Hannah Kearney has experienced the highs and lows of the Olympics.
She entered the 2006 Olympics as the reigning world champion in moguls but shockingly failed to qualify for the 20-woman final.
In 2010, she was the underdog to Jennifer Heil, who was trying to become the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal on home soil. But Kearney, 27, prevailed in Vancouver, becoming the first American gold medalist of those Games.
Since, she’s experienced more ups and downs. In 2011, she took silver to Heil’s gold at the World Championship in Park City, Utah. That silver came sandwiched among a run of 16 straight World Cup event wins, though.
On Oct. 5, 2012, Kearney crashed in training and suffered a lacerated liver, two broken ribs and a punctured lung. But the Dartmouth student came back to win the 2013 World Championship in March.
What keeps her going? Watch her interview on “SportsDash” below to find out.