An Olympians' Patriotic Field Trip

When you’re an Olympic figure skater or Olympic gymnast in Rapid City, South Dakota the week before Christmas, what is the first thing you do? (Hint: it has nothing to do with figure skating or gymnastics…)

Throw on your warmest socks and boots and head to Mt. Rushmore of course! And I do mean WARMEST clothes – it’s been between minus six degrees and 18 degrees all weekend. And don’t even get me started on the broken thermostat in my room, or how I forgot to pack pajama pants and had to borrow someone else’s long underwear to sleep in, or how I forgot deodorant, and had to buy Old Spice men’s deodorant to use from the gift shop. It’s all part of life on the road – or as sound guy/production manager and all-around go-to guy Eric puts it, “There ain’t nothin’ like show business.” He of course, was talking about more than just forgotten clothes – he was talking about travel troubles that plagued the show from the very beginning, but that is for another post.

Anyhow, three vans full of Olympic, world and national champions loaded up today for a field trip to Mt. Rushmore before kicking off a day of rehearsals at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. There was U.S. champion Evan Lysacek cuddling with his girlfriend, ice dancing champion Tanith Belbin in one car while friends Nastia Liukin, Shawn Johnson and Samantha Peszek giggled in the backseat of another car. Their names should sound familiar but in case they don’t, think back on this summer’s 2008 Olympics:

Nastia Liukin: 2008 Olympic individual all-around gold medalist, 2005 and 2007 World Champion on the balance beam, and the 2005 World Champion on the uneven bars. She is tied with Shannon Miller as the American gymnast having won the most World Championship medals.

Shawn Johnson: 2008 Olympic women’s balance beam gold medalist, individual all-around silver medalist, the 2007 all-around World Champion and the 2007 and 2008 U.S. all-around champion.

Samantha Peszek: an American national team gymnast and member of the U.S. 2008 Olympic women’s gymnastics team.

The gymnast list is decorated with many top male and female athletes, too many to describe here. The figure skating list is equally as long and decorated. 2008 U.S. bronze medalist Caroline Zhang makes her first appearance in a Disson show, and she is working her tail off to nail her routines. She and her mom joined our Mt. Rushmore excursion and I couldn’t help but wonder how she wasn’t freezing in her thin – yet adorable! – little coat. She’s only 15, not much younger than many of the gymnasts, and I can usually find her playing games or texting friends on her Iphone.

The trip to Mt. Rushmore included a lot fewer historical facts, and a ton more fun. Everyone giggled in the cold as we made the trek to the viewing area. The gymnasts hopped up on the wall and did hand stands for the cameras in front of the monument. Lucky bystanders who got to see these inspiring Olympic champions strike goofy poses in front of the monument snapped pictures of their own. As the group headed back to the cars, I lagged behind for a moment to appreciate the wintry forest and rolling hills around me, wishing I knew a little more about the monument. I couldn’t help but appreciate a rare, proud patriotic moment – it seemed perfect to picture the chiseled faces of some of our country’s most influential leaders looking over some of our country’s most inspiring athletes.

A bitter breeze brings me back, and I head down with some of the crew to get rehearsal started for what is going to be the best show of the season: “Progressive presents Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular” tomorrow night at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center! There are just a few tickets left and you can visit www.gotmine.com to purchase them!