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Health & Fitness

Olympics: A First Hand Account

  People have been asking many questions regarding my experience as a Chiropractor to the athletes at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia... and the resounding first question is “How was it?” To sum up the Olympics in one word I’d have to say, “Challenging.”
  In all the other years when I have traveled with the Bobsled and Skeletal team on tour I would have to report that my general satisfaction ranges from a 7-9 out of a possible 10. At these games the level ranged from a 1-10. Some moments of absolute elation and other moments of utter dejection. When so much is riding on a few minutes of sport, the outcome can be vastly different. Sometimes 4, 8 or even 12 years of training culminates in 4 runs, 4 miles of track, and about 4 minutes of your life. I had not realized the gravity of this until I witnessed it first hand.  
  The absolute best moment for me would have to be walking in the Opening Ceremonies. It was not until about two hours prior to the actual event when I had heard that I was granted a pass to walk with the team. They basically said, “Suit up, you are walking.”   
  I immediately called my family and friends and said, “Watch for me, you may catch a glimpse.” Little did I know that I was going to be so easy to spot. Maybe because of my goatee, maybe because of my size? Either way, there was plenty of proof that I was there. My wife, my parents, my family, my in-laws, everyone’s phone was blowing up after the camera caught my face. Because of the time change, my phone didn’t start blowing up until I was fast asleep. I had to turn it off so I could rest up for the next day, but when I turned it on in the morning, I was inundated with texts, phone calls and emails. Pretty cool to say the least.   
  Walking with the team was surreal. Whether or not you liked those USA sweaters, they certainly looked good when worn in a group and you absolutely could not mistake our group for any other country. For that I am glad. Thanks Ralph Lauren. I am framing that sweater and will display it proudly in my office. I didn’t think I’d be getting any more use out of it other than a decoration.  
  The media sometimes spins, constructs, or completely fabricates stories to rile public interest. As someone who was there, in the trenches, I can offer a first hand account of the situation, accommodations, and general feel.   
  First off, because my athletes did not start competition until the 13th of February, we checked into the Mountain Village and immediately proceeded to the Coastal Village where the team was “dry-land” training. It was obvious that the Coastal Village was slated to be luxury resort-style rentals and multiple bedroom type apartments. Most rooms had a view of the Black Sea. In fact there was one morning when two war ships were patrolling the coast accompanied by a playful pod of dolphins. High ceilings and spacious living areas made these rooms very comfortable.  
  The Coastal Village was vast. Many countries brought over their own bicycles which made commuting very easy. Most structures including the cafeteria and recreation center were less than a 20-minute walk. If you were feeling lazy, like I often did, you could take the bus system which was timely and frequent.  
  Our off-site training center was outside of the Olympic Village. It was about 15 minutes away. The drive reminded me of visiting a resort island where the drive from the airport to the resort meandered through impoverished towns giving you a real sense of the economical climate.  
  Fast forward a few days. As our competitions began to approach, we needed to migrate back up to the Mountain Village. This was officially one of the most compact Winter Olympics with the mountain and coastal clusters being a mere 1-hour bus ride apart.   
  The Mountain Village had a completely different feel. I can’t quite put my finger on it but the general consensus was that the construction seemed rushed. Still comfortable and luxurious by many countries standards, it didn’t have the feeling that it would stand the test of time. It has to be stated that most Olympic venues are created in pre-existing cities. This mountain cluster was built from the ground up with the city being built with the expressed purpose of accommodating an Olympic Games.  
  There were certainly glitches which is to be expected in any new construction I suppose. Many rooms including my own were handicapped rooms. With the Paralympic Games following the Olympic Games, these accommodations were necessary for many of those athletes.   With that being the case, said rooms did not have shower stalls. Only corners that had drains to allow for wheelchair access. Conventional wisdom would dictate that the floor would slope towards the drains but unfortunately someone did not get this memo. This was realized when the occupant took their first “shower.” Their floor sloped towards the bathroom door and the water accumulated in the hallway much to their chagrin. Like I said, just a couple of glitches but all in all a resounding success.  
  The cafeteria had many stations including an Asian cuisine station, a salad station, a pizza station, and many others. At no point were athletes and staff short on choices. With that being said, I did get sick of those choices by the end of the trip. I wanted my New York pizza, and a real burger and some ice cream. I guess these became my cravings due to their absence.  
  Security was certainly a concern for most of my friends, patients and family. Upon arrival you were given a credential which acted as your pass to get into and out of venues. It also acted as your Russian Visa and allowed to you leave the country. It was embedded with a chip which was scanned every time you came or went. Each venue had a control station where the transportation vehicle was checked by a security detail armed with flashlights, mirrors, dogs, etc. Every door was checked, every hood was opened. The worst part about the security was the time inconvenience which I gladly accepted due to the benefits outweighing the risks.  
  Upon returning home I was both physically and emotionally exhausted. The main reason for my need to accomplish this dream was for validation.  The fact that the Olympics have included chiropractors as part of their medical team, has elevated the profession of Chiropractic. By my Olympic appointment I have officially cemented my personal reputation and True Sport Care’s reputation in upholding a higher standard of care – one which is favored by OLYMPIC level athletes.   Many thanks go out to everyone who has supported me in this endeavor – family, friends, coworkers and patients. Most of all, my wife and business partner, Hope, without whom this dream would have ceased to exist. Thank you!

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