Georgia Gempler goes to the Olympics

When my dad told me we were going to the Olympics, my first reaction was utter disbelief.
We had talked about entering the ticket lotteries in the late summer of 2008. But back then the games were so far off that I forgot about them for a while.
About a year later, last summer, my dad learned we had gotten tickets. And my expectations were sky high. I couldn’t wait to go.
My family and I left Yakima the Friday night of Presidents Day weekend, driving to Bellingham to stay with a family friend.
The next morning we all left for Whistler, British Columbia, where the alpine and Nordic skiing, luge, ski jumping, skeleton and bobsled events were being held.
After getting there and riding up the smaller of the two gondolas, we learned the women’s alpine skiing event had been postponed. Severely disappointed, we decided to ski around Whistler ourselves in the rain.
Even though the Olympics were going on, the ski area was still running in full force. Whistler is a huge ski area, and the actual Olympic events take up relatively little room.

The concept of skiing and doing the same sport as the professionals competing at the Olympics was interesting to think about.
On the way to Whistler, I kept hoping I wouldn’t crash or do anything embarrassing while I was there. Messing up in front of the best athletes in the world would probably be among the most embarrassing moments of my life.
I kept thinking that even if the athletes didn’t see me, everyone else would look at my skiing and compare me to the professionals. Luckily, none of that happened.
In fact, there was a lot of camaraderie among the skiers and snowboarders. People were there simply to have a good time and watch some of the most amazing athletes in the world.
After getting down the mountain, we watched the end of the ski jumping competition on the giant television in Whistler Village.

When it was announced the Swiss athlete Simon Ammann had won the gold, every Swiss person in the vicinity cheered. Every country had a “house” — a place where people from that country could talk and where souvenirs were sold — and that night they had a big celebration at the Swiss house in the village.
The next day, we were disappointed yet again when it became clear the men’s alpine ski event was also being postponed. Luckily, we were able to score some luge tickets, so we went to see the men’s singles luge event.
This was my first experience at an Olympic event. It was some of the most extreme crowd spirit I have ever experienced. The crowd was enthusiastic for every single competitor. Even if they were from a different country, it was simply a joy for everyone there to see the best athletes in the world at top form.
However, seeing as the Olympics are in Canada, every Canadian luger was cheered ecstatically. Cowbells and flags and whistles and shows of support of every kind were displayed as the Canadian team whipped by in the blink of an eye.

In my opinion, that was one of the best parts of actually being there: Getting to experience and feel the support that a host country gives its team. There is nothing like being a part of all that supportive energy.
While we were at the luge, we got to see the flower ceremony, which acknowledged the winners right after the race at the racing venue. They are given bouquets of flowers and get to stand on podiums, just like in the medal ceremony, which happens later in a separate arena.
Tons of people crammed into a tiny arena or on the sidewalk, where we were, to see the winners stand on the podium and receive recognition. It was great to be able to see the athletes up close and see their own excitement in person.
My favorite part of the ceremony was when the bronze and silver medal winners lifted the gold medalist, Felix Loch, onto their shoulders and then all three proceeded to wave and smile at the crowd. That kind of happiness for someone who has just beaten you for the most prestigious athletic award around is something I find truly wonderful.

Experiencing the Olympics live is definitely not the same as watching it on TV. This fact was solidified for me the next day, Monday, when we finally got to see the men’s alpine event. We skied to the viewing area very early so we could get a good spot. We were right up against the fence, and our view was spectacular.
As more and more people started to show up, the excitement and energy grew. We were eager to watch. Finally, the first athlete started down the course. On television, it is possible to see every little detail of what is happening to the skier. But in person, the best glimpse you have is a fleeting moment of wonder.
From our position in the viewing area, we could see the start of the race and the first few major curves. The last thing we saw each time was the athletes landing a spectacular jump and speeding away. It was exhilarating, especially when Bode Miller’s turn came. Every American there screamed and cheered their hearts out when he came whizzing past.

Some people even started a chant a full five minutes before he actually started. Although it didn’t quite measure up to the support the Canadian team received, it was still nice to hear that much American spirit.
The rest of the day consisted of skiing around Whistler and doing some nice powder runs. Later, we wandered around Whistler Village for a few final hours before leaving for home.

— Georgia Gempler is a sophomore at Davis High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for high school students.