Jamie Whitmore Shares Her Life Lessons

Two-time XTERRA world champion Jamie Whitmore shares her life lessons and future sporting plans with Glamour magazine.

By the age of 31, Jamie Whitmore was the most decorated off-road triathlete of all time. That all changed within months when Jamie was stricken with cancer and told she would never be able to race again.

While Whitmore was a talented athlete, competing in triathlons, racing mountain bikes, and becoming the most successful female athlete in XTERRA triathlon history with 37 wins, six national titles, and one world title—nothing compared with the battle that is cancer. There were surgeries (the removal of her left gluteus), radiation, chemotherapy, infections (including damage to the sciatic nerve), and paralysis of muscles near her ankle that left Whitmore fighting for her life.

And yet, she survived. She not only survived but thrived, accepting her new reality as not enough reason to prevent her from going after her dreams. She went on to have twin boys, and returned to competition as a challenged athlete. She won her first Paralympic national title and, since then, has become one of the top female cyclists in the world. But how? How does one fight through such despair and pain when it looks as if the world is crumbling around you? On this holiday weekend, we asked Jamie to share with us the advice and wisdom that no doubt got her through the darkest days so she could enjoy the most promising future.

Jamie’s Life Lessons:

– Trust your judgment and what your body may be trying to tell you. We athletes know our bodies the best. If something isn’t feeling right, don’t disregard it. Take care of it ahead of time because you could face worse consequences in the long run.

– When my doctor told me I would never be able to run or ride a mountain bike again, rather than becoming discouraged I felt inspired to prove him wrong. I encourage other disabled or challenged athletes out there to do the same and take any negative thoughts or feedback and turn them into things that motivate you to prove others wrong.

Read more: Glamour.com

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