Winter Olympians show us the money

Just as the Vancouver Games are about to get underway, Forbes released a list of the highest-earning Winter Olympic athletes from last year. The name at the top of the list probably won’t surprise anyone – U.S. Snowboarder Shaun White, who earned about $8 million last year,  stars in his own video game and has his own clothing line along with a long list of sponsors.

What may surprise you is the young woman who is tied with White for the top spot. Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na is the reigning world champion and known as “Queen Yu-na. ” The 19-year-old is tied White with earnings thanks in part to a Samsung phone that carries her name, according to Forbes. The mag previously named her the most powerful celebrity in South Korea for 2009.

Being a female skier or snowboarder  can also be good for the wallet. Downhill champ Lindsey Vonn is on the boards with $3 million in earnings and 2006 Olympic halfpipe silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler, 2006 Olympic snowboard cross silver medalist Lindsey Jacobellis and reigning Olympic halfpipe champion Hannah Teter all earned in the neighborhood of $1 million.

At the other end of the scale of Winter Olympian earnings are sliders, curlers and speed skaters who often go into debt to compete in their sport and survive in part thanks to support from their families and  local businesses.

Top-10 highest-earning Olympic athletes, according to Forbes

1. Shaun White, U.S., Snowboarding ($7.5 million)
1. Kim Yu-Na, South Korea, Figure Skating ($7.5 million)
3. Lindsey Vonn, U.S., Alpine Skiing ($2.5 million)
4. Ted Ligety, U.S., Alpine Skiing ($2 million)
5. Apolo Ohno, U.S., Short Track ($1.5 million)
6. Bode Miller, U.S., Alpine Skiing ($1.3 million)
7. Gretchen Bleiler, U.S., Snowboarding ($1 million)
7. Lindsey Jacobellis, U.S., Snowboarding ($1 million)
7. Hannah Teter, U.S., Snowboarding ($1 million)
7. Maria Riesch, Germany, Alpine Skiing ($1 million)

Procyclist: Training in Tucson, AZ

Once I got my preliminary race agenda from the team director at the beginning of the month, I decided to head south to Tucson, AZ for some warm weather training.

It seems that a lot of cyclists try to find somewhere warm to start off training for the season, it kind of refreshes the mind and gives you a fresh look on things. I actually ran into one of my former cyclocross teammates on one of the rides. She recognized the team kit and ended up riding with me and a fellow cyclist for about 10miles. Friends sure do help pass the miles quickly! Unfortunately she is racing for another team.  I think she is a cool chick and she is going to be one heck of a force to deal with but….that’s racing. We are friends off the bike but on the bike, we have to fight each other for OUR team goals. As long as you can keep the two separate, things are fine.

So I’m headed back to Dolores, CO tomorrow. I’ll have  time to pick up my dog, check out everything at the house and get ready for my next trip.  I miss my sweet Lab, Miller, and I have to make sure after three feet of snow in less than two days that everything at the house is fine. Then either I will head back to Tucson for more warm weather training or hopefully head to Santa Cruz, CA. I’ve never been there before and I love new places! Plus, that is where training camp is in March, so I would like to check it out! Or I guess I can wait and experience it with the team, either way is good with me.

Part of being a professional athlete is being able to go with the flow. People will be late, dinner will take a long time, plans will change…you have to be able to adapt and not let things like that worry you one bit, if not it just adds to the overall stress. We should have enough to worry about with winning, team goals, communication with others, personal goals and failure….yes FAILURE, no one is perfect, no one team is perfect and everyone has to deal with adversity. It is how you handle adversity that can take you to the next level. So think about that the next time someone gets in your face about something e.g. the boss is being a pain or a teacher is asking more than you think you can give…….

Maybe they are just seeing how you can handle adversity and see how you overcome it…..a true leader? Winner? Or someone who caves…….your call.

Me, I love it all and I feel blessed that I believe I can come through anything and  be a winner and a leader no matter what comes my way….

(Editors Note: Lauren Hall quit her job of five years to pursue a professional cycling career. She moved from Mississippi all the way to Colorado for the best training anywhere and has embarked on her first cyclocross season.)

Sporty Saturday Spotlight 1-09-10

Not sure what you want to do after you hang up your cleats, board, glove, shin guards, sneaks, or stick? This Saturday the sporty spotlight shines bright on Trish Bare Grounds, an athletic trainer from Bare Essential Sports Medicine. Check out Trish’s insightful interview below where she shares her amazing career and fave sporty moments.

Name: Trish Bare Grounds

Age: 44

Sport(s): Dance, Equestrian, Track, Cheerleading, Soccer, Marital Arts — Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) for just about every sport there is at some point during my career but I focus now mainly on action/extreme sports, martial arts, cheer & dance

Hometown: (Just since January) Rebersburg, PA

High School/Middle School/College: Linton Stockton High School, Linton, IN; BA from DePauw University, MS from University of Miami; Yet to finish 2nd MS & PhD at University of Florida

Number: 10

Position: Nowadays Certified Athletic Trainer & Owner of Bare Essentials Sports Medicine Co LLC

What’s your fave sport?

Everything!  My favorite sports to cover as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) for the past decade and more have been BMX (freestyle & Racing), Skateboard, Motocross (FMX & Racing), Snowboard, Skiing (Freestyle), Taekwondo, MMA, & Cheerleading …you know very similar sports!  I tend to drift towards the non-traditional sports with more adrenaline these days although I have worked and loved everything from football, basketball, baseball, soccer,  & track among many other of the more traditional sports.

How many years have you been playing your fave sport?

I have been an ATC for over 20 years and see no signs of slowing down yet; in fact I thinking I am working more now than I did even 10 years ago.

What was your fave sporty moment or memory?

My favorite moments come after I have helped an athlete return from an injury, especially injuries that could have been detrimental to their sporting careers (or that thought were career ending), climb up on the podium.  Just seeing them reach their dreams are the best moments of all, and I have many from pee wees to high school, to college to Olympic to Pro, and they all mean a lot to me! It is especially cool when that athlete steps down off of the podium and hands me their flowers in thanks for helping them get there, or after their sporting career they return to school to become an ATC themselves!

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

Patience and persistence no matter how frustrating things gets…and always look ahead with a glass half-full mentality no matter what!

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

Same…patience & persistence win the game even when people try to knock you out, and always have a glass half-full…and always, always, always respect everyone no matter who they are.

What have you learned about teamwork?

Teamwork is amazing!  Things get done so much better and quicker when you work together and let others help you…everyone can contribute to make it all happen.  When someone thinks they are all that is needed that is when things go terribly wrong.

How do you balance school and sports?

For me it is balancing motherhood and sport coverage, and as a single mom that can be rough, but my daughter travels with me to whatever sporting event I am working and she gets to meet some really incredible people…some day I will tell her how famous the athletes she hangs out with were!  I have to keep things in perspective, family is always first for me, although I have many sons and daughters out there, just come to an event and you will hear them scream MOM!!  Love it!  But I have learned over the years that I have to make time for me as well as for family, friends and my athletes, otherwise I go crazy.  Since I love my work this is very often a hard concept for me to remember.  School, research, and writing take a back seat but somehow seem to get done.

List some awards or accolades you’ve received.

NATA Service Award given to a select few ATC’s each year who have volunteered and given back to sport and community over a period of 15 years or more; NCA Trainer of the year for the past 12 years; I have been priviledged to have worked some really cool events from World Cups, to World Championships to Olympics, to Dew Tour & Winter Dew, to local and state events in just about every sport, but the greatest award/reward I have received are the thank-you’s I get from my highly appreciative athletes every day.

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

Hmmm, rough question there are so many!  I think Donna Vano (snow & skate) would have to be one of my all-time favorite females, but so is Diana Lopez  & Kay Poe (TKD) and so many more that I have worked with over the years…as for the guys wow I work with so many incredible people who are also amazing athletes, including Daniel Dhers, Chad Kagy, James Foster, Drew Bezanson, Brandon Dosch, Anthony Napolitan (BMX), Austen Seaholm, Ryan Sheckler, Christian Sereika (SKB), Steven Lopez, Jason Neville, Josh Coleman (TKD)…..I could go on for days!

Tell us about your profession.

Athletic Training for me is a way to still be a part of sports I love, especially action & extreme sports, where what I do can mean the difference between being able to compete or not.  I can honestly say I love what I do.  I get to go to work everyday and simply watch some tremendously talented athletes play the sports they love, and in the process meet some pretty awesome individuals.   I give them the added support for development and care of their mind and body that often helps them reach their highest dreams

Why did you choose this profession?

I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, originally thought I wanted to be a surgeon but also wanted to be there when the injury happened all the way until the athlete returned to full participation in the sport they loved, so it had to be Sports Medicine, and I kind of fell into Athletic Training as a means to be there, and not just the office, but actually working on-stie with athletes.  When I first joined this profession I was told girls would never do well and to make sure I had a “back-up” profession, which only made me want to prove them wrong, so I set on a path to work to the highest level of sport and hopefully make a difference in athlete’s lives, as well as hopefully open the door for other girls who wanted to do the same. If it were up to me I would work for free for all the sports and athletes who appreciate the care I provide if only I had no bills or at least more sponsors that reduced that burden since so many athletes I work with do not have health insurance, so they often go without care unless it is free.

What kind of schooling did you have to complete?

You only have to have a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine but I went onto get my Master’s and trying to finish up a PhD so that there are never any excuses from my education not being high enough to be hired.  When I sat for my Board Exams you also had to have completed 1800 hours of practical work with athletes, after working with over 50,000 athletes during my career I have lost track of how many hours I have put in to this point!

What’s your day like?

Depending on if I am at an event or just checking on the athletes while they are training, I have to be prepared to handle any kind of injury that can happen at anytime, and of course I tend to work those sports which have a greater chance of serious injury even in training.  Event coverage usually is anywhere from 10-14 hours/day, while training is generally less than 6 hours of work. I also have to spend time on the computer and phone trying to get events to work, staff to cover the events, supplies for the events, and sponsors and/or donations to cover the cost of traveling to and covering events as most of the sports I cover have little to know budget for medical care among athletes who probably need it the most.  I work anything from charity events to help support a local skatepark all the way up to highly televised events, and love caring for all the athletes no matter what age or ability level, they all have their own place in the sporting world.

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

I loooooove pedicures!  And since I wear flip-flops or sandals anytime I am not working the toes have to look good!

Thanks, Trish!!

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

Happy Saturday!

4th Annual Los Angeles WISE Panel and Networking Event

If you live in Los Angeles and are interested in pursuing a career in sports, are looking to make connections in the industry, or want to hear from a panel of successful athletes and businesswomen including Women’s Sports Foundation President Jessica Mendoza, surfer Lisa Anderson and USA Softball player Amanda Freed, then make sure you head down to the LA Athletic Club next Tuesday (Sept. 22nd) for what looks to be a great event.

Abby Wambach scores 100th career goal in hometown as U.S. women defeat Canada 1-0

Abby Wambach scored her 100th career goal in her hometown to lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to a 1-0 victory against Canada in front of 8,443 wildly appreciative fans at Marina Auto Stadium.

Wambach, who was a high school All-American at Our Lady of Mercy in Rochester, becomes the ninth woman in soccer history to score 100 career international goals, and the fifth American, joining Mia Hamm (158), Kristine Lilly (129), Michelle Akers (105) and Tiffeny Milbrett (100). Wambach’s 100th goal comes in just her 129th career match, giving her the best goals-to-games ratio in U.S. history.

The milestone comes one year and three days after Wambach broke her left leg in the USA’s final tune up for the 2008 Olympics. It was Wambach’s first international goal since the injury and makes her the second U.S. players to score her 100th goal in Rochester after Hamm became the first in 1998.

Twenty-one-year-old forward Lauren Cheney, who replaced Wambach on the Olympic roster, came into the game in the 63rd minute and 15 minutes later set up the historic goal.

“I think it’s pretty fitting that Lauren Cheney, the girl that replaced me going to the Olympics after my leg breaking, played me an amazing ball,” said Wambach. “I took a great first touch, and just hit it far post. Thankfully, it didn’t go wide. I was peeling out, truckin’ to the sideline because I thought it was going in. I can’t really describe the emotion. I don’t think it’s really set in quite yet. It’s been a long year and to come home to score the 100th goal here in Rochester couldn’t be more of a picture perfect ending.”

The goal came following a Canadian goal kick as substitute Tobin Heath won the header, sending a short pass to Shannon Boxx in the middle of the field. She collected the ball and played forward to Cheney, who controlled and spun towards the goal, slipping a perfect pass behind Canadian defender Candace Chapman. Wambach ran onto the ball in the left side of the penalty area, took a touch and rolled her 15-yard shot past Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and into the lower right corner just inside the post.

“I’m happy to be here right now, sitting on the bench to see that goal happen,” said U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage, who scored 71 international goals herself for Sweden. “Cheney coming off the bench playing that great ball through and you just hear the sound of it and it’s fantastic. This is awesome.”

The U.S. team dominated possession in the match as Canada chose to pull back inside its own half, putting zero pressure on the U.S. backs. The Americans piled up a 21-3 shot advantage and had 10 corner kicks to Canada’s two.

The USA’s best early chance came in the eighth minute as midfielder Angela Hucles rocked the crossbar from 19 yards out, but her shot struck the underside of the bar and bounced away.

Wambach had several half chances to get her 100th before finally scoring, bringing the fans to their feet on each occasion. The first came in the seventh minute as she broke into the penalty area on the right side only to have Chapman block her shot away.

In the 49th minute, Megan Rapinoe bent a cross on the ground from the flank, but LeBlanc beat Wambach to bouncing ball. Amy Rodriguez spun in another low cross from the left wing in the 52nd minute, but Wambach just missed making contact on the slide as he was bundled over by a defender.

In the 61st, Hucles sent a little chip over top of the Canadian defense on a free kick from the left flank. Wambach stretched for the diving header, but just couldn’t get her head on the ball at the top of the six yard box.

In the 63rd, Wambach came the closest to scoring, getting free in the left side of the penalty area before sending a delicate chip to the far post, but the angle was just too steep and the ball flew wide.

Canada’s most dangerous chance may have come in the 68th minute as substitute Chelsea Stewart got behind the U.S. defense via a high ball over the middle as the U.S. back line was pushed over to the left of the field. The speedy Heather Mitts ran her down, blocked her shot and cleared the ball away.

In the 77th minute, Cheney had a chance for a goal of her own as she got behind the Canadian defense on a perfect slip pass from Wambach, but Emily Zurrer ran her down from behind and tackled the ball away.

U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage started Cat Whitehill at right back, giving the veteran defender her first cap since she tore her ACL in June of 2008. Whitehilll played very well in her 45 minutes before giving way to Mitts at halftime.

The 21-year-old Heath came on in the 75th minute for Heather O’Reilly and saw her first action since the quarterfinal match of the 2008 Olympics against Canada. Heath’s first touch of the game was an audacious nutmeg of a Canadian midfielder and a few minutes later she pulled off a double nutmeg down the left flank, hitting the ball to Shannon Boxx whose cross was controlled by Cheney inside the six, but she couldn’t turn to fire on goal. The ball was eventually bundled out by the Canadian defense for the USA’s 10th corner kick of the game.

The U.S. played without team captain Christie Rampone who had emergency abdominal surgery yesterday, but Amy LePeilbet and Rachel Buehler played excellent games in the central defense, helping limit Canada to just one shot on goal. U.S. goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart picked up the shutout, but was forced to make just one save.

The U.S. team now travels to Charleston, S.C., to face Canada again, this one at Blackbaud Stadium on Wednesday, July 22 at 8 p.m. ET. The match will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol.

$erena top-earning female athlete ever

Who are the highest paid athletes?

Serena Williams just became the all-time career earnings leader in all of women’s sports by reaching the Aussie Open final and winning the doubles crown with sister Venus.

Williams’ not only eclipses Lindsay Davenport as the all-time prize money leader in women’s tennis, but also overtakes the LPGA’s Annika Sorenstam as the all-time prize money leader in women’s sports. Her career prize money earnings will total $22,753,575, surpassing Davenport by $608,840 and Sorenstam by $180,383.

“I’m thrilled with the news! I remember earning my first cheque of $240 at Québec City in 1995 and while I knew that I could have a great career in tennis, I could not have imagined or dreamed of all of this,” Williams said.

Williams turned professional at the age of 14 and since that first check has won 32 singles titles, including nine Grand Slams en route to her nearly $23 million payday. 

Tennis anyone?

Annika’s Letter to Fans

December 19, 2008 – It’s official. Annika’s competitive career is over:

Dear LPGA fans,

My last event is over and it is time to step away from competitive golf. As I sat on the plane home from Dubai I had a chance to reminisce about the last 15 years. It has been an incredible ride and I could not have asked for anything more. This wonderful game took me from a small town in Sweden and introduced me to the world. I have met some incredible people and traveled to so many wonderful places. I have learned many lessons, matured and built friendships that will last a life time. I have so much for which I am thankful!

More

Sorenstam named ambassador to to promote golf’s 2016 Olympic bid

December 18, 2008 – Two of the game’s all-time greatest players, Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam, will serve as Global Ambassadors in support of the IGF’s bid to reinstate golf as an Olympic sport, the International Golf Federation announced on Thursday.

“It is an honor and privilege to take an active role in assisting golf’s bid to become an Olympic sport,” said Sorenstam, a native of Sweden whose stellar career includes 89 world-wide victories as a professional, 72 on the LPGA. “Now, as I step aside from competitive golf, a major objective of mine is to help grow the game around the world and I can think of no better way to grow it than through the Olympics.”

Golf is one of seven sports vying for inclusion in the 2016 Games. The others are baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash. Golf was last an Olympic sport in 1904 in St. Louis, Mo.

What do you think? Should golf be added as an Olympic sport?

Annika, Venus & Serena among ESPN’s top stories of 2008

December 8, 2008 – As ESPN Magazine says goodbye to 2008,  Chris Jones recounts the best storylines of the entire year in one massive yarn. “The Things We Forget” is a chronicle of 2008 in sports presented in 11 parts. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but most of all, you’ll remember.

In particular, check out Part 4 on Annika Sorenstam:

In May, Annika Sorenstam announced that 2008 would be her last year on the LPGA Tour. One of the most dominant athletes of the past decade had decided to disappear. She had known she would retire since the previous winter, when she peeked at her watch on the driving range and wondered if it was time to go home. “I stopped and thought, Wait a minute, I used to love this,” she said. “All of a sudden, I’m watching the clock. That’s when I knew this would be my last year.”

And Part 6 on Venus and Serena Williams:

Of all the great stories of this year, the resurgence of Venus and Serena Williams was the most overlooked. After their domination at the All England Club—the first time they had met in a Grand Slam final since 2003 and the fifth time Venus had won Wimbledon—they snagged doubles gold together in Beijing. Serena then went to New York and won the U.S. Open without losing a set. (Her toughest opponent was Venus in the quarters.) After being ranked as low as 140 two years ago, Serena was once again the best women’s player on the planet. In almost any other year, the Williams sisters might have basked in a long glow. Instead, even for them, 2008 was a flash that was doused too soon.

Annika Sorenstam plays her last round of LPGA golf

November 21, 2008  Arguably the most dominant female golfer of all time, Annika Sorenstam has transcended her sport to become a prominent mainstream athlete and celebrity. Throughout her career, she has rewritten the LPGA and Ladies European Tour record books, won countless awards and events and brought unprecedented attention to women’s golf.  Along the way, she has inspired millions of young women worldwide.

And today, Sorenstam’s storied LPGA Tour career is coming to an end.

From ESPN:

The 72-time tour winner shot a 3-over par 75 on Friday at the ADT Championship, making her 5 over through two rounds of the LPGA’s season-ending event. The projected cut was 1 over, meaning it was virtually certain Sorenstam’s week — and career — was done.

“I know it’s over,” Sorenstam said.

She announced six months ago she was leaving the tour at year’s end to pursue business interests, get married and start a family. Sorenstam is still is No. 2 in the world rankings, but at 38 she says it’s time for new challenges.

Annika’s legacy is undeniable.  Often called the female Tiger Woods,  Sorenstam locked up 72 LPGA titles, made more than $20 million in earnings on the LPGA, and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2003.

A win this week would have been the perfect ending to her career, but alas…the legend departs before our eyes.  She is, and has always been, a class act who will be sorely missed on the LPGA. 

After her LPGA Tour swansong this week Sorenstam will play in the Lexus Cup in Singapore later this month before bringing down the curtain on her competitive career at the Dec. 11-14 Dubai Ladies Masters.

Sorenstam won’t be out of the limelight for long however.  Surely she’ll be back for a random tournament here and there and she’s launching a signature fragrance called ANNIKA for Mother’s Day 2009.  The fragrance is said to evoke the essence of Annika –  confident, casually elegant and naturally beautiful.  Won’t be nearly as good as watching her play but hey….it’s something.

Annika Sorenstam website