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Log inEx-UM long jumper to represent Ukraine for Olympics
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Ex-UM long jumper to represent Ukraine for Olympics
by Outspoken on Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:44 am
Ex-UM long jumper to represent Ukraine for Olympics
By Ernie Clark
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
Rolland Ranson knew he was witnessing a special athlete the first day he watched Viktoriya Rybalko practice at the University of Maine.
"She single leg-hopped the entire [Alfond] Stadium stairs [bottom to top] many times with each leg, and then double leg-hopped, and then ran the stadium stairs eight times," said Ranson, an assistant track coach for the Black Bears, via e-mail.
"No one has come close to that since, although several who met Vika and trained around her attempted to."
That athletic prowess was one of several factors that set Rybalko apart from the field in Orono — and set the stage for her emergence as a world-class long jumper who will represent her native Ukraine in the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing.
Rybalko won her specialty at the Ukrainian national championship and Olympic Trials meet in early July with best jumps of 6.7 meters during the qualifying rounds and 6.72 meters in the finals — both efforts of just over 22 feet.
The 25-year-old Rybalko followed up that performance two weeks ago by finishing fourth in the 2008 European championships.
"Her dream is finally being realized," said Ranson, who corresponds with Rybalko frequently.
Rybalko arrived in Maine at age 16, having already attended an English-speaking school back home in order to prepare for life in the United States.
"My first impression was a letter she postal-mailed to me from her home as a high school senior, with a photo of her standing beside a map of the world and a small bag packed sitting on the floor and old track spikes beside her," Ranson said. "She was barely 16 years old and her goal was to come to the USA, earn a degree and make the Olympics."
Nine years later, she’s 3-for-3.
Rybalko competed for the Black Bears from 1999 to 2003, winning six New England titles in indoor track and field, two in outdoor track and 10 America East championships while establishing 11 school records.
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=168108&zoneid=500
(Bangor Daily News/File Photos)
By Ernie Clark
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
Rolland Ranson knew he was witnessing a special athlete the first day he watched Viktoriya Rybalko practice at the University of Maine.
"She single leg-hopped the entire [Alfond] Stadium stairs [bottom to top] many times with each leg, and then double leg-hopped, and then ran the stadium stairs eight times," said Ranson, an assistant track coach for the Black Bears, via e-mail.
"No one has come close to that since, although several who met Vika and trained around her attempted to."
That athletic prowess was one of several factors that set Rybalko apart from the field in Orono — and set the stage for her emergence as a world-class long jumper who will represent her native Ukraine in the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing.
Rybalko won her specialty at the Ukrainian national championship and Olympic Trials meet in early July with best jumps of 6.7 meters during the qualifying rounds and 6.72 meters in the finals — both efforts of just over 22 feet.
The 25-year-old Rybalko followed up that performance two weeks ago by finishing fourth in the 2008 European championships.
"Her dream is finally being realized," said Ranson, who corresponds with Rybalko frequently.
Rybalko arrived in Maine at age 16, having already attended an English-speaking school back home in order to prepare for life in the United States.
"My first impression was a letter she postal-mailed to me from her home as a high school senior, with a photo of her standing beside a map of the world and a small bag packed sitting on the floor and old track spikes beside her," Ranson said. "She was barely 16 years old and her goal was to come to the USA, earn a degree and make the Olympics."
Nine years later, she’s 3-for-3.
Rybalko competed for the Black Bears from 1999 to 2003, winning six New England titles in indoor track and field, two in outdoor track and 10 America East championships while establishing 11 school records.
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=168108&zoneid=500
(Bangor Daily News/File Photos)
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
