Lauryn Williams seeks Sochi spot, praises teammates

LaurynWilliams
U.S. bobsledder Lauryn Williams envisioned potential problems.

A two-time Olympic track and field medalist, including gold at the 2012 London Games, gives bobsled a try in an Olympic season competing with other athletes who have given years of their lives to an unheralded pursuit.

Yeah, there could be issues.

"I had prepared for the worst – hearing some of things that had taken place in the past and nine women together. I've worked with women in the past. I was a little bit nervous about it initially," Williams said."I can see how it can be messy."

But it never turned ugly, Williams said.

"You have to have really good character. That's what I've learned," Williams said. "We're really fortunate we have girls who are here for the greater good. From the very first day, everyone took me under their wing and showed me this would be a positive environment.

"As long as you have positive energy, they have plenty of positive energy to reciprocate. They're willing to help any way they can.

"It's not really something you're doing for the fame or the fortune. It's pretty blue collar in that respect. People who are here really love the sport, and they want to grow the sport. That's the reason they're able to put the competitive nature of our relationship aside and be good mentors to me."

That help along with Williams' rapid grasp of the sport has given her a chance to make the U.S. women's bobsled team as a brakeman/push athlete for the Sochi Olympics in February.

With her strength and speed, she is a natural. The question now: In a deep, competitive field of push athletes, which includes fellow U.S. track star Lolo Jones, will Williams make the team? Brakemen Katie Eberling, Aja Evans, Williams and Jones have all won medals this season and Emily Azevedo has finished fourth three times.

Williams, 30, is expected to find out Sunday when the team is announced after a World Cup race in Igles, Austria. Williams is scheduled to race with pilot Jamie Greubel. Jones will race with pilot Jazmine Fenlator and Evans is paired with pilot Elana Meyers.

In the three World Cup events she has raced in this season, Williams took silver with Fenlator in Park City, silver with Meyers in Lake Placid and ninth with Fenlator in Winterberg, Germany.

Her start times – the beginning of the race where athletes push the bobsled before hopping in – have been comparable and sometimes better than other U.S. brakemen.

The U.S. will field a great team of push athletes, but talented brakeman will be left off the team, disappointed.

"I don't know if my number's going to be called," Williams said. "I've definitely enjoyed the journey. It's been awesome already and I've enjoyed every moment. I came in with the attitude of how can I be helpful to the team. How can I make this a good experience for everyone whether I'm going to be on the Olympic team or not?"

Williams' first run down a track in a bobsled came in July. "I remember swearing and praying. … This is a roller coaster without a seat belt," she said.

Now? "It's not quite the same feeling."

Williams doesn't know if she will continue with bobsled after this season. She saw a window to give it a try. "I got into it at a convenient time," she said. "It was an Olympic year and I could go for it and be done. But I'm already getting pretty attached to the girls, and they're definitely talking about next year and the years to come. They're talking about driving school.

"I'm 10 years into elite sports so I don't know if I have the same window as everyone else."


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(usatoday.com)
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