Arielle Gold is an American Olympic medalist snowboarder. In 2012, she won the gold medal in the halfpipe at the FIS Junior Snowboarding World Championships, at the age of 15. The next year, she won the gold medal in the halfpipe at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships 2013, at the age of 16, becoming the second-youngest snowboarder to win a world championship.
She won a bronze medal in the superpipe at the 2013 Winter X Games XVII. In 2014, she was the youngest member of the US Sochi Winter Olympics halfpipe team, at the age of 17. However, she suffered a separated shoulder directly before the competition, and was unable to compete. Competing for the US in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, she won a bronze medal in the women’s halfpipe event.
Today, Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness catches up with the inspirational Arielle Gold, to get you glimpses of her life, Olympic preparation and PyeongChang journey!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You learned to ski when you were only three years old but soon made a switch to snowboarding when you were 7. You career then took off in 2012, when you won the gold medal in the halfpipe at the FIS Junior Snowboarding World Championships, at the age of 15 and the next year, the gold medal in the halfpipe at the FIS Snowboarding World Championships 2013, at the age of 16, becoming the second-youngest snowboarder to win a world championship. Share with us your incredible journey in the world of snowboarding in the initial years.
Ms. Arielle Gold:
My entire snowboarding career has been an absolute whirlwind of highs and lows. When I first started snowboarding, my only intention was to try something new and have fun doing it. After overcoming the initial challenges and frustrations that come with learning a new sport, I spent the next 5 or 6 winters snowboarding 4-5 days per week, whether it was after school at Howelson Hill, or on weekends up at Mt. Werner. I began doing regional competitions when I was 9 years old, and continued gradually working my way up the ladder until I was nearly competing at the pro level. When I was 14 years old I barely missed qualifying for the finals at almost every professional event of the season, and I knew that if I wanted to be competitive, I would have to make a conscious decision to dedicate myself to the sport. As soon as I did that, I started progressing at a much faster rate, and wound up winning a bronze medal at my first X Games when I was 15 years old. To this day, earning that medal is still one of the greatest moments in my career. Everything really took off after that first initial result.
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All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2014, you were the youngest member of the US Sochi Winter Olympics halfpipe team, at the age of 17, becoming an inspiration for thousands of women who look upto you. Provide us an insight into a day in your life that landed you to participate in the Olympics .
Ms. Arielle Gold:
It was really just dedicating everything I had to the sport. Putting in the on-snow work whenever I had an opportunity to snowboard, as well as working out 6 days a week and focusing on different mental training techniques.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Unfortunately you dislocated your shoulder in practice before the qualifying round of the halfpipe event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The injury ruled you out of the Games. While playing professional sports, athletes often face injuries and physical challenges beyond their control, what tips would you like to provide to beginners to better cope with an injury and return back to competition?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
If that experience in Sochi taught me anything, it’s how to be resilient in the face of adversity. After how poorly that Olympics went, and having had it be due to the most severe injury I had sustained until that point, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to continue competing in snowboarding. Over the past several years since Sochi, there were many times that doubts seeped in and I considered quitting, but I didn’t, and I am so grateful for that. Learning to be resilient against one of the biggest mental obstacles I’ve ever faced is the reason I was able to come back 4 years later and earn a bronze medal.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How does it feel to become the 2018 Bronze medalist at the Winter Olympics and bringing pride to your family & country? Also, share with us your preparation, training and motivation that has helped you become an Olympic winner?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
Finding out that I had earned a bronze medal easily contends for one of the best moments of my life. It felt like all of the hours I had spent working in the gym or on the hill finally came together and culminated into some of the best riding I’ve ever done, which is all that I could have asked for. Having my parents there was the icing on the cake. They have been with me throughout all of the highs and lows, and I am so grateful to have been able to share this experience with them.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Winning involves a lot of determination and hard work, more so in the life of a sportswoman. What exercises comprise your fitness regime both on a daily basis and when you are preparing for the competition?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
When I am training for snowboarding in the off season, I’ll typically work out for 3 days in a row, then take one day off, then repeat. I used to primarily focus on weight lifting- in particular lower body strength training- but my program has changed a lot since then. Now I do workouts based a lot more on power, speed and explosiveness. For example- weighted squat jumps, running stairs, mountain biking. I have a body type that builds bulk muscle really easily, which can be great in some situations, but for snowboarding I have started to prefer putting more of an emphasis on leaner muscle. Now my program includes lifting heavy with more sets and less reps, and it’s only once a week.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Sports nutrition is an integral part in the life of a sports person to cope with the pressure and recover from wear and tear. There is no doubt you too need to take special care of your diet? Which type of foods comprise your diet to stay healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
Diet is something that I only really started emphasizing over the past couple of years, and it still fluxes all the time because… well… I love food. But especially this season, my main focus was on preparing my own meals as much as possible and trying to avoid inflammatory or processed foods- in particular during training and competition. The primary foods I try to avoid when I’m competing are dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol. Then if I contest goes well, I’ll loosen the reins and let myself celebrate a little bit.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Being a professional athlete, you are a role model for many striving to make their dream come true, provide us with some motivational words to help others climb up the ladder of success in this field?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
I really think that the most important thing that I’ve learned, in particular over the last year or so, is how important it is to enjoy the process. This is something I’ve talked quite a bit about with Kelly Clark, because she is such a huge role model of mine. So much time and effort goes into being competitive in this sport, so if I’m not going to enjoy it then I probably shouldn’t be doing it.
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https://youtube.com/watch?v=T2vWYiNCSWE
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You have graced the covers of Sport Illustrated along with the 2018 Gold medalist Jamie Anderson. How did it feel to have this wonderful opportunity, that too with the Snowboarding Queen herself?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
Being on the cover of SI with Jamie was absolutely incredible. I remember doing that photo shoot after a crazy long day of media, and having no idea what that particular photo shoot was for. I was pretty burnt out for the day, and a bit on the grumpy side, so having such a great group of photographers working hard to make it fun was a huge reason that that cover turned out so great.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In a recent interview you said that you had to change your mental approach to halfpipe after the 2014 incident. Through all the tough and difficult times, what was the driving force that has brought you to where you are today?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
It really was all about making a significant change in my mentality towards snowboarding. Learning about different tools to help me overcome a lot of the irrational fears that were making it hard to progress, which is really what made riding fun again. Having been through that experience, it became that much more apparent to me that there are really two different kinds of fear in our sport- the kind that paralyzes you, and the kind that drives you. I had to get back that fire in my belly, and that’s exactly what mental training helped me to do.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Having performed so well throughout your career, who is your role model(s), inspiration, and motivator in your career as an athlete?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
My biggest role model has to be my older brother, Taylor. He is the reason I started snowboarding in the first place, and is likely the reason I still am today. He pushes me every day to be the best person and athlete I can be, and I am so grateful to him for that.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
After such an incredible Olympic season, what are your future plans?
Ms. Arielle Gold:
That’s something I’m still thinking about. I’m looking forward to getting home and hopefully having some opportunities to meet new people and share my story, but more so than anything, I’m excited to spend some time with my family and especially my horse!
We are so thankful to have this wonderful sports legend speak to us and share her journey in the most beautiful way. Thank you Arielle!
Follow her Olympic journey on:
- https://www.facebook.com/ArielleGoldSnowboarder/
- https://twitter.com/arielletgold
- https://www.instagram.com/arielletgold/
- https://www.arielletgold.com/
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2018 Women Fitness