Natasha Watley (Photo courtesy of USA Softball)

Q&A WITH 2008 OLYMPIC SOFTBALLER
2008-04-24

In the lead-up to the 2008 Olympic Softball competition in August, internationalsoftball.com will periodically run a Q&A with one athlete from each of the eight participating teams. We begin today with infielder Natasha Watley from the defending Olympic gold medalist USA team.

Q) What are you most looking forward to at the competition in Beijing?
Natasha Watley) I'm looking forward to getting back to playing in the Olympic arena again. There's nothing that compares to playing at the Olympic stage. I look forward to some great competition and a great fight to winning gold!

Q) This marks your second Olympic Games, and if softball is not reinstated onto the 2016 Olympic Programme they could be your last. How do you feel about the fact that you could be in your last Olympics?
NW) I'm hopeful to give it all I have and leave everything on the field because this could be my last time wearing the USA uniform. While at the Olympics I am going to attempt to enjoy every moment and live in the moment.

Q) You have an affinity for Africa and have been there to do a clinic in South Africa. How would you inspire African women players to take up softball?
NW) Hopefully I can inspire African women to play just by the simple fact that they see me playing. I am a woman of color and a minority in the sport and hope that they can see me and see that this sport is accepting of all race and color. Just work hard and dreams do come true!!!!!!

Q) Who do you think will be the team to beat in Beijing?
NW) Well I think the team to beat is ourselves, first and foremost. If we play our game, we can bring home the next medal for the U.S. But once we enter the Olympic arena, every team will be tough and at their best. They will all be coming after us so we have to be ready to play against all opponents!

Q) If you could speak to the International Olympic Committee Members, what would be your message to inspire them to support softball?
NW) My message would be to look at what softball has done to change lives. It has created opportunities across the world for all countries that compete in the sport; especially for female athletes. This sport fulfills dreams and to be able to play at the highest level really makes those dreams come true. This sport needs to be in the Olympic Games.

Q) If you could reach out to the world press how would you encourage them to cover softball?
NW) I would encourage them to make softball a front page sport. We need to make it more visible to everyone because the more exposure we get the more people are going to catch on and follow the teams and the stories of the athletes. They need to cover it at all levels; college, professional and international. I would encourage all types of media to cover us from television, print, and internet. This kind of attention will only assist in sponsorships and marketing to make this sport continue to grow and live.

Q) How has softball changed your life?
NW) Softball has changed my life in many ways. In the everyday aspect of making me more disciplined in my training and preparation for competition. It has also made me more appreciative of the opportunities I have and the people that have blessed my life. The girls on this team will be my friends for life. I also have been able to get a great education from softball and have traveled the world.

Softball has opened so many doors for me; it’s really unbelievable. I have become more of a leader both on and off the field by example. I am not the loudest person, but I have learned to lead through hard work and inspiration. Softball has also made me a role model to younger athletes so it has made me more aware of who I am and allowed me to sharpen every aspect of my life.

Q) How valuable do you think that softball would be for the Youth Olympic Games?
NW) I think this would be very valuable because it will give younger people another opportunity to play at a high level. I believe in making young people compete and giving them something to attach to is a very good thing.