Читать книгу Indiana University Olympians. From Leroy Samse to Lilly King онлайн

76 страница из 79

It was the lowest-scoring heptathlon since the inaugural one at Los Angeles in 1984, when the top heptathletes were absent because of the Soviet-led boycott. Nathan was the top non-European finisher.

“Two days and eleven hours each day, we have nothing. There’s nothing in the tank,” Nathan said. “Our bodies are a mess. We’re a mess. We’re sore. We’re just so fatigued, it’s not even funny. When your body gives out on you, then your mind and heart kick in.”

Nathan had begun the year in a quest to make it to the Winter Olympics, training with bobsledders in Park City, Utah. She had the requisite size, strength, and speed, and initial results were astounding. Her push times were coming within fifteen hundredths of a second of those by the men.

She teamed with driver Bonny Warner and finished second in the national championships behind Jill Bakken, who went on to win a gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Nathan said the sensation of sledding was like that of riding a roller coaster with eyes closed.