In 1979, I was working at a Job corps center as a Teacher; I also doubled as the strength coach. One day I was working out with my students, working on techniques related to Olympic lifting. As I was teaching the guys I was also lifting with them. In those days, I was in pretty good shape having been lifting since I was fourteen.
We had quite a bit of weight on the bar as I recall, (I cannot recall the exact amount) and I was working the weight as I taught the guys. A couple of my students were quite large (6'2" and 6'1" 235 and 245 respectively in comparison to my 5'7" and 180) and very strong so I needed a lot of weight on the bar to challenge them. After a couple of lifts as demonstration, I had the guys practicing under my guidance (they had actually progressed pretty well so the weight was in line with their ability).
After we finished, I sent the guys to the showers and began putting the equipment away. Unknown to me, the Center Director had been watching along with a visitor to the center. He approached me with the gentleman and said he wanted me to meet someone.
I shook hands with and was introduced to Mel Pindar. I did not know who he was but the Center Director explained that Mr. Pindar was a 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist at the center on a "talent hunt" for the US Olympic team.
I was excited that one of my guys might actually be under consideration and began to tell him about their great strength and talent. Mr. Pindar listened patiently and then said, "Its not them I am interested in, it's you."
I was dumbfounded!. "Me?" I asked. Mr. Pindar replied, "Yes, what is your body weight?" I told him and he said that I was lifting more than anyone they had seen so far and asked if I might be interested in being a part of the US Team. Of course, I said yes and was thrilled at even a remote prospect of representing my country.
He told me that I would have to go go through the trials and be qualified of course but he was confident based on what he had seen that I would do well.
Over the course of the next weeks and months, I trained harder than I ever had and qualified for the team. I got a letter from Bob Mathias inviting me to come to Colorado and made plans to travel. Of course, everyone at the center was excited (along with my family) and wished me well. I was about as high as I have ever been in my life.
The night before I was to travel, President Carter made an announcement that was about as bitter to me as any words I had ever heard. We would not compete in the 1980 Olympics after all but were boycotting them because of political reasons. I was devastated and it took years for me to forgive Presisdent Carter.
However, over time, I have moved on and look back on the time when I was, for a brief moment, an Olympian.
Years later, my daughter had to have back surgery. I was, as any parent would be, concerned and wanted the very best for my child. I did research and discovered the most highly qualified surgeon in the specialty was in my town of Charlotte, NC, Dr. Craig Brigham. I met with Dr. Brigham and was at once impressed with his professionalism and candor. My daughter also felt confidence and the procedure was performed and went exactly as it should. Today she is alive and well thanks to his skill.
After the surgery, he and I were in casual conversation and I noted that he looked particularly fit and asked about his exercise regamin (we were about the same age and I still maintain a daily routine) he mentioned that he had qualified for the US team for the 1980 Olympics but was unable to participate due to President carter's boycott. I just statred at him for a moment and then told him my own story. We both laughed a bit at the odd twists that life provides and shared a unique moment together.
Over the years, I have come to realize that life is full of many opportunities and challenges. It is not so much what we do with the good times that makes us who we are but how we deal with the bad times and disappointments that really defines us. Dr. Brigham and I used the crushing disappointment that we experienced as a catalyst to make us stronger and more resolute than ever to succeed. As a result, each in our own way, became champions.