August 7, 2008
[Editor’s note: Champion fencer Jeffrey Bukantz, a resident of Montville and inductee of the JCC MetroWest Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, was appointed captain of the U.S. Olympic fencing team for the 2008 Games. He will be reporting on the Olympic experience for NJ Jewish News.]
After years of dreaming, training, traveling, and competing, the 2008 United States Olympic team has begun its pilgrimage to Beijing.
Along the way to sport’s Holy Grail, these 600 athletes have sacrificed mightily and in many cases put their lives on hold. They have overcome injuries, enormous pressure, subjective officiating, mental and physical fatigue, and their opponents.
While it took many years of preparing for the Games, the next three weeks will go by in the blink of an eye. The key is to remain focused and not get caught up in the Olympic circus. On the other hand, they need to take in every moment, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most.
In Beijing, I will reprise the role I had in Athens, fencing team captain. Our squad consists of 12 athletes, three replacement athletes, and eight cadre members.
The first group of fencers assembled at San Jose State University for orientation and staging. This is when the dream first comes to life. One of the highlights of the entire experience is receiving the Olympic apparel package.
No matter how many times I’ve gone through this process, I still feel like a kid in a candy shop. You go through the line with a shopping cart, and you definitely need it for all the hats, walking shoes, sneakers, socks, shirts, shorts, the parade uniform, sweat suit, rain jacket, shoulder bag, and a big rolling suitcase to pack everything in.
Best of all, the 2008 USA Olympic Team emblem is everywhere. Please, I’m not interested in the claims of jingoism, but if you can’t be proud of the red, white, and blue at the event that epitomes national pride, where can you?
On July 30, we were taken by bus to San Francisco International Airport. Now, the grandness of the whole thing really sets in. The pressure to compete successfully took a backseat to the excitement of boarding the plane.
The 11 and half hours flight seemed to go by pretty quickly. The crew wished the Olympians good luck over the loudspeaker after we landed, adding to the feel-good atmosphere.
After going through accreditation and customs, the athletes were in for a big surprise. The second we came through the doors into the terminal, hundreds of press people swarmed around, creating a huge traffic jam — but was it ever cool.
One of the most popular athletes during the frenzy was our own Mariel Zagunis, who won the gold in women’s saber in Athens. Blond and blue-eyed, with a smile that lights up the room, it wasn’t hard to spot her. As always, she signed autographs, posed for pictures, and gave interviews.
In direct and sad contrast, Sada Jacobson, who won the bronze in Athens, was completely ignored. I’ve seen this happen many times since Athens, and I always look at Sada while trying to imagine how alienated she must feel. She was the favorite in Athens and was devastated when the gold medal slipped out of her hands. Hey, a bronze medal at the Olympic Games is not a bad consolation prize, though.
Jacobson is again the favorite. She expected to win the gold in Athens, and that put her in a no-win situation. Now, she is in a better spot, as she is striving for the gold, rather than expecting it.
After the press hysteria died down, we were off to the Olympic Village. Finally, after a long travel day, it was time to get into our rooms, take a shower, breathe a sigh of (polluted) relief, and go down for dinner.
The first big event will be the opening ceremonies on Aug. 8. Having marched in Athens, I can tell you there is nothing like it. The next day, however, is a gigantic day for American fencing. That is the day of women’s saber individual. With Zagunis and Jacobson, we have the defending gold and bronze medalists. As if those two aren’t enough, we also have Rebecca Ward, who won the 2006 World Championships.
You know it is a big day when NBC has scheduled to show fencing, as there is the possibility for three medals.
Jeff Bukantz
U.S. Team Captain
--TOP--
Comment: comments@njjewishnews.com
