Road to London 2012: Starting Off Right!!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Starting Off Right!!

Today was the start of the 4 Nations Tournament and despite a bit of jet lag and a full day in the gym, we managed to pull out two very close wins. This morning we faced off against the Netherlands. We started out slow, struggling to adapt to the new threats and speed of the team. Our first half left something to be desired for sure, but the enthusiasm and energy our team needed was there. We were actually down most of the game, a place we are certainly not used to...but it makes for a great battle! The second half we cut the lead and managed to inch out a win...72-70. For those who know our game...you may be somewhat surprised by this score...or really surprised...and for those that dont't here's the gist...our goal is usually to hold teams to under 40 and it's incredibly rare for the score of a women's wheelchair basketball game to get that high...unless one team is clearly dominating another. So not our best showing! But that being said...our second half was better than the first and we improved throughout...and we still got the W...so all in all a step in the right direction! About 6 hours, two Men's games, and a team meeting later we met the Germans...and well let me provide some context to the environment going into it...there is a video in the lobby of the gym showing Germany finishing second to the United States in Beijing and the tournament program shows a picture of the Gold Medal game at World Championships in 2010, where Germany also finished second to the United States...so we knew going in it was going to be a rematch of years past. Every time we play Germany it's a back and forth battle for the lead, a physically strenuous and intense fight to the end!! Today was nothing different, leads exchanged countless times, fouls were numerous, women were falling often, and every second required focus and intensity! We escaped with a win by 4...and yes it felt great (aside from the shoulder, but that's nothing new)! We meet Australia in the morning, who appears to be picking up on some of our pressing techniques! We haven't seen them since before World Championships in 2010, and as you quickly learn as the team to beat, no team is the same as in years past and everyone is bringing their best game to you! Tomorrow will be no different. As for me...it's time to sign off...I'm exhausted and 6:00 is going to come quickly...so until tomorrow...peace!

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About Me- The Basics

I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. In 1995 I became partially paralyzed when my body thought my spinal cord was a disease, attacked my nerves, and permanently damaged them. Three years later I made my first international team and I have been competing at the Paralympic level since. I competed in the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia and 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece as a swimmer, capturing a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke in Sydney and finishing 4th in Athens. From 2000-2002, I set, held, and reset the World Record in the 1500m freestyle.

In 2002, I started college at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign. While earning both my degrees, I was a member of the Women's Wheelchair Basketball team and helped them earn 5 National titles. In 2004, my shoulder injuries had compounded and my swimming career came to an end. However, in 2005 I was selected as a member of the USA Women's Wheelchair Basketball team and I have since competed and helped the US win silver at the 2006 World Championships, and win Gold at the 2007 and 2011 ParaPan American Games, the 2010 World Championships, and the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

This year will be a year of big endings and new beginnings for me...as Captain of the USA Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team I will compete in my fourth and final Paralympic Games in London. So as I count down to the end of my athletic career and the next chapter begins, I hope you'll join in the celebration, the chaos, and the fun of the Road to London!

About Me- The Truth

I believe that basketball, work, and well life in general, are supposed to be fun; that every day is an opportunity to make yourself and the world around you a bit better; and that it’s ok to take things seriously, as long as you don’t take yourself too seriously. I regularly make fun of myself and laugh at my own craziness!

I actually think basketball paints a great picture of who I am and who I strive to be. You're probably accustomed to watching a team shoot, pass, and run some speed drills during warm-up, and you’re guaranteed to see all of that with Team USA, as well. But then you’ll take another look…and you’ll likely see me, USA #11…and with a song in my head and my headphones blaring, my game prep always includes some bad dance moves and occasionally some really bad singing! And as you watch my warm-up you'll notice that I don't seem to care too much about how bad it looks or if anyone is watching…it’s not about a show... it’s all about keeping it fun and light. I joke it's not about how good you play, it's about how good you look, but in reality it's how good you feel and I believe that laughter is the best medicine and have learned over time not to take myself too seriously…so I don't, especially on the court!

Fun is instrumental to success on and off the court and with the right playlist I know anything is possible! So while I may have to apologize to our coaching staff, 4 men who over the years have listened to "Booty Wurk" probably 1,000 times and who have suffered through the 90s boy-bands over and over again...I know it works!

Despite the “unconventional” warm-up as you watch the game you’ll see the serious athlete you expect and the game deserves. It's like a complete transformation...say good-bye to the bubbly, never met a stranger personality and hello to serious competitor.

So in a nutshell...like me don't expect this Road to be too serious...but expect it to be a bit silly, definitely a bit unexpected, and an all around GOOD TIME!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Starting Off Right!!

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