With the Summer Olympics here, there are countless stories told, emotions hitting highs and lows, and memories created from every perspective. In early July at PETCO Park in San Diego, the Padres invited Olympians based at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista to come to the ballpark for a well-deserved send-off.
I spent the afternoon getting to know several of them. Their enthusiasm, heart and humility are impressive. (Will share the Paralympics athletes with you later.)
But first, listen to Padres players Huston Street, Micah Owings and Logan Forsythe offer their good wishes, and address my request to compare and contrast the differences of being a full-time professional baseball player and an Olympic athlete. (footnote — excluding, of course, pro NBA players)
Katelyn Falgowski– Field Hockey: bright, bubbly from Landenburg, PA
Keli Smith-Puzo — Field Hockey: 2-time Olympian, oldest member, married and mother of two from Selinsgrove, PA
Brady Ellison — Archery: 2-time Olympian who received his first bow at age 7 and overcame a leg disease to become a 3-time Archery World Cup gold medalist.
Elliot Hovey — Quadruple Scull: from Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, attended UC Berkeley and is a 2-time Olympian.
Alex Osborn — Quadruple Scull: From Los Angeles, CA , highly influenced by his freshman coach at Stanford and is interested in a career in internet start ups after rowing.
Wes Piermarini — Quadruple Scull: From West Brookfield, MA is an architect, and wanted to initially compete in the Olympic Games as a skier, but getting hooked on rowing as a freshmen in college changed that course.
Peter Graves — Quadruple Scull: Hometown Cincinnati, OH, most memorable sporting moment prior to Olympics, was his winning performance at the 2005 Henley Royal Regatta.