Training to be on the US Skeleton team has made me reflect on many of the sports I tried as a child or my young adult life. Each sport I attempted was a new challenge I had to conquer. As I mentioned before my father was a huge inspiration for me when I was younger when it came to sports. He instead that the calves I had been made fun of would help me excel. At an early age I started doing shotokan karate. I went on to win several championships and medals. I actually made it to the black belt as my father beamed in approval.
I was also quite involved as a tennis player where I too not only participated in many tournaments won many of them as well. It was perhaps my determination to be successful that made me work even harder. I could not let my dad down.
Perhaps for me the hardest sport I ever participated was Woman’s rugby. It was not because of the physical aspect of the sport but it was because my success depended not only from myself but from the rest of the team. I started playing Rugby 2001 when I went Kansas University for the Jayhawks. Best way to describe this sport was football without the pads.
My position was a prop which was the person who took the brunt of the game. Each time a penalty whistle was blown I had to do a formation called a scrum and push against the other team. After several games my body was torn apart but at least I was lying in bed with a smile. It’s the best sport to take out all my aggressions.
Now as I work toward my new goal, I am bringing everyone along for the ride. The common question I am getting is “but Anja, isn’t dangerous. Won’t you get hurt?” All I can do is smile because this would not be the first time I have been hurt. While I was playing I not only tore my ACL but also destroyed my wrist into 50 different pieces. I had several surgeries for each of those incidents and carry the scares proudly for both.
I know I started out trying to be a bobsledder but sometimes one door closes and another one opens. I did not have the height the other girls had for bobsled but my body was a perfect for Skeleton. I cannot describe to you the feeling it is to slide down at 65 miles an hour over a nine foot wall. It’s a freedom I have never felt while testing my own physical strength. My visit to the Olympic Training center awakened my senses and gave me a taste of something I really wanted more of. Hence is why I am starting to train five days a week with my trainer Josh Hemann at the Orlando RDV. His expertise with lifting and explosive running has gotten me to where I am now.
You're amazing!
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