Hall of Fame Profile: Sanya Richards-Ross Refuses to Lose

Published by the Waco Tribune on February 27, 2014

Jamaica has built an entire tourism industry around the laid-back beach life. Come get away, mon — that kind of thing.

Sanya Richards-Ross, who spent the first 12 years of her life in Jamaica, knows the beach life well. As a child, she and her family spent every Sunday there, swimming and basking in the beauty of the Caribbean. On the track, though, she’s about as laid-back as a flagpole.

“To me, Sanya is like the female version of Michael Johnson,” said Clyde Hart, the longtime Baylor track guru who has served as Sanya’s personal coach since 2005. “Her work ethic really reminded me of Michael. And like Michael, she had a burning desire to be the best in the world.”

As a child, Jamaica was Sanya’s world, and those formative years remain special to her.

“I have such fond memories of Jamaica,” Richards-Ross said. “I’m very grateful to have two loving and involved parents, who have been so supportive of me all along the way. We made so many great memories there.”

Sanya’s father Archie excelled in soccer as a youth, and he instilled his daughter with a love for athletics, not to mention a vigorous competitive spirit. Even in her first track meets as a 7-year-old, Richards-Ross didn’t try to hide her intentions. She wanted to win, no matter what.

“Those meets were as serious as any meet I’ve ever competed in,” Richards-Ross said. “Those national championships provided an unbelievable environment, with a packed stadium. Even then, I definitely had that fire to compete, to get better.”