Ep. 86 – Adriane Wilson – Olympic Hopeful to Highland Games Athlete

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Margaret Schlachter

Adriane Wilson was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1980 to Rick and Rae Blewitt. She has one sister, Samantha, who is two years older than her. Adriane followed her sister around and participated in all the sports she tried; golf, softball, and track and field.

She lost her Dad right before my senior year of High School so life was a little uncertain as she matured into adulthood. However, she found her passion for track and field when she went to college at Ashland University and majored in Physical Education and Health. Her college coach was 4X Olympian, Jud Logan and he guided me to a life of dedication and perseverance. His daily lessons of excellence helped me achieve athletic success and victory over the biggest challenge of my life.

She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 23 in the peak of her athletic career. Her dream of making the US Olympic Team in 2004 was shattered. With the support of my family, coach, teammates, and the community she was able to compete and finish 5th in the shot put at the 2004 US Olympic Trials a couple months after chemotherapy.

She continued training for the ’08 and ’12 US Olympic Trials but never quite got back to the top. In the meantime, she began competing in the Scottish Highland Games for fun. This ‘fun’ turned into an amazing experience of traveling the world wearing a kilt, throwing stones and flipping trees, and earning World Champion titles along the way.

Now retired from competing in the shot put, she trains for the Highland Games and works as a personal trainer in two gyms in Columbia, South Carolina. Her passion has shifted towards coaching. For the last two year, she has been contracted to coach US soldiers who are wounded, ill, or injured in the shot put and discus for the Warrior Games and Invictus Games.

Episode 86 – Adriane Wilson

Find Adriane:

Website: https://intothedistance.weebly.com

Instagram: adrisue

Show Sponsored By:

“Dirt In Your Skirt” is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health-conscious people like runners, cyclist, weightlifters, and vegetarians get lower rates on their life insurance. Go to healthiq.com/dirt to support the show and see if you qualify.