This is a historic day in my life!
Man, I cannot believe how cool this experience is, I worked so hard to be here and now it seems that it was worth it – giving up most of my life to follow my dreams and believe in my passion.
I got a call today from the US Sailing press officer Derby Anderson and she told me that JD and I were going on the Today Show – with Matt Laurer, Ann Curry and Meredith!
Sally and the entire Dane armada arrived this evening and we headed straight to the Olympic Village We went directly to the (MPC) Main Press Center, so we could secure temp passes for everyone to get into the venue to watch the filming of the Today show.
I was taken to the green room to wait until the producer told me to head to the set. Well, in the green room there were quite a few very cool people. The first person was David Lauren and his girlfriend (you know of Ralph Lauren POLO). They made and designed our opening ceremony outfits which are pretty cool!!!! So I had a nice long chat with them and introduced myself to 3 track cyclists who were all very cool!! I am a huge cycling fan, so meeting some of these guys was a highlight. I also met Peter Ueberroth, the Chairman of the US Olympic Committee.
It’s funny, when that alarm clock went off 6 days a week at 4:45am back home in Gulfport MS to get into the gym and the countless hours of sitting in terminals or the 16 times I have been across the globe, it finally makes total sense on why I gave 150% total effort to this project. Standing in the middle of the Olympic Village was something like I have never seen before, The Birds Nest (site of the opening ceremony and Track and Field), the Swim Tank (at night it is lit up and looks like a bunch of boulders) or the mist that is coming off the practice fields, these sights make everything I have ever sacrificed seem worth it.
We made it, I can’t believe it, I can’t sleep its 1am here on 8/8/08 and today is the day its opening ceremony!!!!!!! I have my outfit hung up, and I will have it pressed for the big show!
I am so lucky!!! I am living a dream.
Be sure to tune into the Today show (Friday your time). I am not sure what time it comes on but it might be before the opening ceremony or in the am. I don’t know.
You will see JD and I and Sally. All really cool.
I am fired up!!!!
Later
Austin