Upcoming Olympics & Process - 2016

The end of July has had several fun moments.  After my birthday on July 9th, I have been bouncing around the country, and in that time the USA Volleyball Beach National Teams and Men's and Women's Indoor National Teams have announced their Olympic rosters.  Some additions to the Rio rosters were expected to return from the 2012 London Olympics.  A few were perceived as surprise additions.  One thing remains certain: the time, work, and commitment that it takes to become an Olympian is undeniable and comes with massive sacrifice... at least this is what I have noticed from a distance.

Women's National Team Head Coach and three-time Olympian, Karch Kiraly, and I had a brief conversation through email in 2013 and I am sure that he wouldn't mind me sharing.  He closed the conversation with this quote, "As you will soon find out Olympic dreams take complete devotion, laser focus and a gigantic commitment of time.  For the next several years I will be giving exactly that level of devotion, focus and time to the Women's National Team.  Any precious free time I'm able to carve out will be reserved for cherished moments with my family."

This is the first Olympics to come around since that exchange and it's awesome for me to get to watch so many superstars make their first Olympics and return to their second, third, or, in Kerri Walsh's case, fourth Olympic Games.  

The timeline of favorite experiences in relation to the National Teams continuously goes backwards for me.  Most recently, I have spent time at the American Sports Center watching the womens' team begin their trainings at 8am

- Lion

Chris P Austin