Archive for Athlete Profiles
Lauren Williams is on the Fast Track
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At age 9, Lauren Williams is already a National champion and record holder in two events – the 100 (13.65) and 200-meter (28.48).
Lauren, who is the daughter of TrackMom Lorraine of TrackMom.com, has been running since she was 5 and was hooked after her first two races (parks & rec meet where she won 2 blue ribbons). A year later, her Dad who is a former track & field athlete, became her coach, and her whole extended family has become her own cheering section at meets and a source of great support.
Jay Hicks at Pre Race Jitters did a really nice feature piece on Lauren recently and it gives a lot of insight into this young runner’s very bright future.
One of the reasons I think Lauren is going to go far in her track career is the great support she has in her family. Her mother Lorraine and I talk often and we always seem to get on the topic of balance and how to maintain that balance in our daughter’s lives. In the off season, Lauren tries out different sports like volleyball and cycling, dabbles in singing, and just does all the normal kid things.
During the competitive season, things get more serious, but Lorraine is always looking out for Lauren’s best interest by making sure she gets the proper nutrition, rest and injury care/prevention.
Remember her name – Lauren Williams – she is definitely on the fast track!
Natalie Coughlin – Swimming’s Golden Girl
Posted by: | CommentsUS Swimmer Natalie Coughlin started her 2008 Olympics with another gold medal performance (she had two in Athens), winning the 100m Backstroke race and making her the first woman to win back to back Olympic titles in the same event. She followed that up with a bronze in the 200m IM, and will swim the 100m Freestyle next (she is the fastest qualifier so far). If things go as planned, Natalie will also swim the 4x 100m Freestyle relay, the 4x 200m Freestyle relay and the 4x 100 IM relay – making 6 events and 6 chances to medal.
So how does this amazing athlete do it? Natalie’s training includes (from Fitness Magazine):
Two hours in the pool twice a day, running with her dog for 45 minutes to an hour every day, and lifting weights two or three times a week. Natalie also does Pilates every day and sees a private instructor two times a week.
Natalie has also learned that balance is the key to happiness and success in and out of the pool. Like many extraordinarily talented athletes, Natalie learned that lesson the hard way – via injury, illness, and burnout. Her book,Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom, and Became America’s Olympic Champion is an interesting look into the world of competitive swimming and the path she took to the top and how she ultimately found balance.
I’m looking forward to watching her final races this week! My daughter has taken great interest in Natalie’s swims too – because they share a name, have the same long curly honey blond hair, and my daughter swam competitively for the first time this summer and LOVED it. Go Natalie!
Russian Gymnast Anna Pavlova Brings Grace and Experience to the Games
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Some amazing photos from the Women’s Olympic Gymnastics podium training are beginning to show up. The major news outlets have quite a few, and Grace Chiu from Inside Gymnastics has posted some very pretty photos.
This one is by far my favorite photo so far! Anna Pavlova of Russia is performing a gorgeous ring leap (probably a switch-ring) and Grace Chiu got the skill at a different angle than I am used to seeing.
Twenty-one year old Anna has been competing on the international stage for more than 8 years – which is a very long time in gymnastics. Here is a video of her competing when she was 12 – and isn’t she just so cute!
