The letter from the U.S. Olympic Committee might have been just what Teri Clemens needed.
Laid up in Barnes-Jewish Hospital with a persistent health problem that hastened her retirement from coaching the Bears volleyball team, Clemens received the letter from the USOC in March.
Friends and family gathered around as they read the letter asking Clemens to be a torchbearer in the 2004 Global Olympic Torch Relay.
And Clemens cried.
“I think it helped me so much to get through it, because I couldn’t even walk at the time, I was in a wheelchair,” said Clemens, who coached the Bears to seven Division III national titles, including six straight from 1991-96. “I realized that I had four months to train. It was really unbelievable to find out.”
After some rehab, Clemens stepped onto Bushyhead Track at Francis Field on June 17 to run her leg of the torch relay. St. Louis philanthropist E. Desmond Lee and Michael R. DeBaun, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and of biostatistics, also carried the torch through portions of campus.
“It’s so emotional for me because you represent so many different facets of my own life and everyone else’s, not only as an American, but also as a St. Louisan, as a Washington University coach and as a mother of six,” Clemens said. “I feel like I’m carrying it for so many different people, as is everyone else. We are only about (120) people, but we are representing thousands and thousands.”
The torch relay was the final event of a whirlwind two days that saw several Olympians address attendees of various University youth sports clinics; a training session for torchbearers; and the rededication of historic Francis Field.
The two-day celebration marked the end of the University’s yearlong Sesquicentennial festivities.
The events started early June 16 with tennis, basketball, football and baseball clinics for hundreds of area children.
Three-time Olympian and two-time world cross-country champion Craig Virgin then addressed more than 300 of the clinic participants.
He peppered his address with some of his favorite quotes, including “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you are probably right,” and “Life is about the journey, not just the destination.”
He also showed video highlights of his career and his Olympic experiences.
Throughout, he made it clear that in order to reach great heights, everyone — not just Olympic athletes — needs to set goals, and use the six-step process including commitment, discipline, preparation, persistence, focus and execution to reach them.
Following Virgin was Jill Savery, a 1996 gold medalist in synchronized swimming and an eight-time world champion.
“To me, you start dreaming when you are a child,” said Savery, who started dreaming in 1984 when Mary Lou Retton took the gymnastics world by storm. “If you don’t start then, I think it’s too late. And the important thing to tell kids is that life isn’t about the Olympics. Anything you try to achieve in life, I think the same ideals apply.
“The motivation needed, the goal-setting needed, it applies to everything. Some kids aren’t athletic — not everyone can be an Olympian — but it’s about life’s lessons. Finishing school, whatever it is. I think it’s important at a young age to learn that, and the Olympics is a great stage to teach that.”
Field rededication
The rededication of Francis Field, site of the track and field events for the 1904 Olympics, was moved inside because of inclement weather. More than 500 people didn’t mind, though, as they sat on the bleachers of the Field House in the Athletic Complex and heard comments from Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton; Charlie A. Dooley, St. Louis County executive;
Jeff Rainford, chief of staff for St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay; John Schael, director of athletics at the University; Robert Marbut, chair of the USOC’s National Governing Bodies’ Council; and Virgin and fellow Olympian Wendy Williams, who won the platform diving bronze medal in 1988.
“We believe that intercollegiate athletics at the Division III level are very important … and are in the same tradition of the Olympics,” Wrighton said. “We play to win, but we are amateurs. We are an institution that supports the student-athlete. …
“We are proud to be rededicating our field today, we are proud that you are here with us to help us celebrate, and we are very grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the Olympic activities this summer.”
After the rededication, many of the torchbearers attended a quick training session, where USOC members went over the various do’s and don’ts.
Perhaps surprisingly, falling down, dropping the torch or starting fires wasn’t at the top of the “don’ts” list.
“The thing that most people do wrong is run too fast,” said Ken Meyerhoffer, spokesman for the USOC advance team that was in St. Louis. “People get excited and get their adrenaline going, and they start running too fast. You don’t want to outrun the camera truck.”
A truck with both still and video photographers leads the runners on their journey. And to help stay the course, the USOC provides several escort runners to run with the actual torchbearers to give advice when needed.
At the training session, torchbearers also received their uniforms, including shorts, shirts, socks, bandanas and hats; had a chance to buy their torches; and picked up a few goodie bags from various torch relay sponsors.
Parking and transportation services pitched in by providing six Washington University shuttle vans or buses to help all torchbearers get to where they needed to go throughout the city.
“We are really excited to be involved because of the global nature of the event and also because of the University’s Olympic history,” said Lisa Underwood, manager of parking and transportation services.
“We appreciate having the opportunity to provide the transportation for this event.”
Then, on June 17, came the torch’s entrance. Shortly after 8 p.m., St. Louis philanthropist and 1940 School of Business alum E. Desmond Lee carried the torch into Francis Field via the Big Bend Boulevard entrance.
Lee ran around the stadium side of the track and handed the torch to Clemens, who was waiting under the Francis Field gates.
Clemens took the flame back around the stadium side of the track before heading out of the field and sending the flame on its way through University City.
“The Global Torch Relay is such a great opportunity for everyone in St. Louis to be linked to the 2004 Olympic games,” said Leah Merrifield, director of community relations.
“St. Louisans from downtown to many different areas of St. Louis County were able to see the Olympic flame as it was carried through our neighborhoods by torchbearers, many of whom have amazing stories of strength and courage.”
The flame came back to campus via down Skinker Boulevard, where Michael R. DeBaun, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics and of biostatistics, carried the torch up the steps of Brookings Hall before passing the flame to those who would take it into Forest Park for a celebration that included several past Olympians, music by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and fireworks.