Japanese-American Sprinter, Ivy Dobson
Introducing Japanese-American sprinter Ivy Dobson. A young man inspired to claim his potential at the highest level of athletics and earning a seat on the Japan National Team, arguably one of the most promising athletic rosters in the future of track and field.
What inspires you?
My inspiration stemmed from my high school, Arbor View High School. They supported me by making sure I was able to run at the country's most competitive meets and that is what created my inspiration. The community contributed a lot to watching me grow and become a successful athlete. I want to continue building on that foundation.
What are your athletic goals for this season?
My current goal this season is to make a Japanese national team. I am aiming for a 60m indoor spot to compete at the World Indoor Championships. As I only prepped for the 60m, my outdoor season goal is to rebuild into a 400m sprinter as I am built more-so for long sprints. This will prepare me for World Championships in 2019.
What is the most significant challenge you face in achieving your goal?
My most significant challenge is self-training. Many reputable coaches refuse to take a chance athletes who aren't sponsored or cannot afford their camps. I took it into my own hands this year to see build my own program and compete against the top in the world. It is by far the most challenging and difficult endeavor I've come across to attain my goal.
What is a technical aspect of your sport you are focusing on or have previously improved?
I've lacked physical strength in my 6 years of competing as an athlete. My body physique is very minuscule among all the other athletes who toe the line. I've made it a priority to focus on becoming more powerful in the weight room, while trying to avoid putting on unnecessary body mass.
This will improve the amount of force I am able to apply every time I an sprinting.
What is your approach to Recovery of sore muscles?
My go to for recovery was always an ice bath. Fill up a kiddy pool with ice and water, soak in it for 10-15 minutes, call it a day. Since my high school days, I've began to incorporate more recovery techniques such as stretching, cooling down, contrast bathes, cryogenic chambers and chiropractors. During my off-season training, I stumbled upon a phenomenal recovery method that involves soaking in some of the most paramount ingredients to complete your recovery phase. iON has done phenomenal at keeping me well recovered as I began incorporating that into my long training days.
So tell us a bit about this cute little bundle Nami Dobson! Do you draw inspiration from your daughter as well?
Once Nami, my daughter, was born on December 26, 2016, I knew I had to work extra hard at pursuing the future I envisioned for myself and my family. Every moment I spend looking at my daughter, I feel inspirational urges to grind harder at what I do. At some point in my career, I want to reach the pinnacle of the sport as an athlete so Nami can see that visually see a chronological timeline of events that happened from the moment she was born until present day. The message she gains from that is not only simple but universal; some people in the world are born into success, some achieve success through perseverance, some must end their career to abide by society standards. I push through training with this mentality that I will achieve success through integrity and perseverance.
Nami even has her own site! Follow her at @Namiwolfe
What does it mean to you to compete as a Japanese-American, particularly as a Black Japanese-American?
Competing as a black Japanese-American athlete means so much to me personally because I chose to do it for my mother. She was born and raised in Japan and I never experienced that culture before but she began introducing it more to me as I grew up. So every time I compete, the sensation of achievement becomes captivating because I know I'm making my mother proud. Aside from the personal aspect, it is also influencing many other dual citizen athletes to come out and represent their second-cultured sides as athletes. It feels as if we inspire one another as we see each other globally.
What do you think about the future outlook for future Japanese and Japanese-Americans in the sport?
The future of Japanese and Japanese-Americans/etc will be one of the top in the world for generations to come. As I trained at the National Training Center in Tokyo, alongside their Olympic teams, the development in this sport is more advanced than what I've seen before. As Japan is still producing younger generations, I believe top sprinting countries will begin targeting Japan as prime competitors.
Tokyo 2020 will be an up-rise for Japan athletes.
What might you say to inspire other athletes?
A message that always keeps me going, "#BeWhoYouWannaBe" -Emmanuel Matadi (LBR) A close friend and former training partner constantly reminds his large social media platform this message. I'm passing it on because there isn't anything in this world that cannot restrict you from pursuing your goal.
Follow Ivy Dobson
IG: @ivy.dobson
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Recover sore muscles the way Ivy does!
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"...I've constantly used iON recharge, which is by far my favorite, to keep me in tune with my my heaviest days of training. The morning after using iON products, I feel renewed as if I hadn't trained the day before." I.D.
