Printer friendly version
Apr 08 NewsletterPhotos from our Winter Party!
A Brush with Fame
By: Mary Pat Moeller, 27 March 2005 Probably like you, I love everything about swimming. I was lucky enough to attend the Olympic Swimming Trials in 1996 and 2000. (My mother thought I was competing in the trials...and I reminded her that even Mark Spitz could not compete in those trials!). You can imagine my thrill when Mutual of Omaha (Sponsor of USS swimming) announced that 6 Olympic swimmers would be visiting the home office in February of this year. They held an autograph signing session for 800 age group swimmers, and a separate event for Mutual employees and spouses. My husband works at Mutual, so I was able to meet 6 Olympic gold medalists face to face! I wanted a share a few photos and choice comments from this exciting day. |
 | Kaitlin Sandeno - gold medalist on the 800m free relay that broke the 17-year-old world record at the Olympic Games; also won silver in the 400m IM in American record time, bronze in the 400m free and finished fourth in the 200m fly. She was very personable! I told her she is an inspiration in the 400 IM, and she replied that "14 year olds are starting to beat me!" Her autograph read, "Keep swimmin'." |
 | Here I am meeting Amanda Beard (Gold medalist in Athens in the 200 breaststroke, Silver medalist in the 200 IM and silver in the 400 Medley Relay). She has medaled in three consecutive Olympics. She is now a student and a model. She is a striking beauty and was both friendly and down to earth. I think she is tired of hearing about the teddy bear from the 1996 trials (but I was lucky to see her in Indy at her first Olympic trials). |
 | Remember Misty Hyman? She upset "Madame Butterfly" in Sydney to take the Gold in the 200 meter butterfly. At the event, she encouraged us to "follow our dreams." |
 | It was great to meet Aaron Piersol, the current world record holder and Gold medalist in the 100 and 200 Meter backstroke events. He commented on his love for swimming and training hard. He was an inspiring speaker, who encouraged other athletes to "dream big." |
 | Brendan Hansen (Gold medalist in 400 Medley Relay, Silver 100 m breast, Bronze 200 m breast) was a teaser...I asked him what it felt like to win an Olympic medal. He replied, "heavy." Then he smiled and talked about how overwhelming that experience was. |
 | Josh Davis (Gold medalist in Atlanta in 400 and 800 m freestyle relays and 400 m relay; Silver medalist in Sydney in 400 and 800 m relays) was so friendly. When I told him I was a masters swimmer, he grinned and said, "Oh cool, so am I!" (Ah well, there is a bell curve in Masters swimming, isn't there?) |
What an inspiring group of young people. It reminded me again that swimmers are a unique breed of great people!!
Mary Pat Moeller, Ph.D., grew up in Indianapolis, IN, one of nine children. She was active in age-group swimming at the Miramar Swim Club. After a long hiatus, she found her way to Masters Swimming at age 38 and has been "hooked" ever since. MP is currently the Director of the Center for Childhood Deafness at Boys Town National Research Hospital. She does research with infants with normal hearing and those with hearing loss.
