Salon.com > Missy Franklin http://www.salon.com Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:25:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 My amazing Olympics insight http://www.salon.com/2012/08/04/my_amazing_olympics_insight/ http://www.salon.com/2012/08/04/my_amazing_olympics_insight/#comments Sat, 04 Aug 2012 16:01:00 +0000 http://www.origin.railrode.net/?p=12971863 In the P.R. campaign leading up to the 2012 Olympics, Ryan Lochte’s coach, Matt De Lancey, said, “I’ve worked with some tough athletes. There’s none tougher than Ryan. He’s not afraid to throw up.”

Okay – disclaimer. I’m totally afraid to throw up. I have two young daughters and the fear of stomach flu rules my life. But I always get chills when I hear an athlete or coach speak from this passionate place, state how hard they are willing to train and compete — particularly when this kind of comment comes from a woman. I’m motivated by conviction and intensity, athletic or academic, but I grew up in the South thinking I wasn’t allowed to feel that way about anything other than, well, God and ACC basketball. I only discovered this intensity in myself when I got serious about writing a few years ago, when I finally gave myself permission to try harder at the vocation I loved. I have a quote from Beryl Markham (or her ghostwriter) pinned to the bulletin board in my office: Never hope more than you work.

Continue Reading...

]]> http://www.salon.com/2012/08/04/my_amazing_olympics_insight/feed/ 12