theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,436 
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Post by theshyone on Jul 25, 2024 7:06:44 GMT
I went to school with Kurt browning, and was at his house periodically, mothers were friends.
Knew a number of hockey players.
And a Canadian boxer back in late 80’s can’t recall his name.
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Post by gillyp on Jul 25, 2024 7:48:00 GMT
Very tenuous -
Sir Chris Hoy (6 gold, 1 silver cyclist) bought something from my shop and the girl serving him said she couldn’t take her eyes off his thighs as they were huge.
In a previous employment my work booked Sir Matthew Pinsent (4 gold, rower) as a motivational speaker. He was brilliant and sent his medals out into the audience so we could see them up close. They were heavy!
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Post by gar on Jul 25, 2024 7:50:16 GMT
Very tenuous - Sir Chris Hoy (6 gold, 1 silver cyclist) bought something from my shop and the girl serving him said she couldn’t take her eyes off his thighs as they were huge. In a previous employment my work booked Sir Matthew Pinsent (4 gold, rower) as a motivational speaker. He was brilliant and sent his medals out into the audience so we could see them up close. They were heavy! I've seen/heard Matt Pincent do a motivational talk too  And we (DH and I) were at school with Sally Gunnell who won Gold in the 400m hurdles in 1992. |
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maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,803
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
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Post by maryannscraps on Jul 25, 2024 10:31:13 GMT
One of our rival team swimmers in HS went to the Olympics and won a medal in diving. She and her sister were really nice - and tough competitors.
My SIL’s BIL was an Olympic speed skater… he competed on the team with Apolo Ohno.
A friend in college competed in sailing.
All of them had a very intense focus and drive.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 25, 2024 11:46:55 GMT
Michael Phelps dated a girl for a while that my sons had gone through school with. There were sightings of him around our very small town during that time. One of my boys attended several parties with him.
A runner in the Atlanta Olympics used to workout at our YMCA in that same very small town. He’d run in our 5Ks but agreed not to compete for a medal. Lol.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,990
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Post by peppermintpatty on Jul 25, 2024 11:50:06 GMT
I heard on the news that my county has more olympians than any other in the country (that are going to Paris). I believe a good portion of the womens swimming team are from one high school in my city. I live in a very affluent suburb of DC where swimming is a huge thing and the private schools are known for their coaches.
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Post by Judie in Oz on Jul 25, 2024 12:02:50 GMT
My husband's father was selected for the Australian team in track & field for the 1956 Olympics in Australia. Unfortunately he was injured in his last training session and couldn't compete. My family knew one of his fellow team members well, and he met up with my husband's father again while attending my father's funeral. It really is a small world. Also, my nephew is good friends with a member of the current Australian track & field team. My nephew has focused on triathlons these days.
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Post by needmysanity on Jul 25, 2024 15:00:41 GMT
I had two coaching mentors who were both Olympians. One was on the Hungarian Water Polo team in 1956. There is a very intersting documentary about that team. He was one of the players who defected to America.
I had another coach/mentor who was on the Olympic swim team when USA boycotted. He never got over it and there was always a chip on his shoulder that he never got to compete.
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Post by stormsts on Jul 25, 2024 16:27:55 GMT
A have a friend whos son in law is David Boudia. Medalist in 2012 and 2016 Olympics in diving. He is the nicest guy and so humble. He has just taken over the Purdue University diving program.
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Post by monicad on Jul 25, 2024 19:15:53 GMT
We “know” one of the current US Women’s soccer team players as she and my daughter went to elementary school together and were in the same grade. Super sweet young lady and we will be cheering her on from home!
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angel97701
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,568
Jun 26, 2014 2:04:25 GMT
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Post by angel97701 on Jul 25, 2024 20:31:12 GMT
I used to work with an Olympian:
Ninja Louise Jorgensen (July 6, 1940 – October 3, 2017) was an American volleyball player. She played for the United States national team at the 1967 Pan American Games and the 1968 Summer Olympics. She was born in Los Angeles, California.[2] From 1962 to 1998, she was coach at Glendale High School.[3] Ninja was no longer coaching, and one of her other claims to fame was the Glendale High School women's coaches were the case that went to the Supreme Court that established Title IX.
Another staff member was selected in Equestrian Events to Berlin in 1936. I do not remember his name off hand.
Ashton Eaton grew up in Bend, Oregon. He was a State Champion in the 400 and long jump in High School. He also competed in wrestling for a bit. After Aston won the Gold in the Decathlon in 2012 he did a hometown tour. There was a parade, time for autographs, etc. We waited and talked with him. He's actually a really nice guy. On another occasion he was back at Mountain View High School and DS25 met him when he visited the wrestling team. DS has a photo with him, for that as well. The track at MVHS was renamed Ashton Eaton Track.
Other Olympians have resided in Bend, OR but I didn't really ever met them while I still lived there.
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Post by epeanymous on Jul 25, 2024 21:32:56 GMT
I roomed with women from the crew team in college and one of the male crew members was an Olympian, so I used to see him at the parties.
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Post by angieh1996 on Jul 26, 2024 1:28:16 GMT
My husband went to school with Kristi Yamaguchi and her father was his dentist. My DH is a retired LEO now, but years ago he signed up to work at the Olympics in UT and was picked. He met Kristi Yamaguchi and had his photo taken with her. |
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Post by Merge on Jul 26, 2024 1:51:42 GMT
DH’s cousin was on the women’s Olympic ski team in the 80s. I have no details.
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dantemia
Full Member
Posts: 315
Jun 27, 2014 19:28:17 GMT
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Post by dantemia on Jul 26, 2024 1:56:55 GMT
I met a lady a few months ago who was on the Canadian Women's Olympic Team sometime in the 2000's. My aunt used to make ice skates and made a pair for Peggy Flemming. Not sure if it was during the Olympics or her pro career.
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mich5481
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,760
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Post by mich5481 on Jul 26, 2024 6:27:21 GMT
I met Ryan Lochte when he visited the Florida Legislature in 2009.
I knew Bubba Watson when I lived in Pensacola- he and his wife Angie are great.
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Post by jameynz on Jul 26, 2024 6:48:44 GMT
My son dated for a couple of years a young lady Lizzie who is represented NZ in diving at the Olympics, and has done for the last 3(?) games
She now lives in the states, is married and has a little girl - but we are still friends on FB
One work conference I went to, we had a speaker who was the Aussie speed skater who won - after all the other competitors fell over. He was coming last, but ended up winning.
Got to hold/touch his medal
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Post by mom on Jul 26, 2024 13:53:28 GMT
My friends daughter, Ryann Phillips, is at the Games this year competing in Shooting.
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zztop11
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,541
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Post by zztop11 on Jul 26, 2024 14:01:00 GMT
I worked with Michael Phelps mother. We were both home economics teachers. She was a very driven woman who rose through the ranks. She is now the executive director of an education foundation.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,561
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 26, 2024 14:18:14 GMT
Mens' artistic gymnastics: We met Jonathon Horton and my son got to wear his medal. He also got to do a training camp with Yul Moldauer. And while it isn't quite Olympian, one of the guys he trained with in the gym 5 days a week was in the mens' Olympic trials this year and placed 9th or something.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,561
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 26, 2024 21:28:44 GMT
Oh, and when Asher Hong (on this year's MAG team) was still in middle school and high school, we used to be at a lot of the same competitions as him. My son is 5 years younger, so never competed against him, but we were *right* there. I remember walking right past him just warming up for (I think) level 9 pommel horse at state or regional and he was amazing. He would probably have been only 8th grade or so, but I'm not surprised he's "made it." Definitely cheering for him!
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,838
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Jul 26, 2024 23:21:57 GMT
A former student from the school I teach at is in the Olympics this year for swimming.
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twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,118
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Jul 27, 2024 0:35:30 GMT
I interacted with Ed Etzel back in the 80’s when he was coach of the WVU Rifle Team, and he won gold in 1984.
I also have 1 degree of separation from Mary Lou Retton. Her nephew was a GA in my office for 2 years.
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,974
Location: NW PA
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Post by Judy26 on Jul 27, 2024 1:34:22 GMT
A good friend was a gold medal wrestler and my collegiate diving coach was the Olympic diving coach for several games.
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Post by rockymtnpea on Jul 27, 2024 3:58:07 GMT
Friends with an Olympic bobsledder
Friends with 2 world team members for rifle (I don’t think it was an Olympic. Sport back then)
Friends with bronze medalist in Greco Roman wrestling
Friends with athlete that won the Pan Am games in jitzitsu (sp), it wasn’t an Olympic sport then
I work with a number of olympians that competed in judo…off the top of my head there are at least 6.
And while not an Olympic sport, I know one of the UFC belt holders
I am probably missing a few I know.
Funny thing is that all the people I mentioned are down to earth and ‘typical’. When in mixed setting they never mention their athletic accomplishments, even when the conversation is around sports. Lol
I love all things sports. The dedication and commitment is amazing to me.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Jul 27, 2024 4:05:12 GMT
I also worked with an Olympic Silver Medalist in one of the track and field events.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,884
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Post by Just T on Jul 27, 2024 16:52:44 GMT
Not an athlete, but my good friend since our freshman year of high school carried the torch through part of St. Louis. I can't remember the year, but I think it was the 2000 Olympics. It was a lot of fun. Many of her family and friends went to the spot where she was handed the torch and then ran with her until she passed it off to the next person.
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Post by pmm on Jul 28, 2024 15:20:41 GMT
Eric Heiden completed his orthopedic residency at the hospital I worked at in the 90s. I spoke with him on several occasions regarding patient care. He was very down to earth and someone else actually had to tell me that he was an Olympian. I didn't know, because back then all the residents wanted to be addressed by their name and not doctor.
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Post by miominmio on Jul 29, 2024 3:50:18 GMT
A long, long time ago, I was very into showjumping. I got instruction at the centre owned by Norway’s first Olympic equestrian. Never talked to him, other than a casual greeting, though.
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Post by travelsoul on Jul 29, 2024 3:57:46 GMT
My yoga teacher medaled in water polo. The only reason I even knew was because she had a tattoo of the Olympic Rings on her foot. She was a fantastic teacher.
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