Paralympic and olympic experience

Check my earlier blog. I was falsely blamed for errors made by overweight aggressive volunteer, added, believe it or not, to our team at the last minute, on day 2 of the Olympic Games.How dumb is that!. I've worked for three years on my Biathlon Team, never missing a race and never making an error. Why did I have to be placed with an inexperienced volunteer who physically abused me?

I was demoted from my position on the penalty loop and reassigned to the stadium crew. This turned out to be a positive experience as I met several volunteers with similar interests - x-c country skiers, canoeists and outdoor enthusiasts. Although I felt isolated from my Range Crew, the new friends helped me adjust.

As part of the stadium crew, I enjoyed setting up the penalty loop with Sashe and Russian Andrey Tokarey. The Russian athlete was an 11th world cup medal winner in biathlon and was the most unassuming person I have met. I had no idea how famous he was during the days I worked with him setting out the v-boards for the race. Later I had my photos taken with him, something I will cherish.

My stress over the false accustions did not abate. I met my supervisor after the fateful Feb 14th olympic race and could not get her to listen to my side of the story. She was a stone wall. Of course it was her friend from Maine who made the errors and Karen would not entertain the idea that her friend had messed up.

Fitting into the stadium crew became much easier when I was befriended by Brenda, one of the access marshalls. She recognized that I had been cut off my own crew on the Range and invited me for lunch. I appreciate people who reach out to someone who has been unfairly treated.

The Olympics ended, but I had unfinished business. As I left the site on the final day of competition, a workforce personel asked about my experience. I told him that 2010 was wonderful but that I had a negative personal experience. He asked me to give him the details and in the next couple of weeks, this wonderful caring official helped me out.

However, I was never completed satistfied with the results as I needed to have my name cleared, but at least I had someone who listened.

The Paralympics were a wonderful experience for me. I am slightly disabled..hobbling about with a trecking pole. A year ago I was climbing cliffs, x-c skiing and snowboarding and now I am having trouble walking. Being physically abused by an inexperiened volunteer added injury to injury. How could this happen at the Olympics where fairness and zero tolerance for abuse it the rule?

I learned so much from the paralympians. They had suffered loss of limbs, visual impairment and yet they trained and excelled. I am so blown away by their amazing performances.

I was in the wheel chair exchange tent. We never asked the athletes if they wanted help. We simply waited until they asked us. I was delighted when our Canadian athlete, Sebastian, asked me to help him. He was a outgoing young man who won our hearts.

The most amazing person in the event was the German athlete who was born with only small arms, due, I would guess from Thalidamide. He was so very personable, laughing with everyone and happy to be such a strong athlete. He placed 3rd in the standing category, skiing against other competitors with far less disability. What a beautiful man!

So the two months of competition are over. I am home, recovering from a cold and a touch of Pneumonia. I am still trying to clear my name and have so many wonderful officials assisting me. No one wants to see injustice within Nordic Sports. No one wants to see a volunteer with 35 years of service, falsely blamed, humiliated and shunned. I will have my name cleared.


I am busy writing again. My first adult novel will be finished in a couple of years and after that I will work on writing a history of x-c skiing. I have a lot to contribute; first I need have a fair hearing and be vindicated in this embarrassing and bullying incident.