BARRHEAD – After eight years on the Canadian National Bobsleigh team, Barrhead native Melissa Lotholz has decided to take a sabbatical from bobsledding.
Lotholz announced that she is temporarily stepping back from the sport through her newsletter two weeks ago.
"I started to think about taking some time off in May," she told the Barrhead Leader. "But I did not make a final decision until mid-July."
The two-time Olympian of the 2018 Pyeongchang, South Korea and 2022 Bejing Winter Olympics said she went to the start of the national team meetings before the start of push camp, but she knew her heart, body, and mind were not in it.
"After returning home from the Olympics, I had full intention to compete this season and go for another full Olympic cycle, but I did find myself quite exhausted from the whole process so I gave myself some time and space to recover.”
After what was a prolonged break, Lotholz started training again in June, but she found that she wasn't ready for the rigourous training required to be an elite athlete.
"I would find myself training for one day, and then I would have to take the next two off. I was still exhausted physically and mentally and perhaps a bit burnt out," she said. "Which isn't surprising. Considering the years building up to the Olympics and the intensity of the Olympic season and even the build-up to it."
While Lotholz recoups her energy, she has returned to the University of Alberta to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Sciences with a minor in physical activity. Lotholz is taking four courses this semester, and she will take another four next semester leaving only one or two courses, that with some luck, she will be able to complete in the spring or summer.
In addition to her studies, Lotholz is working part-time with Athletes in Action, a Christian sport-related organization dedicated to developing the complete athlete.
"This organization changed my life by how supportive it is," she said. "My faith is central to who I am, and to have Athletes in Action, I was able to connect with a faith community, even when I was on the road."
Lotholz added she is also looking forward to experiencing all the little things that she wasn't able to as a competitive elite athlete, especially one that travelled as much as she did.
"I am excited that I will be able to celebrate my 30th birthday at home with friends and family. Dec. 2 has always been a (World Cup) travelling day," she said. "And, for the first time in two years, I will be home for Christmas."
Of course, she said, she understands that as someone who plans to return to the world of elite athletics, Lotholz realizes that she needs to stay in as close to tip-top shape as possible.
"This semester I have decided to give myself time off from training, but I am staying active," Lotholz said, adding she had done everything from road cycling to ballet and rock climbing sessions to keep in shape.
"This semester has been about that physical and emotional recovery. Come February, that's when I will probably start training again."
She added she is fortunate that the U of A has one of the best training centres, which is home to several national teams, including the women's sitting volleyball, which includes Neerlandia native Heidi Peters.
From track star to bobsledder
Lotholz's journey to the sport of bobsleigh started in January 2014 when she attended a bobsleigh dryland identification camp.
During the camp, the University of Alberta track and field athlete (in 60 metres and the 4x100-metre relay team) put up some impressive times that did not go unnoticed by the national team coaching staff.
Having had some success at the dryland camp, Lotholz then decided to make a concerted run at making the Canadian National Bobsleigh Team. She did, and for the better part of four seasons, she would compete as a brakeman, mostly for Canadian pilot Kaillie Humphries; she accumulated 17 World Cup medals, including two World Championship silver medals in the process.
However, at the 2018 Olympics, she ended up being paired with pilot Christine de Bruin, and the duo slid to seventh place.
Shortly after returning to Canada from the 2018 Winter Games, Lotholz decided to jump into the front seat. After spending two years as a driver, mostly on the North American Cup development circuit, during the 2022 Olympic year, Lotholz returned to the World Cup circuit and teamed with Sara Villani during the Beijing games, finishing in 12th.
