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Heroes

Joanna Hayes

The highlight of Joanna Hayes’s athletics career was at the Athens Olympics in 2004 when she struck gold in the women’s 100m hurdles in a personal best time of 12.37 seconds, which was also an Olympic record. The American had also won gold in the 400m hurdles at the Pan American games in 2003. She now coaches track and field as well as cross-country running at the famous Brentwood School in Los Angeles.

1: Was your talent spotted at an early age?

Yes, around nine-years-old.

2: What is your greatest achievement to date?

Winning the Olympic gold medal and setting the Olympic record at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

3: What is your favourite training session?

I love to do hurdle zones.

4: Who are your best friends in athletics?

Darvis Patton, Allen Johnson, Dawn Harper and Allyson Felix.

5: How important is diet and nutrition to you?

Extremely important.

6: Describe the atmosphere at a big event?

Loud, crazy, and super exciting!

7: What’s been your worst injury?

I have had so many but my worst must be when I tore my patella tendon at the 2008 US Olympic Trials and had to have surgery to cut out and reattach the tendon.

8: How do you stay motivated and focused?

Remember that on any given day anyone can be beaten including me and so I need to stay on top of my game and remember that I have goals and dreams that I need to fulfil.

9: What’s the best piece of advice anyone has given you?

To never give up on myself and believe that God has a plan for me even when things are not going the way I want them to.

10: What’s your greatest ambition?

To change the lives of young people and to leave a legacy when I am gone.