Beijing 2008 - Back home
I had mixed emotions going home. No doubt it had been a long trip. We had been on the road for a month. I also realized that this was the end of this journey. This team had competed together for the last time. We worked so hard to become a team. We set goals together and we sacrificed and worked hard to reach those goals. I am proud to say that we reached every goal we set as a team except for one. We won an Olympic Silver medal. It was very fulfilling and in many ways I feel like a proud parent.
It was fun to sit back and watch the guys relax and enjoy their accomplishments. Enjoy they did. I don’t think most of them slept much over the past few days. They were recognized on the plane ride home. When I went back to get a drink on the flight home from Beijing the guys had their water polo caps on the flight attendants and there they were (some with their shirts off) taking pictures with their medals on. When we finally made it home to LAX – we had a nice crowd there with a huge banner welcoming the USA Water Polo - Silver Medalists home. I know that made the guys feel good. In so many ways they had come so far. I am certain that one of the big factors that helped us grow as a team was all the support the guys received from the local community. They felt cared for and they had not felt this way for a long time.
When the girls and I finally arrived at our home it was wonderful. Our home owners association had taken the time to decorate our gate and our front yard with red, white and blue banners and flags. The house looked great and we all felt the love and support from our neighbors. Our refrigerator had been filled, dinner was ready to be served and fresh home made cookies on the table. It was a very nice welcome home.
I have been stopped and recognized in the airport, the gas station and our local store. I believe that water polo in riding a big wave right now and we need to take advantage of the momentum that the Olympics created and really try to take the sport to the next level in this country. We can be a contender on a regular basis. We have the athletes. We need to keep them excited and involved with the national team.
As I reflect back on the Games. The one thing that keeps coming back to me is how blessed I am to have been a part of this team. I loved being up there in the stands and watching them receive their medals. That brought tears to my eyes. In that moment my mind raced back to 1984. I was wearing my silver medal and I remembered my Dad giving me this big bear hug and telling me how proud he was of me. I could almost hear my Dad saying those words to me in that moment. Later that evening at our team celebration, I had the chance to give each of the guys a big hug and tell them how proud I was of them and how happy I was that they were a part of this team.
To me this was a testimonial to how much can be accomplished when a group of guys (or people) become a team and work together for a coming goal. We may not have been the most talented team at the Olympics but for that two week period of August 10 – 24th, 2008 we were one of the two best “teams” in the world. That is an awesome feeling. We had big dreams and they came true. We got back to the podium!
See you at the pool!
Coach
It was fun to sit back and watch the guys relax and enjoy their accomplishments. Enjoy they did. I don’t think most of them slept much over the past few days. They were recognized on the plane ride home. When I went back to get a drink on the flight home from Beijing the guys had their water polo caps on the flight attendants and there they were (some with their shirts off) taking pictures with their medals on. When we finally made it home to LAX – we had a nice crowd there with a huge banner welcoming the USA Water Polo - Silver Medalists home. I know that made the guys feel good. In so many ways they had come so far. I am certain that one of the big factors that helped us grow as a team was all the support the guys received from the local community. They felt cared for and they had not felt this way for a long time.
When the girls and I finally arrived at our home it was wonderful. Our home owners association had taken the time to decorate our gate and our front yard with red, white and blue banners and flags. The house looked great and we all felt the love and support from our neighbors. Our refrigerator had been filled, dinner was ready to be served and fresh home made cookies on the table. It was a very nice welcome home.
I have been stopped and recognized in the airport, the gas station and our local store. I believe that water polo in riding a big wave right now and we need to take advantage of the momentum that the Olympics created and really try to take the sport to the next level in this country. We can be a contender on a regular basis. We have the athletes. We need to keep them excited and involved with the national team.
As I reflect back on the Games. The one thing that keeps coming back to me is how blessed I am to have been a part of this team. I loved being up there in the stands and watching them receive their medals. That brought tears to my eyes. In that moment my mind raced back to 1984. I was wearing my silver medal and I remembered my Dad giving me this big bear hug and telling me how proud he was of me. I could almost hear my Dad saying those words to me in that moment. Later that evening at our team celebration, I had the chance to give each of the guys a big hug and tell them how proud I was of them and how happy I was that they were a part of this team.
To me this was a testimonial to how much can be accomplished when a group of guys (or people) become a team and work together for a coming goal. We may not have been the most talented team at the Olympics but for that two week period of August 10 – 24th, 2008 we were one of the two best “teams” in the world. That is an awesome feeling. We had big dreams and they came true. We got back to the podium!
See you at the pool!
Coach
posted by Dr. Terry Schroeder at
2:50 PM
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