It's always sunny in California

Hey there! I’m Santiago Pérez, Strength & Conditioning Intern at the Chula Vista OTC. I have to say first that it has been great being able to have other interns share their experiences through the blog and reading how each one is doing during this great opportunity we all have had the honor of being a part of.

I am sure that everyone at least has an idea of where Chula Vista is, but for those who don’t it is located just south of San Diego, basically in the same metropolitan area. The Olympic Training Center is set on the very eastern edge of the city, which makes for a fantastic location in terms of scenery and away from any city noise, covering a large piece of land (over 150 acres if I recall correctly). There are several sports training here, whether they are resident, non-resident, or short-term training camps, which are Track & Field, BMX, Kayak/Canoe, Rowing, Field Hockey, Archery, Soccer, all the way to even Bobsled and Ski.

As for me, I’m originally from Paraguay. I came to the United States 5 years ago on a Track & Field college scholarship which took me to Idaho, Kansas, and many states in between. I’m currently finishing my Masters degree at Midwestern State University, which is located in Wichita Falls, Texas. Having the opportunity to work as a Strength & Conditioning Intern at the OTC is by far the best experience I’ve had in terms of my career formation. I have the pleasure of working every day with elite athletes from several different sports on all facets of their physical training, and let me tell you it does not get any better than this. I am undoubtedly living the dream. I have always been a huge fan of the Olympics and its ideals, so having the honor of being an Intern here is something that will stay with me forever.

In addition, living in the Center has been one of the most interesting parts of the Internship. Being able to spend time interacting with the athletes in the OTC has been a great opportunity to meet great people and make new friends, as well as getting to know the ins and outs of the lives of professional athletes, their struggles, sacrifices, hardships, and the success, passion for what they do, and gratifying moments that make all the latter tough moments worthwhile.
Having lived most of my life here in the US in the Midwest, coming to California was an exciting experience. I never knew it would have been this great. Everything from the people to the weather makes this an amazing place to be in. And for all those of you who thought you knew what great weather was, if you haven’t been in southern California you don’t know what perfect climate is. San Diego is an exciting city with a lot to offer which I try to take advantage of during my free time, primarily on the weekends. Having the beach near DEFINITELY does not hurt either. It is late October and this weekend I enjoyed a beautiful warm day at the beach with some friends getting hit by waves and playing beach soccer (sorry CS and LP, snow is pretty and all but can’t beat the beach!).

I am grateful I have the chance of sharing my experiences of the Internship Program in this blog. This is truly a unique and fantastic experience that only a select few have the chance to partake in, and I am honored to be one of them. I wish all the interns on all OTCs the best during the remaining of their internships. I hope you are learning from this great experience and enjoying every moment of it.

Best of luck and take care!

Santiago Pérez

I don't know how to put this but this internship is kind of a big deal...

Hi all this is Tom Therkildsen and I am from Rochester, NY, which is upstate between Buffalo and Syracuse. I just recently graduated in May of 2009 from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. in Sport Management and a minor in economics. I am currently an intern with US Paralympics, specifically with the military programs. My experiences both in and out of the workplace have been both rewarding and enjoyable.

My internship experience within the workplace has mainly revolved around the military sport camps that US Paralympics runs, which are are co-sponsored by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs. These camps are multi-day events and took place in San Antonio, TX at Fort Sam Houston army base and in San Diego at the Naval Air Station North Island. These camps are designed to engage physically disabled veterans and military servicemen in sports and physical activities to help in the rehabilitation process and get them back on their feet. Many veterans struggle with their disability and sport is an avenue for them to reconnect and realize that there is life after injury. Additionally, certain individuals with the potential for higher competition are identified for possible training for the Paralympic Games. My responsibilities for these camps were assisting in registrations, confirmations, travel and accommodations and the role of one of four team leaders during the actual camp. As a group leader I was responsible for ¼ of the camp members and was able to participate with them in many of the sports such as wheelchair basketball, sit volleyball, hand cycling, archery, equestrian, strength and conditioning, and track and field. Many of my group members shared their stories with me and mentioned that this was one the best weeks they’ve had in years. It was great to travel to these camps and it was very inspiring to see the veterans participate in these camps.

Away from the workplace has been great as well. Being surrounded by mountains, the scenery here is incredible and I have been able to experience Colorado through hiking the incline (where yes I was beaten by Liz), the cog rail up Pike’s Peak, the Garden of the Gods, the Royal Gorge, Jack Quinn’s weekly runs, a Colorado Rockies game, a frigid Air Force football game, and many other activities and nights out with the intern class. My fellow interns are a good group and we have had a good time throughout our internships to date. Together we have been participating in the Intern Olympics which was previously mentioned and we are also spending Thanksgiving break together in Breckenridge. I’m sure there are more great experiences to come in the second half of our internship (right chillens?). Be sure to read subsequent posts about the other intern’s experiences inside and outside the USOC.

--

Tom Therkildsen

Greetings From Sunny Southern California!

HOWDY!

Blake Davis here. I'll be the first to say I'm the proudest member of the fighting Texas Aggie class of '10! (Beat you to it Meredith :-P) I'm a senior Kinesiology major at Texas A&M in College Station, Tx. I'm doing my internship in the sports medicine department at the training center in Chula Vista, which for those of you who don't know, is about 20 minutes away from downtown San Diego, and only 5 minutes away from the border of Mexico! So we see border patrol in and around the complex all the time which is always fun. In the sports medicine clinic, I have a wide variety of tasks I get to do, from assisting the athletic trainers in various forms of treatment to maintenance of the athletes medical records and scheduling athletes for massage therapy.

There is definitely something special about being a part of the USOC family. I've met so many amazing people so far and hopefully there will be many more to come. The athletes and their devotion to their sports just amazes me and it's been a real priviledge helping them in the sports medicine clinic. There's no way I could sum up all of the experiences I've had the priviledge of having here at the OTC in this blog, but I'll try and give you guys some of the highlights.

*Getting to be an EMT and participate on the sidelines of the BMX world competition that the training center held. It was incredible, there were athletes from over 20 countries, and to be there and watch the USA men and women who we work on so frequently in sports med, compete was a really cool thing to see.

*Taking a lot of the staff out to a local dance hall because everyone kept asking me, 'now how exactly does the Texas two-step dance go' and getting to teach everyone how to do it!

*Surfing lessons! People here really love to go surfing, there are many athletes and staff that regularly make trips out to the beaches to hit up some 'good surf'. And yes, these crazy californians really do surf year-round!

*When concert's don't fully sell-out the olympic training center gets the tickets for really cheap! So far, I've been able to see Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Def Leppard for about $6.00 a ticket, so thats been really fun, because it almost seems like every other weekend another famous performer is in town.

*Getting to meet and interact with all the athletes and famous coaches I've always dreamed about meeting. I still can't get over it, because watching the beijing olympic games I recognize so many athletes that we work with on a regular basis. We have people from Kayaking, Track and Field, Cycling, Field Hockey, Rugby, Soccer, along with so many others!

I can't believe I've done so much in the short month and a half that I've been here. I'm looking forward to what life has in store for me as I finish up the rest of the semester here at Olympic Training Center in the Intern program. I look forward to writing more in this as the semester continues along!

Thanks and Gig 'Em, (Aggie thing)

Blake Davis

Greetings from the West

Andy Carl here, USA Badminton Intern, darn glad to meet you. It’s pretty tough following up all of these great blog posts, and in the fear of being redundant, I’ll try not to overlap any of the happenings that have already been touched upon.

Needless to say, the USOC internship program, thus far, has been an enriching and fulfilling experience. With apologies for sounding cliché, the past month and a half living away from Philadelphia (my adopted hometown) and Reading (my real one) has been both refreshing and enlightening.

The first item that comes to mind when I think of the internship process is the living situation. I feel as though the nostalgic atmosphere that embodies the living quarters and cafeteria take us students back to the days of being bright-eyed freshman. The interactions and closeness that surrounds the entire internship class are valued and comforting.

As for the auxiliary events that bookend our 8am-5pm workdays, I couldn’t have asked for better opportunities. One that really stands out is the National League Divisional Series between the Colorado Rockies (booooo, that’s what we do in Philly) and the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies. I attended Game 3 at a frigid Coors Field with Emily Cox, another intern, as well as Game 4 with interns Adam Andrasko and Meg Coffey. Both games, the Phillies came out of the heart-wrenching scuffle on top, catapulting them to the National League Championship Series against the L.A. Dodgers.

As my fellow interns can attest, I get a bit heated and emotional during games. With the Phillies now advancing to the World Series, they will probably see less and less of me on most week nights as the games are played. However, I have a very supportive class of interns that make the agonizing grind of playoff baseball bearable.

We have a good amount of fun events on the horizon, including the continuation and culmination of the Intern Olympic Games. The games have been a great experience thus far, allowing interns to get involved with sports and Olympians that they probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to otherwise.

I look forward to reading the other intern’s posts, including the recap of great events such as our Thanksgiving cabin trip and other social activities.

Carl. Out.

True Life: I Have the Best Job in the World!

Howdy!


I am Meredith Collier, the Media Relations and Communication Intern at U.S. Figure Skating. If you couldn't tell from my greeting I'm from Texas - Comfort, Texas (near San Antonio) to be exact. I'm a senior communication major and Spanish minor at Texas A&M University. Whoop!


First of all, I'd like to say check out Brandon Bodie's video blog. It's phenomenal! The Air Force vs. TCU game was the second coldest football game I've been to (Army/Navy 2007 was colder, but less wet and windy so it was actually much more pleasant)...I'm surprised we made it to half time! Go Falcons! Nevertheless, we had fun being together and watching all of the TCU fumbles--we Texans aren't used to playing football in freezing temperatures!


I have had some of the greatest experiences of my life since coming to "the Springs". (That's what the cool people in Colorado call it.) Each day here is a blessing and I thank God for every moment of my internship.



Each morning I ride to work with fellow U.S. Figure Skating intern and my favorite Minnesotan, Liz. We jam out to everything from Juanes and Mana to Colby Caillat or Lady Gaga. We take turns driving and get to work on the most beautiful end of town, just at the base of the Rockies and right next to the historic Broadmoor Hotel. Of course, during short breaks at work, we, along with Synchronized Skating intern Lauren Magliola, make each other cubicle art of our favorite skaters including our hero Johnny Weir (pictured right). I get to do some really cool stuff at work, including most of the Synchronized Skating Media Guide! My boss, Scottie is one of the funniest people I know, and I enjoy the office antics that go on between her and the rest of the Marketing and Communication Department.



Some really cool stuff I've been able to do in my first month here:

• Hike the Incline: one vertical mile of sheer terror and lung malfunction. I did this by myself one Sunday afternoon. Four other interns and I attempted this one day after work, but only made it about 50 meters due to one of Colorado's famously sudden thunder/lightning/flood storms. We were seriously dodging lightning bolts. In the words of Manitou Springs native Ian Jaray, "If you see lightning, GET OFF THE MOUNTAIN!" We didn't take those words to heart until after we heard a third crash of thunder at the same time as we saw the lightning.


• Learn judo. The U.S. Judo Team was extremely gracious in teaching us some throws and holds during Intern Assimilation Day. That is probably the best way to relieve any kind of stress. It was amazing to throw and get thrown by a World gold medalist!


• Play wheelchair basketball. Three-time Paralympic medalist Josh George showed our intern class how to play the game and refereed an entire tournament. It was so much fun to play, even though I couldn't get the ball to reach the basket for the life of me and somehow got catapulted out of my chair onto my knees and face.


• Experience cold weather. Believe it or not, it only snows about once every three years in San Antonio, and it never sticks for a full 24 hours. This semester, it has already snowed, and currently everything is frozen! For some reason I thought it was still OK to wear shorts and a polar fleece all day Saturday during freezing temperatures. I had to explain to the other interns that I've spent many a Christmas in shorts and a t-shirt.


• Go to two Air Force football games. I've adopted the Falcons as my team for the semester, despite being the sister of a Naval Academy grad. The first game we went to was a hot 85 degrees (still very mild to me). The second was 22 degrees and included a freezing mist. Both times we got t-shirts from the USAFA, thanks to intern Adam and his Air Force Academy contact, Brandon. I believe we're going to a USAFA Hockey game soon, too!

I'm still amazed that I get to be here every time I pass an Olympic/Paralympic hopeful on campus or have a fun day (which is every day) with my fellow interns. I will cherish the late-night intern gatherings in the lounge, the frequent Selena dance parties with my wonderful roommate Jayla, the daily gourmet meals in the Athlete Center, the long walks through Memorial Park, the weekly boxing lessons with fellow intern Sara, and the nights dancing at Cowboys downtown forever.

There is truly no better way to describe than the phrase we frequently see at the USOTC: "Amazing awaits." That was the first thing I saw upon arriving last month and amazing is what I've experienced ever since.

Go USA!

-Meredith

Baby, It's COLD Outside! (Air Force vs. TCU Football Game)

A group of warriors/interns made the very cold trip to the Air Force v. TCU game, and the video above chronicles the saga. Enjoy!

-Brandon Bodie, Fall 2009 Intern and LOVIN' it!

Living in the Moment

Hi, my name is Vanessa Virbitsky. I was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pa. and received a BA in Journalism (Advertising/Public Relations) and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where I was on the gymnastics and track-and-field teams. Now, I am working on my MA in Public Relations-Sport Communication at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. where I worked as the graduate assistant gymnastics coach and will return as a graduate assistant in the Sports Information Department.

Currently, I’m three months into a six month internship in the Media & Public Relations Department at the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo., and I LOVE MY JOB.

Why do I love my job?

• My walk to the office includes an unobstructed view of Pikes Peak (14,100’)
  
• I eat three meals a day in a dining hall whose mission is to provide the highest quality foods for the highest quality performance
  
• There is daily mingling with elite-caliber athletes in the dining hall, on the Olympic Path, in the weight room and in the dorms


• My colleagues and mentors are passionate, energetic and bright individuals who have dedicated their lives to communicating the goals, dreams and ambitions of America’s athletes


• I am, and always have been, passionate about the vision and ideals of the Olympic Movement

Basically, it’s hard not to smile at the end of a work day, and mainly because I go to sleep knowing I get to do the same thing again tomorrow!

Although it’s difficult to choose the single greatest moment of my internship, one of the best opportunities I’ve had so far was attending the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Media Summit, Sept. 9-12 in Chicago, Ill. Outside of the Olympic Games, this is the biggest event put on by our department.

The purpose of the Media Summit is to aggregate media, athletes, coaches and USOC spokespeople in the same building, at the same time. This provides a convenient format for all involved and, most importantly, allows Olympic hopefuls to receive media coverage without interrupting their training at the most pivotal point in their careers – right before the Olympic Winter Games. The athletes participate in several media formats, including: press conferences, round tables, photo and broadcast sessions, a special session with Olympic broadcasting sponsor NBC and also lifestyle sessions per request by individual media outlets.

My main Media Summit responsibility was to serve as the Athlete Coordinator and point-of-contact for the special lifestyle sessions with an emphasis on Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated and USA Today. Other sessions included interviews and photo shoots with the American Heart Association, American Profile, ESPN.com, Last Call with Carson Daly, Nike, Rocketboom, US Weekly, the Weather Channel and Wired Magazine. One of the best photo sessions was with ice dancers and Olympic silver medalists Ben Agosto and Tanith Belbin.

There are no words for the pride I have in knowing I had a part in helping these Olympic hopefuls tell their stories to the American public. Also, you can bet that I am going to be one of the first in line to buy the Olympic editions of SI and Men’s Journal this February!

As for Colorado, it's breathtaking to see the majesty of snow dusted mountains at the end of the summer or mile high peaks rising from the clouds. And it doesn't end there; when I pulled into the city limits for the first time, there was the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen – a full arch that stretched so big I couldn't fit the whole thing into my camera. It was one of those moments that burns into your memory, freezes you in time and instinctively makes your lips curve upward.



Since receiving my acceptance to this internship program, I’ve had innumerable “freeze moments,” both personally and professionally, and I am grateful for the opportunities this internship has presented and will, undoubtedly, continue to present. For instance, about one month ago, my intern colleague, Nick Olivier, and I were offered the experience of a lifetime. We were invited by our department to serve as Press Officers at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver! Besides THANK YOU, I again have no words – just endless smiles – to describe this opportunity.



It is an honor to work for the U.S. Olympic Committee and, for me, a dream come true.

GO TEAM USA!

Living the Dream

My name is Paul Fitzgerald and I'm an intern with the High Performance department in US Fencing. I've been at the Olympic Training Center for a month now. It's hard not to get caught up in the Olympic movement. You walk around the OTC and you see plastered everywhere inspirational quotes and statues of former Olympians. You run into former, current and future Olympians going through their everyday routines. It's easy to feel inspired to be the best at what you do when there are so many reminders of those people that are giving their all to be the best at what they do. However, as an intern, it can be hard to balance the demands of work, the challenges of being away from home, and the opportunity to learn from those in this environment. That is why we have started an Intern Olympics. Our purpose is to better experience the OTC environment through the very sports that our country's athletes compete in. Our Intern Experience has become a true Olympic Experience. Our first event was wheelchair basketball. Our very forgiving instructor was Josh George. He taught us the rules and techniques to be successful during a game. We ran through drills and played 5 on 5. His experience with the sport helped us get used to a game that we would never otherwise have played. We all had a great time and some of us were even a little black and blue from competing so hard. The point was, we all got to experience a new sport and better know a Paralympic athlete. It doesn't get any better than that!

Living and working at the OTC has helped me learn a lot about the athletes and those behind the scenes that support their Olympic dream. Away from the glory of the games are everyday people who are sacrificing school, work, money, relationships, time, unhealthy food, the luxury of being lazy and an otherwise normal life for that ultimate sporting achievement. The athletes are all at the OTC because they are the best at what they do. I'm here to say that so are the employees that make those Olympic dreams possible. There are those in the cafeteria that work tirelessly to feed hoards of hungry athletes. The good news about the dining hall is that all the food is good for you. I don't care how good it tastes, it's still good for you. There are those that clean the facilities that we all use to live and train on a daily basis. This is a mission for which there can never be enough credit given. There are people who administer all the programs and sports governing bodies that make the training of the athletes and the functioning of the entire Olympic Training Center possible. Even though all the aforementioned people aren't who you think of when you take a tour of the OTC, they certainly play a huge part in our athlete's achieving medals. I have found it to be true that you don't have to be an athlete to be elite. Everyone here works hard and performs at the highest level no matter what their job is. I know it doesn't take an inside perspective to know that it takes years of dedication away from the spotlight for those precious few moments in it. But I hope that this inside perspective does give you some insight into those behind the scenes as well. So when you hear the stories from the Beijing Summer Olympics and the upcoming stories about the Vancouver Winter Olympics, I hope you remember that becoming the person in that story also takes hundreds of people at the US Olympic Committee, National Governing Bodies, Olympic training center and yes Interns to help make it all come true.

Keep a lookout for more thoughts and stories from my fellow interns throughout the Fall.

Paul Fitzgerald

Only a few more hours til Chicago 2016

I just finished watching Project Runway with my roommate Ingrid (she’s awesome) and thought it would be a great time to let you know about my experiences as an intern so far. First of all, my name is Liz Podominick and I am the intern for the U.S. Teams Coordinator of U.S. Figure Skating. I was born and raised in Minnesota and went to the University of Minnesota where I participated on the track and basketball team (a little different than figure skating). It still feels surreal that I am here when I get to look out at the mountains and experience the sunny Colorado weather while being a part of the Olympic Movement.

My day starts out with an amazing breakfast compliments of the OTC dining room (where I eat with Olympians) and gets even better as I carpool with fellow intern Meredith to work (Figure Skating is off campus). During the ride, I learn a little Spanish from Meredith, admire the view of Pikes Peak, and analyze outfits of the local high school students walking to class (not sure about the neon). The day goes by in a flurry as I try to keep up with the constant demand of the internship. When I need a break, I make a sign for Meredith or Lauren (intern for synchronized skating) of our favorite skaters (Johnny Weir inspires me). My boss Julie, besides being from Minnesota as well and automatically making her amazing, has been a great mentor. It boggles my mind how she can do it all. Each day is different and I love how it keeps me on my toes! I feel a big sense of accomplishment when I organize the millions (maybe an exaggeration) of forms we receive daily, email or call the athletes, and send out the team leader box with the event information. Sometimes it is the small victories that make my day, like when I was able to spell Armin Mahbanoozadeh’s name correctly without having to check the master list or having a nice chat with Angelita as I steal some of her candy. I am learning so much about the behind-the-scenes of Figure Skating and have only just scratched the surface.

While I love my home state of Minnesota, Colorado is competing for second place. Besides hanging out with the amazing intern class, Colorado Springs is a perfect place for an outdoor lover like me. Climbing the incline (where I beat Tom and Adam) and Pikes Peak (7 hours later), going to a Denver Broncos and Air Force football game, playing wheelchair basketball for the Intern Olympics (go Team 1), hiking around Red Rock and Garden of the Gods, playing the childhood game of kickball in the park, and running Jack Quinn’s run on Tuesdays are just a few activities I have already checked off my to-do list. That is just in the first month! I cannot wait to see what we plan next and I keep adding to my bucket list. The most recent addition is watching the Vikings beat the Packers on Monday!

As September Sneaks Away

Hello! I'm Adam Andrasko and I am the Athlete Services and Programs intern. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with a glimpse into my first month at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center. Reach up, grab your seat belt, buckle up tight, and enjoy the ride.
I sit at my desk typing an e-mail and periodically catching a glimpse of the latest edition of SportsCenter on my 46 inch television. At that moment I ask myself, “Could this job get much better?” At that moment Lopez Lomong walks in and we begin talking about his favorite NFL team, the Buffalo Bills. Who would have thought that? The U.S. Olympic flag bearer and my 6 foot 2 inch 300 pound father, who’s nickname is Moose, like the same NFL team. As Chris Berman says, “Nobody circles the wagon like the Buffalo Bills!”

I have been fortunate enough to be at the CSOTC Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center for nearly a month now and anytime I’m asked by my friends and family back home ask what it’s like I have a hard time explaining it. I tend to start by explaining the ASC (Always Sarcastically Cheerful) staff. Sherry Von Riesen, campus mom to all athletes at the CSOTC, provides enthusiasm and laughs to get everyone through their day. It can be unbearable working this close to “Momma Sherry”, but it is obvious how much less fun this place would be without her vintage looks and boisterous personality.

I follow that with my constant interaction with the athletes. I typically bring up Anton Guttfredson’s quirky thoughts on American society, as he studies criminal justice. Anton grew up in the Ukraine and moved to America at the age of thirteen. A close third is everything that Dining Services does for me and, more importantly, for the athletes. It is a first-class dining hall and when Flower finally gets my name right they will be approaching perfection. I often mention the facilities, but it is really the people who have set the OTC apart from other positions I have had.
I believe that now is a good time to introduce the true intern experience at the OTC. Working all day and gaining experience is great, but the town of Colorado Springs and the Rocky Mountains are the real thrill. The intern class has recently climbed the Mount Manitou incline, I toured the Garden of the Gods, I went fly fishing in Eleven Mile Canyon and we “Reached the Peak” Pike’s Peak that is. That list does not include the vast recreational events we have participated in and the laundry list of future plans.

When I took this position I knew it would be a great experience with the opportunity to make some great connections. What I was not prepared for was the high energy and entertainment that the OTC and Colorado Springs has provided. In an attempt to compare it with something I would say it is roughly as fun as a day at an amusement park with Will Farrell and John C. Riley. “You’ve got to shake it before you bake it. Shake-and-Bake.”

THAT JUST HAPPENED!

Thank You

Adam Andrasko