Erin Hamlin is winner of 2009 FIL World Luge Championships and awarded US Best Female Athlete 2014. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You took up luge at a young age of 12 years and reached the pinnacle of success on winning Gold at World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid as the first U.S. woman to win a World Championship title, and breaking a 99 race German winning streak, and most recently a Bronze Medal at Sochi’s 2014 Winter Olympics in Women’s singles category of luge-the first American, male or female, to ever win an Olympic medal in singles luge, and the first female to ever win any medal for Team USA in luge. What factors do you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Erin Hamlin:
Having 15 years of experience in the sport definitely helped at the Olympics this year. Also getting experience at the Games at a fairly young age (I was 19 at my first Olympics in Torino in 2006) gave me the opportunity to get comfortable on a big stage as soon as I began competing on the senior World Cup circuit. I was able to stay completely relaxed and I knew the drill when it came to the things that make the Olympics a bit different from normal racing. I knew my years of training, hard work, and experience prepared me.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after winning Bronze at Sochi’s 2014 Winter Olympic Games? With this, you became the first female American luger to win any medal at the Olympics, as well as the first American of either gender to win any medal in the singles luge competition?
Ms. Erin Hamlin:
Before, I was feeling good. I mean I had already done some cool stuff in my career (World Cup medals, won a World Championship, and had been to two Olympic Games) so I didn’t feel much pressure going into the race in Sochi. I was really looking to have fun, take in the whole experience & enjoy it fully, since who knows if I will be back at another Olympics again.
It was the third time I was experiencing it and had been disappointed at the Games before & it wasn’t the end of the world, so I knew there was nothing to lose. I had no expectations for myself, really. Of course everyone there wants to do as well as possible- I mean, Olympians tend to be pretty competitive people, but I actually wasn’t focused on that. I just wanted to go out there and have fun, enjoy the experience, and as long as I know I gave it my best, that’s what was most important to me.
Afterward it was super exciting. It was a total surprise/shock and so great to have everything come together and have such an enjoyable two days of racing. Coming around the final curves of my first run, I thought to myself, hmm this could really happen right how, but I also knew I had to stay relaxed. My years of training, dedication and every sacrifice paid off and I accomplished my dream of winning a medal at the Olympics. I couldn’t have felt better the whole time and getting to xperience everything at the Games as a medalist (media, etc.) was pretty surreal.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Erin Hamlin:
I try to do a lot of yoga to supplement the training I do in a gym. We focus a lot on strength, explosive, and power movements and workouts so being able to recoup my body with yoga is awesome. Core strength is also pretty big . I even like to SUP board, which is upper body as well as balance and core, which is important. Pull ups are always on the program and grip strength work (which is beneficial for the start). Olympic lifts, like cleans and snatch, are also big and are good for full body power.
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