My dream came true on February 25, 2010--
Olympic Bronze!
It all started in the gymnasium of my elementary school in Farmington, Ct. I was in kindergarten when my gym teacher awarded me the honor of carrying the Olympic torch at our Opening Olympic Ceremonies. We competed and learned what the Olympic spirit was about. Over the years I tried many team sports but my real love was just running.
I was glued to the television whenever the summer Olympics came around. I watched Summer Sanders in the pool and Jackie Joyner-Kersie on the track breaking records and winning medals. I dreamt about flying through the air landing a double layout during my perfectly choreographed floor routine and receiving a perfect 10 just like Nadia Comaneci.
I went on to Farmington high school where I was voted the most athletic female in the school. From there I attended Springfield College where I pursued my love of running track and my career goal of being a social worker/clinician. I qualified for D111 Track and Field Nationals twice competing in the Heptathlon and once in the indoor hurdles. During the summer of 2002, my senior year, I was in training for my cross-country season and was shocked when I received a phone call from my track coach about trying out for the sport of bobsled. My parents and I drove to Northeastern University and I tried out for a sport I knew nothing about. My testing scores showed potential so the coaches asked me to come try out for the season. My only dilemma was that I was just accepted into an advanced senior masters program in the field of social work the same time I was asked to join the bobsled team. I had a major decision to make.
My first time to the Olympic training center in Lake Placid, NY, was the first step to making my dream a reality. I finished my senior year of school traveling around the world with my teammates and graduated with my BA in Rehabilitation and Disabilities studies with a concentration in counseling. For the next three years I went on to train and compete with the bobsled team as a pusher/brakeman. I set three start world records, one that held till this past season (2010). When the 2006 Olympic team was announced and I was not a part of it, my position in the sport changed. I decided to jump into the drivers seat with a goal of being a medal contender in the 2010 Winter Olympics.
I placed 8th in my first World championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland (2007), 7th in 2008 at World championships in Altenberg, Germany, and took 6th place at the Lake Placid World championships in 2009. During the 2008-2009 season, I set three start records and won my first medal on the pre-Olympic track in Whistler, BC. I finished the 2010 World Cup season with an overall ranking of 6th with two bronze medals. Most importantly, I achieved my dream and my goal of making my first Olympic team where I eventually won the bronze medal.
Hometown: Farmington, CT
Education: Springfield College '03
(B.A. Rehabilitation and Disability Studies)
Results:
2009-2010 Season- 3rd - Park City
- 7th - Lake Placid (tied for start record)
- 5th - Cesana
- 3rd - Winterberg
- 6th – Altenberg
- 5th – Konigssee
- 13th – St. Moritz
- 4th – Igls
- 6th – Overall World Cup Ranking
- 3rd – Olympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010
- 9th – Overall World Cup Ranking
- 2007-2008 Season
- 11th – Overall World Cup Ranking
Fun Facts:
- Food – Sweet potato pancakes, peanut butter ice cream sundae
- Music – Jeremy Camp
- Movies – Serendipity, Notebook
- Color – Pink
- Hobby – Cooking. I want to open my own breakfast/lunch restaurant