Lauren Brzozowski: From Track Star to Team USA Bobsledder

1. What led you to bobsled? As far as we know, you shifted from track & field to bobsled.

In undergrad I was a Division One track athlete at Elon University. After suffering a few injuries during my D1 track career I felt that I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to on the track. When I graduated from Elon I then used a free student/athlete recruiting agency, TeamGleas, to help place me at the number one sports university in the United Kingdom, Loughborough University. I did this because I wanted to become a professional track athlete in Europe. I was on the right track to do this because I ended up representing this school nationally and even won a gold medal at the BUCS Indoor Championship in the 4x200 relay as anchor leg. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic, this dream was put on hold. The good news is it allowed me the opportunity to keep racing in USA which set me up perfectly for bobsled tryouts. I made the switch because I knew two people on the team and after following their journeys, I told myself I had to give it a go if track and field ever came to an end. So while track may not be my number one priority right now, it still has a special place in my heart and I hope to keep racing on the ice and on the red ring.

2. Is there any routine or ritual before you race?

My routine is a 24 hour process. The day before I race I tend to do a primer lift to get my nervous system fired up. Then I have to fuel right with a nice dinner, preferably salmon, rice and vegetables. Then I get 8-10 hours of sleep, pray, and try to run through the play by play of my performance for the following day. This really helps me prep mentally for the race and get game ready. From there I like to eat breakfast 3 hours before warm ups and then get to the track early so I can get used to the atmosphere. That is my go to routine before a race day!

3. Who is your role model or dream teammate?

This is a tough question because I have so many people I look up to both in and outside of the sports world. Given the timing of my life I would say I wish I had Tianna Bartoletta as a teammate. She is 2 time Olympian with three gold medals as a Team USA track and field jumper and I have been following her journey since college. I love how she writes and some of the things she has said has helped my rise up as an athlete mentally. I value her humbleness and her heart and think many of us can learn from not just her but other athletes like her who never stopped chasing their dreams.

4. What led you to bobsled? Why did you get attracted to bobsled?

At first I was supposed to be a Skeleton athlete! I was 5’9 and 150 pounds at the time of tryouts and most skeleton athletes are around those height and weight metrics. I also thought there was more opportunity as a skeleton slider because the sled was cheaper. Its about $10,000 US dollars for a skeleton sled and about $55,000-$80,000 for a two-man bobsled. As a kid coming straight out of college, you can see why skeleton was the more attractive option, but after my first tryout the coaches said I would be better suited for bobsled. I quickly said yes because after seeing skeleton sliders rip it down the track in person, I felt I would enjoy sliding head first down the bobsled/skeleton track. I will say looking back I wish I tried it but I am still very content where I am now as a bobsled pilot on the development USA team. It was definitely the right call at the end of the day because of my build and sprint background!

5. You are the pilot. Becoming a bobsled pilot requires extra training and responsibility. What led you to choose that position?

I didn’t really have a choice actually. I finished second in my rookie push camp and since the team was already stacked with brakeman, the coach called me up and said “Do you want to see if you have what it takes to be a bobsled pilot?” My response was, “I will play whatever position it takes to stay on this team long term,” and from there I was put into my first driving school in Park City, Utah. I was able to show the coaches I could take feedback, execute coaching directions, and most importantly not crash! Since then, I have learned it is a huge responsibility to be a pilot because not only are you in charge of financing your Olympic hopeful journey, but you also are in charge of the life of every brakeman you push with when driving the sled.

6. What are your strengths and weaknesses as an athlete?

My strength as an athlete has always been resiliency. I have had so many setbacks as an athlete and yet I always come back stronger and learn from my failures and mistakes. Because of my experiences, I believe this ability to be resilient is what separates the good athletes from the great ones. My weakness as an athlete comes from a learning disability that makes it hard for me to learn or understand certain concepts. I eventually learn them but only with a lot of patience and extra work behind the scenes. It can be tough and frustrating at times seeing other athletes take quickly to a concepts before me but I just have to tell myself that I will get it to, just at my own pace. This also helps me not compare myself to others because I know we are all different and we all have our own strengths and weaknesses.

7. Tell us how you train. Are there any goals for your recent training? Any areas or skills you are focusing on improving/developing?

Since bobsled is a strength and speed-based sport I module my training around explosiveness. That means I need to be the fastest, strongest and most mentally sound athlete in order to compete at this level. That being said my training revolves around a balance of heavy weight lifting and sprint work. Currently I am trying to get comfortable lifting heavy as well as refining my sprinting mechanics.

8. Was there any limit or breaking point you faced? How did you overcome it?

I reached a breaking point my first day ever sliding in a bobsled. It all started when five bobsled rookies were with me in Utah and we had two female veteran USA bobsled pilots about to take us down the bobsled track for our very first time. All we had to do was help push the sled, get in, stay in, and pull the breaks. I was so scared of falling out that I death griped the handles in the sled to the point where when it was time to pull the breaks I had nothing in my arms to grip or pull the breaks. We ended up in the cement which is NOT where you want to be on the track ever in a bobsled. The next person to go down the track after me in that same sled then had an awful ride. All I could think was that it was my fault. I felt so bad and later worked so hard to help sand the runners that I messed up because they hit the cement. When my arms were ready to fall off I then asked to talk to coach privately at the hotel. I ended up crying as I asked if it was my fault for messing up the sled and if that is why the other rookie almost had a crash. My coach laughed in my face and said, “If I had a dime for every time someone didn’t pull the breaks in time and hit cement, I would be rich.” He then said the rookie was moving around to much so the pilot lost control of the sled and that is why the run was bad. Looking back, I was so close to thinking I wouldn’t be able to do this sport but having this experience showed me how much I care about being in this program and wanting to make not only myself but those around me proud. I know I will face so may more moments like this, but I am hopeful that when that day comes, I will be stronger, wiser and ready to overcome and grow from my mistakes just as I did my first day sliding.

9. As we know, you had a crash last Jan. Memory of an accident or injury sometimes limits an athlete’s performance. Do you have a way to overcome such fear?

I had one pretty bad crash my first time sliding in Lake Placid. I didn’t even know at the time but after this crash and more sliding I had two fractures in my back and an intercostal strain. What helped me overcome this accident was going back through the video to understand what happened. At first I didn’t even know what caused the crash which is almost more scary than crashing sometimes because you want to know how not to get hurt again. I just remember hitting my head very hard, waking up on my side and then being so out of it that a medic pulled me aside to asses me. It was then that I did something I never ever did growing up as an athlete. I pulled myself out of the game. I am known for never getting a break as an athlete. Even if I was hurt, I usually could still manage to win the track race or score a goal in soccer. But this pain was just so real that I knew I would hurt myself way more if I got back in the sled. And in the end, this is what helped me overcome my fear as well because when I got home I worked hard to eat, sleep and recover right in order to get back in that sled and have a clean run. I even asked other pilots for help in understanding how to handle the turn I crashed off of. The next morning I was ready to attack the first sliding session and I ended up finishing the run in one piece this time. The moral of the story is that it is ok to take yourself out of the game, but just be sure that when you go back in it is for the right reasons and you know you are ready.

10. What do you do after training? What do you do for fun?

When I am done training, I prioritize seeing friends and family. Whether that be taking them out to eat or for a hike. I love to bring people along for any adventure I can find. Whether that involves going for a picnic, exploring the city (preferably New York City where I live just outside of), rock climbing, fishing, baking, or going to the beach I like to think I make the most of my rest time.

11. How did the pandemic affect your training?

Given my circumstances, I refused to let the pandemic stop me from training. My dad helped me by finding some old school weights in someone elses trash so that I could keep lifting. When I wasn’t lifting, I was at the track. I would also post a clip of my training sessions to my social media stories to show my teammates in Europe that I was still training. This also helped me key my eye on the prize which for me was the hope of racing in Belgium at the end of the year. Covid ended up being the reason that track meet was canceled but I like to think if it wasn’t for having goals like that I wouldn’t have been as motivated as I was to keep training.

12. You are a fearless competitor. How do you motivate yourself?

If you were to ask me how I stay motivated my answer would be that, “I don’t.” Shocking, I know.. but it’s because I understand that motivational speeches can only keep you in the game for so long. In fact, when my motivation runs out I have to rely on discipline to get the job done. So when I don’t like the workout, I say so, but I still do it anyways. And when I’m feeling the burn, I yell or grunt sometimes. And when I need a longer rest, I take it and then handle that last rep. The point is that it is OK to be honest with your journey! In the office or on the track, it’s ok to not be motivated to do the work. But at the end of the day that’s how hard things get done. So be sure to stay tuned into “why” you are working so hard for the outcome you want.

13. A Bobsled pilot has to stay on course. Do you think you are on track to your goal/plan? Tell us more about your goals as an athlete and how your journey has been.

I think everyone coming into this sport has one major goal and that is to go to an Olympic Games. For me, that is defiantly a goal of mine; however, I recognize that there is so much more to this sport than that. That is why my first goal is to make the national team or junior world championship team then a world cup team and hopefully the Olympic team. No matter what, the best part is I get to do what I am passionate about and continue to inspire others through the love of competing.

14. You are an athlete, but also a student. What are you studying and what is your goal/dream after you win gold?

I just finished my Masters course at Loughborough University where I studied marketing! With this knowledge I hope to keep marketing myself and this program so that those that come after me will have an easier path towards reaching their athletic dreams. As for medaling at the Olympics, I like to think that I can medal as long as I work my butt off and stay true to myself as an athlete, a teammate and a student of the sport. That being said the goal has always been the same for me. I wish to rise up as the underdog I have always been and try to share the journey and the dream with those who also never wanted to give up on their dreams. I also hope to inspire not only myself but those around me in everything that I do.

15. Which parts of the body/muscles are most used for bobsled?

I believe that having powerful and explosive legs are the most valuable muscle to a bobsledder. This is because we have to push a sled so fast at the top in order for it to hit 80-90mph down the bobsled track. That’s also why bobsled athletes are some of the strongest and fastest people in the world!

16. Tell us what you think about WaveWear. What do you like about WaveWear?

Back when I was running division one track and field and racing in Europe, I was known for wearing compression sleeves. I went from shin to arm sleeves and now...full body compression wear thanks to WaveWear. As someone who loves compression wear because it enables blood flow to circulate quicker to the heart and ultimately help your injuries heal quicker, I love that WaveWear combines this with kinesiology tape! This is because kinesiology tape functions as a therapeutic tape that strategically can be placed on the body to provide support, reduce pain/swelling, and improve athletic performance! So overall It has been such a game changer learning and working with this gear.

17. What is your favorite WaveWear product?

My favorite WaveWear product is the black compression leggings. Every time I train in them I feel very supported and my legs feel much better to the point where I can get the most out of my workouts. I feel so confident in these that I wore them to my first practice ever in the new ice house over in Lake Placid! As always, I had a great session and can’t wait to keep training with WaveWear products.

18. What is the most important thing you consider when you buy training gears/apparels?

The most important thing to me when buying sportswear is based on comfort and confidence. I have always been a believer in, “Look good, feel good, play good.” It might also be part of the superstitious track athlete in me, but when I feel confident in my gear I will prioritize wearing it over my other options. For me, that means my leggings and shirts have to give me comfort and freedom to move around with ease as well as look nice on me. They also must be durable and not see through.

Lauren's WaveWear Picks

Release Lotion Muscle Relaxation & Skin Protection

Lauren's Feedback

The name "Warming Up Cream" was a bit confusing. Based on the name, I expected something like Tiger Balm or Bengay. I was surprised when I applied it and it didn't make my muscles feel hot or have a thick texture. At first, I thought it was just a regular lotion and didn't use it, but later I realized that it makes wearing Wavewear much more comfortable.

Compression Leggings Y10 Full Length Kinesiology Taping

Lauren's Feedback

These leggings are also good. I like how both the Y20 and Y10 have a slimming effect, similar to Spanx, while also providing muscle support. While I personally prefer a lot of kinesiology taping, I think the Y10, which only supports the calf muscles, is a great option for compression gear beginners or those who don't prefer a lot of taping.
Overall, I like that the Y10 is comfortable to move in and is not see-through. When I choose leggings for training or competition, the most important factors for me are quality, staying in place (not sliding down), not being see-through, and giving me confidence; the Y10 leggings satisfy all of these.

Compression Leggings Y20 Knee & Calf Recovery Taping

Lauren's Feedback

I LOVE these leggings. I might be biased because I enjoy wearing compression gear, especially during competitions, but I feel supported when I wear these leggings. Training in these leggings is always amazing, and in fact, I’ve even set personal records while wearing them.

One more thing: because my body type is different from the average person, it is very important for me to find gear that makes me feel confident and makes me want to train. [It is implied that Wavewear is that kind of gear.]

Compression Short Sleeve T20 Upper Body Support Taping

Lauren's Feedback

I liked that this shirt has a slimming effect while not causing any issues with breathing. My favorite part was the shoulder compression; it seems to allow for a fairly good range of motion.