Olympian recounts her journey to suburban group
A two-time Olympian and silver medalist in Beijing came calling on the Northwest suburbs on Wednesday, and she drew excited receptions wherever she went.
Kara Lynn Joyce, 22, was part of the 4 X 100 freestyle relay, anchored by Dara Torres, that came in second to the Netherlands in Beijing. Joyce collected two silver medals when she was part of a winning relays in Athens in the 2004 Olympics.
During her appearances on Wednesday, she gave a behind the scenes look at the Olympic experience, even as she pledged to return to the 2012 Olympics in London, in her quest to win a gold.
"It wasn't quite the outcome I was hoping for, but I was thrilled," Joyce told a crowd of nearly 150 gathered at Runners High 'n Tri in downtown Arlington Heights, her last stop of the day.
Her visit drew everyone from younger age group swimmers and their parents to members of the Buffalo Grove High School girls swim team, to adult triathletes.
Kristan Wagner of Rolling Meadows came with members of the Buehler Y Tri Club in Palatine.
"It's so inspiring with all that she achieved," Wagner said. "I just had to come and see her." Likewise, Sheila Hamilton of Wheeling, said she had been competing in triathlons for 10 years, but she hoped to hear from an Olympian about setting higher standards.
"I want to hear about how she stays focused, and on target, in achieving all that she has," Hamilton said.
Joyce's day began with a series of visits to area high school swim team practices, where she reflected on her own high school experience, swimming on the same club team in Ann Arbor, Mich., as Michael Phelps.
She met with girls from Hersey, Wheeling and Prospect high schools as well as St. Viator and Loyola Academy swimmers before their dual meet in Arlington Heights.
At the St. Viator pool, Joyce began her visit by handing over her skintight Speedo Fastskin LZR Racer suit for the teens to see, but what really captured their interest were her medals.
The teens examined the Beijing version, with its jade inlay in the back, giving it extra weight and value, and it prompted St. Viator co-captain Lauren Gallagher of Arlington Heights to ask about her feelings standing on the medal podium.
"It gave me the chills, it's everything you ever think it would be," said Joyce, who will return to Athens next week to resume her training. "It's super emotional."
Joyce explained that she had dreamed of being in the Olympics since she was 7, when she saw Summer Sanders swim in the 1992 Olympics. By the time she was 14, she had qualified for the Olympic trials.
"On days when I really didn't want to get up, and didn't want to dive into an ice cold pool, I thought about what had brought me there," Joyce said, "that I want to be an Olympian, and I want to win a gold medal."