Times Magazine Interview

T.V. Host: Hello and welcome to this episode of America’s Next Biggest Icon! My name is Susan Scott and I am your host. Today we have a very special guest who has accomplished many outstanding achievements throughout her career. Please welcome Ms. Bianca Unigwe!


Bianca Unigwe: Hello everyone! I am very pleased to be here today and thanks for having me!

T.V. Host: So Bianca everyone knows your most recent triumphs! How does it feel to be the world record breaker in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and even the high jump in the Summer Olympics this year?

Bianca Unigwe: It feels great to work so hard day after day to finally achieve my lifetime goal. Hard work pays off!

T.V. Host: You’re right about that one. So when did you decide you wanted to become an Olympic track runner?

Bianca Unigwe: Ever since the 4th grade I have been running track and I grew to have a strong passion for the sport. After every race I had the same mentality, how can I get better? I knew that someday I wanted to race against the best runners in the world to prove I’m just as good as them.

T.V. Host: Wow that is a great mindset to have. How do you think you became so successful?

Bianca Unigwe: Well, there are many things that lead up until this point. But not only is it physical, it is very much mental and emotional. In your mind you must already start thinking that you’re the best. It took a ton of conditioning to get where I am today. I had to teach myself to eat right and train right. I also had to get myself accustomed to my surroundings, such as hearing the crowd screaming, the voices of my coaches, and the sound of the gun firing. These types of mental processes eventually led me to become a better runner.

T.V. Host: Do you think any biological aspects had a toll on you?

Bianca Unigwe: Absolutely. My background and the way my parents totally had a huge effect on my career. My parents always told me I can be whoever I wanted, that I could do whatever I wanted and they supported me through my all years of running. That impact on me led me to believe them. I became extremely confident because my parents believed in me.

T.V. Host: That is unbelievable! So what are some methods you use to become this great Olympic runner?

Bianca Unigwe: First I kept thinking about winning, just thinking and thinking and more thinking. Eventually my thinking became connected with the winning process and I knew I would get better. My coaches helped train me by using operant and classical conditioning. They taught me how to avoid the less favorable and to gain the more favorable results. For example, in high jump if I don’t take the right number of steps, I will knock over the bar but if I take the right number of steps at the right speed I will clear the bar and get out over it.

TV Host: I definitely agree with you. You are very smart when it comes to knowing what you must do to succeed.

Bianca Unigwe: It was all possible with the help of my parents, my coaches, and everyone else that believed in me,

TV Host: So how did classical conditioning help you become a better runner?

Bianca Unigwe: I used classical conditioning mostly with hearing the sounds around me. My coaches trained me to be accustomed to hearing the sound of the gun firing. Over and over again I trained to learn how many steps to take when hearing the sound of the gun. Every time the gun fired I would take one two big steps so that I would be seconds in front of all the other runners.

TV Host: That is an outstanding story. I am so happy for you Bianca and I wish you great success in your many more races to come. So all you other runners, you better watch Bianca might be racing you next! Thanks for being here today.

Bianca Unigwe: Aw thank you for having me and I’ve enjoyed sharing my success with you.

TV Host: Well that is the end of today’s episode of America’s Next Biggest Icon and we’ll see you next time!