Inspiration from the 2012 Summer Olympics:
The Summer Olympic Games officially kicked off yesterday with an exciting opening ceremony brilliantly organized by British film director Danny Boyle. On this morning's show, I spoke about some of the inspirational stories of some of the Olympian athletes. There are so many, I was only able to highlight a few. I will list a few more below.
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| Legally Blind Archer, Im Dong-hyun |
Im Dong-hyun of South Korea set the first world records of the London Olympics hours before the official opening ceremony. Quite impressive by any means, but did I mention that he is legally blind? With only 10% vision in his left eye and 20% in his right eye, 26 year old Im Dong-hyun even broke his own record in the 72-arrow mark. Im Dong-hyun does not wear glasses in the competition either. Instead he relies on the colors of the target. Im has been a successful part of South Korea's renowned archery team for nearly a decade. His story is incredible as he continues to compete and defy impossible odds. If you would like to learn more about Im Dong-hyun, click [here]
In an article in Women's Health Magazine, some of the Olympians shared some of the best advice they had ever received. I mentioned a few quotes this morning. I thought I would share the two I mentioned along with a few more. There are quite a few, if you would like to read the full article, click here. Some Olympians also shared their favorite quotes and words that motivate them in this article also from Women's Health.
Christina Loukas, nine-time national diving champion and first time Olympian said, "My coach Kenny Armstrong keeps telling me that the outcome isn't what matters, but the journey to get there that does. He and I have been putting in so much time working towards the Olympics and sometimes you focus too much on what the outcome is going to be. What makes the outcome so meaningful though is how you got there—all of the hours of training, the emotions, and the injuries you had to overcome. So for me that really put things in perspective and has helped me enjoy the journey more so that I can look back on it and have no regrets no matter what happens. I just wish I had been told that a long time ago!"
Natasha Hastings, four-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist in 4x400 relay said, "I used to work with Michael Johnson and he told me that every day is an opportunity. Every day at practice or in the weight room was an opportunity to get better. It's about not letting anything go to waste."
Carrie Johnson, two-time Olympic kayaker said, "Put your time and energy into the things you can control. Don't spend time worrying about the things out of your control."
Kellie Wells, 2011 USA indoor & outdoor 100m hurdles champion said, "'If you think you can't, you won't, and if you think you can, you will.' When I'm tired at practice, I tell myself that I'm not tired, and I can push through. If you tell yourself you're tired or if you tell yourself you're sick, your body is going to follow the mind."
Cyclist Dotsie Bausch is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. She attended Southeast Christian Church as a teen; her parents still do. In a video interview she states, "I'm from Louisville, KY so I'm a southern girl at heart...It (Louisville) was a fantastic place to grow up. Really, really close tight-knit families. So I wouldn't have wanted to grow up anywhere else." The Ballard High School graduate will compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London as a cyclist. She is in her 12th year as a bike racer and is a seven-time USA Cycling National Champion. Dotsie's journey to the Olympics hasn't always been easy. Dotsie has overcome Anorexia and Bulemia which nearly destroyed the 5'9 athletes body. After college she modeled in NY, making her struggle with eating disorders grow worse until she weighed less than 100 lbs. The pain her parents felt, led Dotsie to seek help from therapists. “Knowing that I was hurting my parents so deeply initially made me seek help. I saw their pain and it was too much. I eventually wanted to heal for myself, but that took some time,” Dotsie said. Dotsie found a therapist that she could trust. As she recovered, her therapist wouldn't let her exercise since people with eating disorders often over-exercise. After she had progressed she was allowed to begin to exercise if she chose something that she didn't do when she was battling her eating disorders. So Dotsie began cycling at age 26. Now at age 39 and a seven time U.S. National Champion and a two time Pan Am Championship gold medal winner, Dotsie Bausch will compete in her first Olympic race. Dotsie's parents credit prayer with saving Dotsie's life. Dotsie is looking forward to the opportunity to share her faith and journey that the Olympic platform will provide. said this, “He has had His hand in (my life) the whole time,” she said. “It’s me who took way too much time to realize His strength, sovereignty, love and grace and the powerful effect He would have in my life. I turned away from Him in my 20s and started asking questions, which ultimately led me back to Him, so I do encourage those who are still searching to ask questions... Multiple scenarios, hardships and windy roads led to this Games of the 30th Olympiad for me … God wants me here doing this right now,” Bausch said. “This is my calling right now. This is how I will shine my light for those suffering from eating disorders and hopefully for people who just need some light and I can share God with them. I believe that’s why God has made me a gifted cyclist. But you know what? If I have learned anything about God, it’s that the second I try and guess what He's up to, He surprises me every single time. So I will wait on Him and see what He has in store.” Dotsie will compete on Friday August 3. For more about Dotsie Bausch, check out the Southeast Outlook where she was featured this week. She has also been featured in NBC Video Interviews.
We have other Olympic Athletes with local and regional ties to Kentucky that we are all equally proud of. Below I've listed a few of the athlete's bios with ties specifically to Kentucky, but you can find complete bios about all of our regional athletes by clicking [here]
Clark Burckle is a member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team. He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and was a member of Lakeside swim club. Burckle attended St. Xavier High School. He will compete in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He won the NCAA Championship in the 200 yard breaststroke for Arizona in 2010. Clark's sister, Caroline Burckle, competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a bronze medal in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
Tyson Gay is known as the second fastest man in the world. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, he broke track records at Lafayette High School. Gay will be competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London in both the 100 meter and the 4x100 meter relay. A three-time class 3A 100m state champion out of Lafayette Kentucky High School, Tyson Gay's 10.46 state meet record is still standing from 2001. Tyson attended the University of Arkansas after his time at Barton Community College, and in 2004 became the first Razorback athlete in history to win an NCAA 100m title. He is now an American record holder in the 100m, three-time USA Outdoor 100m champion and two-time USA Outdoor 200m champion. Gay is known as the second fastest man in history behind Jamaica's Usain Bolt. He looks to return to full strength in 2012 after running with a series of injuries for the past few years.
Claire Donahue graduated from Western Kentucky University and proudly waved the Hilltoppers flag after qualifying for the Olympics. Originally from Texas, she is a member of the US Olympic Swim Team and came to WKU to major in social work.
Anthony Davis was born in Chicago, IL, but he played for the University of Kentucky and was the second freshman ever to win the Associated Press Player of the Year award. He will be competing on the United States Men's basketball team. He was also the 2012 NBA number one draft pick.
Reese Hoffa will be competing for the United States in the shot put competition. He was born in Louisville and raised in Augusta, Ga after being given up for adoption at age 4. He came in seventh place in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Reed Kessler will be competing in the individual show jumping in London. She grew up in Armonk, New York and currently lives in Lexington, Kentucky. She and her horse had only been working together eight months before Olympic qualifications began.
Lee Kiefer was raised in Lexington, Kentucky. While the primary sport of the city is basketball she focused on her dad’s passion of fencing. Kiefer will compete for the United States on the fencing team as the youngest member. She will compete in foil both individually and in the team competition.
Rich Lambourne is a U.S. Olympic Volleyball player. Although he grew up in California he was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Lambourne suffered a serious shoulder and face injury at the age of 6 when he fell off of his bike and skinned them both to the bone. He will be competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Rich Lambourne makes his second Olympic appearance in London after helping the U.S. men's team win gold at the 2008 Beijing Games. Born in Louisville, Ky., Lambourne played collegiate at Brigham Young University and majored in Japanese, where he also started at outside hitter on the 1999 NCAA National Championship team, the first national title in school history. Originally a baseball player, Lambourne picked up the game of volleyball because he wanted to hang out with his friends. And he was tall, so the volleyball coach in high school loved having him. Lambourne has been a mainstay for the national team since 2005 and he made his world championships debut in 2006.
Angel McCoughtry is a professional basketball player who spent her college years playing for the University of Louisville. She is U of L's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and led the Cards to the 2009 NCAA National Championship game. McCoughtry had her #35 retired by U of L in November of 2010 and was inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in June. Before she became a WNBA sensation, Angel McCoughtry led the Big East Conference in scoring, rebounding and steals while breaking school records at the University of Louisville. During her junior year at UofL, McCoughtry broke her own records for points and steals and tied her own single-game scoring record. She played a key role in Louisville's upset of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the 2008 Big East conference tournament.
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