Making it to the Olympic Games is a huge accomplishment. Representing your country in sports requires hard work, discipline, setting goals, and perseverance. You might already have what it takes to achieve your dream. Ancestry recently launched the Bring Your DNA Game campaign, where top athletes like Nastia Liukin and Kerri Walsh Jennings submitted DNA samples for analysis to understand the common traits of Olympians. The analysis focused on physical traits like agility, flexibility, and balance, as well as mental traits such as confidence, discipline, and optimism.
Nastia Liukin, a gold medalist in women’s gymnastics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, comes from a family of athletes. She always believed she was destined for greatness due to her genes. The DNA analysis showed that she naturally excels in flexibility and agility, but was surprised to learn she didn’t have a high pain tolerance or a strong optimistic outlook. Liukin credits her mother for instilling positivity in her, which helped her succeed in gymnastics.
While Liukin only competed in one Olympics, she continues to inspire the next generation of athletes, like Hezly Rivera, the youngest member of Team USA’s women’s gymnastics team. Liukin is excited for the Paris Olympics and looks forward to the fashionable leotards Team USA will wear, especially Suni Lee’s nails.
Kerri Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, discovered her DNA traits revealed areas of potential improvement. She believes that no matter what traits we are born with, we can develop the ones we need to succeed. Jennings emphasizes the importance of working on both strengths and weaknesses to become the best version of ourselves.
Despite retiring last year, Jennings continues to stay active through swimming, walking, pilates, and weightlifting. She values physical activity as a way to show up in the world and stays playful by trying new things. Jennings is excited to attend her first Olympics as a fan and looks forward to supporting Team USA.
The Olympics are a time of positivity and unity, and both Liukin and Jennings are excited to be a part of that atmosphere. As former Olympians, they understand the hard work and dedication that goes into competing at the highest level, and they are eager to cheer on the next generation of athletes. The traits of Olympians go beyond genetics and training; they encompass qualities like perseverance, optimism, and a competitive spirit, which are essential for success in sports and in life.