At 16, Sacramento's Emily Bradley has broken multiple records and is the only woman representing Team USA in bobsledding at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea next week.
I've had the honor of following her journey for the last 3 years, and what a journey it's been- she agrees.
"Yeah, after we first spoke I was named to Team USA, then competed in Austria, Korea, Norway, Lake Placid, New York," Bradley said. "Now having qualified I'm headed back to Korea next week for the Olympics!"
I asked about the misconception that there's no true athleticism involved with bobsledding.
"Not true," she shouted. "I go through hours of lifting and sprinting and training each day. The sled alone weighs 400 pounds and those first few seconds of me pushing it make the difference between winning or losing."
I asked about a bobsledder's diet.
"I eat a lot and combine that with up to 5 protein shakes a day and will still invariably lose 10 pounds in just the week of competition," Bradley said.
I pointed to her elaborate and thick helmet. "I assume with a helmet, comes potential danger."
"It's very dangerous," she said. "I've crashed before and thankfully nothing too bad. It's scary but an inevitable part of the sport."
Emily had to exit quickly to drop by her school, St Francis where she was honored with a send-off ceremony Wednesday, and then she's off to South Korea this weekend.
Keep watching ABC10, and ABC10.com as I follow her progress and January 22 is the big event.
MORE ABOUT EMILY: Here's my story from last year with Emily:
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