OT- Are There Any Other Olympic Athletes on the Board?

[frankbmd]

Granted this is not gold, silver or bronze, but it is authentic and I am the original owner.

[bnorth]

Very cool Frank, did you participate in the Olympics or just the trials?

I have a Junior Olympic Gold Medal in boxing, would be considered the same as trials. Never made it past the trials.

[ullmandds]

The plot thickens...Frank IS...the most interesting man on net54!!!!!!! Very Cool!!!!!

I'm a former gold glove third baseman in babe ruth league and I won the egg toss at the 1983 ITT summer picnic...trophies is long gone!

[SMPEP]

I lost the 1948 Gold Medal for Town Planning to Yrjo Lindegren.

Varkaus, Finland. Please. Anyone can design a town in a pristine environment. Try Town planning Irvington, NJ. Now there's an achievement.

And in case you don't believe me ... Yes, they awarded a gold medal for town planning (among other interesting categories)in 1948:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_co...ummer_Olympics

[Leon]

In 4th grade I won 5 out of 6 athletic competitions our class had.

[oldjudge]

I competed in the 2000 US curling Olympic trials in Utah at Weber State. We had a 5-2 record in the first round, and lost to the prior US Olympic team in an extra end in the second round.

[forazzurri2axz]

does that count?

[Tennis13]

Originally Posted by forazzurri2axz

does that count?

My wife, too, is from Chicago and she had to enroll in the IOC doping protocol 12 months before the Olympics, but sadly her sport was very top heavy with Americans and she did not qualify. If she were from a different country, basically any other one, she would have made it in 2008.

That's the closest I've got.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Tennis13

My wife, too, is from Chicago and she had to enroll in the IOC doping protocol 12 months before the Olympics, but sadly her sport was very top heavy with Americans and she did not qualify. If she were from a different country, basically any other one, she would have made it in 2008.

That's the closest I've got.

You can actually get a gold medal in doping. I did not know that.

[boysblue]

Once I ate an entire three-topping pizza. I was quite full after finishing. It was round in shape just like the Olympic rings.

[thescooper]

I won a medal in the Army fighting a war. Any good?
I was representing my country killing terrorists

[philliesfan]

The only Gold Medal I have...........is the flour used for baking.

[ramram]

Originally Posted by thescooper

I won a medal in the Army fighting a war. Any good?
I was representing my country killing terrorists

That trumps all others in my book. Thanks Tony.

Rob M.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by boysblue

Once I ate an entire three-topping pizza. I was quite full after finishing. It was round in shape just like the Olympic rings.

haha...always a mistake!!!!!

[irv]

Originally Posted by thescooper

I won a medal in the Army fighting a war. Any good?
I was representing my country killing terrorists

Originally Posted by ramram

That trumps all others in my book. Thanks Tony.

Rob M.

I agree!

Thanks for your service!

[Beastmode]

Originally Posted by irv

I agree!

Thanks for your service!

+++

[autograf]

I slept in a Holiday Inn Express once. Pretty sure that's a big thing.....

[MacDice]

I coached with the USA team at the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, BC

[Harliduck]

My daughter played 3rd for the JO USA team and toured Europe, parts of Asia and Australia. She was able to play some with girls who played in the Olympics, but sadly there is no Softball anymore (hopefully coming back soon). Not that she would have made the National team, but her age is perfect for missing this no Softball window... I believe she is in Germany in this picture...







Just last week in my job I always reach out to the new employees after they have been on job for a month or so (Regional Sales Manager), and found out one of our new hires was a 4 time Olympian in the Luge. Had no idea...great guy and got an insider view of their day to day life. I hadn't heard of him but read his Wikipedia as I talked to him. Pretty unreal, what a great life experience.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by thescooper

I won a medal in the Army fighting a war. Any good? I was representing my country killing terrorists

WAY Good, Tony!


Thank You for Your Service & Your Sacrifice!

[JoeDfan]

I once won my division in the state snow shoe competition.

Mostly because it was 20 below zero, and I was the only one stupid enough in my division to attempt the course.

[brian1961]

I won the 10,000 meters track race gold medal at a 1975 AAU Junior Championship held at the University of Chicago. It seems I broke the meet record for the event that had lasted since 1938.

By the next spring, amid various difficulties, I was not in that good of shape. So come the big invitational at the University of Tennessee, running the same event, I was lapped twice by Volunteer running legend Doug Brown, who had already graduated, but was running the event to qualify for the 1976 Olympic Trials.

Doug qualified. Me, I got told to move to the second lane, so as not to get in Doug's way. That was only fair. ---Brian Powell

[steve B]

Played on a softball team with one of the 1998 womens hockey team members. Total eye opener as to the diference between moderately athletic and world class -even retired a few years world class.

She made a throw to the plate on a line, and accurate from maybe 200ft. With an unrepaired rotator cuff. Merely said "that hurt a bit". (A throw I couldn't have made even in shape, which is why I usually played catcher. )

Steve B

[bbcard1]

I have always loved but sucked at sports which I think is why I have such appreciation for those who play well. My sole accomplishment other than as a member of a team was a ship on a stick I won at a HORSE competition on a Carnival cruise. There were probably 25 people in the competition, any one of which would have beat me like a rented mule in an actual game, but there was about a 30 mph cross wind and their net set shots from behind the arc would get blown well off course. My combination of trick shots (one footed underhand bank shot, granny, etc.) a little good luck and an ability to factor in the wind that I gathered by playing outdoors as a boy actually made it a pretty easy situation for me. I think I had two letters to spare on the last guy when I put him away with the flat handed pizza delivery man. I would have probably done better, but the disallowed my hook shot because they said it was too similar to a layup. I was over 50 at the time (still am for that matter). Pissed my 18 year old athlete son (who also did pretty well) off pretty badly that I got the trophy which I still keep in my baseball card room.

[brianp-beme]

I have a similar cruise ship story, but more embarrassing. As a much younger man I entered the ping pong tournament, and cruised through the first few challengers, including my friend in the semi-final, who was stiff competition. I ended up in the final with a 70+ year old woman, who was quite a player, but in the end I vanquished her to earn the title of 'man who beats up on old ladies'. My Olympic moment.

Brian

[bbcard1]

Great story, Brian!

[btcarfagno]

Love these stories guys!

I was a pretty fair pitcher in high school. Struck out almost two batters per inning my senior year and threw three no hitters. That year I got to play in a high school all star game in Yankee Stadium. My goodness was that an experience. Locker room, dugout, bullpen, then on the mound. It was something else.

My center fielder in the game was Jeffrey Hammonds, who I don't know if he played in the Olympics but he did play for Team USA of some sort. He was the best athlete I ever saw and incredibly bright as well. Word at the game was that he got a near perfect score on his SAT's.

Tom C

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Love these stories guys!

I was a pretty fair pitcher in high school. Struck out almost two batters per inning my senior year and threw three no hitters. That year I got to play in a high school all star game in Yankee Stadium. My goodness was that an experience. Locker room, dugout, bullpen, then on the mound. It was something else.

My center fielder in the game was Jeffrey Hammonds, who I don't know if he played in the Olympics but he did play for Team USA of some sort. He was the best athlete I ever saw and incredibly bright as well. Word at the game was that he got a near perfect score on his SAT's.

Tom C

I believe Jeffrey went to Stanford...i lived in Maryland when he joined the Orioles....Mussina also Stanford....not sure why orioles drafted Ben McDonald out of LSU..

I like those cruise ship storys with ping pong..im going on a cruise in a few weeks and i win every competition. I played in a pro-am tourneys back in the day and as a kid it was funny when the phys ed teacher would take me out of class in junior high/elementary school and make me play ping pong against him and other various adults i would crush who learned of my propensity in that game. I destroy everyone on the cruise ships and i get to say witty banter there that everyone loves to hear from me on on net54. Some people get really mad at me back in the day but as the years went on i learned to make them laugh. I particularly enjoyed destroying the high school b-ball and football athletes. I havent played in awhile though. I got a few weeks to practice for the cruise. Im assuming there will be some tournament there. You have to account for the wind though on certain parts on the deck. I put a lot of spin on the ball and used to play entirely with my backhand until it was equal to the forehand. Its the backhand and the spin that is the difference maker against cruise ship people..

as to the pro-am, i think i lost every one, maybe won 1 though....i sucked against real players..

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by btcarfagno

Love these stories guys!

I was a pretty fair pitcher in high school. Struck out almost two batters per inning my senior year and threw three no hitters. That year I got to play in a high school all star game in Yankee Stadium. My goodness was that an experience. Locker room, dugout, bullpen, then on the mound. It was something else.

My center fielder in the game was Jeffrey Hammonds, who I don't know if he played in the Olympics but he did play for Team USA of some sort. He was the best athlete I ever saw and incredibly bright as well. Word at the game was that he got a near perfect score on his SAT's.

Tom C

Hammonds was a member of the 1992 Olympic baseball team that finished fourth in Barcelona. Other members of that team included Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Charles Johnson, Phil Nevin and Jason Varitek. He also had fellow Stanford Cardinals Willie Adams and Rick Helling on the team.

[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Just last week in my job I always reach out to the new employees after they have been on job for a month or so (Regional Sales Manager), and found out one of our new hires was a 4 time Olympian in the Luge. Had no idea...great guy and got an insider view of their day to day life. I hadn't heard of him but read his Wikipedia as I talked to him. Pretty unreal, what a great life experience.

I have used the USA Luge start track up in Lake Placid several times. It is inside their headquarters and allows you to practice the initial pull and start with a small down ramp flat area and up ramp where you run into padding.

I can think of three four time lugers who competed for the U.S. - Bengt Walden (who also competed for Sweden), Chris Thorpe and Brian Martin. It is one of them?

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by Michael B

I have used the USA Luge start track up in Lake Placid several times. It is inside their headquarters and allows you to practice the initial pull and start with a small down ramp flat area and up ramp where you run into padding.

I can think of three four time lugers who competed for the U.S. - Bengt Walden (who also competed for Sweden), Chris Thorpe and Brian Martin. It is one of them?

PM sent...I'd say it but if he ever googled his name I'd feel a little weird talking about him here...

[john.clowes]

I had lunch with Karch Kiraly (Coach of USA women's volleyball team) back in February when I attended a volleyball coaching clinic at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Such a great experience to talk with him and to visit the training facility for our athletes. In my mind, it's like the Disney World of sports.

[Marslife]

Met a collector of olympic medals at the National in Chicago 2013, he let me wear the Silver Medal for Wrestling - from the last London Olympics. I'm on the left...

He had an awesome collection.

Cliff

medal.jpg

[DBesse27]

15 years ago I was dating a softball pitcher who was an alternate to the US Olympic team. Does that count?

[Bocabirdman]

I ran Cross Country against Alberto Salazar, in high school. He won three NY Marathons and a Boston Marathon, all with times sub 2 hrs. 10 minute times. He finished 15th in the '84 Olympics.

My coach used me as a "rabbit". I started out at nearly a full sprint. Alberto passed me about 200 yards into things and that was the last I ever saw of him. Even with me doping (I took a couple tokes before the race...LOL) I, nor anyone else had a chance. Mr. Salazar could flat out run...........

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

I ran Cross Country against Alberto Salazar, in high school. He won three NY Marathons and a Boston Marathon, all with times sub 2 hrs. 10 minute times. He finished 15th in the '84 Olympics.

My coach used me as a "rabbit". I started out at nearly a full sprint. Alberto passed me about 200 yards into things and that was the last I ever saw of him. Even with me doping (I took a couple tokes before the race...LOL) I, nor anyone else had a chance. Mr. Salazar could flat out run...........

I also competed with Alberto as well in the 1982 NYC Marathon. They gave him a head start. I never saw him. I'm not sure this qualifies me as a two sport Olympian .

[brob28]

I have no Olympic stories, but had to say I love your location Frank!

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Marslife

Met a collector of olympic medals at the National in Chicago 2013, he let me wear the Silver Medal for Wrestling - from the last London Olympics. I'm on the left...

He had an awesome collection.

Cliff

Attachment 242354

Thanks for sharing with us, Cliff. I would have loved to see the gentleman's Olympic medal collection. Regards. ---Brian Powell