How Julia Mancuso Became the Most Decorated U.S. Female Alpine Skier—and Stayed Totally Grounded at the Same Time


There’s nothing like watching Olympians at a medal ceremony: Years of hard work and dedication have amounted to that one euphoric moment. Experiencing it once must be incredible, but Team USA alpine skier Julia Mancuso has been there four times.

Julia won the bronze medal in super-combined slalom on February 10, making her the most-decorated U.S. female alpine skier in history. That’s a lot of hardware for one woman! Through all the success, here’s how she keeps her feet on the ground:

She Takes It One Race at a Time
“You really have to treat every race the same way, even though it means more,” says Julia. So while she felt a lot of pressure at the Olympics and definitely wanted to medal, viewing it as just another race helped her stay calm and collected.

She Focuses on What Motivates Her
Julia thinks of three things that she loves before she does a run. At Sochi, she says she was thinking of an amazing powder run she had in Cortina, an awesome wave she caught last summer, and her friends and family giving her a hug.

She’s a Teammate First
“My mom has always taught me, ‘There’s enough for everybody,’” says Julia. That includes medals, fame, and good energy, she says. “As a team, the more positive we can be for each other, the better everyone will be in the end.”

More from Women’s Health:
Find the Winner’s Edge
What It’s Like To Make It Onto Team USA
Sarah Hendrickson: “Accomplishing Your Goal Is The Best Feeling In The World”

Â