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The 28th Summer Olympiad is finally
underway in Athens, Greece and once again the world
has become captivated by the Games’ spectacle. The
Olympics bring out a rare form of pride in all of
us; one that not only has to do with our desire to
root for the "home team", but also our genuine
admiration for the accomplishments of the athletes
on the backdrop of international unity. Once again
this summer, we are rightly fascinated by the
Olympic Games, with millions tuning in to witness
dedicated athletes at the peak of their abilities
battling for the coveted gold medal. While athletes
representing the United States are already making
their mark of success, it is the four Olympians from
Maine who are undoubtedly shining bright in the
Games’ spotlight. Four athletes participating in the
2004 Athens Games hail from the Pine Tree State: Ian
Crocker, Wyatt Allen, J. Sloan DuRoss, and Kevin
Eastler. Competing in very different venues - from
swimming to rowing to race-walking - these young
Mainers exemplify dedication, determination, and
achievement as they represent their sports and their
country. A renowned swimmer both on the national
and international stage, Ian first captured the
world’s attention at the Sydney Games as part of the
gold medal winning U.S. 400-meter medley relay team.
Ian currently holds the individual world records in
both the 50- and 100-meter butterfly events –
impressive considering that this Portland native
grew up training in a pool that was less than half
the length of a standard Olympic-size! Expected to
meet Michael Phelps - a fellow American swimmer who
is arguably the most watched athlete in Athens - yet
again in the 100-meter butterfly finals, Ian is a
great role model for every Mainer, not only because
of his outstanding athletic accomplishments, but
also because of his desire to give back to the state
in which he was raised. He has used his status as a
star athlete to help raise money to build Maine’s
first Olympic regulation-sized pool - a gift to
future generations of Maine swimmers with aspiring
Olympic dreams.
For anyone who has never witnessed a rowing
competition before, these events are a powerful
example of cooperation. Requiring all members of the
team to row in sync, should one rower falter, the
sculls become increasingly difficult to steer
towards victory. Wyatt and Sloan both fully
understand this principle, and it is because of both
their athletic prowess and their ability to work as
part of a team that they were able to qualify for
the 2004 Games. Wyatt, Portland-born and a graduate
of the University of Virginia with a degree in
Economics, first competed on a crew team at the
collegiate level. After securing his position as a
three-time senior U.S. National Rowing Team member,
Wyatt has taken to the Greek waters in the Men’s
Eight competition.
Similarly, fellow U.S. Rowing Teammate Sloan - a
native of South Portland - earned a degree in
mechanical engineering from Brown University while
balancing his passion for rowing. Sloan sidelined a
career as a business analyst in the winter of 2002
to commit full-time to his training for Athens where
he will compete in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls. Like
Wyatt, Sloan has served as a three-time senior U.S.
national team member. Lauded for both their
excellence in the classroom and on the river, surely
these two young men will have our attention
captivated as they work to bring the U.S. Men’s
Rowing Team Olympic gold.
In water and on land, Mainers are gaining
momentum in search of the gold medal in Athens. As
one of the top race walkers in the U.S., 26-year old
Kevin Eastler of Farmington is competing in his
first Olympic Games in the Track and Field event,
the 20K Race Walk. A race-walker since age nine,
Kevin followed in his father Tom’s footsteps,
literally, as a competitor, finishing first in the
U.S. Championships with a time that qualified him
for the 2004 Games. A husband, a father, and an Air
Force Captain, Kevin shaved nearly 90 seconds off
his own time at the 2003 World Championships, and
came within eight seconds of the U.S. record.
Kevin’s perseverance continues to guide him to the
finish line.
As keeping with the Maine tradition, Mainers will
root fervently for these four athletes to succeed
and, at the Games’ conclusion, warmly welcome them
home. Accomplishing so much already - as individual
competitors and unified team members - they are all
equally deserving of as much support possible, not
only because of their amazing athletic talents, but
also because of their ability to serve as
outstanding role models for individuals - young and
old - across the state and around the globe.
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