Dawn Harper-Nelson

Two-time Olympic medalist in hurdling, who’s going for her third medal this August in Brazil. 

- Elizabeth Marglin

My husband inspired me to start practicing yoga one year ago. He’s been doing yoga for 12 years. From the start, yoga prompted me to focus on my breathing and to find a focal point, but my practice really deepened when I realized that this internal focus could take me to the next level in hurdling. With hurdles, there’s so much chaos going on: the actual hurdles, the other competitors, the pressure to win. Yoga helps me focus on the present moment, which makes those uncontrollable factors fade away—or at least feel a little less distracting.