She had long blonde hair. She was wearing a blue jean mini-skirt, two inch heels, and she was signing autographs next to a poster that read “U.S. Women’s Bobsledding Team.” As it turned out Ingrid Marcum, originally of Elmhurst, IL, was not only a current  Olympic hopeful and World Cup team member, but she’s the brakeman, which means she’s the member who jumps in last, and as such is the one who is more responsible than anyone else for getting the sled out of the blocks quickly. And in a sport where success is measured in hundredths of a second, a fast start is crucial.

It Was Her Functional Beauty
            But it wasn’t her celebrity status (although she’s definitely a celebrity), nor her 32 inch vertical jump (the best of any female US Bobsledder ever) that made her stand out. Instead it was her genuine, athletic, functional beauty that made Ingrid interesting. It was an inner glow built on a foundation of sheer physical confidence,* along with a genuine sense of humility that made her appreciate people’s questions, and capable of answering them in an intelligent and yet non-condescending way.

Beauty That’s Earned Not Purchased
            In other words, it was a sense of beauty that’s NOT FOR SALE at the drugstore cosmetic counter, the beauty salon, or the manicure/pedicure joint at the local strip mall. In short, this is a form of beauty that’s earned, not purchased.

Control Your Body, Control Your Life
            Talking with her revealed that she’d started her athletic career as a gymnast where she learned to handle her own body in ways that only gymnasts can ever know. At the age of 23 she was introduced to and became intrigued with the sport of Olympic weightlifting where she competed successfully and developed the hips and legs that can now propel her almost three feet off the ground (MJ beware), and helped her win a position on the US Women’s Bobsledding team.

Confidence Not Arrogance
            Now at the ripe old age of 33 Ingrid travels the world representing the US in an extremely unique sport. But she also represents a form of beauty that’s unique to those who are genetically blessed, and have developed an athletic body. It’s a form of beauty that Hollywood cannot capture on film, mass produce, and sell for a profit. It’s an inner, non-cosmetic sense of self. It’s confidence, but not arrogance that says “I am” in a way that borders on being contagious. It’s a smooth gait, a good posture, and a physical presence that visibly celebrates efficiency of movement and function of the human body.

Requires a First Hand Experience
            To appreciate and understand this authentic and athletic form of beauty requires a first hand experience with a representative…of which Ingrid is certainly one. And when you have that first hand experience it becomes contagious. It’s something you want to emulate. More kids today need to have the opportunity to meet an Ingrid Marcum and experience for themselves what this athletic form of beauty has to offer. If more girls emulated Ingrid Marcum the world would become a better and a more beautiful place.
 
*Physical confidence builds mental and spiritual confidence, and together they all feed off of one another in a synergistic fashion that leads to becoming fully human.