Natalie Coughlin has always been known for her amazing performance in the pool, but now this 11-time Olympic medalist is leaving her mark in other arenas. As an avid chef, she is making a buzz in the culinary world by creating recipes for the California Dried Plum Board and serving as a guest judge on “Iron Chef”. Most recently, Natalie has taken the dance floor by storm and blown viewers away on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”. Whether in the Kitchen, on the dance floor, or in the pool, it’s easy to see why they call Natalie Coughlin the golden girl.
Terry: What have you been busy doing since the Beijing Olympics?
Natalie: Most recently, I have been training for the 2012 Olympics. I have been spending a lot of time at the pool and gym starting to really ramp up my training as London gets closer.
Terry: Do you see the 2012 games as your last chance to compete on the Olympic level?
Natalie: It’s hard to say, because right now that’s what I kind of think, but you never know. To be honest, I didn’t think I would be swimming as long as I have. Being an athlete has given me the opportunity to train really hard, take great care of my body, travel and it’s been my identity my entire life. So I’ll have to evaluate things after London and see.
Terry: It has been a long road to get where you are today. What has been the greatest challenge of your athletic career?
Natalie: It’s really hard to choose one thing. I have been pretty fortunate with my injuries, because none of them have been too serious, but a few have set me back. I hurt my left shoulder in 1999 and most recently I injured my right shoulder. Those types of problems can put a hold on training, but that comes with the territory of being an athlete who has been training for 20 plus years now.
Terry: What was more nerve racking, being on “Dancing with the Stars” or competing in the Olympics?
Natalie: The Olympics for sure. I thought being on “Dancing with the Stars” would be really nerve racking, but when I actually got up there and did it … I wasn’t nervous at all. It was just really fun. The Olympics Is something I knew about and trained for my entire life, so there was much more pressure. Some of the races are extremely short and it’s crazy how much time goes into something for one race.
Terry: You’re a big time foodie. How did you get started cooking and what does it mean to you?
Natalie: I first got started cooking in college when I moved into the dorms and hated the food. I began watching cooking shows to get different ideas and it has become a passion since. For me, the cooking thing has been great, because I train so much it’s nice to slow down relax and cook after a long day. Cooking has also given me the chance to partner with some amazing people. I have partnered with the California Dried Plum Board and have had the chance to create several amazing recipes.
Terry: Do you mainly stick to the healthy stuff when it comes to cooking?
Natalie: Yes, I do eat very healthy, but my approach to eating is more holistic. I don’t shy away from certain ingredients. For example, I don’t use butter as an ingredient, but I will use it as a flavor enhancer. I also eat a lot of vegetables, fruits and lean meats, but I still like to indulge.
Terry: Will you change your diet as you get closer to competition?
Natalie: No not really. That’s a misconception I think people have about professional athletes; that they eat so differently than the average joe. Even the times I am not technically in training I didn’t eat any differently than I do now. I would just watch my portion size, because my body didn’t need the same number of calories.
Terry: With your love of food have you ever thought about opening your own restaurant?
Natalie: Haha! Never. I love cooking and entertaining people, but I think the restaurant business has a 98% failure rate and just sounds so stressful. I enjoy going to them and eating, but I wouldn’t want to take the fun out of it by owning my own.
Terry: What else are you doing outside of the pool to stay in shape?
Natalie: I do pilates with an instructor at least once a week. I also run and lift weights. The past year I have been doing some dance classes, because it was so fun being on the show. I would say I do about 60 percent cross training and the rest in the pool.
Terry: Physically, what it the most challenging race that you swim?
Natalie: Easily hands down the 400 individual medley is the hardest. Fortunately, I stopped doing that about ten years ago. Now I focus on the 100m free and 100m backstroke and I would say their equally demanding.
Do you have a trainer and what is their name?
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