Maame Biney

Injuries	She struggled with injuries, including one to her knee, during the 2021/22 season. (fansided.com, 11 Oct 2022; redbull.com, 21 Dec 2021) During the 2020/21 season she required stitches to her lip and her chin after she suffered a cut caused by another competitor's blade. (redbull.com, 21 Dec 2021) She sprained her left ankle in November 2016. She had broken the same ankle in 2015 and 2016. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019, 02 Feb 2017)
Memorable sporting achievement	Qualifying for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. (fansided.com, 11 Oct 2022)

Reason for choosing this sport

She tried figure skating for six months before switching to short track. "My figure skating instructor told me that I was going too fast and that I should try short track."

Most influential person in career	Her father. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)
Hero / Idol	US speed skater Shani Davis, US tennis player Serena Williams. (insidexpress.com, 30 Oct 2021; Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)

When and where did you begin this sport?

She took up short track in about 2005 or 2006 in Reston, VA, United States of America.

Sporting philosophy / motto	"If one door closes another will open. If someone tells you you're too this or too that for something you want to do, go through with it and keep going. Ignore the haters. But if you feel like they're right, and you can't excel, look for something that will motivate you to be the best you can be." (sportifyit.com, 18 Mar 2021)
Other information	FROM GHANA TO THE UNITED STATES She was born in Accra, Ghana, and moved to the United States of America to be with her father at age five. Her father suggested she try skating after seeing a sign for a 'Learn To Skate' programme while they were driving in Reston, Virginia. "She didn't even know what skating was. She didn't even know what that word was and I explained it to her. The only thing cold in Ghana is cold beer," her father Kweku said. (time.com, 02 Feb 2018; denverpost.com, 20 Aug 2017; Athlete, 02 Feb 2017) SECOND SELF She has an alter ego that she calls 'Anna Digger', which she created at age eight. "I did it because I was very suspicious of everyone, and I didn't want people to know my real name. The thing about Anna is she is very fierce and strong, and she doesn't care about anything. She doesn't care who she's on the ice with. All she wants to do is be the fastest and the smartest, and cross that line first. We are completely different. I'm very shy and awkward. In real life, I like to stay in the background, not be front and centre. But you need that in racing. So having Anna by my side, she can do that being-fierce stuff for me. Getting in character helps me go faster." (olympics.com, 01 Mar 2021; isu.org, 14 Feb 2019; redbull.com, 21 Dec 2021) STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION She experienced mental health issues after competing at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, partly due to the increased exposure she received. "Before the Olympics, I had like 500 followers on Instagram and I was living my best life. I was loving it. Then after the Olympic trials suddenly, I had like 5000 followers, and it just kept going. I was so stressed, and I remember just breaking down. I was so young; I was 18 and I don't really like attention. All these people want me to do well. I got in my head, and I wasn't skating for myself. I was struggling a lot with depression and anxiety and not doing well in skating. I prayed like I've never prayed in my life in 2019. I remember crying all the time in my room and praying to God and asking, 'Why is my brain like this?' I definitely have the right tools now [speaking in 2022] in order to get through that either by shutting off my social media or reading a book or watching TV. My organisation, US Speed Skating, has been a great help with mental health and helping me try to find a therapist and my therapist has been super great and very helpful." (si.com, 03 Aug 2022; olympics.com, 12 Jan 2022) FUTURE PLANS She hopes to become a sports psychologist. "I knew that even from a very young age I wanted to do something to help people, and I never really knew what it was. Specifically, I want to be a sports psychologist. I've been through so much mentally and physically, to use the knowledge I've gained as an elite athlete to help other athletes. To not do that would be a shame. I can help so many athletes, so many people around the world." (forbes.com, 06 Feb 2022)

www.facebook.com/bineymaame
twitter.com/bineymaame

Nicknames	Afua (Facebook profile, 02 Jul 2017)
Ambitions	To win a gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (si.com, 03 Aug 2022; redbull.com, 13 Mar 2023)
Hobbies	Rock climbing, spending time with friends, reading. (sportstravelmagazine.com, 27 Aug 2021; redbull.com, 13 Mar 2023)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs	"I think of a very detailed room and it has all the things that make me really feel comfortable. From my favorite food and drink, an animal that I'd want with me to what the colour of the carpet is. And in front of me there's a TV and it's playing a couple of my favorite races. Using that trick really helps me get into that right mind and the right feelings." (sophialiamag.com, 19 Nov 2020)

Training Regime

She has two training sessions on the ice every day. She also has four gym sessions each week.