There are plenty of titles that may be related to Kelly Curtis. She may very well be known as an athlete, Olympian, Air Drive servicemember, and now she will be known as a mom. Curtis lately introduced that she and her husband expect their first youngster. The prospect of parenthood brings up emotions of each pleasure and nervousness, however she revealed this was a deliberate being pregnant. So, she’s prepared for this life change.
“It is part of the plan, but it surely’s one factor to plan for it. It’s one other to really undergo with it.”
Curtis has had many experiences in her life, and she or he’s completed so much as nicely. The youngest of 4 youngsters grew up in New Jersey and described herself as a “tom boy.” Her father performed within the NFL within the Nineteen Seventies and went on to grow to be an athletic director in New Jersey. Her mom labored in gross sales for industrial gyms and health facilities. All 4 of the children grew up concerned in sports activities and have been lively all through childhood. Younger Kelly was doing her greatest to carry her personal together with her two older brothers and older sister.
“I had entry to all these totally different athletic services, and I simply tried to maintain up with my siblings,” she recalled. “Sports activities was undoubtedly an enormous deal in my household from a really younger age.”
As soon as she graduated, she began pursuing sliding sports activities corresponding to bobsledding and skeleton, which requires a single competitor to push a sled with one hand down the start of a course earlier than leaping on it and ending a slide course within the quickest time attainable.
“I might describe it as an excessive slip and slide,” stated Curtis. “You’re going headfirst round 85 miles per hour along with your chin barely off the bottom. We’re hitting shut to five G’s and each course is totally different.”
One problem that comes with it’s that an athlete can solely do two to a few runs a day at most due to the way it impacts the central nervous system. It could appear to be an odd sport to somebody new to it, however Curtis excelled at it. That may be a high finish of 120 runs a 12 months. To make up for that lack of precise follow time, athletes do plenty of visualization within the type of thoughts runs. In addition they prepare as mini sprinters and Olympic weightlifters to develop the pace and explosiveness essential to carry out at their greatest.
“We’d like these for an explosive push begin.”
Whereas she was competing in sports activities, her brother had been serving within the Air Drive. Curtis had considered army service at the back of her thoughts, however she didn’t see a possibility to serve. That was till she noticed the U.S. Military had a World Class Athlete Program. The barrier for entry was to make the Nationwide workforce. When Curtis reached that time, a teammate instructed her concerning the Air Drive opening up their program so extra athletes from totally different sports activities may acquire entry.
“I used to be the primary civilian that they let in,” she revealed. “I used to be introduced into fundamental coaching, then despatched to WCAP instantly.”
Curtis acquired to observe in her brother’s footsteps by becoming a member of the Air Drive whereas she was pursuing her objectives in skeleton. She felt honored to be within the place and wished to pave the best way for others to do the identical as nicely. One in all her teammates has gone by way of an analogous expertise as nicely.
“It’s undoubtedly not for everyone, however for the correct particular person, it’s an unbelievable alternative.”
Curtis has made essentially the most out of her alternative and climbed the ranks in her sport. She has gained the Intercontinental Cup championship, and she or he ultimately attain the largest stage in all of sports activities, the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. She has not solely labored arduous for the success she achieved, however she’s made historical past as nicely. When she started her first run within the Olympics, she grew to become the primary Black athlete to symbolize her nation in her sport. She didn’t attain the rostrum within the Olympics, however she left an affect that others can profit from sooner or later. She was additionally named Athlete of the Yr for 2021, which is an honor she may be very happy with. The template for her success in sport, service, and life has been the identical. Do one of the best she will in a manner so others can profit from her efforts. She’s simply dwelling life and benefiting from the day in entrance of her, so the affect and distinction she makes isn’t one thing she has given a lot thought to. It goes past competitors alone. Individuals inform her they modify their day by day habits after seeing her do what she has performed.
“Once in a while I’ll hear concerning the affect. Somebody will say ‘I noticed you on the Olympics, and it made me need to be sure that I begin consuming higher and understanding extra.’”
She and her husband at the moment are getting ready for parenthood, however additionally they produce other plans. She nonetheless intends to compete as soon as she offers start, and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Curtis and her husband at the moment reside in Italy, which serves as a bonus as a result of she will get used to the local weather and be higher ready to compete when the time comes. Along with her husband additionally working as her coaching coach, they’re leaving no stone unturned in her quest to enhance and obtain much more success. Not everybody will get to serve their nation on the highest ranges, so Curtis is doing all she will to ensure she does her greatest and makes the largest distinction attainable.
“I didn’t suppose she could be on this place. It’s been an unbelievable journey, and I’m simply making an attempt to determine the place I greatest slot in and greatest give again.”
Comply with Curtis on Instagram @kellycurtisusa
