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Log inEastler 'very grateful' to compete at Olympics
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Eastler 'very grateful' to compete at Olympics
by Outspoken on Fri Aug 15, 2008 3:53 am
Eastler 'very grateful' to compete at Olympics
BY MIKE LOWE
Blethen Maine Newspapers
BEIJING -- Tom Eastler was doing what any proud father would do: enjoying the attention that his daughter, Gretchen, was getting after winning a racewalking state championship one long ago afternoon.
And as he was there, telling anyone and everyone that Gretchen was, indeed, his daughter, a friend tapped him on his shoulder. "Hey Tom,'' the man said. "You might want to take a look at this. Kevin just set a Maine record.''
Kevin, thought Tom Eastler. My Kevin?
"I didn't even know he was in the race,'' said Tom Eastler. "That was his first win. He went on from there.''
You could say that. From his first win as a 9-year-old to his victory in the 20-kilometer racewalk in the U.S. Olympic Trials in early July, Kevin Eastler has established himself as America's premier racewalker.
He holds the U.S. record for the 30K racewalk and he has the three fastest 20K times for an American since 2006. And now he wants to put an exclamation point on his career with his second Olympic appearance.
"I'm very grateful for this chance,'' said Kevin Eastler, who was raised in Farmington and went to Mt. Blue High School. "I had to go through a lot this year and that makes this that much sweeter, to work through all that and to finish first in the Olympic trials -- it's a nice way to finish your career.''
Yes, this is likely the last great competitive race Kevin Eastler will run. He is 30. And he has battled some serious injuries this year. He suffered a deep sports hernia in December, forcing surgery, then has battled knee problems in his recovery. Recently, he has had hamstring issues.
His body, he has said, has had enough and is telling him so.
"Twenty-one years,'' he said, "is a long time.''
He certainly has lasted longer than anyone expected, including his father. Kevin Eastler got into the sport because of his sister, Gretchen, who set junior national records and competed in the 2000 trials.
"I saw her do it, I saw her do it well,'' he said. "So I did it.''
Besides, he said, after playing one year of basketball in middle school, he was convinced ball sports weren't for him.
It was a pretty good decision.
"He's smart, he trains smart and he races smart,'' said Tom Eastler. "And he's tough. You might not see it in his persona, but he is tough. He doesn't want to lose. Just going through the pain he was in at the trials, OK that amazes me, but it probably shouldn't have because he has always done amazing things.''
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5318223.html
The Associated Press
BY MIKE LOWE
Blethen Maine Newspapers
BEIJING -- Tom Eastler was doing what any proud father would do: enjoying the attention that his daughter, Gretchen, was getting after winning a racewalking state championship one long ago afternoon.
And as he was there, telling anyone and everyone that Gretchen was, indeed, his daughter, a friend tapped him on his shoulder. "Hey Tom,'' the man said. "You might want to take a look at this. Kevin just set a Maine record.''
Kevin, thought Tom Eastler. My Kevin?
"I didn't even know he was in the race,'' said Tom Eastler. "That was his first win. He went on from there.''
You could say that. From his first win as a 9-year-old to his victory in the 20-kilometer racewalk in the U.S. Olympic Trials in early July, Kevin Eastler has established himself as America's premier racewalker.
He holds the U.S. record for the 30K racewalk and he has the three fastest 20K times for an American since 2006. And now he wants to put an exclamation point on his career with his second Olympic appearance.
"I'm very grateful for this chance,'' said Kevin Eastler, who was raised in Farmington and went to Mt. Blue High School. "I had to go through a lot this year and that makes this that much sweeter, to work through all that and to finish first in the Olympic trials -- it's a nice way to finish your career.''
Yes, this is likely the last great competitive race Kevin Eastler will run. He is 30. And he has battled some serious injuries this year. He suffered a deep sports hernia in December, forcing surgery, then has battled knee problems in his recovery. Recently, he has had hamstring issues.
His body, he has said, has had enough and is telling him so.
"Twenty-one years,'' he said, "is a long time.''
He certainly has lasted longer than anyone expected, including his father. Kevin Eastler got into the sport because of his sister, Gretchen, who set junior national records and competed in the 2000 trials.
"I saw her do it, I saw her do it well,'' he said. "So I did it.''
Besides, he said, after playing one year of basketball in middle school, he was convinced ball sports weren't for him.
It was a pretty good decision.
"He's smart, he trains smart and he races smart,'' said Tom Eastler. "And he's tough. You might not see it in his persona, but he is tough. He doesn't want to lose. Just going through the pain he was in at the trials, OK that amazes me, but it probably shouldn't have because he has always done amazing things.''
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5318223.html
The Associated Press
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
