Page 19 - AASP Summer 2014 Newsletter

An Interview with a Sochi Gold Medalist

- Maddie Bowman

Lauren Loberg, Ph.D., LCMHC, CC-AASP, US Ski and Snowboard Association

I began working full-time for lot of iguring it out as we went along. Just because no one in our

the U.S. Ski and Snowboard sport really knew how to deal with it or had been in that situation

Association in 2010. One before. I think what was a really important step for me while I was

year later, the International preparing was to stop thinking about the gold medal and winning,

Olympic Committee announced and all that. Because when I did, I started skiing really badly. And

the addition of the men and then, you and I worked to mentally prepare, and just thought about

women’s ski halfpipe to the the skiing. That really helped. So, I had to igure it out while I was

Lauren LOBERG
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. there and how to deal with it.

Maddie Bowman was named

to the inaugural freeskiing
Do you feel like our trip there the year before was beneicial? (In
halfpipe team that same year. She had a breakout season in 2012,

February 2013, we traveled to Sochi, Russia for a test event). The
and this past winter, she made history by winning the irst-ever
trip the year before was nothing like the Olympics were going to
Olympic gold medal in the event. Maddie and I work closely
be. It was one of the worst trips I’d ever taken. It was good to go
together on her mental approach to skiing and life. I took time to
and know the surrounding area. Figure out, so when I got there I
sit down and ask her about her Olympic experience and her use
wasn’t completely confused. Which way the coast was, where the
of mental training.
mountains were, how to get to my venue. So, I thought that part

was good. But, because there weren’t any people there, it wasn’t

anything like it..it poured for our test event. It was terrible. So, I How important has mental training been in your sport? I think,

guess it could only get better from there (laughs).
in the past year, with all the pressure with the Olympics and

everything, it’s been super important to me. The mental training

part of it. Just to kind of deal with the pressure and everything.
What do you think was your biggest challenge in Sochi, and

how did you work through it? My biggest challenge in Sochi

When you talk about pressure, can you elaborate on that? Yeah.
was, deinitely, trying to stay sane and happy about being there.

Keeping busy, because we were there for so long. And I think The pressure to perform and be the best. Still be good at skiing

another big challenge was just remembering why I was there. with all of the attention. The pressure of them building me up and

Just remembering the skiing, because literally all there was to I can fall really far.

watch was sporting events, and it was all I watched. And all I saw

were people winning gold medals, and it got to be a lot of pressure
How did you prepare for your irst Olympics? This was not only

because I wanted it really bad. But, I had to stop and think about irst time your sport was in the Olympics, but also your irst

how to get it, instead of just wanting it.
Olympics. (Laughs) I don’t really know how I prepared. It was a

AASP Newsletter // Summer 2014 // An Interview with A Sochi Gold Medalist

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