The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Olympians inspire students

Three Olympic athletes had a message for University students assembled Tuesday evening at John Paul Jones arena: Don’t be afraid of failure.

Gymnast Jonathan Horton knows what defeat feels like. After a disappointing 13th place finish for team USA at the 2006 World Championships, Horton knuckled down and resumed training.

“I had to re-evaluate who I was,” Horton said.

And it paid off — team USA won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Cullen Jones, two-time Olympic medallist, spoke of the extra effort and the many hours of practice he spent in the pool so that he could snag two silver medals in this summer’s games.

“You don’t just make goals,” Jones said. “Until you map out how you’re going to do it, it’s just a dream.”

Failure, however, is not the only source of motivation for these Olympians. Fencer Mariel Zagunis said pressures to repeat and defend earlier accomplishments bolstered her preparation for Beijing as a defending gold medalist from the Athens Games.

“When those opportunities come you will be ready to seize the moment,” Zagunis said about winning a second gold in 2008.

Consulting firm Deloitte, a business sponsor of the United States Olympic Committee, helped organize Tuesday’s event.

Local Savings

Comments

Latest Video

Latest Podcast

With Election Day looming overhead, students are faced with questions about how and why this election, and their vote, matters. Ella Nelsen and Blake Boudreaux, presidents of University Democrats and College Republicans, respectively, and fourth-year College students, delve into the changes that student advocacy and political involvement are facing this election season.