When we think of Olympic gold medalists, we think of people whose entire lives have been geared toward one moment of glory. They have been coached and molded in training academies since they were old enough to walk, essentially faceless automatons built for one purpose and one purpose only. Their chosen sports consume their entire lives, and they have neither the time nor the interest for anything else.
Jamie Anderson, however, is not your typical gold medalist.
Trading a few extra hours of practice for a “medicine walk” and coaches for a “spirit grandmother,” Anderson rode “good vibes” (and ridiculous talent) to a gold medal in the first-ever slopestyle event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Along the way, she built herself a legion of new fans by “trying to keep it light” despite the enormity of her accomplishments, and even 18 months later Anderson still endures as one of the stars of the 2014 Olympics.
As devoted to her beloved home of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., as she is the slopes, at 25 years old, Anderson embodies the perfect work-life balance most people spend their entire lives trying to find. She goes all-in on everything she does; in all aspects of her life, Anderson truly lives her obsession. With winter on the horizon and the snowboarding season nearly upon us, here are 10 Reasons to Be Obsessed With Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Anderson.