Sanya Richards-Ross Races To History

Sanya Richards-Ross, one of the most accomplished Track and Field stars of today, is looking to add on to her decorated list of awards as she prepares for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Richards-Ross, 27, had previously competed in the last two Olympic games taken place in Athens and Beijing. There, she won a Gold medal in both the 2004 and 2008 games for the 4×400 m relay, along with one Bronze medal in the 2008 400 m. Richards-Ross has also won numerous Gold and Silver medals for both the World Championships and World Indoor championships, according to NBC.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Richards-Ross has been racing since the day she first stepped foot in the US at 12 age. Ever since her years enrolled at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, Richards-Ross had already been on the receiving end of awards such as being named the National High School Female Athlete of the Year, USA Track and Field’s Youth Athlete of the Year, and Track and Field News Women’s Prep Athlete of the Year, according to her web site. From then on, Richards-Ross knew she greatness was in her direction as long as she kept competing.

After enrolling in the University of Texas, Richards-Ross was an instant collegiate star as she won numerous awards that include a Gold Medal at the 2003 World Championships, a Silver Medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, and another Gold Medal for the 2004 Olympics. She even competed in the NCAA Outdoor Championships with future Olympic Teammates Monique Henderson and Dee Dee Trotter. To top it all off, she would later meet her future husband, Aaron Ross, an NFL defensive back who would go on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. It’s safe to say that this couple knows a thing or two about winning.

Sanya Richards-Ross has always competed with other World Class athletes; however, her toughest challenge took place within herself as she battled through Bechet’s Disease at the age of 22. This very rare disease caused the Track and Field star to suffer from flu-like symptoms, bad mouth ulcers, and skin lesions. Throughout the grueling hours of practicing 400 metres along with trying to overcome fatigue was anything but an easy challenge for Richards-Ross. Yet, she kept showing her true colors as she continued to train and compete in hopes of inspiring those who share the same or similar diseases. With this, Richards-Ross teamed up with Nike and became the official Spokesperson for American Behcet’s Disease Association. Ever since being diagnosed with this rare disease, Sanya Richards-Ross has been inspiring others with her continuous optimism and faith that people with Behcet’s can still fight through adversity.

Sanya Richards-Ross is looking to make her presence felt once again as she makes her third appearance for this summer’s Olympic games, taking place in London. While proudly representing the United States, Richards-Ross is setting out goals in making both her 2010 (which was cut short due to injury) and 2011 seasons forgettable as she hopes to bring home a gold medal for the women’s 400m and Team USA’s 4×400 m relay for the third time.

—SIGMUND SICANGCO