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Favorite Olympian: Shawn Johnson

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Michael Phelps is truly a superlative athlete. He broke all kinds of records in Beijing and was voted Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. While you all voted him the fan-favorite Olympian, I think he has won awards aplenty. That is why when it comes to Olympians, 16-year-old Shawn Johnson with her tireless smile is the winner of the FitSugar Favorite Olympian.

Shawn won the gold medal for balance beam, the sliver medal in the all-around competition, silver in floor exercise, and helped the US win the team silver. Unlike many elite gymnasts, Shawn only trained about 20 to 25 hours a week instead of 40, so she could attend her public high school where she is on the honor roll. Even though she is not yet old enough to vote, this civic-minded Olympian made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Her athletic style kept us entertained throughout the Olympics, and this girl looks so healthy.

She might not be the new face of Subway or have a video game in the works, but Shawn is my favorite Olympian of 2008. I am anxious to see if she will compete in 2012 - do you think she will?

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Who Is Your Favorite 2008 Summer Olympian?

FitSugar — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:30:00 -0800

Although Winter is almost here, I can easily recall the excitement of the Summer Olympic Games and athletes that competed in Beijing.

Although it might prove difficult to pick your favorite Olympian from the 2008 games, I am sure you are up to the task. All these athletes deserve our respect and admiration, but only one can be your favorite. Do your loyalties lie in the pool or the track? Is your favorite the US beach volleyball team or the winner of the all-around gymnastic title? I want to know . . .

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Dara Torres Talks About Staying Fit and Not Acting Your Age

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Dara Torres, the amazing Olympian, swimmer, and mom who made headlines at Beijing when she swam for a comeback at age 41. She won three silver medals and also won me over.

Not only did Torres give me lots of great advice on health, training, and fitness, but she also shared some insight on how she balances intense training with a (relatively) normal personal life. She was funny and refreshingly honest. Better yet, I've got a video excerpt of our interview! Check it out below.

To read some more of my favorite excerpts from the interview, read more.

FitSugar: Tell us about your memoir, Age Is Just a Number:
Dara Torres: "It was really a lot of fun to write. I got that title because I really realized you don't put an age limit on your dreams. And a lot of people put elite athletes on pedestals and forget that we're human and that we make mistakes and we have our ups and downs and our trials and tribulations, and I really wanted that to get across. I wanted the everyday person to relate to my book."

FS: What are some of those trials and tribulations you discuss in the book?
DT: "I talk about just getting back into my comeback and my father passes away from colon cancer. I deal with the pressures of trying to make an Olympic team when so many eyes are on me and so many middle-aged people are counting on me. I talk about my coach, who ended up having a rare blood disorder right after I made the Olympic team. There were a lot of things I had to deal with."

FS: And you also, throughout all this, have been raising a daughter? How old is she now?
DT: "My daughter is 3, and it's really been such a fun time in my life. I really looked towards role models like working parents to figure out how I can balance my life to be the best mom that I can be and also be able to do what I love to do. Just normal people who work 9-to-5 jobs and are still awesome parents. It's a tough thing to try to figure out how to balance, but I'm lucky I found a balance that works really well for both my daughter and myself."

FS: And does she like swimming?
"She loves swimming. I've had her in the pool since she was about 3 months old. Some of my teammates who are so young tease me and say 'you guys'll be swimming in the same meet coming up soon,' so I get teased a lot."

FS: What is your precompetition ritual in terms of what you eat or what you do?
DT: "I'll drink some type of shake with milk before I swim, and that's really all I need. I don't like to eat a lot before I'm in a big race because I'm already nervous as it is and the last thing I need to do is get sick to my stomach. Maybe have a little cereal with milk. Just very minimal what I eat before I train."

FS: In a recent interview with More magazine, you mentioned that you had some eating disorder issues when you were in college and went "cold turkey." What tips could you offer to other women who are struggling with this?
DT: "It's not easy to get over it on your own. What I did was set a goal. And at that point in time I had not been swimming for a while, and my goal was to try and make a third Olympic team. The minute I had that goal in my head, it was like, you know what, I can't have this eating disorder anymore or else I'm not going to reach my goals. And so I was lucky to have swimming as an outlet. The biggest thing you need to do is be able to talk to someone about it. It's not like if you talk to them you’re going to get over it right away but at least you can communicate and let someone know and hopefully they can help you get help."

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Relive the Games and Play Olympics Faceoff to Win $1,000

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:30:00 -0700

The Olympics may be over, but you still have a few days to enter the contest to win $1,000 by playing : the FitSugar Olympic Faceoff! This addictive faceoff game features 100 of my favorite Summer Olympians from 2008 and Olympics past.

Gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Kerri Strug competed years apart in different Olympic games, but they face off here! And like the judges, you get to pick your podium favorites. In this Olympic game, basketball's Jason Kidd can compete against swimmer Michael Phelps, and marathoner Deena Kastor takes on soccer great Mia Hamm. Start playing the highly addictive game and guess which Olympians are favored by Sugar readers.

But it's not just the Olympians who win in this game. For the month of August, we're giving away $100 every day and a $1,000 monthly prize; all you have to do to enter is play the Olympic Faceoff or any Faceoff game on the Sugar Network. Check out the official rules for more details.

Game on and face off!

Play FitSugar's Summer Olympics Faceoff!

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:30:00 -0700

To celebrate the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, I've put together a game of my own: the FitSugar Olympic Faceoff! This addictive faceoff game features 100 of my favorite Summer Olympians from 2008 and Olympics past.

Gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Kerri Strug competed years apart in different Olympic games, but they face off here! And like the judges, you get to pick your podium favorites. In this Olympic game, basketball's Jason Kidd can compete against swimmer Michael Phelps, and marathoner Deena Kastor takes on soccer great Mia Hamm. Start playing the highly addictive game and guess which Olympians are favored by Sugar readers.

Game on and face off!

Play FitSugar's Summer Olympics Faceoff!

FitSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:50:00 -0700

To celebrate the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, I've put together a game of my own: the FitSugar Olympic Faceoff! This addictive faceoff game features 100 of my favorite Summer Olympians from 2008 and beyond.

Gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Kerri Strug competed years apart in different Olympic games, but they face off here! And like the judges, you get to pick your podium favorites. In this Olympic game, basketball's Jason Kidd can compete against swimmer Michael Phelps, and marathoner Deena Kastor takes on soccer great Mia Hamm. Start playing the highly addictive game and guess which Olympians are favored by Sugar readers.

Game on and face off!

Dara Torres Proves Age Is Just a Number

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Even while cooling off in the pool, Dara Torres looks smokin' on the cover of More magazine. In the April issue, one of my favorite Olympians talks about her new memoir, fittingly titled Age Is Just a Number, as well as body image issues and performance-enhancing drugs. Meanwhile, her career is going swimmingly: She's training for the world championships in Rome this Summer. Here's what she had to say:

On what happens if she doesn't train:
"I'm not the type to ever want to find that out. If I was not swimming, I'd probably work out a few hours a day, do aerobics, weights, play tennis. It's not just the way it makes me look; it makes me feel good inside."

On being suspected of taking performance-enhancing drugs:
"It’s the most hurtful thing. I was angry when journalists would ask to interview me and do stories that were drug-related, saying, 'I wanted to believe Dara.' I have a daughter who is one day going to read all this stuff. I’ve done everything I possibly can to prove that I was clean. I went to the head of the United states anti-doping agency and asked to be tested any way they wanted. They keep the samples for years. How can anyone in their right mind who is cheating decide to go through all that?"

To read what Dara had to say about struggling with food and staying in shape, read more.

On her struggles with food:
"I had an eating disorder in college, and I went for years restricting myself from specific foods, looking at labels. . . . It was a real dark thing in my life. I don't think I would have had it if I wasn't an athlete. I finally went to a doctor, who asked, 'Do you make yourself throw up?' And I said, 'No,' and then I felt horrible that I'd lied to her. I marched back in and told her the truth. She sent me to a psychiatrist. I threw up less, but it went on. When I decided to try for the 1992 Olympics, I knew I didn’t want to have this problem, so I stopped cold turkey."

On her body acceptance:
"I have no chest; when I go to Victoria's Secret, I have to ask if they have training bras."

On her 42-year-old physique:
"I'm in the best shape of my life. I can't do what I did when I was 20, as far as training, yet I can swim faster. When I'm standing on the blocks, I don't think, oh, I'm 42 and these girls are 15 or 16 years old. I feel like an athlete; I'm one of them, and I'm going to compete against my competitors."

I'm always glad to hear people who've struggled with eating disorders express such self-acceptance and self-confidence. Are you surprised by her comments?

Your Favorite Olympic Moment of 2008

FitSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:00 -0800

It may not be quite as exciting as winning eight gold medals, but Michael Phelps has won again - in FitSugar's best Olympic moment of 2008 poll. Though he was bested in the favorite Olympian poll by Shawn Johnson, his record-breaking moment garnered 40 percent of your votes, and the thrill of his victory was also the favorite of CitizenSugar readers.

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What's Your Favorite 2008 Olympics Moment?

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:01:43 -0800

Now that you've voted for your favorite Olympian and relived the Beijing games, I want to know what Olympic moment you loved most. (Of course, these are all sports moments; if you want to vote on the whole shebang, check out Citizen.)

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