To say that Olympic Gold Medalist Natasha Hastings is fast is an understatement. She holds records that will boggle the mind, having the 2011 world leading times in the women’s outdoor 200M and 400M. She is the 2011 U.S. Indoor first-place champion in the 400M race at 50.83 and also was a member of 2008 Olympic Gold Medal Team in the 4x400M relay race. She is one of America’s fastest women and one of the quickest woman in the world. How’s that for a 24-year-old native of Brooklyn, N.Y. that had her breakout year in 2007 at the University of South Carolina. On her way to another track and field event, Hastings took time out of busy schedule to speak with rolling out about the life of an Olympic Gold Medalist and track star. –christa e. jackson
How did the desire to run track and field develop?
I started running competitively at 9. Both my parents ran track. Actually, they came to the U.S. on a track scholarship. Track is just something I was always exposed to and something that everyone in my family does. In 1996, my mom took me to a race to compete there, and Sean London saw me and asked my mom if he could coach me, and I joined the team from there, and that was it for me.
When did you first know that your talent was something that was going to take you into a career?
This is something that I have always dreamed of because I grew up watching Marion Jones, and I always dreamed of, one day, making it to the Olympics. When I actually believed that I could make a career out of running track was my junior year of college. That was my breakout year.
How did it feel making it to the Olympics and winning a gold medal?
That’s actually an overwhelming question because, I not only made it, I came home with a gold medal, and I have seen it all before 22, and you know it’s kind of hard to put into words because, again, this is something that I did dream about when I was 10 and 11 years old. So ,to actually live the dream out, I don’t know if there is a word for what that means. It was an overwhelming, extraordinary experience.
You have set the fastest running record at the Penn Relays. How does that feel to be so young and to accomplish this?
It is exciting. It really is, and I think what makes it even more special is that “relays” is a big name because you get the crowds involved, and you share the moment with spectators, and it feels good to break the records and just knowing, again, how much hard work I had to put in over the years. It’s rewarding to know that I’m going down in the record book.
Tell me one or two things that you always do before a race.
Pray and listen to music
What are your keys to success?
My key is having a belief in yourself and putting in the work. One thing I always try to encourage is to have dreams, of course, but you know a dream is nothing without hard work. The biggest key to my success is that I never lost my dream even when there were obstacles that came in my way, and things that tried to get me off my track. I always held steadfast to what my dreams were.
What have been the biggest challenges that you have had to face in your journey?
I battled through a couple of injuries, I gained some weight and I have gone through personal issues … you know, the normal teenager problems. As a young adult, I experienced my parents’ divorce.
What motivates you?
First and foremost, just knowing that God blessed me with a talent and not wanting to let that talent go to waste.
What advice would you say to a young person who wants to follow in your footsteps?
You have to start dreaming, and believe that you can do this, and, when you find something that you want to do that you feel you are good at, don’t let anyone deter you from your goals.
