaments throughout the region. More recently, she added competitive swimming at Life Time as she prepares for her long-term goal of attending the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Ask her what jiu-jitsu has taught her, and her answer comes without hesitation.
“You’re not going to be good at everything right away,” she said. “You’re going to have to be bad before you get good.”
Then she smiled.
“You’re going to get your butt kicked for the first six months.”
It’s an honest lesson—and one that has shaped far more than her performance on the mat. It has taught her resilience, humility, discipline, and the confidence that comes from refusing to quit.
Her dedication has already paid off with multiple gold medals in jiu-jitsu competitions, but she says the greatest reward isn’t the medals.
“It’s boosted my confidence like crazy,” she said. “I’ve made so many friends through jiu-jitsu, and I just love it.”
Swimming has become another important part of her journey.
“My grandma was a swim coach,” Lila explained. “I’ve always loved being in the water. If I’m going to attend the Coast Guard Academy one day, swimming is a huge part of that. Plus, I just enjoy it.”
But athletics are only part of Lila’s story.
She is a dedicated member of the Idaho Black Sheep Division of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, where she recently completed the Petty Officer Leadership Academy (POLA)—an intensive leadership program that develops responsibility, teamwork, and confidence in young cadets.
A gifted vocalist, Lila has also performed the National Anthem at numerous prestigious events, including Boise State athletic competitions, the annual Boise Naval Ball, Camp Pendleton in California, and the USS Idaho Commissioning Ceremony at Boise’s historic Egyptian Theatre.
Whether she’s wearing a jiu-jitsu gi, a Sea Cadet uniform, or standing before a crowd with a microphone in hand, Lila carries herself with the same quiet confidence and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Her father, Jorgen Gustafson, has watched every step of her journey and says this opportunity reflects exactly who Lila has become.
“She’s truly her own person,” he said. “In today’s world, that’s rare. Whether it’s jiu-jitsu, the Naval Sea Cadets, rodeo, or whatever challenge she takes on, she’s incredibly disciplined and dedicated. She’s strangely unflappable for a 15-year-old.”
Watching his daughter compete, however, is another story.
“I’ll be an absolute emotional mess,” he admitted with a laugh. “I sweat more watching her compete in jiu-jitsu than I do doing it myself. This opportunity is exactly where she should be. It’s what she deserves. I’m endlessly proud.”
Lila is quick to credit the people who have helped her along the way.
Her teammates and coaches at Alliance Jiu Jitsu have become more than instructors—they’ve become family.
“If I don’t feel like going to practice, I think about my coaches and my friends,” she said. “They’re always encouraging me. They’re people who genuinely care about you, not just as an athlete but as a person.”
She shares that same appreciation for her coaches and teammates at Life Time.
“My coaches are really supportive,” she said. “They’re personal, relatable, and they want you to succeed.”
Jorgen believes those relationships speak to something unique about Eagle.
“We’re fortunate to have world-class coaches and incredible facilities right here in Eagle,” he said. “The community has given Lila opportunities that are hard to find anywhere else. The people here genuinely invest in kids, and I can’t think of a better place for her to have grown up.”
Although the Patriot Games will introduce Lila to a national audience, she remains focused on the same mindset that has carried her this far: show up, work hard, and keep improving.
There are no shortcuts.
No overnight success.
Just discipline practiced one day at a time.
As she prepares to wear Idaho’s name on a national stage, Lila carries with her the encouragement of her family, the support of her coaches, and the pride of an entire community.
She isn’t simply competing for a title.
She’s representing a state, a community, and the values of perseverance, service, humility, and determination.
Whether she’s on the jiu-jitsu mat, in the swimming pool, standing at attention with the Naval Sea Cadets, or singing the National Anthem before thousands, one thing is certain: Lila is unstoppable with her discipline and dedication in life.
The Patriot Games will take place August 9–11 in Geneva, Ohio, with national television coverage airing on ESPN and ABC. Eagle Magazine wishes Lila the very best as she proudly represents Idaho on the national stage.
