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Becoming an Olympian is a long and difficult process, one not for the faint of heart or the unskilled. An Olympian like a professional golfer, has to be determined, focused, committed, and tough, both physically and mentally. For many of the participants of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, golf is a sweet escape to help them to get away from the daily grind of training and many athletes see parallels between their sport and golf.
Although many of the Olympic hopefuls may not be ready to turn to professional golf at the conclusion of the games, golf has become a passion for these young athletes. After an unfortunate accident during a speedskating competition, 2010 Olympic Team Member JR Celski was laid up in bed for 3 months, all the time staring at his brand new set of Nike clubs sitting next to his bed, dreaming of the day he could get back to the golf course. Although top biathlon contender Lowell Bailey only got to play 4 times this past summer, he says that golf is a huge part of his life, even helping to organize a charity golf tournament every summer.
Meet some of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Game’s biggest stars that we all will be watching “go for the gold” and find out how their love of the game of golf helps inspire them to compete in their sport.
Athlete: Katie Uhlaender
Sport: Skeleton
Biography: Katie Uhlaender began the sport of skeleton in 2002, quickly climbing national rank by winning both the National and Junior National Championships in her first season. Uhlaender made the Winter Olympic Team in 2006 and slid to a sixth place finish in Torino, Italy. She dominated the World Cup tour during the 2006-2008 seasons, winning five gold medals and claiming the overall World Cup crown. Uhlaender’s father, Ted Uhlaender, died on February 12, 2009 after a yearlong struggle with multiple myeloma, a cancer that affects the plasma cells of bone marrow. About two weeks later, she decided to compete at the World Championships in Lake Placid, confident that’s what her dad would have wanted. Not surprisingly, she found herself in tears throughout the event and was unable to compete up to her usual level. Still, she finished a respectable seventh. Uhlaender will go to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games as the lone competitor for the U.S. women’s skeleton team in the hopes of finding her way to the medal podium.
Average 18-Hole Score: 110
Golf Background: Introduced to the game of golf by her dad and grandparents who played golf up until their early 90s.
Comparing Snowboarding to Golf: Uhlaender says that the mental aspect may compare because she says that you have an instant to really focus on what you are doing and go for it. “There are no take backs. Physically, in my sport, it’s all about staying relaxed in a potentially intense situation much like the game of golf,” says Uhlaender who is a self-taught golfer.
Dream Foursome: Clint Eastwood, Tiger Woods, Me, and Annika Sorenstam to make it even.
Quote: “Probably when my body is too beat up for everything else I would love to compete in golf.”
Athlete: Jessie Vetter
Sport: Hockey
Biography: Growing up with three brothers, Vetter became a goaltender by default. Vetter played four years for the University on Wisconsin, leading the Badgers to three Championship titles in 2006, 2007, 2009. Goaltender Jessie Vetter is making her Olympic debut in Vancouver. Known for her easygoing nature, Vetter will be a key player in the U.S. bid to win gold in Canada.
Average 18-Hole Score: 80
Golf Background: Her father and grandfather introduced her to the game of golf at a young age.
Comparing Hockey to Golf: Vetter says that the sport of hockey is more physical, but that golf requires a great deal of mental strength. “I think the mental part of the game is very similar, especially for me being a goaltender. If you have a bad shot in golf or let in a bad goal in hockey you have to forget about it and try and make the next shot or the next save,” says Vetter, who would consider playing in golf tournaments when she is finished with her hockey career.
Dream Foursome: Annika Sorenstam, Brett Favre and Mike Richter
Quote: “I believe golf is one of the most difficult sports and professional golfers are definitely athletes in my mind.”
Athlete: Lowell Bailey
Sport: Biathlon
Biography: Born in North Carolina and raised is Upstate New York, Bailey was recruited by the U.S. Biathlon Team and qualified for the Junior World Championship only after a few years in the sport. Bailey is one of the top contenders for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games in Biathlon.
Average 18-Hole Score: N/A-Because of his intensive training this past year, Bailey has only gotten to play 3 to 4 times this summer, but says that golf will definitely be a part of his life after the Olympics.
Golf Background: Started playing golf in high school with his friends in the spring when they didn’t have ski practice.
Comparing the Biathlon to Golf: Bailey says that there is a lot of hand-eye coordination that goes in to executing a perfect shot in biathlon and that the same goes for golf. “The shooting part of biathlon is psychologically very similar to golf,” says Bailey who is involved in a fund raising scramble golf tournament every summer.
Dream Foursome: Tiger, Greg Norman, and John Daley
Quote: “Golf pros are incredible athletes, especially on the psychological side. To win a tournament like the Masters, you must have complete mastery of your concentration.”
Athlete: Trevor Marsicano
Sport: Speedskating
Biography:Trevor Marsicano became the surprise star of the 2009 World Single Distance Championships, where he was the most decorated skater with four medals. His most impressive performance was in the 1000m, which he won, beating Olympic champion Shani Davis. Is a gold-medal contender in several events at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
Average 18-Hole Score: 100
Golf Background: Marsicano’s grandfather introduced him to the game of golf when he was 9-years-old and took a few golf lessons.
Comparing Speedskating to Golf: Marsicano says that speedskating is all about core and balance and this helps his golf swing. “I think the main parallel between speedskating and golf is that each sport is very technical. If you don’t have technique in skating you won’t go fast. If you don’t have technique in golf, you won’t hit the ball far.”
Dream Foursome: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson
Quote: “I do consider professional golfers athletes, because golf is all about the mind. It is a constant battle to stay in the game especially when you have a couple of bad shots in a row. It’s hard to stay mentally into it.”
Athlete: JR Celski
Sport: Speedskating
Biography: Born John Robert “J. R.” Celski on July 17, 1990 to parents of Polish and Filipino descent. Celski was an in-line skater until he was inspired to switch to short track speedskating after watching Apolo Ohno compete at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics Games. During the 2009 U.S. Short Track Speed Skating Olympic Trials, Celski was one the leaders but was injured during a crash in the semifinals of the 500 m race where his right skate sliced into his left leg. Despite suffering an injury during the trials, Celski earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and is one of the top contenders in this year’s Olympics.
Average 18-Hole Score: N/A, but average drive is about 280 yards
Golf Background: Playing since the age of 10 on and off, he got serious about 2 years ago and played every other day last summer. “I don’t have a handicap, but I want to get one. My grandpa taught me how to play.”
Comparing Speedskating to Golf: Golf is a lot like speedskating in that You have to stay calm while you hit the ball… If I loose my focus on my backswing, I mess up my downswing.
Dream Foursome: Would be happy just playing with his agent Brandon.
Quote: “Golf is my second favorite pastime. It is probably the hardest thing I do besides skating. In speedskating you can slip in a race, if you can’t hold it together mentally. Just like golf, you have to hold it together mentally while you play. You can’t get mad in golf, ’cause once you get mad, your game it shot…”
For more information on these athletes including photos, videos and their Olympic broadcast schedules visit www.nbcolympics.com or www.teamusa.org.