Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross talks about training and her reality show - Los Angeles Times
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Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross talks about training and her reality show

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Sanya Richards-Ross is a four-time track-and-field gold medalist for the United States. In the WEtv reality show “Sanya’s Glam & Gold,” her life training for the Olympics and living — and working — with her family was documented.

Richards-Ross, 28, talked to us about what it takes to stay in shape for the world’s highest-stakes sporting event, how she manages to work alongside her family and whether her workouts have changed over the years.

Will you be competing in the next Olympics?

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My goal is to compete in the next Olympics, yes. But I just had toe surgery, so I have been doing lots of rehab, and I’m not able to run like I usually do this time of year. I’ve been biking, swimming and doing yoga and Pilates to stay fit and healthy.

What are your workouts like?

Our workouts are really intense. I do five days on the track, and earlier in the year I go for longer runs. For me, that’s about 30 minutes, progressively. I get back on the track, do 200 meters, then repeat with 400 meters. They are all done to get faster and stronger. I do a lot of weightlifting.... I also do a lot of core work: 500 to 1,000 sit-ups every day.

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Because I am a sprinter, we don’t usually log our numbers in miles. I’m doing workouts to accentuate what my coach gives me: 1,500 meters, two miles of warmups, take breaks, everything with intervals. It probably comes down to about 2 miles of running every day.

Tell me about the reality show.

My parents are my managers, my sister and I own a salon together in Austin [Texas] and my husband, who is also an elite world-class athlete, will be on it. It’s an amazing show about what it’s like to work with your family and the struggle that comes with that. You will laugh with them, cry with them.

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What’s your diet like?

I’m not very strict on diet. I’ve just always had a healthy diet. We don’t eat red meat, so I don’t eat a lot of fried food, and I honestly don’t eat to lose weight. I eat egg whites in the morning with fruit or bagels, salad for lunch or, if I’m training, a grilled chicken sandwich, then a shake with protein supplements and, for dinner, grilled chicken or salmon with potatoes or veggies. On Saturday or Sunday I will have pizza or French fries. I don’t think it’s healthy to deprive yourself of those treats. I just try to do everything in moderation.

Have your workouts changed at all over the years?

My workouts are very tailored and specific to what I want to accomplish on the track, but otherwise they are the same. I’ve had the same coach for the past eight years. We work out according to what I might need, but for the most part my workouts stay consistent. Rest is also a crucial part of it. I need all my energy for my training.

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