Quotes from U.S. wrestlers Randi Miller and Ali Bernard, and U.S. Coach Terry Steiner after Sunday's afternoon session of the Olympics
USA Wrestling
08/18/2008
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
On the winning takedown:
"I knew I had time to try something. The front headlock wasn't working, so I knew I had to shoot. That's what I did and it worked out for me. It was a double-leg shot off the front headlock."
What was going through your mind when you needed to score in the final seconds?:
"Shoot, shoot. Shoot now. Now, now, now."
"I knew I didn't have much time left. They were saying it on the loudspeaker and I knew I had to go."
Emotions on winning the bronze:
"I really wanted a gold medal today, but I am very happy with a bronze. She was a very tough opponent. She is a World silver medalist. I need to learn from this tournament and next time I need to bring home a gold."
"This is my first Olympic medal. It may be my last, who knows? Every athlete who comes here is very tough."
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC)
On the bronze-medal match:
"I tried my hardest and it wasn't good enough. My goal was a gold medal. I wanted a medal and it didn't happen. Better luck four years from now."
"I don't have a lot of international experience. Hopefully, I will get a chance to go on more trips and get more experience."
U.S. Coach Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
On Miller's win in the bronze-medal match:
"Randi wrestled almost a perfect match. She stayed in her opponent's face and stayed tough. She found a way to win at the end. She did a great job of working to get that point. I was hoping we would score a little bit earlier. Randi's hard to wrestle when she sets that kind of pace. I knew Randi would wear her down - it was just a matter of time. It was a classical Randi type of a match."
On Bernard's loss in the bronze-medal match:
"She's a great competitor and she wrestled hard out there. We just have a few things we need to clean up. We just need to build on this and continue to get better."
Wrestling Preview for Ali and Randi Miller
August 16, 2008
Wrestling Preview for Ali and Randi MillerAugust 16, 2008BEIJING, CHINA - The women's freestyle wrestling competition at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium concludes on Sunday, with competition in two weight classes, 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
U.S. wrestlers Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg and Ali Bernard, (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) have weighed in and received their draw for Sunday. Both wrestlers are competing in their first Olympic Games.
Miller has drawn the No. 16 spot in the bracket and will have an extra qualification match, where she will face Haiat Farac of Egypt. If she wins, she will face Yuliya Ostapchuk of Ukraine.
Olympic and World champion Kaori Icho of Japan is in Miller?s half of the bracket, and could face her in the quarterfinals. Also on her half of the bracket is three-time World silver medalist Martine Dugrunier of Canada and 2006 World silver medalist Xu Haiyan of China.
"Randi has been very consistent. She is wrestling very good," said National Women's Coach Terry Steiner. "You know what you get when she steps on the mat. She comes at you. It becomes a brawl and a street fight. We believe she has the style to win. It is a loaded weight class. We feel very confident in what she can do."
Miller is a native of Arlington, Texas. She attended Neosho CC in Kansas, McMurray College in Illiniois and the Northern Michigan Univ. USOEC program. She is now a USOTC resident athlete. She beat 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Bernard has drawn Amarachi Favour Obiajunwa of Nigeria. If she wins, she will face the winner of the match between Jenny Fransson of Sweden and Wang Jiao of China.
Also in her half of the bracket is five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan.
"She has some great ability. She needs to be in the right mindset and ready to fight in every situation. If she puts pressure on people, so they are attacking under her pressure, she will do well," said Steiner. "Ali finds a way to win. She is a winner. When the lights come on, she is ready to wrestle. She can go with any of these people. She hasn't wrestled a lot of them, which is to our benefit. She has an unorthodox style. I think she is very confident in her abilities."
Bernard was a two-time Junior World champion, and three-time Junior World medalist. She attends the Univ. of Regina in Canada, where she is a four-time CIS champion.
Steiner is upbeat about the competition on Sunday.
"We have good spots," said Steiner. "I don't see anyone we can't beat. It is really about us. If we go out there and wrestle, we will go a long way. I feel confident."
Blog from Women's Head Coach Terry Steiner
AUGUST 16, 2008
Hello from the competition venue. We just finished the first session for 48 kg and 55 kg. Here are the results.
48 kg
1st Round
Chun over Matsson (SWE), 2-1, 3-1
2nd Round
Chun over Bobryrmm (FRA).4-1, 2-1
Semi-Final
Icho (JAP) over Chun, 1-0, 0-3, 1-1
Clarissa has wrestled a good tournament but in all three matches she let up after she had the lead. She was able to come back from that in the first two matches but against Icho we had the lead, 1-0 in the third period and we let up for a second and got driven out of bounds. Tonight in the bronze medal match we will face the winner between China and Ukraine. In this match, it is much the same. We need to be on the offense the entire match, mental breaks. Clarissa has so much ability, motion, and varied attacks. We just have to make sure we use it our gifts.
55 kg
1st Round
Van Dusen over Synyshyn (UKR), 1-2, 1-1, 7-0
Renteria (COL) over Van Dusen, 7-2, 5-3
Marcie started a little slow against Ukraine but was able to get her offense going in the third period. In the first two periods we rushed things again but we weren't penetrating. In the match against Renteria again started a little slow and we reaching for shots, and rushed things a bit. I cannot fault the effort it just wasn't clean wrestling today. Renteria was beaten in the Semifinal and we were put out of the competition.
It was a frustrating morning. We got going early but it just didn't happen. I feel for these kids, the put so much into this, you want to see them leave with rewards. Clarissa has a big match tonight. We need to refocus and get a medal around her neck.
Randi and Ali weigh-in today at 3:15 pm. They will start competition tomorrow at 9:30 am.
Over and Out!
AUGUST 15, 2008
GEIA SAS! (Greek - Hello)
KALIMERA! (Greek - Good Morning)
Weigh-In Day 48 kg and 55 kg
- The girls have weighed-in and the brackets are set. Clarissa Chun will face Matsson from Sweden first round and Marcie Van Dusen will face Synyshyn from Ukraine in the first round - They must win 3 matches each tomorrow morning to make it to the Gold Medal Matches, tomorrow evening. You can go to: www.themat.com - for the full bracket. This is USA Wrestling's Official website.
Like I have stated before, It is our belief that when an athlete makes a U.S. Team, they are prepared and ready to medal. Tomorrow, we must step on the mat with an aggresive, attacking mindset. If we do that we can wrestle with anybody.
Did You Know? China Fun Facts
- Ice Cream was invented in China around the second century B.C. When the Chinese packed a soft milk and rice mixture in snow.
- Animals Native to China: Pandas, tigers, dolphins, monkeys, alligators, reindeer, yaks, and snow leopards
- The Great Wall is 4,000 Miles Long and was begun in 231 B.C.
- China has 20% of the world population. Yes, that means 1 in 5 people in the world are Chinese. I don't know about you but that is mind blowing to think about.
- Although China spans over 4,000 miles, the entire country observes one time, Standard China Time.
- Beijing, the capital city, has more than 15 Million People.
- In 1990 McDonalds Opens it first restaurant in China. In 2008 McDonalds opened its 1,000 restaurant in China.
- As of 1980, a family in China can have only one child. Before this time, it was ok to have more than one child. There are exceptions to the rule:
1- A husband and a wife that both come from families in which, they were the only child, can have more than one child. The main reason for this is so that the burden of taking care of 4 grandparents and 2 parents is not left to one person.
2- Families from rural China can have more than one child but the children must be more than 5 years apart in age.
- A family that choses not to have children is called "Ding Ke". This is for the same reasons people do not have children in the U.S. and around the world; careers, financial reasons, family and so on.
- One of the differences, in China, than in the USA, is that the grandparents take care of the grandchildren while they are young maybe until they are done with High Middle School (High School). The country is very family oriented.
- Before 2002, a college student either had to be married before he/she started college or they had to wait until they were finished with college. Now, it is fine to be married during college studies.
- The educational system in China is similar to that of the USA but there are differences.
-1) There is no Home Schooling in China
-2) School is free through primary school (grades 1-6), and middle school (grades 7-9). Once a student reaches high middle school (high school - grades 10-12) they must pay a fee of about 100 RMB per year. 4 years of College cost about 4,000 RMB per year. 3 years to get a masters cost about 4,000 per year but the government will give every student about 200 to 300 RMB per month to help pay for these costs. 3 years to get a doctorate will cost about 4,000 RMB but again every student will get a check from the government of maybe 500 to 600 RMB to help pay for the costs.
China definitely wants people to get a great education. So it invests in its young people and keeps the costs low.
- Here is a staggering figure - 40% of Chinese Students that go to College, will go to college abroad.
It is time to do some video before we get going tomorrow.
Over and Out!
ANTIO! (Greek - Good Bye)
AUGUST 13, 2008
Ayn Ya Haseo - this is how it sounds - if you Say Hello in KoreanHello
Village Life:
The Olympic Village has laundry service for everyone staying in the village. You drop off your bag in either one of two bags that either wash lights or darks and they match it with your credential, 12 Hours later you pick it up. The service is open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Today they lost Randi's bag. Hopefully tomorrow they find it. The service has been very reliable.
Breakfast at the village gives you a lot of choices: Eggs, Bacon, French Toast or Pancakes, Oatmeal, Fruit of all kinds, Breads, Deli Meats, Vegetables, Sushi, Cold Cereals, Cheeses. The coffee is a little weak but the tea is good. They do a great job for feeding this many people.
The USA Men's Basketball Team has other issues, although I'm sure they are used to it. They practice at BNU like the rest of the US Teams do. Today after our workout all kinds of people and cameras were behind fences at BNU trying to get a glimpse of this team. I guess we all have our own issues.
Did you Know?- China Fun Facts:
1- Taxi cab drivers cannot eat garlic or onion at lunch and dinner and must wear yellow shirts and ties.
2- If you were a baby in China you wear a bottom less outfit, so that they do noy have to wear diapers. It is like a diaperless outfit.
3- Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way on the streets in China.
4- Jia Yo - this means "add oil" it is what they yell in the stands to "Keep Going - Let's Go, Let's Go.
5- The word on the street has it that China puts salt crystals into the clouds to induce rain. They may do this for a number of reasons: More Moisture, Clean the air, and even wash things off. If it is true, it is kind of scary that we are starting to try and play God so to speak.
Today was a little warmer in the city. The humidity started to rise up again along with the heat. It was a little haze in the sky. It is hard to tell if it is heat haze or smog or dust but it definitely was not the clearest day.
This morning we had a good morning. Marcie and Chun were off the mats and Randi and Ali were on the mats. We tried to get a couple good starts in - The butterfies are starting to fly - the girls are starting to get in the competition mode.
This afternoon Marcie was on the mat - Coach Izzy put her through a workout with her training partner Amy Borgnini. By the way, Amy has done a fabulous job. The rest of the coaches and girls played a game outside along with Stan and Chris our Athletic Trainer. It is a great way for the girls to get a workout in and still keep it light. They had a great time.
Our 2008 World Team Coaches Keith Wilson and Levi Wiekel-Magden sure have a way to keep thing light and right now that is what we need. We need to first realize that we are fortunate to be in these positions, understand that to get the most out of ourselves we have to love what we are doing. Today, I think everyone had that feeling.
Tomorrow morning, Clarissa Chun will be on the mats. Ali, Randi, and Marcie will be off the mats. Tomorrow evening we will have a light workout, just to make sure we are around each other and keep our weights in check.
One of the attractions to foreigners here is going to the "Silk Market." If you thought you had high pressure sales from purchasing your last used car, guess again. These girls are relentless. It gets to the point you don't even want to make eye contact. They are actually pulling you into there shops to purchase - if they get you in you are going to have to do some fast talking to get out. The silk market has everything from shoes, to bags, to pillows. It is a situation were you barter with them for a price. I think all sales people should go through here for a day, I'm sure a lot could be learned.
The Greco Team had a rough day today. Tomorrow Vering, Wheeler and Byers step on to the Olympic Mats. We wish them all the best!
I believe that's it for now. Go Team USA!
Dos Fidanya! Good Bye in Russian
Over and Out!
AUGUST 12, 2008
Tsa - shung - ha (this is not the correct spelling but it sounds like this) This is how you say GOOD MORNING in Mandarin. Mandarin is the dialect spoken in Beijing.
Tsa - Shung - Ha
We had workout this morning at 10:00 am. At our workout, watching was a young women by the name, Jenna Stuczynski, remember the name! She is the # 2 Ranked Pole Vaulter in the world. She is a huge wrestling fan. Her personal coach is a former wrestler, NY State Champion in 1986, but wrestling is still a passion of his. He trains her with the wrestling menality. Jenna will compete on the 16th and 18th, watch for her, cheer for her, and send her some positive energy. She is a wonderful young lady.
Some interesting Olympic Facts:
1- The Olympic Motto: "Citius, Altius, Fortius" is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Braver," but is universally accepted to mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger."
2- The Olympic Creed: "The most important thing in the Games is not to winbut to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
3 - The Olympic Rings: The Olympic Symbol - five inter locked rings - representsthe union of the five original major continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe) and the meeting of the athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. The Five colors of the rings from left to right are Blue, Black, and Red across the top, and Yellow and Green along the bottom. The colors of the rings are thought to have been chosen because at least one of these colors can be found in the flag of every nation.
4- The Olympic Mascots: The Olympic Mascot first appeared in the 1972 Munich Games. The Olympic Mascot, however, successful, disappears with the end of the Games it personifies. It is meant to be friendly and appealing, especially to the young and is a visual identity with the Games.
Today - was a good day. Like I said earlier we had one workout this morning and the athletes had time in the afternoon to do as they wished. A couple got in another workout and others rested. Tomorrow is a morning workout as a group and then we will again be one our own in the evening.
Spenser Mango wrestled today Greco and was 1 & 1. Tomorrow Dietchler and Dantzler wrestle, we wish them the very best. The rest of the Greco Team weighs in tomorrow.
I had the chance to watch the Freestyle team workout today. They look ready to go! There is a lot of potential for success on this team. We wish all of the athletes and coaches great success!
The Women's Team seems to be pretty relaxed, everyone is starting to get their weight in line. It is just calm. Butterflies are starting in the stomachs we are getting close to competition time. I know I have said it before but I want to thank everyone in the Women's Wrestling Community for all of your help and support in getting this program going. We are looking forward to many years of success.
I think that is all for now.
Yuan - Shung - Ha (again it sounds like this, not spelled like this) it means GOOD NIGHT in Mandarin.
AUGUST 11, 2008
Como esta?
I hope you are all doing well. Everything here is great. The weather held up again a little over cast and scattered showers but it was again a cooler day. Still humid but very tolerable.
The sky has been grey but the rain actually cleaned the air a bit. When I woke up today I could actually see the mountains to the north of the city. Remember Beijing sits in a basin so this is also the reason everything gets trapped. Also, a lot of the pollution/Dust in the air comes from dust from winds blowing in from the northwest.
I do no see much effect with people around the village. Most people are excersizing and working out outside. At the village, there is an outdoor running path through part of the village and it is full. Some are leisure runners like myself and some runners in training. But I have not seen anyone outside with masks on. I think the air has been pretty favorable. Like I said the other day China has put in something like 16 Billion Dollars into cleaning up. One thing worth mentioning though is that you hardly ever see a bird.
The food at the village is good. Like I said before the cafeteria is open 24/7. The building where we eat seats 5,000 people. They have all kinds of choices from fruits, vegetables, cheeses, nuts, different breads, probably 15 Different entrees. It is impressive.
At BNU (Beijing Normal University) the home of The USOC's High Performance Center (Olympic Training Center Overseas) the food is fabulous! They feed all coaches, training partners and Olympic Athletes if they desire to stay and hangout after a training session. To my understanding, the USOC has hired chefs out of New York along with their staff to feed the American team. It is top notch from food, to service, to presentation.
It is a normal site to sit in the cafeteria at BNU listening to athletes from all sports congregate and cheer on American team members. The atmosphere in the cafeteria is great. They have about 6 or so TVs on the walls it is s fun atmosphere. Every where you look you see athletes surrounding a TV interested in what is going on.
The City of Beijing and The People's Republic of China have let everything out for this event. Every where you turn there are Olympic Banners Lining Streets, Lining Railings, hanging on buildings, billboards. You name it, they have one it. Also they have really greened the place up frower beds, flower pots, trees and shubs everywhere. The have a lot of green. The countries PRIDE is everywhere. Flags on a lot of cars and bikes.
Today, I found out some interesting facts about The People's Republic of China.
1- China spent 300 Million Dollars on Opening Ceremonies. Just as a reference, Athens spent 36 Million on Opening Ceremonies in 2004.
2- China has 100 Million more Men than Women coming into their 20's. Many men will not find a female counterpart in China.
3- China has a policy of 1 child for each couple unless you get an exemption from the government. If you do not get an exemption and have more than one child, you can have everything taken away from you.
4- Also, in China, you can have only one dog and it can only be 16 inches high or less unless you have an exemption
5- China has a population of 1.4 Billion People. In the next 10 years, they have a plan to move 300 Million people from rural China (poverty) to the urban areas. That is about 1/5 of their population and that is like moving every single person in the USA.
Let's talk about our athletes a little bit. We had a good workout today. We left for BNU at about 9:30 am from the village. At BNU, we went through a short intense workout with the girls for about an hour. Then the had some time to do more cardio or sauna if they wanted to. After Lunch, they had massages scheduled with the USOC Sports Medicine Staff.
We met back up again at about 4:30 to play a game for about an hour - just a way to get a little running and agility in but stay light and keep smiles on there faces - a little way to hide the work.
Coach Izzy arrived tonight from the states he has been with the Jr World Team in Turkey at the Junior World Championships - where they finished 3rd as a team and had one Champion in Adaline Grey and 2 more medalists. Congrats to all of the team members and all of the coaches.
The thing that we all need to understand is that to build an Olympic/World Champion, it takes a community of coaches, athletes and support staff. Everyone is in on it. We are going to be the best women's wrestling country in the world because we are all working towards the same goal TOGETHER!
Tomorrow - we will again have a morning workout with the team - after that we start to do our own thing to rest, relax and make weight. Tomorrow the Greco Roman competition starts and Spencer Mango will lead TEAM USA out of the blocks. Good Luck to Coach Fraser and The Team!
Over and Out!
AUGUST 10, 2008
Goodaye Mates!
I hope its Jolly Goodaye in America!
It has been a goodaye here in Beijing. It was a relaxing day, the girls were on there own. Even the HEAT took a break today as it rained most of the day with thunder and lightning storms.
I spent some time this evening at the Asics VIP Warehouse. Although it was a long cab ride, Stan Zeamer and I learned a little about the history of the company.
ASICS started out in Japan with a basket ballshoe in 1949. The company was founded be the late Mr. Onitsuka. Onitsuka San was a very clever guy obviously. Well it turns out Tadaaki Hatta's father (our USA WOMAN'S OLYMPIC COACH) approached Onitsuka San to develop and market a wrestling shoe. Hatta San & Onitsuka San developed a wrestling shoe that was ahead of its time. The shoe was made with Nylon instead of the old heavy wet leather that was worn around the world. The Nylon Shoe was a hit in Japan and treasured around the world.
USA Coach Bill Farrell was friends with Hatta San and the two of them brought the shoe to the USA. Today, in the wrestling market ASICS controls about 70% of the wrestling market. I thought you might like the history on Onitsuka Tiger / ASICS Company. Onitsuka passed on last March and the company is now run by his son-in-law.
Bill Farrell still owns and operates the USA distributorship, named "TW Promotions." This is a quick version, some of it maybe a little different, I did not hear this from Onitsuka San or Hatta San or Mr Farrell. But I thought it was an interesting.
A couple other interesting facts about The Olympic Games:
1- 16,000 Marriages took place in China on 8-8-08. The was the beginning of the Olympic Games. The number 8 is a lucky number in Chinese Culture.
2- An estimated 1 Billion people will watch the basketall game between China and USA. The game is going on now.
We are looking forward to tomorrow it is one day closer to dreams coming true. Tomorrow we will have a mat practice on the morning and a lighter practice in the afternoon on or off the mat depending on the athlete.
Also, tomorrow, Spenser Mango - the Men's Greco - 55kg, weighs-in. We are excited to get going! He will compete on Tuesday.
Jim Scherr wrote a letter to the American athletes after the opening ceremony. The last part of this I will leave you with.
With a nation behind us
With a world before us
And within us all...
Amazing Awaits
Goodaye Mates!
AUGUST 9,2008
Hello Again from Beijing!
I hope you all had the chance to see the Opening Ceremony last night on TV. As you have seen, The Chinese people spared no expense putting these Games together. It was Truly Amazing!
I was asked by a reporter what I thought about the Opening Ceremony! It is really hard to put into words. It was a lot of things:
It was Grand - it is amazing how many volunteers there are to help at the Games and not just Chinese people but people from around the globe. It is also amazing how all of these efforts are coordinated to make everything run smoothly. It is also amazing how language is only a barrier if you let it be. A smile and a thank you everyone understands and appreciates.
It was inspirational. You see so many people together that arestriving for something better. Not just in the arena of competition but the arena of life. There is so much positive energy in the air it is hard not to be uplifted.
It was Uniting - It is so good to see everyone smiling having a good time whether you were male or female, black or white, Catholic, Protestant or Islamic. Everyone enjoyed the event, and what makes it great is that everyone is taking part. Everyone is together.
It gives us hope for a better tomorrow - not just in the sporting world but around the globe not matter what your place. It shows that if we look at our similarities we are all of the same mold. We have the choice everyday, each one of us, to look at whatever it is we want, it is our choice to focus on the good or bad. No body is perfect!
It makes us realize that the secret to life is in the struggle. We cannot wish away our moments here on earth. We only have so many moments. Enjoy the Journey - Good and Bad.
Today for the Team was a good day. We arrived at BNU to workout at 10:00 am. Chun and Van Dusen were in the Weight room and Miller and Bernard were on the mats. Then at 4:00 pm we switched it up. I felt we able to get more out of the girls this way. I thought all of the athletes did a great job of getting back to the task at hand. The mats were slippery, the heat was swealtering but the intesity, fight and focus was good. That is what we are looking for.
After the morning workout, we stayed at BNU with the support team and hung out. Everyone did there own thing. I was on the computer most of the time. Some took naps others played games.
It was a relaxing day. The Greco-Roman and Men's Freestyle Team were on the mats today as well. Everyone looks focused on their needs.
It is great to see all in the room at the same time and not differentiating between style and genders. I think there is a great respect for each other among all involved. We are TEAM USA!
Tomorrow - the girls are on their own. We have been on the mats everyday lately and I felt we needed a day to just relax and get our mind and body in check. As athletes and coaches, we tend to think that more is always better but at this point in the game we need to back off and trust in our preparations and get our mind and body ready to fight. To do that we need some calm before the storm! Tomorrow will be a day like that. The Support team will come to The Olympic Village on day passes.
Monday we will be back on the mats at 10:00 am - We are really looking for the quality and intensity, nothing is excessive.
I think that is it for now. It is time to catch the bus back to The Olympic Village. Enjoy the Games.
Over and Out!
August 8th
Nin Hao, Hello, Hola, dobre-utra, ohiogozimas,
I'M FROM EARTH! I know you are too, but this is a statement on one of
the popular shirts that is being worn around the Village. The Beijing
Olympic motto is "ONE WORLD ONE DREAM"
Tonight if you are watching you will see a magnificent site. Put
everything aside - tonight we will truely be ONE WORLD. United and
together either, here, watching on TV, or in spirit - tonight we will
focus on our similarities and not our differences and that is what sport
should do - bring us together and unite us. In sport there is no room for
politics.
It is August 8. 8-8-08 - The opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The air is filled with excitement and anticipation. We are all Honored,
Humbled, and Proud to be here and be a part of such a magnificent
occasion.
- Jacques Rogge, IOC President is in town.
- 104 Heads of State will be in attendance for opening ceremonies. -
Tickets to the opening are being sold for $10,000 US Dollars.
- The Peoples Republic of China will have an athlete delegation of 639
competing in the games
- The USA will have an athlete delegation of 596.
It is Truely Amazing!
The Olympic Games represent so many great things - Three of the founding
Values of the Games are EXCELLENCE, FRIENDSHIP, AND RESPECT.
EXCELLENCE. Obviously, the athletes are living this everyday in there
fight for perfection - they learn a lot about themselves and about others.
What you really learn is the importance of the other 2 founding values.
FRIENDSHIP. I think in a strive for excellence you find a lot out about
you - you learn to appreciate you and others for who they/we are. Mr.
Jacques Rogge has challenged everyone to go out of our way to make friends
from other countries and other sports. ONE WORLD ONE DREAM.
RESPECT. Those in sport also learn to appreciate the journey. We learn
to appreciate hard work, sacrafice, discipline and each new day. You must
have respect for yourself and others in sport. Respect is essential for
success. You must respect all but fear none. You must respect
similarities and differences alike.
Today - we had a workout at 10:00 am. We were on the mat - a few of the
girls had some issues that needed to be tended to so Dr. Hines went along
with to the workout to make sure we were covered. Chris Schreor and Dr.
Hines are our Medical staff - assigned to women's wrestling . These small
things help a lot.
We drilled about 20 minutes of task drills (teams drills) - then we
wrestled live for 4 different periods, a total of about 12 minutes - then
we had 20 Minutes of individual drlls.
I think after opening ceremony we will finally settle in - we still look a
little off - but I expect on Saturday and Sunday it will be better.
Tomorrow, we will do more individual work - Clarissa and Marcie will be in
the weight room in the morning and Randi and Ali will be on the mats - in
the afternoon we will switch it up and Clarissa and Marcie will be on the
mats, Ali will be in the weight room and Randi will be back on the mats.
Well it is time to get ready for opening ceremonies - Be Proud of these
athletes - they are happy and proud to represent all of you.
we started out on buses to the fencing arena. In the fencing arena, Jim
Scherr (USOC Boss) and Peter Ueberoth (chairman of the USOC) addressed the
American Delegation.
Then we were all visited by both President Bush and The First Lady, Laura
Bush and also Jenna Bush, their daughter and lastly but not least Former
President Bush. George W. Bush addressed the athletes and then the spent
about an hour meeting and greeting each team. Former President Bush has a
great sense of humor he always has a smile and is very sincere. We had a
picture with him.
Also the Men's Basketball Team was a hit a lot of picture were taken and
they we very open and seemed to be having a great time. I had the chance
to Meet Coach K, incase you don't know he is Duke's coach and is a very
humble and down to earth individual - it is not hard to see why he has
been so successful. Good Guys do finish first. Also. I was impressed how
all the Mega Stars like Kobe and Lebron went through the entire ceremony.
As I right this part of the blog we are sitting in the Gymnastic Stadium
waiting to go into "The Birds Nest". We are the 140th country to go out.
We are sitting by the Men's and Women's Water Polo Team. I'm picking up
some tips - we play water polo at times for a cross-training workout.
So far it has been a great experience - Former President Bush is like the
wise old grandfather - very comfortable and relaxed and just makes
everyone feel good.
well the ceremony is over I hope you get to watch it was great. We are
now on a bus back to thw village. It is about 1:00 am here in Beijing.
The time is now for our girls. I thinkl they had a great night and are
excited to start.
Talk to you all later
Thank You - Shea Shea!
Terry Steiner
August 7th
Nee How or Hello in Chinese!
Did you know that China has 1/5 of thw worlds population with 1.3 Billion
people. Amazing!
Today - I woke up at about 6:00 am. I thought I might Sleep longer but I
guess it takes a few days to acclimate.
Let me tell you a little bit about The Beijing Olympic Village. It has
enough room for 16000 people, it will hold all 205 countries that are
competing in the games. There are also Olympic Villages in the cities of
Hong Kong & Quindao which are 2 main host cities for sports in the games.
The village is divided into three parts: 1) The International Zone, The
Resident Zone and the Operations Zone. The village includes: cafeteria,
a barber shop / salon, a tea / coffee shop, a fire station, a Post Office,
a library, a clinic, a fitness center, 4 internet cafes, a swimming pool
(many ponds), a running trail, tennis courts, and sand volleyball courts.
It has a transportation system that includes 24 electric buses that go
around in and out of the village. It also has a laundry service for
EVERYONE - and you get it back in 12 hours.
The Dorm or apartments are very nice - everything is new and clean. The
whole village is made of 6 and 9 floor structures it sits right outside
the Olympic Green ( the venue area) it also sits as a gated community. It
is already presold to Chinese people who will take ownership after The
Olympic Games and The ParaOlympic Games on September 20. It sits on the
north side of Bejing.
The Cafeteria holds 5000 people it is open 24 hours per day. It many
sections: seating, fruits, cheeses, and salad, desserts, international
cuisine, mediterrenian cuisine, asian cuisine, Coffee and drinks,
McDonald's (yes, McDonald's) It is pretty amazing. I hope we make
weight - I can see me chasing miller out of there a few times this week.
Today when I woke up the air quality was not good it seems better as the
day goes on. The Chinese Government has put the equivelant of 16 Billion
US Dollars into battling
pollution. You can drive according to you Liscence plate - if you have an
even or odd numbered plate you drive only on even or odd days.
The Olympians, Stan Zeamer and myself then went for a workout at 9:00 am
in thr fitness center. Everyone did cardio and lifting again - tonight at
6:00 pm we will get back on the mats.
I really enjoyed working out - I just love watching and learning from
different cultures - we tend to think we know better but I think you can
learn a lot from the rest of the world if you just keep an open mind. I'm
going to spend an afternoon in the fitness center looking at other
cultures routines and excersizes before we get into competition.
We came back to the dorms and got ready for the press conference - we had
to leave the village at 12:00 noon for that. I showered and hand washed
my workout gear.
In our room - Stan, I and eventually Tadaaki will be staying. We have
been lsitening to Natasha Bedingfield on the IPOD
The workout partners and personal coaches went to The GREAT WALL today
with the Greco Team while we were at the press conference - we will meet
back up with them tonight for a workout. Stan and I had a great lunch
talking about the development of women's wrestling at lunch. Stan is a
brilliant business man and we are lucky to have him in our corner and as
a team leader.
The press conference went well. I thought the girls did a great job. A
lot of questions about Japan / Yoshida. I think our girls are ready and
are not going to take back seat to anyone. We feel whoever is on a US
Team has what it takes to win here. At the press conference all of the
athletes and the coaches sat at a front table with Gary Abbott directing
the Press with questions. It went well.
After the conference we ran into Roger Federer and Randi chased him down
to try to get a picture but his onterage protected him. So Randi wasn't
so lucky - but it was funny watching our team run after him.
I haven't seen to many of our foreign competitors only - Spain's
delegation (2 athletes and coach Francisco Barrera) and the Italian Team
Leader and also Tomyama the Japanese Team Leader. The Sweden Coaches and
Venezuela - but the village is full.
Owe by the way my (Raven's) IPOD went out (just in case! My birthday is
coming up).
Our workout went ok - it took us a while to get there - we missed the bus
it leaves on the half hour every hour all day. It was our first time so
we rode in a van with some media sports Tv from Spain. We finally got
back on the mats. We looked a little bit sluggish but we need to expect
that for a day or two.
The team behind the team had a good time today at the Great Wall but they
too looked tired. We just got back from BNU - Beijing Normal University
the home of USOC's Training Center.
And speakingof the GREAT WALL - I think the trip is getting to me now and
I'm hitting the Great Wall. I need to go to sleep.
Shea Shea or Thank You - in the Chinese Mandarin Language
Over and Out!
Terry
News Story from Beijing
BEIJING, CHINA - Less than 24 hours after they landed on Chinese soil, the U.S. Olympic women's freestyle wrestling team had their press conference at the Main Press Center.
Although all of the four women wrestlers are competing in their first Olympic Games, the U.S. athletes displayed a level of confidence and poise, as well as a strong team bond. The team will compete on August 16-17 at the China Agriculture University Gymnasium.
The confidence came out when the journalists asked the team what kind of standard they wanted to set on the mats in Beijing. Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) volunteered to answer the question.
"Our goal is for four golds," said Bernard. "We just want to make the U.S. the head power for women's wrestling. Now is the time to do it. It’s only the second time it's been at the Olympics. If we compete at the level we can compete at, I think we can set the stage."
National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner did not shy away from the high goals set by his athletes.
"The names may change, but the result must stay the same," said Steiner. "Since the last Olympics, we have had four more years. We started a university resident program at Northern Michigan. We have a great group helping these athletes. We are ready. We are very capable."
Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) said that there is something special about the way her team is approaching this opportunity.
"We have a huge fire inside us," said Van Dusen. "I see that in all of the girls on this team."
Randi Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) talked about how the team has become close and are working together for a common goal.
"We've actually known each other for a while. Three of us live in Colorado Springs. Ali was on my first international tour I ever took. It's not like we’re strangers. We get along very well. We've been with each other on tours, on trips so we know each other's likes and dislikes. We really just know how to be around each other," said Miller.
Team Leader Stan Zeamer (Manheim, Pa.) talked about how the team spent time away from the mats this summer to become a tighter unit.
"Between training camps, we went to Breckenridge, Colorado and spent some time playing and having some fun. This group is excellent in team unity and cooperation. We've got a great spirit, willing to work hard and they're well prepared. From my perspective, I can tell you that they're ready to wrestle and support each other and it's a great, spirited team," said Zeamer.
Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) had an opportunity to talk about the special opportunity to compete in China at her first Olympics.
"I think it's really cool to come to China. I'm half Chinese and my family will be coming," said Chun. "It means a lot to be able to bring my family to where our ancestors came from. We came from southern China, but for them to be able to see the culture firsthand and immerse themselves amongst our peoples is great."
A strong contingent of Japanese media attended the press conference, and many wanted to talk to Van Dusen about her victory over Saori Yoshida of Japan at the 2008 World Cup. Yoshida had never lost an international match on the Senior level. Van Dusen was respectful of Yoshida, praising her achievements, but also indicated that she was looking forward to the challenge again.
"I heard she wanted a rematch so I thought I'd come back and give her one," said Van Dusen. "It helped my confidence. She had 119 matches without a loss so I couldn’t let her continue with that. I know I can beat the best in the world and now I have the evidence to prove it. So I'm ready to give her that rematch. Let's do it again, Yoshida.”
Olympic coach Tadaaki Hatta felt that this U.S. team could stack up against any of the powers in women’s wrestling.
"Japan is probably the best country to compete in the Olympics. Right behind them, the U.S. and maybe Russia and Ukraine," said Hatta. "I think we're going to do very well. The preparation that we went through will come through. All the wrestlers that you see right there, they're ready to go."
Bernard, who is the youngest of the group, spoke with a quiet confidence that was typical of this group of wrestlers.
"I am feeling good. I am on a roll. It is going to peak on the right day," said Bernard.
