Rugby

Playing in China against #3 Canada

Now that things have calmed down a bit (but not much), I finally have time to blog.  Things have been absolutely crazy since the Olympics, but I managed to make things even crazier by adding a new sport- rugby.  I never played rugby prior to heading out to Chula Vista, CA, in March where the US National rugby 7s team trains, but I was excited for the opportunity.  During the summer of 2013 when I was training for Sochi, the rugby coach approached me.  He saw how I trained, noticed my speed and size, and invited me out to a practice.  At the time, I was a little busy, but I went down to the field and watched and put it in the back of my mind.  After Sochi, I was trying to figure out what comes next and then I remembered rugby and the coach's invitation.  I emailed him and he told me I could come out to Chula Vista and see what happens.  A month later I was in China representing the US in another sport, an incredible honor.

Rugby was not an attempt to erase what happened in Sochi.  I did not start playing rugby in order to "fix" what happened in Sochi or take the disappointment away from not winning a gold medal.  If anything, playing rugby has re-ignited the fire and passion I have for bobsled.  I started playing rugby because I saw it as a challenge- a new sport, a new type of training, and a way to really test myself as an athlete.  After playing with the US team in China and in Amsterdam, I have learned quite a bit about the game of rugby but also about myself as an athlete.  

Coming onto the US Rugby team was quite humbling.  Here I am, a two-time Olympic medalist, coming into a sport that I know nothing about.  Not only did I start playing a new sport, but I came into it at the highest level possible (my first game was against Canada- the #3 team in the world)!  I had to learn everything from the beginning.  The team has been great in teaching me the ropes, which awesome given my attendance at both these tournaments prevented other athletes from attending- other athletes who have considerably more rugby experience that I do.  The team embraced me and has taught me every step of the way.  Every day on the rugby pitch I have learned so much and much of it from my teammates.  I still have a ton to learn about rugby, but my experience so far has made me a better athlete, it has challenged me in ways I didn't know were possible.  It's very humbling to come off an Olympics and be doing rookie skits, but it's been such an incredible learning experience about myself as a person and as an athlete that I wouldn't change those embarrassing rookie moments for anything in the world.

I don't know what happens next as far as rugby is concerned.  The media has made a big deal about me going for Rio, but at this point I don't know how probable it is- and not for lack of effort.  The conflict is that rugby and bobsled compete in the same seasons.  Both rugby and bobbled start back up with international play in November.  Given my commitment to bobsled for the next four years and my need to be in my sled learning as much as possible as a driver, I don't know how rugby will fit into everything.  However, I am currently training for both and the rugby coach is working with me to find ways to make it work.  At the end of the day, if Team USA needs me for rugby, I'll be there.  If not, I'm going to help Team USA in anyway possible, even if it's just helping lend Olympic experience to a team that's making it's debut in 2016.  I'm all about having adventures, so we'll see how this rugby adventure takes me.  Right now- I'm just going to train as hard as I can and see what happens.