Archive for Athlete Profiles
Golf Girls – The Birdie Sisters
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Patricia from Golf Girl’s Diary sent me a note today about a pair of sisters who at ages 11 and 9 are clearly future stars in the golf world. Erica Jackson, age 11, and her sister Myah, age 9 – also know as the Birdie Sisters are two very busy girls from the Chicago area with some very bright futures.
Not only do these two excel at golf, they take dance lessons, have their black belts in tae kwon do, and play piano, too. By the looks of things, they do an amazing job of balancing it all and having fun while they are at it. Sounds like they have some pretty amazing parents supporting them at every turn!
CBS Chicago did a news piece on the sisters – showing them practicing and comparing the two to another famous sister act – Venus and Serena Williams of tennis fame.
Stay up to date with all the Birdie Sisters’ accomplishments at their website Birdiesisters.com. And remember their names – something tells me we will be hearing much more about Erica and Myah in the coming years.
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!
