Interview with Aretha Thurmond

Thurmond will compete in her third Olympic Games in the discus (Kirby Lee)

Congratulations on making your third U.S. Olympic Team in the discus. This most recent U.S. title had to be a joyful event for you considering you had a baby not to long ago.

My emotions after winning Olympic Trials were sure Joy. I am working hard not only for myself but for my family as well. Obviously, you had to take some time off in training and competing due to the pregnancy.

How long did it take you to get back to full strength and compete at a high level once again?

I trained as much as I could while pregnant, but my only meet last year was U.S. Championships. I knew this year I wanted to early and often and get back in the swing of things. I'm not sure if I am at full strength yet. After having a baby the body goes through a lot of changes and I don't know if the old body ever comes back, so I decided to get used to my new body. I started to feel like a discus thrower again in June maybe about a week or Two before Trials. But I have been competitive all season.

Since the U.S. Olympic Trials, how has your training been and when will you compete next?

Training post trials has been awesome. Now we are truly preparing for Beijing. You want to train for the Olympics all year but 1st you have to make the team. I don't have any meets lined up between Trials and the Olympics. My next meet is Aug. 15th Your birthday is the day before the discus throw qualifying round in Beijing.

How exciting will it be to celebrate your birthday in China knowing the next day you'll be competing in the Olympic Games? Will your family be able to make the trip?

I am so excited to visit China. It's one of the countries I haven't been to yet. And even more exciting I get to celebrate my birthday in China. I won't do to much celebrating know the next day I am competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. My family isn't making the trip, it cost to much and I don't want to stress over it. Besides my son just turned 1 in June and that's a long trip for him, he'll be more comfortable at home.

It's been noted that the reason you are in the sport of track & field is because of a lost bet with your physical education teacher in high school. How did this all come about and how often do you look back on that day?

I lost a bet and became a discus thrower, it's true. I am very lucky to have lost that bet, because throwing the discus has taken me around the world and helped me earn a scholarship and graduate from the University of Washington.

Although this is going to be your third Olympic Games, you nearly missed making the 2000 team after a fourth-place finish at the U.S. Trials. What did you learn the most from that experience considering this very well could be your fourth Olympic appearance?

I learned a lot from finishing 4th at the 2000 Olympic Trials and trained even harder to make sure I didn't get left home again.

Many female throwers look up to you as a role model, especially now after having a child. Who are some of the people you look up to?

I look up to a lot people. My strongest influence is from my Mom, she is a fighter and I think that's where I get my competitiveness from.

How much has your coach, Jerry Clayton, meant in your development? Considering you're a veteran in the event, what are some of the more technical aspects that you'd like to polish up on?

Coach Jerry Clayton is awesome! He and I have worked really well together and we've been working on me being a better athlete. And of course polishing up the technique, which we do every year.

In 2003, you posted nine of the top 11 throws in the discus by Americans that season. No other American, in any event, had such a dominating season. Do you look back at accomplishments such as those as a staple that will define your career?

I think because I am still competing I haven't looked back yet to say that was my best season. I believe my best is yet to come.

With all of your accolades and goals for what's next, what's the most important reason why you compete and train in the sport?

I throw the discus because I love it!! I love to train and compete. There's nothing like training hard and having a meet to showcase how hard you have been training. Long throws aren't luck, they are a result of a lot of practice.