RUNNERS
Her greatest achieve-
ment was, at the age of 22, at the 2008
Bejing Olympics when Natasha won an
Olympic Gold Medal
4×400m relay team by running a 49.87 split. In 2011, Natasha made yet another
comeback. She maintained a successful Indoor Track & Field season. She won first place in the 400m race at the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships running one of the world-leading times at 50.83. She has set world-leading times in the 4x400m and 4x200m relay races. Plus she recently won a gold medal for the USA Women’s 4x400m relay race at the 2011 IAAF World Outdoor Championship in Daegu, South Korea.
didn’t have a track team, so she competed for a track club. Considered quite the nerd, her track coach, Sean London, even called her “Preppy.” However, she had to study hard as her mum had made it very clear, she wouldn’t be allowed to run if she didn’t maintain a C average or above. That was when Natasha realised the importance of school and she knuckled down. She went on to compete for her high school in Harlem, New York. She won several city, state, national,
and world titles whilst at school. She also maintained a 90% average through her high school career. Natasha went on to attend the University of South Carolina where she competed for 3 years. Not only did she study Exercise
Science, she also competed on a National level.
MEDAL AFTER MEDAL After coming back to athletics following an injury, 2007 was considered Natasha’s breakout
year.She won the SEC Championships by running a 51.63 in the 400m. Natasha went on to win the NCAA Championship title and her time in the 400m at 50.15 was the second fastest time ever on the collegiate level. She had successfully competed undefeated all season becoming the Indoor and Outdoor 400m champion. Her greatest achievement however was, at the age of 22, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Natasha won an Olympic Gold Medal in the Women’s
THE REAL DEAL Natasha trains 5-6 days a week. She certainly mixes it up with a combination of gym and track workouts. In the mornings she lifts weights and performs cardio work. In the afternoons, she’s on the track working on technical and sprint work. She also takes part in Pilates once a week and sometimes joins a spin class at the gym to break things up. If you ever get the chance to cook for Natasha, the way to her heart would be seafood, especially crab or mussels. Although you would have to watch out for the competition, as Natasha is also a big fan of her mum’s traditional West Indian
dishes.Not surprisingly, behind the tomboy and world athlete is just a girl who likes to read, shop, watch tv, do her hair and makeup. However back to the conundrum, as this tomboy, girly girl, is also a sophisticated lady who collects wine from the different cities she visits across the world! I had to ask, even though I knew the
answer, who was Natasha’s hero and she of course replied: “My mum.” Currently, Natasha is preparing for the 2012 London Olympics. However, if one day you put your back out, don’t be surprised if Gold Olympic Medalist Natasha Hastings fixes you, as she plans on becoming a chiropractor.
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