Richards-Ross spoke about what motivates her to keep striving for the best, saying: “I hope to be an example and a source of inspiration to many”
Richards-Ross spoke candidly and without hesitation about her main goals ahead of the start of the Diamond League athletics meeting at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar SC on Friday evening.
The Olympic champion said of the 400 metres: “I really want to win the Diamond League award this season, and it suits me very well since everyone knows I love diamonds”.
This remark, which was followed by loud laughter, was one of several comments made by the American star during a live one-hour conversation with her fans on Facebook on Tuesday evening. The four-time Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion in other world championships answered numerous questions and discussed many important topics such as diet, exercise, dealing with injuries, and maintaining enthusiasm.
Richards-Ross, aged thirty, who began her high-level sporting career during her teenage years, said: “I’m still excited because I want to leave my mark on the world of sport. I’ve been fortunate and have had a long career and now I want to complete this journey and give my best until I leave my mark on the world of sport.”
And in order to give her best, Richards-Ross wants to improve on her record of 48.70 which she achieved in Athens in 2006. She holds the new world record of 49.95 which she achieved during a race in Kingston at the end of last week, and also holds a world record she achieved during her legs in the 4×400 metre relay events at the World Relay Championships of the International Association of Athletics Federations held in Nassau in the Bahamas earlier this month, and these achievements are seen as a good omen and a source of motivation for Richards-Ross in Doha.
Richards-Ross wrote: “The start of this season was wonderful, I’m very happy with what I did in the Bahamas and Jamaica, and I’m happy to be in good health and fitness and I’m looking forward to the Doha race next Friday.”
Many of Richards-Ross’s fans asked about the exercises she does and what an athlete needs in order to stand out during a race, and she answered: “I train five days a week and rest on the remaining days, and I also try to sleep eight hours a day, rest is very important for training to succeed. I lift weights 3 to 4 times a week and this is a big part of my routine” and regarding diet she said: “I stay away from dietary supplements and I juice vegetables and fruit.”
And as happens to all athletes, Richards-Ross’s journey has not been free of injuries and illness, which forced her to miss championships and wait it out in past years.
She says: “It wasn’t easy to stay in good health through the injuries, but you have to listen to your body, you have to trust your instincts and your needs and the body will adapt to that.”
And speaking about the source of inspiration for herself and for many athletes to become more beautiful, she said: “It’s never too late for a person to start training and working hard and to set high goals for themselves, it’s important to have good work ethics.”
And finally Richards-Ross answered a fan who asked her about her ability to be a role model, saying: “I hope to be someone people look up to, I think this is the best way to motivate others.”
