Right on Track

by Sanya Richards-Ross

  OTHER BOOKS BY SANYA RICHARDS-ROSS:

  Chasing Grace

  Run with Me

  ZONDERVAN

  Right on Track

  Copyright © 2018 by Sanya Richards-Ross

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

  Epub Edition January 2018 9780310760993

  ISBN 978-0-310-76090-0

  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

  Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

  Cover design: Brand Navigation

  Printed in the United States of America

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  To My Family,

  Most people are fortunate if they have a mother and father in their corner. I’ve been blessed to have my parents, grandparents, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins all in complete support of my dreams. There is absolutely nothing I could ever do to repay you all for the sleepless nights, the screams, the encouraging words, the shoulders to cry on, but as a small token I’d love to dedicate Right on Track to all of you. Love,

  Sanya

  CONTENTS

  Foreword by Gabrielle Douglas

  Introduction

  CHAPTER 1: On Your Mark

  CHAPTER 2: Setbacks

  CHAPTER 3: Take Life in Stride

  CHAPTER 4: Be True to You

  CHAPTER 5: Voices in the Crowd

  CHAPTER 6: Wins and Losses

  CHAPTER 7: Run Your Best Race

  CHAPTER 8: Eyes on the Finish Line

  CHAPTER 9: The Number One Fan of My Number One Fan

  CHAPTER 10: Bodies in Motion

  CHAPTER 11: Reaching for your Goals

  CHAPTER 12: The Power of Belief

  CHAPTER 13: Sailing Over Hurdles

  CHAPTER 14: It Takes a Village

  CHAPTER 15: Savor the Win

  CHAPTER 16: Onward and Upward

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  FOREWORD

  I started gymnastics when I was six years old. Back then it was pure fun, although I must admit I enjoyed competing too. Even at home, my siblings and I were always playfully trying to outdo one another. The moment I stepped onto the competition floor was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Little did I know then that I would have to learn to master those nerves in order to compete on the world’s biggest stage—the Olympics.

  After many competitions, falls, obstacles, as well as hard work and some injuries, I finally saw my Olympic dream come into clear focus. But there were times when doubt and fear would creep back in and challenge my mental strength. When you are striving to achieve a goal, mental toughness is such an important skill set to develop. For me, the sport of gymnastics is 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical. As a young athlete, I was looking for techniques that I could relate to and put into practice. I also liked hearing from other athletes. I found they were a wealth of knowledge, experience, and inspiration.

  I worked hard and fought for my dreams, and when I emerged from the 2012 London Olympics with two gold medals, my whole life seemed to change overnight. My world felt as if it were flipped upside down! It was such an amazing feeling to accomplish my goals and have the right tools and mindset help make the impossible possible.

  I had always been taught to only focus on what I needed to do, but when you are competing, that can sometimes be hard. I remember my coaches always telling me to just think about my routines. When I stepped into the arena and saw all of the Olympic rings, it was hard not to be overcome with nerves, joy, and anticipation. I could see the same was true for all my teammates too. We were all focused on representing the USA to the best of our abilities as well as accomplishing the goals we had individually set for ourselves. At that moment, I also thought about my brother, who had dreams to compete in Track and Field.

  We loved watching the races on TV and seeing the men and women literally run after their dreams. I remember cheering for Sanya Richards-Ross during the Olympic Trials, so it would have been awesome if my brother and I could have seen her compete in London. I can’t tell you that I followed every single step of her journey to also win a pair of gold medals, but I know that she probably had to face many hurdles and conquer setbacks in order to make it to there too.

  She and I also share something else in common. Our spirituality was a powerful force nin helping us cross the “finish line” victoriously! Fast forward a few years later, and it is a pleasure to know Sanya. I consider her a mentor.

  Sanya’s book would have been helpful when I was growing into my talents and discovering my competitive personality as a young gymnast. It would have been especially nice to have after I made the tough decision to leave my close-knit family at fourteen so that I could take my gymnastics career to another level. It took a huge leap of faith when I moved to Iowa so I could pursue my goal of being the best in the world. Sanya’s courageous journey will challenge you to find similar tools that guide you along your path.

  When I arrived in West Des Moines, it was cold and full of cornfields. Getting used to a new environment, new gym teammates, and new coaches was challenging. I also had to adjust to living with a host family. The fact that they were so loving and welcomed me as one of their own made the transition easier, but I desperately missed my mom and my siblings. I was thankful for my spiritual upbringing and relied heavily on my faith. The consistent routine of training and schoolwork kept me focused, despite all of the emotions I was feeling.

  Hearing about and reading other athletes’ stories helped me to see that I was not alone. It doesn’t matter if you’re ultimately pursuing an Olympic gold medal, striving to graduate with honors, or working to become the best in your profession—we all need structure and discipline in our lives to keep us moving forward.

  When you read Sanya’s inspirational story of perseverance and resilience, you’ll be motivated to keep aiming for success in your own life. I know her book will encourage you to push through during tough times and to focus on achieving your goals.

  GABRIELLE DOUGLAS

  2012 Women’s Artistic Gymnastics All-Around Champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist

  INTRODUCTION

  That’s impossible.”

  A male student in my AP Calculus class was describing his splits—the time on the clock at 400 meters—when running the 800. To improve his personal best, he needed to run 400 meters in less than 51 seconds.

  The 400-meter sprint was my event, and I’d already set goals of my own. I’d written them in my journal and placed them on colorful cards taped to the mirror in my bedroom. A pink index card in the top right corner read simply, “50.”

  “I’m going to run the four hundred in under fifty-one,” I announced to my classmate, and the other students who’d begun to listen to our conversation.

  “That’s impossible,” he countered with skepticism.

  His arrogan
ce maddened me.

  “It’s happened before,” I reminded him.

  We both knew that only one girl, Monique Henderson, had ever run the 400 in less than 51 seconds while in high school in the United States. And we also both knew that she hadn’t repeated the time.

  “But it’s only happened once,” he protested. “It was a fluke. Not going to happen again.”

  “No,” I challenged him, energy rising in my voice, “I’m going to do it.”

  “If you can run it in under fifty-one, I’ll give you a hundred dollars.”

  That was all I needed to hear.

  In front of our entire class, we shook on it.

  It’s been more than a decade since that handshake.

  My journey since AP Calculus has taken me to places I never could have dreamed of in high school. With the support of my amazing parents and sister, I’ve been blessed to pursue my dream of becoming a professional track athlete. I’ve been given the opportunity to compete against the fastest runners in the world, even winning Olympic gold. I’ve known God’s steadfast love and faithfulness since the day I gave my life to Christ when I was thirteen. And by God’s abundant grace, I married the love of my life. If you only looked at the highlights, you’d think my story was charmed.

  I want to share with you those headline moments, but I also want to give you a peek at the ones that will never show up on an ESPN highlight reel. In high school, I experienced some deep hurts from people I thought were my friends. At sixteen, I endured a humiliating loss in front of thousands of people I expected to love and support me. In young adulthood, I was diagnosed with a rare disease. Despite my successes, I’ve faced the same kinds of hurdles that you may be facing today.

  And that’s why I want to share some of the strategies that have kept me right on track. The lessons I’ve learned on the asphalt—from my coaches, my teammates, my competitors, and my family—have also taught me what it looks like to run a good race off the track. In the work I do today as a communicator and a businesswoman, I am thriving because of all I’ve been blessed to learn along the way.

  But this book isn’t just about me. It’s about you too! When you decide to run your best race, you can push beyond the limits of what others think you can achieve. When you set your mind to stay on track, you can accomplish amazing things. You may not dream of winning Olympic gold, but perhaps you want to earn a scholarship to college. Maybe you hope to build a strong, healthy family one day. Or perhaps you want to start your own business. With the right strategy, and a commitment to success, I believe that you can accomplish the dreams God has knit into your heart.

  The time to start is now. And the place to begin is right where you are. Page by page, I’ll teach you how to put one foot in front of the other so you can stay right on track to be the person God created you to be.

  I’m cheering for you,

  Sanya

  P.S. My classmate still owes me $100.

  CHAPTER 1

  ON YOUR MARK

  Sanya, a champion! Sanya, a champion!”

  As I walked out of the tunnel into the buzzing arena, I felt overwhelmed by the thunderous applause. The sound of my name being shouted by hundreds of students and parents from my elementary school—Vaz Prep in Kingston, Jamaica—filled my ears and boosted my spirits.

  I would not experience the wholehearted devotion of a crowd like that again until competing in the International Olympic Games years later.

  Walking toward the starting line, I was wearing new shoes my father had bought me just for this race, and I felt proud to be wearing the school’s signature blue-and-gold jersey. The moment was alive with possibility.

  Jamaicans are passionate about track and field, and my family was no different. We were just like those crazy screaming fans you’ve seen on television sporting events. But unlike the growing trend in American youth sports, no one in Jamaica gives out participation ribbons or celebrates a “good try.” Winning is everything. Losing is shameful. A second-place finish means only one thing: you were the first loser.

  I knew I was fortunate to attend Vaz Prep, a great school that afforded me access to coaches of national caliber. These esteemed coaches had instilled in us the importance of body mechanics at ages as young as six. The school had four houses—yeah, like at Hogwarts in Harry Potter. On the first day of school, each student was assigned to one of those four teams—red, yellow, blue, and green. Random lottery, though; no magic sorting hat. Then, on sports day, students lined up and raced to collect points for their houses. Running for the red team, in second grade, was the first time I remember racing against others. The cheers of students, teachers, and parents were exhilarating. Every stretch, every warm-up drill, every exercise, every practice had prepared me for this moment.

  After school, my sister Shari and I would run with our fellow Vaz Prep students on the dirt-and-grass field behind the school. In the absence of a rubber surface, our coaches spray-painted the field with white lines so it resembled a track. Throughout my school day, I sat in class dreaming of the moment after the final bell when my feet would hit the ground and I’d soar around the familiar weedy oval. Eager to feel the wind on my face and body, I’d gather the books I’d need for homework and run out the door to the makeshift track.

  This race, though, wasn’t being held in the weeds behind the school.

  Every year, tens of thousands of people—yes, all those people came to cheer for six-to eleven-year-olds!—filled the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, for a competition called the Prep Champs. The meet determined the country’s best youth runners. If you know anything about high school football in Texas—think Friday Night Lights—you have a tiny taste of Jamaica’s fervent enthusiasm for all things track and field.

  My First Race

  I was seven years old, and the energy in the stadium for that year’s Prep Champs was intoxicating. Fans from Vaz Prep waved blue and yellow flags, pounded their drums, and shouted rehearsed chants.

  “Vaz Prep, a champion! Vaz Prep, a champion!”

  Because it was my first race competing against other schools, I had no idea how I’d fare against other speedy seven-year-olds. As I squatted down at the starting line for the 60-yard sprint, adrenaline pumped through my frame. I desperately wanted to do my best for my school, for my family, and for myself.

  I crouched in anticipation, waiting for the sound of the gun to start the race. Peeking to my right and my left, I checked the competition on either side of me. One girl with long braids looked so nervous.

  Should I be nervous? I was so excited, I wasn’t sure what emotion to feel.

  The other girl, with her hair tied up in a bun, had the confidence of the adult national champions that I already admired, such as Merlene Ottey, Grace Jackson, and Juliet Campbell.

  Has she raced before? Is she faster than me?

  “On your mark, . . .”

  I felt a shudder run through my body.

  “Get set . . .”

  I gulped in a deep breath.

  BANG!

  The starting gun exploded with a sound that would become the soundtrack for the next several decades of my life.

  Legs pumping, holding my head and arms and back in the posture my coaches had taught me, I pushed to the front of the pack. Running as hard as my skinny-girl legs would carry me, I pulled ahead of the other runners after about twenty meters, and held my lead until I dipped across the finish line.

  I’d won!

  Finding Your Thing

  I was lucky to discover what I was most passionate about when I was young. I think that’s pretty rare, though. More often, young people haven’t yet identified their passion.

  Maybe that’s you.

  Maybe you’ve noticed that boy who’s been playing ice hockey since he was three, or the girl who’s been raising money for orphans since she was six, and you feel like you’re already behind if you haven’t found your own “thing.”

  I’ve got good news for you: you’re actuall
y normal. Don’t worry if you don’t yet know what you like, or where you excel.

  The best way to find your passion is to experiment.

  When I was ten, I joined our school’s netball team. It’s kind of like basketball, without the dribbling. You can watch it on YouTube—it’s a great game. Although netball didn’t turn out to be my driving passion, I learned strategy and teamwork, and I strengthened my body by playing it. I gave it my everything and progressed all the way to representing Jamaica on the national junior netball team.

  Now if my skill sets would have carried over to basketball, I might have become the next WNBA superstar like Lisa Leslie. When my family immigrated and I tried out for basketball, I quickly realized just how different the two games were. In netball, you’re not allowed to dribble and the hoop has no backboard. Yes, I could jump, catch, and run, but never learning to dribble meant it was really hard to make the transition. I stuck with basketball for a few years—I loved being a part of a team—but ultimately decided to focus on track and field after my sophomore season.

  Netball wasn’t all I tried.

  My sister Shari was a great dancer, so I joined her in trying out for our school’s dance team. The team danced in modern and traditional African dance, as well as a Jamaican style of reggae dance hall. I made the team, but I was certainly not the shining star dazzling audiences with my dance solos. I was okay, but I wasn’t great. We practiced every day, and at the end of the year the team performed for our school and for our parents. We had cool, colorful costumes, and I loved spending time with Shari and being a part of the close-knit group.

  Here’s the thing: I could have just stuck with running. I didn’t really need to prove to everyone that I was the second-to-worst dancer on the dance team. But I’m so glad I gave it a shot. I grew because I exercised the courage to try something new, and—even though I wouldn’t dance professionally—that experience built my confidence in myself and my ability to try new things.