Olympic Dream

Hey everyone! We have been very busy unpacking, organizing and yes taking care of the pool, which has left little time to blog. However a special event has encouraged me to blog today. I am sure most or some of us every 4 years think what it would be like to be an Olympic athlete. Well, for our dear family friend April Steiner Bennett knows now first hand. She currently in Beijing as an Olympic pole vaulter for the US track and field team. Her event will air both Saturday the 16th and Monday the 18th. She won silver in Eugene,OR to make the team with an impressive jump of 4.60m or 15'1.5". She is sending emails to update us on all of the fun she is having along with the famous people she has met. The following are updates from April along with a picture of her and former President Bush. Enjoy!

PS on a side note I cut my hair big time, thanks Jenel, it is super short in the back and I am loving it. I will try to post a picture tomorrow so you all can see my new do.

From April on Saturday,August 9,2008

Hey peeps... I'm driven only by lack of time in the day, to some mass emails just to let y'all know how things are rollin out here at the Olympics. Can you believe it... I am sitting in Beijing, China and feeling like I am on top of the world! The Olympic Village has a sort of magical feel to it, passing other Olympians from other countries and wondering what their sport is that made their dream come true. As well as getting to know our own team (595 members!) and all of their disciplines... its fascinating. The Chinese hospitality has been fabulous. I believe that I am 15 hours ahead of Arizona time so its crazy to phone home, and talk to mom and dad who are a half a day behind me! Funny thing happened today, George Bush Sr. made a trip to BNU, the university which the Americans have taken over as a training site for all of our teams, and apparently he took on one of the Table Tennis athletes (ping pong)! He stepped in and watched the Judo crew in one of their hardest practices this week, then he made his way out and of coarse... who wouldn't stick around to shake the hand of a President of the United States! So I waited near his car, mingling with secret service, patiently waiting to give him a gift from the US Track and Field team, just some team gear and a couple track hats. So when he came out, he didn't hesitate to come over to our little group and shake hands, Adam Nelson who is a Shot Putter (2 time Olympic Silver medalist!), they chit chatted for a bit, then it was my turn. He is sooo sweet. and has the charisma that a sweet grandpa has. He shook my hand and I introduced myself as a Pole Vaulter, then he told me a silly pole vault joke and when he finished and we all laughed, he pulled me in, mind you that he never let go of my had through the entire joke... and spun me around so I was backwards, and gave me a great big hug! ha. It was priceless. Then as he got into his car, he rolled down his window... he had put on one of the USA Track and Field hats that was in the bag and yelled.. 'APRIL'! and gave me a big smile and wave... he was so wonderful and just loving his trip! That was the highlight of my day :)So much more I could spill but I will save some for later... what an amazing experience, and really, its all about the journey right?? I am anxiously awaiting that Olympic moment..walking into the stadium in the opening ceremonies and feel that Olympic energy I have been waiting for since I was 12 years old! The torch lighting was amazing and the process put me in tears... . its real.



SAWEET!

From April on Sunday, August 10,2008

Wow.... was the Opening Ceremonies not INCREDIBLE!!! I mean, they couldn't have had a more appreciative, patriotic, young buck out there marching with the US team besides me!!! I am just all grins from ear to ear. The Ceremonies definitely took a tole on all of us as athletes. First we marched into the Fencing Hall, just the US team, and had an amazing introduction and meet and greet with the CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, his pops.. (we already have met him!) and Laura Bush as well. WOW... I guess I was told by a secret service agent its the first president to actually visit the Olympics on sight for the Opening Ceremonies. Unbelievable to be a part of that. Then, coming off the high of being in the presence of some of the most powerful men in the world, looking sharp as ever in our Ralph Lauren Polo suits, we began the long process of marching to the stadium. And let me tell you, summer in Beijing is not the most conducive weather for Sports suits.... we were all sweating like you couldn't imaging. Several hours of sitting waiting marching, snacking here and there, and the amounts of water that was consumed in the process by all, wheeew... talk about initiation to the Olympic Games... how tough are you really!!! And all of the athletes that marched were troopers. We stuck it out together, sweated our hearts out to see and experience that Olympic moment, the one that hits your soul, your heart, our dreams coming true, no matter how drenched we were in our own sweat, knowing we were tough and we have all been through rigorous workouts. And all of the sudden, Colbi Byant, Carlos Boozer.. and all the NBA guys and gals that are high profile athletes, over the coarse of a few hours, became human, and celebrated with us, as people, not as these enormous icons, because they were toughin' it out like the rest of us, wanting to experience that same OLYMPIC moment. It was incredible. We were one United States Olympic Team. And so we entered the stadium to the chant of USA..! USA...! USA! And not only to enter a stadium, this is MY stadium, the one where the dream is going to play out to my family and friends and coach and the world! Its making me tear up thinking about it again. The moment happened for me, that Olympic moment, that realization, deep down that its here, and the Games are about to begin... this moment happened as the Olympic torch was on its last stretch, before the runner was hoisted up to the ceiling... and made the final lap to the torch... that was the moment i balled!! With excitement, all the sudden the sweaty mess we were swimming in wasn't there, I couldn't feel the aches in my feet. Just the torch, the stadium, the cheers and tears, and Jeff Hartwig (he is our stud male Pole Vaulter who is 40 years old and finally experiencing his first Olympics!) He looked at me and said... with a HUGE grin, "You are lovin' this... aren't you..!" and he was chuckling a bit too, like a little kid. Priceless. Let the games begin, let the dreams play out... IT's ON NOW! And to keep updated on the rest of the US teams, be sure to visit: http://www.usolympicteam.com/

Thank you again for sharing with me!