10 Things to Know About Olympian Lauryn Williams
The bobsledder made Olympic history at Sochi.
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From Turf to the Ice - Lauryn Williams already won the title of Olympic medalist in 2004 and again in 2012. But the track and field star proved she is an all-around athlete at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. In her first bobsled competition, she took the silver medal, becoming the first African-American Olympian to medal in the Summer and Winter Olympics. If you didn’t know who Lauryn Williams was before, you will after you read this. — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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The Brainy Jock - Although Lauryn Williams is a three-time Olympic medalist, she also holds other accolades. She received her bachelor’s of science in finance from the University of Miami in 2004 and even gave the commencement address at her own graduation.(Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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Education and Training - While she trained for the 2008 Olympics, Williams also managed to study for a master’s of business administration degree, which she received from the University of Phoenix in 2009.(Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images)
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World Champion - She is a four-time medalist at the World Championships in Athletics. She took home two gold medals in 2005 in Helsinki and a gold and a silver in 2007 in Osaka.(Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images
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Disqualified but Not Undefeated - Williams did not put on her best performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In the baton relay, Williams picked up the baton to get USA to finish in last place. However, they were disqualified because she had to step outside of her lane.(Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Time Off - In 2010, she took an entire year off from competition and worked in the athletics department at the University of Miami.(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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From Track and Field to Bobsled - Williams retired from track and field in 2013, but her competitive spirit yearned for more. Less than a week after touching a sled for the first time, she finished third at the U.S. National Push Championships in Calgary, Canada.(Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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Started From the Bottom - Although she is accustomed to endorsement deals surrounding her track-and-field career, Williams found out the bobsledding world is very different. She sold T-shirts and solicited donations to pay her bobsledding bills.(Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Inspiration From Lolo Jones - After an injury in July 2013 led her to retire from track and field, Williams felt “dejected.” But Olympian hurdler Lolo Jones helped Williams see the light. Jones piqued Williams’ interest in bobsledding. She and her “bum leg” entered the Push Championships and she finished in third place in her first competitive race.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
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Six Months to Gold - After only six months of training for bobsledding, Williams, along with her partner Elana Meyers, won the silver medal in the bobsledding duo competition at the Sochi Olympics on Feb. 19.(Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)
