Team Sendoff

A lot can happen in a few weeks.

I moved from Texas to California, landed a job, began my temporary retirement, and started work at the Stanford Alumni Association.

My Olympian friends came home from Trials, got back to work, competed at nationals, and left for the Olympics.

They were all here yesterday. All the diving team members went through a day-and-a-half of processing (that is, getting official outfitting, final medical evaluations, media meetings, China briefs, etc.) at San Jose State. Since (from what I've been told) San Jose State's only diving board is more like a chunk of wood painted green, they came yesterday morning to practice at Stanford. I walked over before work (the Alumni Association Building is visible from the 10 meter tower) to see my friends.

There I was, in business clothes. Coaches kept saying how different I looked... Kenny (the Woodlands coach) made a predictable joke about how he hardly recognized me with my clothes on. There I was, in fancy shoes, slacks, jewelry, make-up... I can probably count on my hands the number of times I wore any of those things in the last year. Now it's daily uniform.

And there they were... Nancilea and Laura and David stretching on my mat, Thomas getting spotted on my trampoline, Kelci and Christina on my dryland boards. All of them talking and laughing because they share something, or rather, they know they are about to share something - the experience. Representing the US team at the Olympic Games.

It was hard - to be honest, it was one of the hardest moments since Trials. All these people I've competed against and fought with and learned to love over the last four years... and they're still diving, getting ready for the biggest show of their lives... and me, not so much.

Last night after work I went to San Jose State and hung out with Laura and Nancilea and the other girls in their dorm. They were all exhausted from the day's work - practice, meetings, collecting stuff, shipping boxes home. There were posters and big signs on poles up all over campus - They showed athletes competing. "Amazing Awaits," they said. I passed some weight lifters walking around the compound and rode the elevator up with a baseball coach. Everyone was wearing their new gear. It was fabulous to be able to talk with my friends, and wish them luck. I hope they do really really great. I sincerely do. They are fabulous athletes, and I want them to go out there and show their best.

They left early this morning on a direct flight from SFO to Beijing. They'll be there soon, if not already. Soon they'll be checking into the athlete village. Tomorrow, the Water Cube. I still just can't get over how much can change in 3 weeks.