Besides Bob Costas and a host of Nike and Reebok executives, a number of Dartmouth student and alumni athletes are among those competing to represent their countries in Sydney, Australia this summer in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
So far, however, only one Dartmouth alumnus, Dominic Seiterle '98, has been officially named to an Olympic team this coming summer. Seiterle will be rowing doubles for the Canadian team.
For many, competing in the Olympics has been a lifelong dream. For others, it is the logical result of years of hard work, practice and achievement. For still others, it is both.
Take Adam Nelson '97, for example.
A world class athlete in the shot put and, according to former coach Barry Harwick '77, a favorite to make the U.S. Olympic Team, Nelson said that he sees his athletic ability as an opportunity that he needs to take advantage of.
"How many dream of making the Olympic team and then how many people actually get a chance to do it?" Nelson asked. "Not too many people get to pursue [their dreams] to the extent that I have."
Nelson, among the top five throwers in the country and top 10 in the world, said he expects to do well at the track and field trials in Sacramento, Calif., in July, when he will compete for one of three shotput slots on the U.S. team.
"You can't commit as much time and sacrifice as much as it takes and not expect to make the team," Nelson said.
Jennifer Morgan '02 and Erin Maxwell '01, on the other hand, spent only the first half of Fall term in Florida training for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team trials, a practice run before the 2004 Games.
"It was incredible ... the coolest thing I've ever done in my entire life," Morgan said enthusiastically of the attempt to fulfill her longtime Olympic dream.
Although the two did not qualify for the Olympics, which would have required winning the 10 day qualifying regatta, their fifth place finish in a field of about 25 boats did earn them a place on the U.S. Sailing Team.
Morgan said the trials proved to be a learning experience, the lessons from which she plans to apply when she competes for a spot on U.S. sailing delegation to the 2004 Summer Olympics in Greece.
The pair finished just behind another Dartmouth sailor, Whitney Connor '95, who sailed with a Yale graduate. Connor, who called the trials "fun and intense," came in third.
Former women's track team members Kristin Manwaring '96 and Maribel Sanchez '96, who run the 1500 and the 5000 meter races, respectively, will be traveling to Sacramento to try out for the U.S. Olympic Team.
Manwaring, however, said she is taking it one step at a time.
"Once I've qualified for the trials I'll start to worry about the actual competition," Manwaring said.
Nelson's former teammate, Greg Johnston '99, will be trying out for the Canadian team in the decathlon, coming off of a record-setting senior year at Dartmouth during which he was named an All-American.
On striving to make the Olympic team, Johnston said that early in an athlete's career, one might think about someday going to the Games, but that as it actually begins to seem to be an attainable goal, the focus shifts to more immediate goals.
"As you go along, you discover ... little things that you can be satisfied with," he said.
Johnston said the Olympic standard is attainable for him if he performs well at the trials, but that making the team will be "a happy surprise." A little "burned out," he plans to take a break from his sport after this year and then come back for the 2004 Olympics.
One other former Dartmouth runner also attempted to earn a trip to Sydney.
Marathoner Chris Langan '96 placed 26th in a field of 120 on May 7, despite being in his final year of medical school while training for the race.
Three alumni of the men's crew team besides Seiterle are currently hoping to earn trips to the Games.
Ted Murphy '94, Dan Prtotz '96 and Dan Perkins '97 are currently in training prior to the Olympic rowing trials, scheduled to take place in Camden, N.J., June 7 to 12, and at Princeton August 9 to 14.