Dispatching from Rio: Brittney Reese, US Long Jumper
by Grace Masback
Brittney Reese is an athlete leaps and bounds ahead of her competition — a global superstar. The American long jumper (who played basketball in college) is a three-time world champion and a three-time world indoor champion. She represented team USA in the Olympics in 2008, placing 5th, and again in London in 2012, where she brought home the gold. Now, after recovering from a stress fracture that kept her out of competition, she is back, better than ever, and ready to add another gold medal to her collection in Rio. Her jumps make the 29-year-old the third best American long jumper in history, just behind Marion Jones and Jackie Joyner Kersee.
Reese, who is from California and attended Ole Miss, has dedicated significant energy to giving back to the community that made some of her dreams possible, establishing numerous scholarships at her hometown high school for exceptional students. When it comes to training, her ideal playlist is a combination of Drake, 50 Cent, and School Boy Q. No matter how good she gets, Reese is one of those athletes who just keeps jumping to new heights. School of Doodle recently had the opportunity to catch up with Reese and get her take on planning for life, enjoying success, and her outlook on Rio.
SOD: Did you enjoy having a low-key meet in Eugene, Oregon right before the Olympics?
Brittney Reese: This was a perfect setting. After the Olympic Trials and all the pressure to make the team, being able to take a step back and really just have fun where it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, just competing and having fun, is something that is much needed for our sport, especially with the Olympics approaching.
SOD: What last minute preparations do you need for Rio?
BR: I still have to work on my landing and my placement on the long jump take-off board. I am really ready to go into Rio and retain my title, I feel strong and now it is time to focus up.
SOD: What goals do you have for yourself going into Rio?
BR: I think about the World Record all the time. I have this thing I am trying to focus on — “three-in-one.” Win the Olympics, break the Olympic Record, and break the World Record. I think about it all the time. If it comes this year, it comes, but if it doesn’t I know I always have next year to get it done. My main goal for the Games is to just go out there and get an Olympic gold medal and bring it home.
SOD: Does having a big crowd watching you compete make you nervous?
BR: I love having lots of support while I compete. I encourage people to get up, stand, and clap.
SOD: Who is your role model? Why?
BR: I still look up to Jackie Joyner Kersee, regardless of whether I beat her record or not. She is somebody I have looked up to for a long time. She actually texted me two days ago wishing me luck. Just to have her on my side rooting for me is a really big deal for me and I really appreciate it.
SOD: You consistently beat every field of competition you come up against — how do you manage the stress and pressure of being the best? How do you keep your head in the game?
BR: This year I got a mental coach. That has been the key to my success this year. I have a great team, I have a great training partner, a great chiropractor, a fantastic coach, and people like that behind me who make sure I am staying healthy and doing everything I can to succeed. I also do my part to stay healthy and consistent. I see myself not only as an athlete but as a student of the sport. I study technique, I prepare, I look at my jumps between practices and meets and see what I need to do to be the best I can.
SOD: Have you gotten to a level of skill where you are able to predict whether or not you are going to have a good jump as you are jumping?
BR: When I get in the air, I am just thinking about driving my knee. That’s one of the top things I have been working on this year. I know if I am going to have a good jump depending on how I come off the board. If I come up off the board the right way, if I get my foot up and I drop my knee the right way, I know that it will be a good jump. I just have to put the ending part together.
SOD: When you are not competing do you have plans to watch any other events?
BR: When I go to the Olympics, I go see two other events. In 2012, I saw gymnastics and men’s basketball. This year, my goal is to see tennis and men’s swimming. For tennis, I really want to see the women’s doubles. I am a big fan of Serena and Venus. I also want to see Michael Phelps, because I know this will be his last Olympics.
SOD: What about sightseeing? When you have gone to Olympics in the past have you done any sightseeing? Do you plan to do any this Olympics?
BR: In both Beijing and London I didn’t really get to see anything. Once I got to the Olympics, I was focused. My mind was on what I need to do and nothing else. So I probably won’t have time for sightseeing at this Olympics either.
