The Greatest Sound: Practice, Practice

In the 10 days that I've been here prior to the start of competition, I've spent a good amount of time watching the Short Track Speed Skaters and Figure Skaters practice out at Pacific Coliseum and their smaller practice facilities around the city. It's been a real honor (honour, ha ha) to be prive to the routines and training tactics, but I haven't felt comfortable posting anything on the web about it... wouldn't want to give away any secrets!!! I've gotten some really great information about who to watch, what to expect and just how hard these guys worked to get here. I've interviewed countless athletes whom have said that the last four years of their lives have been dedicated to this moment. The amount of dedication and personal sacrifice is just unfathomable to a non-Olympic athlete like myself. When I see Speed Skaters fall in the final like the South Koreans did this evening, my heart breaks a little for them because I know how bad they've wanted it. Here are a few images and moments that I've gotten from practice, there will be more to come as they will continue to practice in the mornings prior to competition ... and like I have the last 10 days, I'll be there!