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WOMEN'S SPORTS NEWS

July 3 - Maria Sharapova, age 17, became the first Russian finalist in thirty years and first Russian to win Wimbledon.

July 8 - Nan Verkaik was named Santa Barbara High School's first female athletic director. She graduated from SBHS in 1971 and has coached at the school for 27 years. Most recently, she has coached boys' and girls' varsity volleyball.

July 14 - Wilma Rudolph, the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games (among other achievements), was honored by the United States Postal Service with a 23-cent postage stamp. Rudolph overcame polio to become one of the most distinguished and inspiring athletes in American history.

U.S. Olympic update (as of August 24):

Women made up a record 44 percent of participants at the 2004 Olympic Games, a 38 percent increase over Sydney in 2000.

Women now compete in 135 events in all sports but boxing (softball stands in for baseball). The International Olympic Committee promises a 50/50 balance by 2012. This year, only five countries were without a female participant. Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq sent women for the first time.

August 17 - Mariel Zagunis and Sada Jacobson won gold and bronze, respectively, in the Olympics' first women's saber event in fencing. Zagunis only made the team after Nigeria declined to send its top women's fencer. The United States hadn't won a medal in fencing since 1984, and hadn't won gold since 1904.

August 22 - Deena Kastor took the bronze medal in the women's marathon, the first U.S. medal since Joan Benoit's gold in the first Olympic women's marathon in 1984.

August 23 - The U.S. women's softball team took its third straight gold medal after allowing only one run in the entire Olympic tournament. Softball joined the Olympics in 1996, and is only guaranteed a spot through 2008, due to concerns over lack of competition.

August 23 - In the Olympic debut of women's wrestling, two Americans earned medals. Sarah McCann took silver in the 63kg (138.5 lbs.) weight class, and Patricia Miranda won bronze in the 48kg (105.5 lbs.) weight class.

Medal favorites failing to live up to high expectations included Stacy Dragila, defending gold medalist, who didn't make the finals in the pole vault; Gail Devers, injured before beginning the 100m hurdles; and Paula Radcliffe, who withdrew from the marathon with three miles to go.

STILLNESS

So different this year. Not better or worse. Just different. I am now a two-time Ironman triathlete.

It was thundering and lightning until about two hours before the start of the race. With dreams of swimming in lightning, to say I slept poorly would be an overstatement.

To the transition early, dropped off my gear bags, to the port-a-potty, filled my water bottles, back to the port-a-potty, tried to get some food in me, again to the port-a-potty.

I sat down on a wall outside the transition area and watched the athletes milling around. A sense of peace and stillness surrounded me. I looked up to the now clearing sky, closed my eyes and focused my attention within.

I was determined and knew I would absolutely make it to the finish line, but what would I encounter along the way? My goal was to simply focus within myself and deal with whatever was happening at that particular moment. Not so simple!

Before long it was time to head to the water. I decided to mix it up a bit this time and start in the middle. My experience brings new meaning to the saying "sink or swim". I kept my mind clear and relaxed with each breath. I survived the swim and even enjoyed it. The bike ride was beautiful, winding up and down through the forest. Every time the commentary about how I thought my ride was going started in my head, I focused on creating stillness in my mind.

I was on to the marathon and the blisters had started. My ankles seemed to disappear, swollen from the humidity and heat. The course was beautiful as we ran on the path alongside the lake. I closed my eyes and listened to the rhythm of the feet shuffling around me. I worked hard to blank my mind and focus only on my breathing. I turned the corner and heard the crowd at the finish line.

Something happens to you on your way through the finish chute of an Ironman. Put together every emotion possible and that’s still not it. It’s a feeling that in a race (and in life) there are obstacles (headwind, blisters, etc), but you must keep moving forward.

Life really is the cliché; it’s about the journey, not only the destination. It’s the realization that we all matter, not because of our accomplishments but because we’re all human. It’s the admission that nothing is more important than kindness towards one another: the volunteers have no idea how much is means to an athlete to be handed half an orange during the marathon of an Ironman.

I finished well and hobbled my way to the food tent. Still no ankles.

I was reminded that I am able to handle anything that comes my way - in a race or in life. I learned that life is not always about "doing", but simply about "being" - being at peace with who you are and what your life story is; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

It’s very easy to focus on the hustle-bustle and business around us instead of turning our attention inward. Focusing our attention on ourselves will reveal all the answers we desperately search for externally.

My ankles reappeared two days later.

By Nicole Clancy, Certified Fitness Trainer and Medical Exercise Specialist

GOGIRLWORLD - A COOL WEBSITE FOR GIRLS!

GoGirlGo! is a three-year initiative by the Women’s Sports Foundation to increase physical activity among inactive girls.

The website, www.gogirlgo.com, features GoGirl World, an area where teen girls can share their experiences via message boards, find their perfect sport, explore scholarship opportunities, and get tips on getting others involved. There are also personal stories from female athletes, suggestions on finding the right sports bra, and a section on sports movies for girls.

Adults can join the GoGirlGo! campaign and help out by making a pledge to get one girl active over the next year, making a donation, or spreading the word.

KIRA'S JOURNAL

Part five in a series, the following is an excerpt of the journal of Kira Anthofer, a former collegiate and professional athlete who is working toward health and fitness of body, mind and spirit.

With our journal series we bring you the challenges and accomplishments of an average woman: someone who, like all of us, balances a life full of work, play, friends, family and occasional struggle.

We hope you find inspiration in their daily endeavors, and perhaps decide to try something new and challenging yourself!

Did you ever have one of those days when everything that could go wrong does? And to top it all off, somewhere from left field another bad thing happens to remind you that you are having a really bad day?

Well for the last two months it has felt that way for me. I can take the punches of life and I've had many. But these past two months have been a living hell for me at work.

Running a business that takes care of the elderly takes a lot of discipline and a good level of teamwork. My team has been all over the place. Turnover has been very high, department management changes and the struggles to train ingénue management have added tons of stress in my life.

Anyone in management understands that there is no such thing as a 9-5 job. Let me tell you about a few of my struggles; this is the part where I get to vent and you get to read all about it and sympathize with me. If you wish to express your sympathy, I will gladly accept dark chocolate packages delivered to my office.

Midnight phone calls; employees combating with one another; elderly residents telling me that someone else is living their room but they never see them; family members telling dark secrets that I wish I never knew; state officers dropping by for inspections; trying to hire staff that can pass fingerprint clearance; residents complaining about the food; and dealing with the owner of the business, whose motto is: "If they complain, fire them."

So what does all of this have to do with my physical fitness?

I was not focused. I preferred sleep and a nice bowl of ice cream to make me feel better. My weight crept up on me. I know. I need to be tough, but sometimes you have to throw it all to the wind, and I chose to take care of my immediate need to make myself feel better.

Two weeks ago, I woke up and went to the gym to see my trainer, and I confessed my sins of not working out and eating healthy. I wanted to regain my drive and get back to a healthy lifestyle. It is up to me, after all, to make the right decisions for my well-being.

I got on the scale and I had gained back seven pounds of my original fifteen lost pounds. Not as bad as I thought.

I'm on my old nutrition plan and have taken a different approach to my lifting program. People comment that I look good, which makes me feel great, but I know I can do better.

My birthday was in early August and a dear and beautiful friend made a chronological videotape of my life from high school until present day. Gee, what an eye opener.

First, it showed me how much I am loved and how much I have accomplished in my life so far. And it showed me that not too long ago I was 50 pounds lighter. This videotape re-energized my focus. My focus: by my next article I will have lost an additional ten pounds and more inches around the waist and hips.

Stress is going to happen. It's all a matter of how we handle it and how we set time for ourselves.

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