Chantae McMillan is an American heptathlete who qualified to compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Chantae McMillan placed third scoring 6003 points at 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
McMillan qualified for the 2012 London Olympics at the U.S. Olympic trials. She placed third with a score of 6188 points. At the trials, McMillan set personal bests in 100 meter hurdles, 200 meters, shot put, javelin, and 800 meters and achieved the Olympic A standard.
On June 20, 2015, McMillan scored 5601 points to place fifth overall in women’s heptathlon at the Pan American Combined Events Cup.
McMillan is one of six athletes to be featured on the 2015 cover of ESPN’s famous Body Issue.
In the 2015-2016 school year, McMillan trained and coached at University of Dayton in preparation for U.S. Olympic trials on July 10, 2016. McMillan placed fifth scoring a personal best 6326 points at the U.S. Olympic trials on July 10, 2016.
Join us in conversation with Chantae McMillan as she tells about the role of fitness and nutrition in an athlete’s life to Namita Nayyar, President – Women Fitness.
Full Interview on Next Page!
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You became a heptathlete at the University of Nebraska which you left as the best heptathlete in school history with two school records. Tell us more about your spectacular journey and how it all began?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
I was recruited across the country out of high school as a long and triple jumper. Then, shortly after I chose to compete at the University of Nebraska, I sprained my ankle triple jumping, which required surgery to fix. After that, I never wanted to triple jump again so I started the heptathlon! One of the best decisions of my life! I had great coaches teach me about what the heptathlon was and coach me to become better and better every year in college.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You gave the performance of a lifetime at the 2012 Olympic Trials where you set personal bests in five of the seven events (100m hurdles, 200m, shot put, javelin, 800m) to finish third and secure the needed Olympic A standard. How did you feel after this incredible victory?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
Competing at the Olympic trials, giving my all to make the team, while doing my best ever in so many events is unforgettable. It was more gratifying coming off of the patellar tendon injury. My physical therapist and my coach were amazing through this journey. We were all so focused on making the team. So after making the team, I could look back and really know how hard of a process it was and be thankful for reaching the ultimate goal!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in the life of a track and field athlete, preparing for the Olympic Games.
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
I look at life, as people should always wake up with a purpose. When you are training for the Olympics, everything through your day is done purposefully, working towards the final goal. My day is scheduled around my training, which can be from 2-6 hours each day. My biggest concern daily is making sure I am eating every few hours to fuel my workouts. After workouts, I make time for recovery, such as massage, chiropractor, icing, and eating the correct foods/supplements so that I can wake up and be ready to excel at practice again. It becomes hard to balance other aspects of your life because of how selfish you can become training for something so important that only comes around every 4 years.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may like to share?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
My favorite workouts that I like to share with people are cardio work and abdominal work. I always encourage people that work out to implement short sprints into their weekly workouts. From all out 40m sprints with short recovery, to running repeat hills 20 times! I believe that short burst like these will benefit people better for weight loss and healthy lifestyle, compared to long runs. I encourage everyone to find abdominal routines that challenge you because core strength is something we need and will always need as we grow old. Exercises where you hang and bring your knees to chest or feet to hands are some of my favorite!
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
Throughout the past year, I have been more aware about what I put onto my body for fuel. I eat to sustain my energy though workouts and to help with inflammation. For examples, eating protein and good carbohydrates every 2-3 hours. I chose to eat options like beef jerky, trail mix, left over pasta with vegetables and red sauce, turkey breast.
For inflammation, I try a holistic approach first, adjusting my diet to help heal the problem. I will drink local cows milk with turmeric in it for joint pain, apple cider vinegar and honey if I feel a soar throat coming on and need to make it to practice, and peppermint oil in my water for an upset stomach. Those are all a few examples of what I do throughout my year. I also think that eating as natural as possible is a long-term health benefit, focusing on non-gmo products and organic. I got into having my own garden this past year and getting meat from the local meat market because I know it has no antibiotics or gmo’s added. I love learning about food altogether! I believe that everyone should always be evaluating their diet.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Since we’ve learnt about your love for organic food. Share with us your Top 5 Favorite Organic Foods and tell us why you love them.
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
It is hard for me to narrow down 5 favorite foods when I love food! I will just list some that I love in no particular order. Squash is most relevant because of the time of year it is. All types of squash are full of great vitamins to supplement your diet and help your immune system fight through flu season. Grass-fed beef is great too. I grew up eating beef that we would get from my aunt’s farm and then a family friend’s farm, so we knew where it was from and what we were putting into our bodies. Beef is a good source of iron, but always eat it in moderation.
For breakfast I enjoy non-gmo oatmeal with fruit. I love non-gmo coconut milk out of a can to put in my coffee because I believe it gives me a sustainable energy for the day! Last, I’ll go with watermelon during the summer because I can eat that and be hydrated!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In 2012 you made it to the Olympic team with just four months of training and rehabbing after almost fully rupturing your patellar-tendon. How were you able to cope up from the injury and come out strong?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
After almost fully rupturing my patellar-tendon, my mind was set to rehab and get back out there on the track. I never once thought that my career as a track and field athlete was over. Maybe that was because I am stubborn or maybe it was because my coach and physical therapist were right there on the same page as me. It was almost an easy process, rather than hard because of how focused I was on sticking to doing my rehabilitation every single day because I knew that was what it would take for me to come away from this on top.
Hard times did happen through the process when I was faced with a new exercise that was hard for me to do the first time because I wanted to conquer every step of rehab. I know that everything happens for a reason though and to work through every day, one at a time, with no worry because my plan had already been written.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your success in the field of your career?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
My greatest influence throughout my career has been my parents, all of my coaches, my physical therapist, and all of the people that support and look up to me. Of course I put my parents first because they molded me to be the person that I am today, with the characteristics to never quit something I start and to have the work ethic to chase what I want in life. I chose my coaches and physical therapist because they have all taught me so much, from being a heptathlete, being a competitor, and taking care of my body throughout the whole process. Last, I chose the people who look up to me and support me because I want to leave this earth knowing that I have inspired someone to have goals and reach them, while helping others through this life!
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Tell us about one of the most memorable experience that you had at the Olympic Games.
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
I have a couple of memorable experiences from the 2012 Olympic games. One was walking into the track and field stadium to compete in the first event of the heptathlon, the 100m hurdles. 80,000 fans became little dots of colors, all blended together, making noise that all muffled together into one large roar. It was amazing competing against the best heptathletes in the world! I also enjoyed being surrounded by the best athletes in the world at the Olympic village and meeting so many people that I can call my friends to this day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You were one of six athletes who graced the 2015 cover of ESPN’s famous Body Issue. Share with us your experience doing the cover.
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
Such a great experience to be on the cover of the ESPN Body Issue! I was invited through email to participate in the Body Issue, then after the photo shoot, I was told that they loved the photo so much, they chose it as a cover! The shoot itself was 2 hours East of San Diego, in the middle of nowhere. Throughout the photo shoot, the sand became very hot, requiring breaks periodically to hydrate and cool off my bare feet! Overall, I was very comfortable being naked in the middle of the dessert because we compete almost naked at every track and field meet! I’m thankful for everybody involved in making this happen and allowing me this opportunity.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding track and field athletes who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in this field?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
Being a track and field athlete is hard because it is all about you. There is no team, there is no one else to depend on throughout competition when it’s go time. You have to learn about yourself as an athlete and build confidence off your best qualities. Being disciplined is key in track and field. Listening to your coach and trusting the program that he has put together for you! Completing the little things before and after practice, such as stretching, rolling out, icing, eating to help your muscles recover. Stay focused, daily on the small goals that are going to help you reach the ultimate, large goal!!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our readers?
Ms. Chantae McMillan:
Womenfitness.net is a great resource to help women live a healthy lifestyle. The website truly has something for everyone to read and apply to their life. I would encourage all visitors to always evaluate and research things within their diet. Always see what you can eat or drink to help rid a disease or heal an injury. Last, stay active because a body in motion stays in motion and will help as we all get older!
To know latest about Chantae McMillan check out on her social networks:
https://www.instagram.com/chan_taemac/
https://twitter.com/chan_taemac/
Women Fitness Team thanks Chantae McMillan for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess 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.