Episode 50: Deedra Irwin puts in the work
This is the last episode of 2018, the 50th episode of Hear Her Sports podcast, and the beginning of the 3rd year of Hear Her Sports.
I’m really looking forward to another year of talking to such amazing female athletes. I’m looking forward to another year of being inspired. For yet another year I am a better person thanks to all the women in sport who have been on the show and shared their stories of sport and getting better at what they do. In this episode, biathlete Deedra Irwin says “I love putting in the work to improve myself.” That direct link between work to results is a real appeal of sports. I’ve always loved going to the gym and lifting more weight each week.
Deedra started skiing when she was a sophomore in high school for Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team to help her stay in shape for her running seasons. After high school she attended Michigan Technological University to study Exercise Science. She ran Cross Country and Track along with competing in Nordic skiing. After college she moved to Ketchum, Idaho, to train with and compete for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's XC Gold Team. She raced with them for two seasons before trying biathlon in Lake Placid, NY at the 2017 Talent ID Camp. She then switched to biathlon and has been training and competing full time with USBA since then. After last season she earned a spot on the USBA X-team, which is a development team based in Lake Placid, NY.
Biathlon is really popular in Europe – so much so there are dedicated biathlon stadiums. Deedra talks about the crowds and how overwhelming the hubbub is. This episode is fun because Deedra gets into details about the sport and learning to shoot. She reveals she was not good at skiing when she first started but kept plugging away. We also talk about injuries and recovery (both mental and physical), how important and wonderful her new USA biathlon teammates are, traveling, and donuts and dogs.
Deedra Irwin Instagram
Deedra Irwin website
Smurawa's Bakery, Deedra’s favorite donut shop in her home town of Pulaski, WI
Susan Dunklee – USA biathlete
SkiErg
Dryland Training – Lake Placid
Dolphins – core exercises
IBU World Cup, Soldier Hollow, Utah, February 14-17, 2019
Scratch Lab
2022 Beijing Olympics
If you like this episode, you will also enjoy:
🎤 Episode 45 with Nordic Skier Alayna Sonnesyn. Listen Here.
🎤 Episode 4 with Skijorer Sara Tabbert. Listen Here.
🎤 Episode 28 with Rower Felice Mueller. Listen Here.