The flags have been counted a thousand times, the opening
ceremony rehearsed to its last details, and the five emblematic
circles posted across Northern Italy. The Turin region is setting
the last touches and waiting to host the 20th Winter Olympic modern
games as the world holds its breath for the pantheon of winter
sports excellence to launch in a matter of hours.
The UCLA campus has seen many Olympians pass through over the
years, including nine athletes currently studying here. Gymnasts
Kate Richardson and Tasha Schwikert both made the Olympic trips to
Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. Representing Canada, Richardson
believes the experience is truly unique.
“In 2000, I think I was too young to realize what was
happening,” Richardson said. “But the second time
around, I was able to appreciate what it meant.”
At the mere age of 15, Schwikert was traveling as a second
alternate, and only found out she was going to compete in the
Sydney Olympic Games six days before the event started.
“I was in shock,” Schwikert said. “Competing
at the Olympic Games is a bit like the icing on the cake in my
career.”
As young girls, both gymnasts dreamt of representing their
country at this prestigious event, enthused for the hype around the
games as well as their uniqueness. Among numerous memories,
Schwikert said she would never forget the gymnastics team finals in
Sydney, when Team USA took fourth place.
“We had not done too well on the first day so we regrouped
and the energy felt was very special,” Schwikert said.
“Seeing the flags go up also stands out.”
When the word “memory” was mentioned,
Richardson’s eyes instantly lit up, and one aspect of the
Olympics came to her mind.
“The atmosphere in the Olympic Village,” Richardson
said. “Living around athletes you admire and competing with
and for your country is very motivating and inspiring.”
Current overall World Cup Champion alpine skier Bode Miller
recently said in interviews that in the United States, people focus
too much on medal ranking, rather than on the achievements of
individual athletes at the Olympic Games. However, the focus on
bringing home a medal does not encompass the total value of the
Olympic experience.
“(Gymnastics) is different because although we compete
individually, it is a team event as well,” Schwikert said.
“Only six girls qualify every four years to go to the
Olympics, so it is still very special.”
If an Olympic qualification does not seem to be on the cards for
this winter, there is always the off chance that siblings will
justify a trip to Northern Italy anyway.
This is the case of junior Jake Gunn, a member of the UCLA
hockey team, whose sister Chanda will be competing over the next
two weeks on her first Olympic journey ever.
“I am very proud of her. She has worked very hard to get
there and truly deserves it,” Jake Gunn said.
Chanda Gunn has been part of the U.S. women’s hockey team
since 2002, and is expected to share the goaltender position with
Pam Dreyer in Turin. Introduced to the game at age 14, she often
played against younger brother Jake, who has been competing for the
Bruins since his freshman year.
“We used to play at home for fun,” Jake Gunn said.
“She then went on to play at Northeastern University in
Boston.”
The entire Gunn family is traveling to Europe in order to watch
her play, and although he says he has not thought about it much,
Jake Gunn knows that the opening ceremony will be a moment full of
pride and happiness.
“I am definitely not jealous,” Jake Gunn said.
“I am very happy for her, and I believe the team has a pretty
good chance of winning overall.”
Highlights in Chanda Gunn’s career include the NCAA
sportsmanship of the year award while in her senior year at
Northeastern University and the top goalie title at the 2005 World
Championships, where Team USA won the gold medal.