Laurel is the younger half (by 5 mins) of the Wassner Twins. She is a survivor of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and is the first cancer survivor to become a professional triathlete. Laurel was named Rookie of the Year her first year as a pro (2008). Competitive and athletic from the start, by age 4 Laurel was swimming in meets, riding a bike and running (racing the cars) home from kindergarten. Laurel continued swimming and ran her first cross country race in 5th grade. She ran through Junior High (undefeated in cross country – yep never beaten by Bec!) and started focusing on swimming in High School going on to swim distance freestyle for George Washington University.
She did her first triathlon in 2006 and also won her first triathlon in 2006. After a successful year as an elite amateur in 2007 (where she had both the fastest run and swim splits in every race), Laurel turned pro in 2008. Quickly improving under Coach Cliff English, Laurel won her first pro race in 2010 at the Columbia Triathlon, becoming the first cancer survivor to win a professional triathlon, and then went on to 5 more wins. Prior to triathlon, Laurel worked for several magazines as a photo editor.
Laurel Wassner is exceptionally talented and accomplished triathlete. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You began your athletic endeavors at the age of 4 years by swimming in meets, riding a bike and running (racing the cars) home from kindergarten. You continued swimming and ran your first cross country race in 5th grade. You ran through Junior High undefeated in cross country and started focusing on swimming in High School going on to swim distance freestyle for George Washington University. You reached the pinnacle of success by being named the Rookie of the Year in your first year as a pro (2008) and winning more professional triathlon. Tell us about your tale of professional success?
Ms. Laurel Wassner:
I started competing at a very young age – 4 years old – on our local summer league swim team. Our babysitter was a champion swimmer and taught Bec and I how to swim. We were lucky enough to live very close to the pool so we spent a lot of time there. We also started playing team sports like tee ball, softball and basketball when we were young. Being the smallest kids on the team, we were never the best but still had a huge will to win.
Also being small made us work harder, run faster to the bases and play great defense in basketball. Our dad coached the teams and instilled the sense of winning championships in us that carried over into our individual sports. When I started running, it came very naturally to me, but I also just wanted to win – and I started doing that. My closest competitor was my sister. When it came time to choose a sport to focus on in high school, I chose swimming. It was by far not the most fun – it wasn’t field hockey or tennis or lacrosse – but I knew those sports wouldn’t get me a scholarship.
I wanted to swim at the NCAA Division 1 level and I did that at George Washington University. Receiving a scholarship to swim freestyle at a prestigious university was a great honor and remains one of my biggest accomplishments. I worked very hard for that.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
One day in 1998 you felt three lumps on the left side of your neck. You were diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin’s lymphoma. You fought back and became a cancer survivor. Tell us about your journey of endurance, fight against the impossible and coming out as a winner?
Ms. Laurel Wassner:
When I think back to all I have been through, I still am in awe of myself. Sometimes I think, “How did I go from laying on a couch for months thinking my life was over to being an ironman champion?”. In a way it feels like things like that just don’t happen! One thing that got me through was the incredible influence and unwavering support of my family and friends. No one let me lose sight of my goals and I am very grateful to that and all of the opportunities that were given to me. That being said, it takes a very strong will and determination to grab hold of opportunities and make the very best of them. I was given a chance to work in the studio of one of the most acclaimed women in photography, Mary Ellen Mark. Although I was bald and sick, I took the chance to learn from the best which set me up my career in photography. I applied that same philosophy determination to my athletic pursuits.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
In Olympic-distance Nautica New York City Triathlon 3000 participated and swam 1.5 kilometers, bicycle 40 kilometers and run 10 final kilometers through Central Park in heavy, oppressive heat. With a time of 2:02:16 you were the Runner up. Elaborate on your experience on this spectacular achievement ?
Ms. Laurel Wassner:
That race was fantastic! I was 2nd place to my sister in our hometown in front of our family and thousands of friends and fans. I was hurting so much on the hills in Central Park but at the same time was brimming with excitement.
Laurel Wassner on WomenFitness: I love the womenfitness.net site. It’s a excellent resource for health, beauty and wellness issues as well as exclusive interviews with celebrities. I look at it a few times a day just to catch up on all the latest and to get inspired
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
How did you feel before and after your first pro race in 2010 at the Columbia Triathlon, becoming the first cancer survivor to win a professional triathlon?
Ms. Laurel Wassner:
Before the race I had a chat with Bec. She was injured and wasn’t able to compete. She had won the race the previous three years and said, “You have to win and keep the title in the family.” I knew it was a big feat, but I was also very confident that I could outrun everyone in the field. And, that’s what I did. I got into first with a mile to go and spent the next 6 minutes before the finish again thinking, “how is this possible? I was so sick and now I’m winning a professional race!”
I have never seen a happier bunch of people than the family and friends that greeted me at the finish line. My performance at that race put me on the map. I always knew I had it in me, but I proved to the triathlon community that I could compete with the world’s best.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your workout routine during your days of chemotherapy and what workout routine you have now?
Ms. Laurel Wassner:
My workout routine while I was sick was very minimal. At the beginning I was rollerblading and running to the hospital but the drugs have a cumulative effect and they slowly wore me down. I got to the point where I didn’t exercise for months! I went to the gym and walked on the treadmill but I got so many comments from people that instead of feeling good about trying to exercise, I felt like I was back in junior high being made fun of for being short!
So, I turned to other things, like taking pictures, to pass my time and feel good about. Eventually, I got to the point where I could jog a little. I remember when I made it 12 minutes out on a run, I was so nervous I wouldn’t make it the 12 minutes back – but somehow I did!
Now my training is up to 7 hours a day. I swim 6 days a week (actually a lot less swimming than when I was a swimmer), run almost every day and ride my bike 5 times a week.
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