Name: Emery Kate Tillman

Age: 15

Sport(s): Whitewater Kayaking, Soccer, Nordic skiing, but mainly kayaking

Hometown: New Orleans Louisiana

High School: New River Academy and Middlebury Union High School

What’s your fave sport? Kayaking

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 2 and a half years

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

When I was in New Zealand last fall I ran a waterfall called Mauria falls. It is this HUGE 35 foot waterfall. I was so scared.  It was one of the biggest things I had seen in my life.  After about 3 days of convincing myself to run it, I slowly geared up and went down it. I am so proud of myself that I did it. Also making the USA team is definitely a favorite memory.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

The biggest lesson I have learned, well, I have two – on the water and off the water. On the water the lesson is to just have fun, you cannot stress about making minor mistakes. You just have to go with the flow of the current. Additionally, off the water the second lesson is that as much as I argue with my parents, no matter what, they are always there for me.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

I have learned that you always have to keep trying that you cannot give up. If at first you do not succeed, try, try again.

How do you balance school and sports?

School and sports definitely are hard to balance. Right now, I just got done with my soccer season and I am starting Nordic. (cross country skiing) What I do to manage my time is make lists so I know what I have to get done and when it is due. Last year I had the ability to go to a school focused on Kayaking, so schoolwork was planned around kayaking. It was an awesome school and taught me so much.

List some awards or accolades you have received.

I am a member of the USA Junior Freestyle Team

2^nd at USA Team Trials 2009

13^th at ICF Freestyle World Championships 2009

1^st Kayak School Competition between New River Academy and World Class Kayak Academy (I beat all of their guys.)

Voted most enthusiastic by my soccer team

Who is your fave athlete, both male and female?

Male: Lance Armstrong not only is he an outstanding athlete he has also made a difference in the world by setting up the Live Strong Foundation, which donates millions to cancer research.

Female Kayaker: Emily Jackson: Emily is an amazing paddler she has her own style of paddling that is wicked to watch. She also just turned 19 and killed it at the world championships. She is a great person in the sport to look up too.

Non kayak Female: Mia Hamm when I think of a female athlete Mia comes to my mind. She dominates on the field and scored a record number of goals.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I am constantly in wearing dresses, baking cookies and cupcakes, also you’ll never find me without a bow in my hair.

Just a quick thanks to my sponsors: Seals Spray Skirts, Julbo Sunglasses, and Immersion Research.

Thanks, Emery! Mia Hamm rocks. Love your interview, congratulations on your accolades and sponsorships, and best of luck with your kayaking career.

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Current open nominations include:

Sportswoman of the Year Award. Every year, the Women’s Sports Foundation recognizes an individual and team Sportswoman whose performances over a 12-month time span have been exceptional. Criteria is based on new records and world championships won.Sportswoman of the Year. Nominations due 6/30/2010

Billie Jean King Contribution Award is presented to an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the development and advancement of women’s sports in general and to the Women’s Sports Foundation specifically and/or who has, through personal achievements or influence, inspired girls and women to become more responsible in their own health through sport, fitness or physical activity.

The award is earned by the demonstration of a continuing, lasting commitment and dedication to the growth of sports, fitness and physical activity for women and girls.  Nominations due 4/30/2010.

Wilma Rudolph Courage Award is presented to a female athlete who exhibits extraordinary courage in her athletic performance, demonstrates the ability to overcome adversity, makes significant contributions to sports and serves as an inspiration and role model to those who face challenges, overcomes them and strives for success at all levels. This award was first given in 1996 to Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Nominations due 4/30/2010.

Visit WomensSportsFoundation.org to nominate your favorites today!

I hate her. I’ve never seen her before, and don’t know her, but I don’t need to. I see what she looks like. I see what she’s wearing. I see who she’s with. That tells me everything I need to know. She can’t be trusted–her kind never can–and all she wants is to push her own agenda and obliviate mine. So, for the next hour, my sisters and I will do everything in our power to show her and her little girl gang how we feel about having to share our turf with them. They will leave here, battered and bruised, with their heads down and their tails between their legs. And we will remain superior.

My fervor for this sectarian battle into which I am all too eager to enter has nothing to do with race or skin color. When my opponent is in her war gear, all I can see on her is the white in her eyes. But her armor– helmet, pads, uniform, socks, gloves, cleats–makes her readily identifiable. I’m a linebacker on a women’s semi-professional full contact football team, the DC Divas. Eleven Saturdays a year, for 3 hours, my teammates and I put on our maroon, gold, and white, and go to war.

Full article

The practice of yoga  promotes greater awareness, flexibility, discipline, and ease of movement. Whether done to improve posture or prevent physical ailments, yoga poses, or asanas, are a great way to align body, mind, and spirit.

If you’re curious about yoga, try visiting a yoga studio to discover what a deep connection people have to the ancient tradition. Yoga studios are great because you’ll get an instant sense of community and discipline. While its roots may go back thousands of years, the yoga most people practice today is definitely modern.

Yoga is based on its three essential components:

• Exercise – a soft workout that increase flexibility, power, equilibrium.
• Breathing – enlarges blood circulation and lung potential.
• Meditation – brings emotional and physical relaxation.

Exercises and breathing procedures set up the body and mind for meditation. Regular practice of all these procedures has as results a strong and health body, a lucid and brilliant mind.

Classes can be taken two or three times in a week. A session usually lasts 45 minutes – 90 minutes. It begins with warm-up exercises and breathing training. Then people will try a sequence of yoga postures, each of them being practiced from one to three times. After four or five different postures you usually have permission to rest, then the procedures are followed by a period of physical relaxation joint with meditation.

Yoga has a lot of benefits which include:

Yoga is also used for many health problems such as:

What’s so cool about yoga is that the deeper you get into it, the more you can explore the more spiritual and mystical traditions–tracing all the way back to the stories of Krishna and Shiva in the Bhagavad Gita. For starters, focus on the physical practice and as you become stronger and more flexible, you’ll begin to enjoy the emotional and spiritual benefits as well.

Q & A

Q: Is yoga good for lower back pain?
A: Research shows that yoga can be used to manage lower back pain. Yoga stretches out the spine and strengthens the muscles of your back, hips and legs. Doing two of the most basic yoga postures – the Downward-Facing and Upward-Facing Dog – every day can make a big difference in your back’s flexibility. Be sure to start out slowly and gently and seek out classes or yoga teachers tuned into your special needs.

Namaste. (The light in me bows down to the light in you.)

All 19 players that were on the Algarve Cup roster are on this roster, and are joined by some newbies, and one other very familiar name. The 3 goalkeepers are Jillian Lloyden, Hope Solo, and Nicole Barnhart.

The defenders that played in Portugal are Stephanie Cox, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Meghan Schnur, Cat Whitehill, and San Diego’s own Rachel Buehler. They are joined by first-round WPS Draft picks Brittany Taylor, who has trained with the national team before, and Whitney Engen who gets her first call up tot he national team.

The midfield consists of  Yael Averbuch, Shannon Boxx, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, and Kristine Lilly, who will be back witht he national team since Dec. 2008 when she joined that team in the last leg of the Achieve Your Gold Tour after having her daughter.

Up top, forwards Lauren Cheney, Casey Nogueira, Amy Rodriguez, and Abby Wambach are joined by Alex Morgan and Kelley O’Hara who are both also getting the chance to get their first caps ever.

The two matches wil be the first domestic games of the year for the WNT, as well as the domestic debut of their new uniforms.

More info: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2010/03/Sundhage-Names-24-Players-for-Matches-against-Mexico.aspx

The “girl throw” refers to a wimpy style a lot of girls seem to have. Girls often face the target with their forearm cocked back and the ball in their upturned palm. Then they throw with just the arm (rather than the whole body). The action is usually limited to a quick extension of the forearm. Essentially, girls tend to “push” the ball rather than hurl it.

Well, before we go any further – let’s get one thing straight. Girls can throw. In fact, many girls can throw harder and faster than a lot of guys. Softball players like Jennie Finch can pitch a ball close to 90 miles per hour.

Some people think the reason for the “girl throw” is based on physical differences between guys and girls. Not. If you ask an orthopedist, an anatomist, or a coach of a women’s softball team, they’ll tell you that there is no anatomical reason why boys and girls throw differently.

What it really comes down to is practice. Most boys grow up learning to throw – either playing catch in the backyard with their friends or by joining a rec league. Lots of girls play baseball and softball at a young age as well. But many never learn to throw when they’re a kid because their parents didn’t teach them or they chose to do other things.

The good news is that you can practice and learn to hurl the ball by using the whole body or making a “kinetic chain” with your body. Start by putting your body at a right angles to your target. Push from the back leg, as the hips rotate. The energy is transferred to the upper body, which also rotates with the throw. The momentum is transferred to the arm. With the wrist outside the elbow, the arm comes from behind the body in a whip-like motion, and the ball is released.

Tip: Trying practicing catch with a partner who is 10-15 feet away. Do this while squatting on the knee on the side of your throwing arm. This forces you to throw higher to get it to your partner. In turn, this compels you to raise your elbow well above your shoulder while throwing. If practicing with a guy friend, have him throw with his non-dominant hand to level the playing field a bit.

That’s it! You throw girl!

Name: Whitney Frankovic

Age: 21

Sport(s): Snowboarding

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

High School/Middle School/College: I went to middle school/high school in North Royalton, Ohio. I am currently a senior at the University of Utah.

What’s your fave sport?

Definitely snowboarding, but I love to watch baseball too. Go Tribe!

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

I started snowboarding in ski club with my school in 7^th grade, so it’s been about 10 years.

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

I love traveling, especially to new resorts, so I love getting the chance to explore a new mountain.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Don’t worry about the other people that are out there, ride for yourself and do your own thing.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

Sometimes learning something new when it comes to snowboarding can get frustrating. It’s important to not get mad and loose confidence when you fall. You’ll never learn if you don’t take a few good crashes. It will be worth it when you get the trick down.

What have you learned about teamwork?

I think teamwork is great because everyone is there to support each other, push each other to excel and just be there to just have a good time with. It’s fun being around people who aren’t there to judge you, but there to give you confidence.

How do you balance school and sports?

In high school it was easy, because my home resort in Ohio didn’t even open until 3:00pm every day, so I would just head up after school. I didn’t really do much studying so there was never really a conflict with that. In college it’s a little harder. I try to schedule my classes as early as I can in the morning so I can head up to the resorts in the afternoon then study at night. Sometimes I’ll have to take a day or two off during the week to get some things done for school. I think it’s important to get school stuff out of the way, because then I’ll be worrying about it when I’m out riding.

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

It’s really hard to just pick two, because there are so many great athletes out there, but I guess if I had to pick, it would be Marie-France Roy and Euro Ettela.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I really like makeup for some reason. I don’t even wear it all the time, but I have tons of it! Sometimes I get up a little early and put makeup on before heading up to the mountain (haha).

Thanks, Whitney! So many amazing life lessons you’ve shared! Great stuff and best of luck with your snowboarding career.

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Women should be recognized for their strengths and accomplishments and we don’t do it enough so this is a really great an opportunity to turn the spotlight on the roles that women play as leaders, policy-makers, athletes, caregivers, educators, and peacemakers from the past to present day.

From the New York Times Learning Blog comes this great, thought-provoking assignment:

What makes an athlete ‘great’? Who did Times reporters choose as the top athletes of the 2010 Games? Choose your own “most memorable female athlete of the 2010 Winter Olympics” and write a newspaper profile or blog post, or make your own video, about her. How does she compare with her Olympic predecessors?

Are girls’ sports popular at your school? Why or why not? Consider the immediate and ongoing benefits of female participation in athletics. Then interview an alumna on how her high school sports career has affected her life, and write an article using the interview and commenting on the changes in female sports participation in the past three generations.

Diverse events this month reflect on the roles females have played throughout history as well as what remains to be addressed in terms of recognition and rights. These events occur not just on International Women’s Day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women so pay attention and get involved.

Girl power, indeed.

Needless to say, there were lots  of memorable moments from the Winter Games , not the least of which was Shaun (”The Animal”) White’s repeat  gold medal and his Double McTwist 1260, a whirl of somersaults and flips that ends with a blind landing.

In this post, we’d like to shine the light on the oft-overlooked female athletes and some of our fave moments that will last long after the athletes pack up and leave Vancouver.

Hannah Kearney (Women’s moguls)

Four years ago, U.S. moguls skier Hannah Kearney sat in the stands in Turin after placing a dismal 22nd in the qualifying round as Canadian Jenn Heil proudly climbed atop the podium for gold. It was a moment Kearney never wanted to repeat.

She proved that during the first weekend of the Games, when she exorcised that nightmarish performance and spoiled the party for Heil with a dominating victory on Cypress Mountain. Kearney turned her showdown with the defending Olympic champion into a blowout, posting a score of 26.63 to claim the first U.S. gold medal in Vancouver.

Joannie Rochette (Figure skating)

Twenty-four year old Joannie Rochette may not have won the gold medal in figure skating but she won the hearts of fans around the world with her incredible performance.  She competed just days after her mother, Therese, died from a sudden heart attack after arriving in Vancouver. A grieving Rochelle broke down in tears after her short program and followed  with an emotional free skate program to capture the bronze at the Pacific Coliseum.  It hardly mattered that two skaters beat Rochette, including gold medalist Kim Yu-Na of South Korea who broke a world record with a highly memorable routine.

Petra Majdic (Cross-country skiing)

If gold medals were handed out for bravery then Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic would have been a runaway winner. Majdic broke five ribs when she slipped and fell down a gully during a training run but defied medical advice and excruciating pain to battle through three races and clinch the bronze in the women’s sprint classic. She was in so much pain that she needed help just getting on to the podium to collect her medal.

Lindsey Vonn/Julia Mancuso (Women’s downhill)

Lindsey Vonn lived up to the hype and won the women’s downhill on a badly bruised shin in a 1-2 finish with American teammate and rival Julia Mancuso in the opening week of the Games.

Kallie Humphries, Heather Moyse, Helen Upperton, Shelley-Ann Brown (Women’s bobsled)

Before the Vancouver Games, Canada had never won a medal in women’s bobsled. By the time the Games  ended, the country had two -gold and silver – courtesy of new champions Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse and runners-up Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown who sent the Whistler Sliding Center into a roaring frenzy with their medal-winning final runs. That Upperton missed a medal four years ago by .05 of a second driving Moyes, whose arrival in her sled booted a broken-heart Humphries, simply added another layer of drama to the moment.

Lydia Lassila (Women’s freestyle aerials)

Australia’s Lydia Lassila has won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle aerials by beating Chinese stars Li Nina and Guo Xinxin into the silver and bronze positions respectively.

The Chinese, led by Turin silver medallist Li, had been highly expected to win the event and even perform a podium clean sweep. They currently dominate the World Cup points table, filling five of the top six berths.

But Lassila, the only non-Chinese in the world top six, wowed the judges, and the underdog, who recently battled back from a series of injuries, moved into the gold medal position.

Angela Ruggiero, U.S., Canadian & Finnish Teams  (ice hockey)

Women’s ice hockey offered a myriad of memorable moments during the Vancouver Games. From early complaints that the sport wasn’t competitive enough, to the high-stakes gold medal game between the U.S. and Canada, to the post-match celebrations, we’ll remember these female athletes.

Who can forget the champagne, beer, at least one cigar and an attempt to drive an ice resurfacing machine after the Canadian team captured the gold medal in a 2-0 win over the U.S?  It seemed like a typical championship celebration, save for the fact the IOC and Hockey Canada felt the Canadian women’s team somehow provided a disservice to Olympic “ideals” by enjoying as they saw fit on the ice. Never mind that IOC honchos can dine with whatever wine and spirits they like, the court of public opinion forced the IOC’s complaints to go up in a cloud of smoke.

And when the president of the IOC announced to the world the sport needs to change to remain on the program, Finland’s women’s hockey team stepped up big time. Their overtime win against Sweden on Thursday had all the feel of gold. Just as the Swedes in 2006 stunned the hockey world by upsetting the Americans for the first non-U. S./Canada final in women’s Olympic hockey history, Karoliina Rantamaki’s goal 2:33 into extra time gave the Finnish team their first medal since women’s hockey’s debut Olympics in 1998.

Special Mention: Though it was certainly a memorable moment when Ruggerio won her fourth Olympic medal, her biggest contribution to the Olympic movement might still be to come: Ruggiero, who played hockey at Harvard, was elected by her peers to represent all Olympic athletes on the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. The appointment will be for eight years and allows Ruggiero to become a full-fledged member of the IOC.

In the end, it wasn’t a single nation or gender that owned the podium, but the single-minded, passionate pursuit of athletes from around the world. And along with their competitive performances,  memories saved for eternity.

As the Vancouver Olympics come to a close, the focus turns to the other side of the globe and Russia’s first Winter Games which will  take the Olympic movement to a new territory and a new set of challenges.

Scheduled to take place from February 7 to February 23, 2014. this will be the first time that the Russian Federation will host the Winter Olympics; the Soviet Union hosted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.

The Russian city’s first big moment in the world spotlight came during Sunday’s closing ceremony, with the Olympic flag handed from the mayor of Vancouver to the mayor of Sochi.

At the end of the Handover ceremony , the audience inside the BC Place was invited to hold up their own small Zorbs, like snow domes. Around the world, the crowd appeared as twinkling red, white and blue spheres, representing the Russian colors, and demonstrating Sochi 2014’s commitment to the involvement of people from all cultures and backgrounds.

After the glitz and glamour of the closing ceremonies, the hard work will continue back home as organizers continue to prepare for an event that has the prestige of Russia and its leaders – including Prime Minister Vladimir Putin – on the line.

Ever since Sochi was awarded the games by the International Olympic Committee three years ago, questions have been raised: Can Sochi complete its massive construction projects on time? Will the funding hold up? Will the games be safe in a city near the separatist Abkhazia region in neighboring Georgia?

Putin, Russian president at the time, was instrumental in Sochi securing the games when he traveled to Guatemala City in 2007 and personally lobbied IOC members. He and current President Dmitry Medvedev remain centrally involved in making sure the games are a success.

Sochi, established as a summer resort under Joseph Stalin, is a city of about 500,000 people in Russia’s Krasdonar region. Olympic organizers hope the games will serve as a catalyst in turning the area into a year-round world-class destination for Russians and foreign tourists alike.

Organizers say the games will feature the most compact layout in Winter Games history, with a cluster of ice arenas situated along the Black Sea coast and snow and sliding venues a half-hour away in the Krasnaya Polyana mountains. A new rail line is being built to connect the two clusters.

Sochi has to build virtually all of its Olympic facilities from scratch. All the venues are now under construction, with 16,000 workers busy on what is probably the biggest construction site in the world.

Sochi promises that all venues will be ready two years in advance to allow for the holding of Olympic test events. The first trial run will take place a year from now with a second-tier European Cup event in Alpine skiing. More than 70 test events are planned in 2012 and 2013.

The cost of the Olympic infrastructure project is put at $7 billion.

So what do you have planned for mid-February 2014? Whether you’re an athlete hoping to compete, or a fan who wants to watch the Games, it’s never too early to start making plans.

(via USOC)

Always a trailblazer. Always doing good things.  Always going the extra miles.

Just over a year after visiting Kenya to open the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya, Serena Williams returned to the country to follow up on her humanitarian efforts. Williams arrived on February 22 for a three day charity mission where she will inaugurate the Wee Secondary School in Makueni, Eastern Province, Kenya.

The new school lies roughly 50 kilometers from the first one. While in the country, Williams will follow up on the progress of the Matooni school and will hold a tennis teaching session with the students at both schools.

Williams has partnered with technology giant Hewlett Packard and the Build African Schools initiative. She is a global ambassador for the firm and has also worked with the Starfishgreatheart Charity for orphans in South Africa.

Check out pics from Serena’s visit to Kenya in the photo gallery.

Hewlett Packard will equip the school with computers, printers and internet connectivity, while facilitating the training of the local teachers and students.

Ken Mbwaya, Hewlett Packard’s managing director for East Africa, said: “As our ambassador, Serena was touched by the plight of children from these areas. This has made many keen to learn, even with daily challenges and limitations. Education is the best platform to invest in as it empowers whole communities.

“Sixty-two percent of Kenyans live in absolute poverty, which means that some very bright children are hindered from achieving their potential. This is an actual impediment to the realization of Vision 2030 and we need to tackle this before we seek IT penetration into rural Kenya. Education is the best platform to invest in as it empowers whole communities.

(via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

A CNN Money article explains:

These world-class athletes are in the spotlight for two weeks every couple of years. But for the most part, they’re just regular people who have to make a living as teachers, fitness instructors or market researchers, all while putting in hours of grueling sports training.

For every Shaun White and Lindsey Vonn, two gold medalists who have scored multi-million dollar endorsement deals, there are hundreds more who struggle with everyday jobs.

So how do Olympic athletes survive financially?

In the United States, where many athletes begin training at an early age, training costs are often paid by their parents. Those expenses can run into tens of thousands annually for the most talented youngsters.

After high school,  colleges and universities become an athlete’s primary source of training. Often competing on scholarship, these athletes’ efforts are rewarded not only with top-notch coaching but with financial aid to complete their education.

When an athlete is selected to a national team, some funding usually becomes available from the USOC which relies on corporate sponsors and private donations. But that generally isn’t enough to cover their travel, tournament, and equipment costs.

Expenses pile up fast.  According the CNN Money article, Olympic curler Nicole Joraanstad says a single season competing just to qualify for the Olympics costs as much as $150,000.

Many athletes used to work at the Home Depot,  a company that since 2004 had been a part of the Olympic Job Opportunities Program (OJOP), a partnership with the U.S. Olympic Committee that pays athletes full-time salaries and benefits for working part-time hours. But the retailer folded OJOP in 2009, after four years as the exclusive sponsor.

The USOC also partners with staffing firms to help athletes secure flexible positions. The Adecco Group, a Zurich, Switzerland-based global staffing firm, recently renewed its contract with the U.S.O.C. through 2012.

Strong work ethics and time management skills make athletes attractive to employers, says Patricia Wilson, brand director for Adecco Group North America. “Athletes know how to succeed independently, but they [also] know the importance of being a team player,” she said.

In the early days of the modern Olympics, all the participants were amateurs. The Olympic mystique suggested that anyone could be a contender. Ordinary people dreamed of being Olympians, and the dreams spurred athletic activity all over the world.

Then the Soviet Union and its  Communist allies entered the games. Their athletes were fully supported by their governments. None ever held a job. They trained 8 hours a day, 365 days a year. They won most of the gold, silver and bronze during the 1970s and 1980s.  It was unfair and in 1986, the IOC  changed its rule book (Olympic Charter) to allow “all the world’s great male and female athletes to participate.”

Money has changed the look and feel of the Olympics. To remain competitive, athletes have to rely on their families and sponsors for expensive equipment, travel and training expenses.

Winter athletes may have the hardest time  since their sports are more popular outside of the United States. What’s worse is that the United States won’t host an Olympic winter or summer event for some time, pushing U.S. athletes further out of the spotlight. Athletes may fade from attention in off-Olympic years, but they still have to support themselves.

Most nations support their Olympic athletes  financially, but the U.S. government gives zero money to its athletes. All the host cities in the world except those in the USA have supported their host Winter and Summer Olympics with billions of dollars. Many countries also reward their medalists with money for landing on the podium.

The USOC does offer “medal bonuses” (currently $25,000 for gold, $15,000 for Silver, and $10,000 for Bronze) and while the bonuses are a nice way to reward athletes for a big accomplishment, very few will ever enjoy the steady income that comes with a corporate sponsorship, making what they endure to compete all the more impressive.

Regardless of who foots the bill, the true test of an Olympian is their passion and how hard they train. Money cannot buy the drive and persistence of an Olympian.

Related Posts:
Winter Olympians show us the money
Skier’s perfume blends rose oil with confidence

This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on seventeen-year-old Weekly Short Track Racer, Amber Abram. Check out Amber’s fun interview below where she dishes about her favorite driver, pink trophies, and much, much more.

Name: Amber Abram

Age: 17

Sport(s): Weekly Short Track Racer

Hometown: Stafford,Virginia

High School/Middle School/College: North Stafford High

Number: 57

Position: Driver

What’s your fave sport? Racing

How many years have you been playing your fave sport? 3

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

My favorite moment would have to be my rookie year when I was presented a pink trophy for the first girl to complete the U-CAR series at Old Dominion Speedway. They made a big deal out of it by keeping it hidden all night and made a long speech but afterwards that was the talk of the banquet because the trophy was pink since my racecar is hot pink.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

Men don’t take women beating them very easily in this sport but whatever happens you have to get right back out there the next week and pretend like nothing ever happen.

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

You have to put in a lot of time and effort and meet the right people to go to the top!

What have you learned about teamwork?

Well currently I am a one girl team but communication is a big thing when you’re on a two car team.

How do you balance school and sports?

Since my races are on the weekends it usually does not interfere but when a big project is due or something that I have to finish over the weekend I usually do what I can Friday night if I’m not practicing otherwise I just cram it all in Sunday after church.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

*First girl to complete the U-CAR series at Old Dominion Speedway
*Top ten in points rookie season

Who’s your fave athlete, both male and female?

My favorite hometown athlete would be my brother Adam, he has been racing just one more year than I have but he is a great driver. He has over come many bumps along the way in his racing career yet still has many wins under his belt to prove he is a force to be reckoned with. My NASCAR fave would be Jeff Gordon, ever since I was a kid I have always loved Jeff’s paint schemes but other the years I have realized he is a very talented driver as well.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

I think the girliest thing I like to do is be Miss Old Dominion Speedway. I am the official track trophy girl / promoter I guess you can say. I dress up in a really cute or fancy dress (depending on the occasion) and tell people about the track.

Thanks, Amber! Wow! Miss Old Dominion Speedway and the first girl to compete at the track – impressive and fun!

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

A USA Today feature profiles Coach Jim Justice who, over the past  25 years, has coached more than 1,000 games — from AAU teams to West Virginia’s Greenbrier East girls high school team, which he took over 10 years ago.

What makes the 58-year old coach different from most high school basketball coaches is the fact that for him, it’s much more than just a job. He’s a millionaire who owns coal mines, farms and the nearby Greenbrier Resort.

He’s a coach whose generosity directly benefits his players. He paid $300,000 to have a parquet floor installed in the Greenbrier East Gym. At every game, the players run through an inflatable tunnel to the court when they’re introduced, and a video screen flashes their pictures.

When two feet of snow threatened to postpone a game against Huntington Spring Valley in late December, Justice hired a contractor to plow the parking lot.

Jeff Bryant, principal at Greenbrier East, admits there might have been cynics when Justice took the job. After all, why would a wealthy businessman want to coach? And how would he have time?

“That’s so pitifully easy to explain,” Justice says. “I love the game.”

He says he thinks he makes $3,300 to coach but doesn’t  know for sure because he gives the money to his assistant coaches.”

“There’s a lot more to him than what’s in his pocket,” wrote Alexis Hornbuckle, a former Justice pupil, in an e-mail. “He has a great heart and is a very loving and forgiving man.”

Hornbuckle played on one of his AAU teams before leading South Charleston to victory vs. Greenbrier East in the 2004 championship game. She played on two NCAA championship teams at Tennessee and now is with the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.

For those who believe that wealth transcends dollars, Justice is an example of someone who has gotten way more back from life than he’s been able to give.
Video

26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer
The annual Jacksonville Beach, Florida race, founded by news anchor Donna Deegan, benefits Breast Cancer research.

Danskin SheROX Triathlon
Series of 10 all-women’s triathlons that  inspire and motivate participants, volunteers and spectators alike.

Iron Girl
This nationwide series offers 10 events in terrific locations; destination races throughout the USA, and likely in your region. Join the women who are participating, celebrating and taking the challenge.

Rocketchix Racing
Rocketchix wants to give women of all ages and abilities the chance to discover their inner athlete.

Racing for a Good Cause
More and more active women are going beyond getting fit for themselves and crossing finish lines for the greater good. Charity races are booming, with more events and causes to fight for than ever.

Barb’s Race: 70.3 Miles of Wine Country
If Barb can beat cancer–twice–you can finish a half Ironman-distance triathlon. And Sonoma’s wine country is a great place to swim, bike and run 70.3 miles.

Maui Channel Swim Challenge
Billed as the only Masters inter-island relay race in the world, this event takes place over Labor Day weekend.

Susan G. Komen Race  for the Cure
By participating in a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure,  you will experience an event that has changed the way the world views breast cancer.

Nike 26.2  Marathon and Half-Marathon for Women
The Nike 26.2 Marathon and Half-Marathon for Women benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It is open to runners and walkers, including men. It’s a celebration of women running, but men are welcome.

Thanks to Active.com for much of this info.

When it comes to horses, Krone is indeed a freak of nature. The film is an adaptation of her autobiography, “Riding for My Life”, which chronicles her rise to fame and unparalleled success as a jockey. A vivid look at the world of horse racing, “Freak” aims to explore one woman’s battle against sexual inequality in a classic tale of an underdog’s passage toward victory.

Dubbed the winningest female jockey in history, Krone is the only woman to be inducted into thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame.  She won 3,704 professional races, totaling over $90 million in prize money.

Krone is still the only woman to have won a Triple Crown race, flying across the finish line atop Colonial Affair in the 125th running of the Belmont Stakes in 1993. She’s also the only woman to ever compete at Belmont, where she raced on five occasions.

To achieve success, however, Krone had to overcome fierce obstacles. During her career,  Krone faced intense chauvinism in additon to suffering major injuries, including six fractures in her vertebrae, broken hands and cracked ribs.

For a long time, women didn’t even have the option of competing professionally because they weren’t legally allowed to ride at a track.  It wasn’t until 1968 that women were finally allowed to race, but they were prevented from doing so when male jockeys threatened to boycott the races.

Following in the footsteps of a handful of women before her, including Diana Crump who became the first woman to race professionally, Krone blazed her way to success. It wasn’t easy making a mark in the male-dominated “Sport of Kings” and for a long time no one took the petite (4′ 11”)  blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl seriously.

When a guy slashed Krone’s ear with a whip, she broke his nose. When people called her names, she looked the other way.  To the world, she was fearless. But inside, she was alone. The hardship fueled her desire to succeed even more. “Freak” is Krone’s heartfelt story.

According to IMDB, Brooks was initially against adapting Freak because she is a PETA member and spent much of her life rescuing injured horses off the track. It wasn’t until she met Krone and read her auto-biography, that she felt she could focus more on the intimate struggles of the character than the sport of racing. This is clearly a multi-layered story which promises lots of action and drama.

“Freak”, scheduled to shoot on location  in New York and Louisiana, is being produced by Sophie Watts of Gravity Films with an anticipated release around spring 2011. You can follow the progress via the film’s Facebook page or Twitter.

Official Website

The latest updates on Team USA

• Team USA beat gold medal favorite Canada 5-3 in hockey action on Sunday evening to continue their pursuit of the gold. The U.S. was powered by two goals from Brian Rafalski(Dearborn, Mich.) and the play of goalkeeper Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.), who stopped 42 shots
• Bode Miller (Franconia, N.H.) used a brilliant slalom run to win the gold medal in men’s super combined, his fifth career Olympic Winter Games medal and first gold. The five medals are the most ever by an American in alpine skiing.
• Meryl Davis (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Charlie White (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) moved into second place after the original dance portion of the ice dancing competition Sunday. The Americans have an overall score of 108.55, 2.6 points behind the leaders, Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, who have an 111.15 entering Monday’s free dance. Tanith Belbin (Aston, Pa.) and Ben Agosto (Chicago, Ill.) maintained their fourth place position with 103.33, 3.27 points; and Emily Samuelson (Novi, Mich.) and Evan Bates (Ann Arbor, Mich.) advanced from 14th to 11th place.

What’s in store today for Team USA

• On the heels of a Team USA win vs. Canada in men’s hockey on Sunday, it’s time to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” game on Monday. While the U.S. men are off, the women’s hockey team moves into the semifinals to face a familiar foe in Sweden.
• Sitting in second place after the original dance portion of the ice dancing competition, Meryl Davis (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Charlie White (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) return to the Pacific Coliseum on Monday for the free dance. Tanith Belbin (Aston, Pa.) and Ben Agosto (Chicago, Ill.) enter the final dance in fourth place and Emily Samuelson (Southfield, Mich.) and Evan Bates (Ann Arbor, Mich.) are currently 11th.
• The freestyle aerials men take their first runs at Cypress Mountain, the men’s curling team wraps up round robin play, and the Whistler Olympic Park will be busy with cross country skiing and the team event in ski jumping.

Some of the latest updates on Team USA include:

• Short track speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno (Seattle, Wash.) made history Saturday night, winning the bronze in the men’s 1000m. The medal is the seventh of his career, surpassing the mark set by long track speedskater Bonnie Blair and distinguishing him as the most decorated U.S. winter Olympian in history.
• Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) captured the silver medal in the men’s 1500m event in long track speedskating, becoming the first U.S. athlete to take home a medal in two consecutive Olympic Winter Games in the event.
• Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) won her second medal of the Games bronze in the women’s super-G.
• Also on Saturday, the U.S. men’s and women’s curling teams each notched their second wins in Vancouver, three Americans qualified for Sunday’s finals in women’s aerials, and USA I the “Night Hawk” sits in fourth place in the two-man bobsled competition heading into the final two heats on Sunday.

What’s in store today for Team USA

• It’s hockey night: Team USA vs. Canada. The U.S. Men’s Hockey Team is off to its first 2-0 start in Olympic play since 1992 and will face a 2-0 Canada on Sunday evening at Canada Hockey Place with millions on both sides of the border tuning in.
• It has been called NASCAR on skis, and it makes its Olympic debut on Sunday: Ski cross. Olympic alpine skiing veterans Casey Puckett (Aspen, Colo.) and Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, Calif.) have made the switch and will represent the U.S. on the course at Cypress Mountain.
• Vancouver alpine medalists Bode Miller (Franconia, N.H.) and Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, N.Y.) return to Whistler, alongside 2006 Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah), for the super combined. Will Brandenburg will make his first Olympic start.
• The two-man bobsled 2010 Olympic champion will be crowned at the Whistler Sliding Center. Team USA has three sleds in the race, and the duo of Steven Holcomb (Park City, Utah) and Curt Tomasevicz (Shelby, Neb.) is within medal reach, sitting in fourth place heading into the final two heats on Sunday evening.

To find out about upcoming events and results click here.

Name: Katy Schlemmer

Age: 15

Sport(s): Skateboarding, Basketball

Hometown: Tustin, California

High School/Middle School/College: Foothill High School

What’s your fave sport?

My favorite sport would have to be skateboarding. I have so much fun skating and it really lets you express yourself in tricks and style.

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

I think of been skating for about 3 or 4 years. But these last two years I’ve actually been practicing tricks and trying  to learn bigger things.

Where do you plan on being in five years?

In five years I hope to be a professional skateboarder and if not I plan on still skating and being a part of something in the skateboarding business.

What was the biggest lesson you’ve learned from playing your sport?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from skateboarding is that no matter how good you may think you are, there is always someone out there better than you. It’s something that really makes me push myself to get better. I’ve also learned to try and get over the nerve of competing in competitions!

What lessons have you learned about work ethic from your sport?

If you don’t practice you won’t get any better. You have to devote your time day after day and its a lot of work. Skateboarding is all trial and error, and it can be painful haha.

What have you learned about teamwork?

Well… skateboarding really isn’t a “team” sport. Haha.. It’s more individual and learning things on your own. But I guess it is always good to respect others at skateparks and be nice.

How do you balance school and sports?

It’s sooooo hard!!! Haha I have school and have to wake up early for 0 period and then right after school I always have basketball or conditioning and then maybe games after that! And then I have to come home and shower and do homework and by the time I finish that it’s already time for bed! But right now I’m actually out of basketball for awhile because I have to get another heart test just in case to make sure I don’t have cardiomyopathy. Luckily I can still skateboard! :D But usually I barely have time to skateboard during the week but this year I’m going to try harder to fit more skating into my schedule!

Who do you have supporting you in your sport?

Well my parents are a big help but so are some of the companies that have sponsored me. Thank you Monster Energy, Freestyle Watches, Division 26, Fringe Clothing, Maitri, Damzl, and a few others. You can check them out online or visit my profile on www.loopd.com <http://www.loopd.com>  to learn more about all of them!

Who do you look up to?

I look up to my parents and friends and especially my best friends Kelli, Autumn, Kourtnee, and Paulina. I don’t know what I’d do without them! They’re always here for me! :)

Favorite skateboarder?

Ryan Sheckler.. Yum. haha But Rodney Mullen is amazing.

What’s the girliest thing you like to do? (Pretty Tough signature question)

Well that’s an easy one.. Shopping with all my friends!!!

Thanks, Katy! Hope your heart is okay… Thanks for a fun interview. You’re right, a support system is so important. Best of luck with your career.

Do you or someone you know want to be spotlighted? Send an email to Keri Mikulski at kerimikulski(at)gmail(dot)com.

Happy Saturday!

Hugs,
Keri 

Here are some of the terms used in this ancient sport: Sweeping. Broomstacking. The hog line.  No, they don’t refer to  tidying up a pig pen but they are crucial to understanding this often misunderstood event.

Five things to know about curling:

- The sport often is compared to shuffleboard on ice. The Olympians play 10 ends, or innings (yes, like baseball), and the team with the most points at the end wins.

- After a 42-pound granite stone is sent sliding down the ice, two players use sweeping motions to control it – to make it go faster or slower, or to change its direction, or “curl.” The goal is to get the stone as close as possible to the center of a series of concentric circles.

- Don’t even think about knocking the curlers for not being athletes. Although curlers like to have fun,  they have taken their fitness to a new level in preparation for these games. They have personal trainers, high-intensity training camps, sports psychologists and more. The teams that don’t work out hard off the ice are the ones that fall behind everybody else.

- This sport, dating to 15th-century Scotland, prides itself on a tradition of sportsmanship and good manners. The Chinese women didn’t talk to the media after Sunday’s practice in order to keep their focus, and it caused an uproar of sorts. On Monday, when they passed the media, they smiled and said “hi.”

- The terminology is foreign to say the least. There’s broomstacking, the post-match ritual of heading to the lounge with the opponent for a friendly drink. (Traditionally, the winners buy the beers.) The “button” is the inner-most circle within the “house” – the area the stone must cross into to be in play.

And don’t forget the “hog line.” That’s a line that players can’t cross when releasing their rocks.

Other Terms:
Brick: Refers to the team who has last stone advantage in an end.
Broom: A device used to assist in the delivery of a stone.
Brush: Used to sweep the ice surface in front of a stone. It is also the intended target for the player who is delivering a stone.
Freeze: A form of a draw that stops and rests touching another rock.
Hammer: The last stone delivered in each end.
Negative Ice: A condition of the ice playing surface that causes stones to bend in the direction opposite to what it normally would.
Nose Hit: A curling shot where a stone removes a stationary rock from play and doesn’t move after making contact.
Pebble: Water droplets applied to the ice before a game to reduce the resistance between the surfaces of the ice and stone.
Peel: A shot delivered to remove a guard and slide out of play.
Sheet: The playing area.
Skip: The player who determines the strategy, reads the ice, and plays and directs play for the team. Generally the skip delivers the last pair of stones for his team in each end.
Slider: The smooth sole of the sliding foot that allows a curler to glide on the ice surface.
Whoa: The command given to the sweepers to stop sweeping.

Olympic Schedule
Women’s Curling begins today, February 17th in Vancouver with round robin sessions continuing through the week. Look for the semifinal on Feb. 25th and the gold medal game on Feb. 26th.