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Mellisa Hollingsworth: Olympic Bronze Medalist in Sports of Skeleton Reveals Her Workout Secret

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

Mellisa Hollingsworth is a Canadian athlete who has competed since 1995. She won the bronze medal in the women’s skeleton event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. She also won a silver in the women’s skeleton event at the 2000 FIBT World Championships in Igls, Austria. She won the women’s Skeleton World Cup overall title both in 2005-6 and in 2009–10.

Hollingsworth is the cousin of Ryan Davenport, who won three medals in the men’s skeleton event at the FIBT World Championships in the late 1990s. Mellisa Hollingsworth considered quitting the sport of skeleton when she wasn’t named to the 2002 Canadian Olympic Team. Thankfully, for her, and Canada, she didn’t. Mellisa’s World Cup season leading up to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games redefined the term “hot streak”.

After lengthy discussions with her coach during the off-season, and mapping out a new competitive strategy, Mellisa, from Eckville, Alta., kicked off the pivotal season by winning her first World Cup in 10 years of racing, and became the first athlete in the history of the sport to never finish out of the top three for the rest of the year. Mellisa won the Overall World Cup title in 2006, and slid to a historic bronze-medal finish in Torino at the Olympic Winter Games. With a mission of winning Olympic gold, Mellisa was on-pace to achieve her goals at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

With the nation watching, Mellisa headed into those Games ranked number-one in the world with her second Overall World Cup title. Sitting in second spot heading into the final run, Mellisa pushed a personal best start time her final trip down the track, but made a costly error while taking a risk to accomplish her mission. Mellisa finished a heart-breaking fifth. Gutsy, courageous and determined, Mellisa is proud of her accomplishments, but her competitive goals are not yet achieved. She will be back chasing gold in 2014!

Mellisa grew up as a country girl on a ranch. Raised around horses while hanging out with cowboys and cowgirls on the family farm, rodeo was a tradition richly engrained in this naturally gifted Alberta rancher. When Mellisa was not pursuing excellence in a multitude of sports, she was often and still can be found riding horses or taking in the local rodeo. Prior to your skeleton career, Mellisa ran track and played basketball at a provincial level. She was introduced to skeleton and the idea of the Olympics by cousin, and two-time World Skeleton Champion, Ryan Davenport.

Achievements of Mellisa Hollingsworth in women’s skeleton event

Olympic Games

World Championships

Full Interview on Next Page!

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.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness

Mellisa Hollingsworth is Olympic bronze medalist and twice World Championship silver medalist in sports of women’s skeleton event. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You took up sliding at the age of 15 years, encouraged by your cousin Ryan Davenport who was already an elite skeleton athlete. You became the national champion just three months after your initial introduction to the sport and reached the pinnacle of success on winning the bronze medal in the women’s skeleton event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

The obvious is having a cousin who was so successful in the sport as an athlete and Ryan also was a sled builder so I had access to the best equipment in the world. But at the age of 15 I relied on my Dad and my stepmom to drive me 2hrs to Calgary from our ranch so I could train. As long as I showed the dedication and passion my parents did everything within their means to give me the opportunity to realizing my Olympic dream.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You won the Overall World Cup title in 2006. How did you feel before and after winning your first World Cup in 10 years of racing in the sports of skeleton and became the first athlete in the history of the sport to never finish out of the top three for the rest of the year?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

Well it was a long process to be at the top of my sport but a lot of lessons were learned in the 1st 10 years of training and competing. One tough lesson was not making the 2002 Olympic team when I had won a Silver medal at World Championships in 2000. But it tested my grit and I was forced to figure out how to make it happen with surrounding myself with the right support team and learning how to win. So my 1st World Cup win was very special but it also kick started the momentum that was necessary to stay on the podium each race that year including standing on the Olympic podium in Italy.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You grew up as a country girl on a ranch. Raised around horses while hanging out with cowboys and cowgirls on the family farm. Prior to her skeleton career, you ran track and played basketball at a provincial level. How this has benefited you in excelling in the sports of skeleton?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

Having the athletic ability to push a skeleton sled is critical to be competitive in the sport. 1/10th on the push equates to approximately 3/10ths at the bottom so every hundredth matters.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

When I was training as a skeleton athlete we train very similar to track and field athletes but specifically to that bent over position. We take anywhere from 13-20 steps on the start so you won’t see us doing 400m sprint repeat workouts but focusing more on that explosive speed and power that is necessary to get the 28-35kg sled moving off of the block.

There was always periodization to the programs so we would peak for specific races in the season. In the preseason early spring training we would be doing more circuit work to help build up our endurance to be able to complete the season. Even though Skeleton is considered a speed and nervous system sport, the runs down the track tax the nervous system so much that if you do not have stamina an athlete will quickly burn out and become fatigued. Once that system is built up and we are closer to the competition season we are doing very short sprints, heavy lifting sessions and technical speed work in the Icehouse.

During the actual racing season we are maintaining what we built keeping in mind the races we are to peak for so there will be a lot of rest and active rest built into the program. So earlier in the week we will have 1 big day of heavy lifting and sprinting as well as the sliding on the track and then there will be a day of yoga & sliding and a day of medium lifting/sprinting & sliding, a rest day and the day before the race we will have a stim workout that is very short bursts of power and speed so that may be sprinting or jumping with fast pushes so our nervous system is ready for race day.

Mellisa Hollingsworth on WomenFitness: Thanks Women Fitness website for all that you do to keep ladies up to date on great tips to stay healthy and fit!

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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. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

When we were on the road it’s difficult to have full control of our diets because we stay in pensions in Europe. So what the hotel cooks is what you eat. But I always carried protein with me and had 1-2 protein shakes in the day to supplement what I wouldn’t be getting in the meals. If I was at home I’d start my day with a Vitamix Shake and I like to throw everything in it! Pomegranate juice, vanilla yogurt, protein powder, spinach or kale, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, hemp hearts. I also felt using BCAA’s before and during my workouts helped me from powering down.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make them look so stunning? Any special treatment to protect your skin in cold conditions?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

I use SPF 30 every single day!!! I have combination skin so battling some of the oils and dryness can be frustrating but I love Obagi cleansing and lotions to keep me balanced. And it took away sunspots/brown spots that were starting to appear! I have never done a conditioning treatment on my hair but I only brush it after I wash it. Other than that I just finger comb through my hair and use dry shampoo if I need to style it on day 2 or 3 without washing it.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding girls taking career in sports of skeleton who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in the sports of skeleton?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

To be a successful skeleton athlete one needs to be fast pushing the sled, a focused and accurate driver of the sled and have the financial support to purchase the competitive equipment. Its critical to have a positive environment of people around you who believe in your dreams and completive teammates so you can give back that support. A slider only has a few runs to become an expert on the track but if you work with your team you all will have a better chance of being successful by sharing all of your experiences and perspectives.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

There has been a street named after you in Eckville (Mellisa Hollingsworth Avenue). How these honours bestow upon you the additional responsibilities towards the sport of skeleton?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

I feel very honoured my hometown community has been supportive and enjoyed the journey. I would hope that any kid that grows up in a small town or in the country understands that it doesn’t matter where you come from it matters what is inside of you with your desire to be successful and that drive will propel you to an incredible life.

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive sport of skeleton?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

My cousin Ryan Davenport 2x World Champion and sled builder has always been my role model. I wanted to slide like him, look like him on the sled and understand the ice and pressures like him. I feel so fortunate he was always available for advice on the track or with equipment.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Tell us about your achievement of winning second World Cup title in 2009-10 when you reached the podium in seven of eight events in the sport of skeleton?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

That was an incredible year because I had been dealing with fear and crashes on the Whistler Olympic track just a year out from the 2010 Olympics. So for me to over come that and enter my 2nd Olympic Games ranked #1 in the World was the confidence builder that was necessary to be on the Olympic podium. Unfortunately, I made a mistake on my final run that dropped me from the Silver medal position to 5th, just a mere 24/100ths from the podium, but that is the beauty of the Olympics. Anything can happen and for me I learned a huge lesson about responsibility and humility.

After that final run I had to face the media and I was very emotional with apologizing. That’s exactly how I felt I was sorry for letting Canada down they had been on this journey with me and I had the chance of reaching my Gold medal goal and I made a mistake of hitting a wall. Its a story that everyone can relate to when you dedicate your life and work so hard wanting something so bad and it doesn’t happen… heartbreak. But… the sun still rose the next day and to my surprise my country supported me and made me brave enough to want to try again 4 years later.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Mellisa Hollingsworth:

Thanks Women Fitness website for all that you do to keep ladies up to date on great tips to stay healthy and fit!

To know more about Mellisa Hollingsworth check her out at: http://melhollingsworth.ca

To know the latest about Mellisa Hollingsworth check her out at:

Women Fitness Team thanks Mellisa Hollingsworth 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.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness
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