How U.S. Olympic Sprint Champ Sanya Richards-Ross Trains Body And Soul

— -- There are some athletes who get your immediate respect because of the sheer depth of their talent and skill. Then there are others, like Olympic medalist and track and field star Sanya Richards-Ross, who gain admiration by being undeniably gifted, exceedingly gracious and sweet as all get out. Her positivity and poise leave her looking like a winner, no matter how things might go on the track.

But, uh, the record will show that the woman is a powerhouse, so nabbing the gold is also totally her thing. She won the 400-meter sprint at the 2012 Olympics in London and took gold in the 4x400-meter relay at the 2012, 2008 and 2004 Games, while also ranking No. 1 in the world in the 400 meters for much of the past decade. And although she failed to qualify for the 400-meter final at U.S. nationals last month, her focus is locked on Rio for next summer.

Richards-Ross, 30, took time out from training to make her fourth Olympics to chat with espnW about recovering from setbacks, the benefits of sun salutations, and how she finds balance between going hard and putting a priority on rest. Richards-Ross, originally from Jamaica, also got a chance to let her West Indian flag fly proudly, talking about her favorite rum-and-raisin ice cream.