David Hearn’s Olympic Journal

Olympic Cheer

“Are you doing this just for fun or are you on a team or something?” Once again my smiling response was “both!” This time, I was training near my home on the Feeder Canal of the Potomac River when asked this question by friendly C&O Canal towpath explorers. I gleefully added that I am practicing for the whitewater slalom Olympic Games on the Ocoee River in Tennessee.

I was back in Bethesda, working out twice a day on the Potomac River getting ready to head down to the mighty Ocoee Olympic course. Practice will begin again on July 7, as the water has been turned off for 5 weeks during the final venue preparations, such as installing the bleachers to seat the 14,000 whitewater fans! I am really looking forward to high quality whitewater training sessions on the Ocoee again. Each country has a designated training time slot on the race course with the last water training day slated for July 21 before the Olympic practice runs on July 26, and the July 27 & 28 race days.

It has been pretty easy to simulate the anticipated hot and humid Olympic racing conditions by training in the Washington DC area. We have also been fortunate to have fairly high summer water levels on the Potomac while the river temperature has remained cool. Our slalom workouts have been intense, yet luckily I was still able to find the time do a lot of whitewater play and surfing at some great river levels.

I am delighted to share the excitement of the Olympic experience with other whitewater enthusiasts, total strangers, well wishers, my friends and family. On June 29, the whitewater racing program of the Canoe Cruisers Association, the Bethesda Center of Excellence, hosted a Whitewater Team Gala featuring amazing Festive Foods, friends and neighbors, all highlighted by a whitewater athlete auction. I lent myself to the highest bidder to be auctioned for a surfing session on the Potomac River (beginner to expert) while my sister Cathy will help customize a physical fitness and weight training program. We will also both appear in the local schools to give presentations about our Olympic experiences. A big thank you to everyone who helps support the Whitewater Canoe & Kayak Team athletes!

I also felt a strong sense of community during our local Brookmont 4th of July parade celebration. Many of the children decorated their bicycles with a splash of red, white, and blue streamers, while in-line skaters, moms, dads, and dogs adorned in patriotic colors met on the Brookmont Green. I placed tiger lilies in the top of my Olympic torch and raced down the street to join in the festivities. Cathy and my wife Jennifer wore their 1992 Olympic Team jackets and joined the fun procession around the neighborhood following the wailing sirens of the multiple fire engines and rescue vehicles.

After the parade I raced home to finish packing for the Olympic games. By now this would be a very familiar trip down to Atlanta. I anticipated the quick United flight, riding on the Atlanta airport transit train, and racing up the steep escalator to the baggage claim to look for our bags, boats, and paddles. This time we were greeted by Atlanta Olympic volunteers and the U.S. Olympic Team handlers. All of our gear arrived unscathed, we loaded everything into a truck, and we were whisked away for official Olympic Team processing.

I managed to catch a glimpse of what lies in store when the world visits this amazing metropolis: brightly colored banners, newly paved roads, new street signs and directions, a completed multi-lingual airport, tons of Atlanta merchandise, and Coca Cola Olympic City, just to name a few. I am looking forward to returning to Atlanta for the opening ceremony celebration on July 19!

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Last updated: January 18, 2006