Two days ago was another one of those extraordinary days. I was testing at Whistler Olympic Park in the cross country events. I tested a couple of amazing athletes and met Brian McKeever (the partially blind cross country athlete) who trains in Canmore and is guided by his brother. A wonderfully shy and accomplished person he appears to be. Everyone in the station was anxious to shake his hand and congratulate him before he left the doping station. As well we all got to see his medal - they are heavy and have a nice 3-d wave to them as well as very nice aboriginal designs on them.
One gal that I tested (German) taught me something about catherization and how well it works. She told me that she became parapeligic about 8 years ago. As she hurriedly cycled to school (she was running late) she fell off her bike. That was the end of her functioning legs. She was so easy to chat with and just quickly shared her story of how one's life changes in just a split second and how unexpectedly it can happen.
The station here is pretty laid back (a station manager and co-ordinator with great interpersonal skills and judgement). We heard that the Russian doctor/interpreter did not like coming to doping control the first time. But after that it was all good. In fact, she now loves the doping station and says that it is the best place to be. She loves us, we love her - just like it should be. We all shook her hand or hugged her ...and the athletes - so much different than I have seen before. So much human warmth. Maybe sport can be an avenue to break cultural barriers.
Then I hopped onto a bus at the Workforce check-in to get to the Athlete's Village (a 500m walk). I wanted to avoid security and this bus was going through a different security channel so I jumped on. That was fine and then I looked around the bus. I was the only one who was not an athlete! Guess that bus was not the one that I should have been looking to get on. Never mind. It was a bus with lots of standing room and only a few seats. I chatted to a Brit .....and then he did tell me that he was biking (motor?), fell off and was run over by a car. He is paralyzed from the mid-chest down. He gave me a quick lesson on life. His accident happened six years ago. He said that he could be angry and that some of the athletes still are. Or he said that he could get over it and live. He took up skiing and sits in a sit-ski. He was having trouble with the webbing straps that keep his chest secure in the sit-ski as something had broken. He could not repair it properly. He had developed the webbing himself. He needed this as his injury is so high up his spinal column that he needs to be secured in. I was expressing my understanding of his plight and he simply said that he would do the best that he could and hopefully the repair job would last the race. ....I guess that the accident taught him to put things into perspective.
From there it was an evening of wonderful entertainment with a guitar by one of our DCO's. He played in the coffee shop and a large group of us enjoyed that. I walked back to the trailer and saw the new moon and stars and felt extremely blessed to have had the opportunity for so many amazing experiences and feelings jammed into one day.
That was followed by a day of skiing. This is the first day that the sun shining brilliantly and the snow was fantastic. My other days here were at least half with very flat light. So I enjoyed the fabulous views, the mountain air and the awesome skiing. I found a lift called Peak Express and it had the moguls and snow that were perfect for me. I skiied more than half a day here and eventually went on the peak to peak to Blackcombe. It was a stunning day and I skiied alone except for the first 3 runs. I skiied so hard and for a long day with a short lunch. My legs performed pretty damned well! Managed to phone in to check about work at 200pm and eventually I arrived at 5. With no tests we were let go at 6. Several of us working this evening had gone skiing today. It was the best day weatherwise amd visibility to be out there. Then a hottub after a short shift at Club Intrawest.
Today was another day at the cross country doping station. Another brilliant sunny day, enthusiastic crowd (not as many as the other day) and wonderful athletes. Today only 2 females to test and both produced dilute samples to required a second sample. One jumping up and down and around with enthusiasm and trying to get the urine into her bladder? The other sitting quietly. She gave me her bouquet from the medal ceremony. Often they throw them into the crowd but she gave this to me. Initially I said no that we can not accept anything. I thought about it and later accepted. The manager suggested that I put it in my backpack and keep the information to myself. They are a pretty green and not very colorful. They have a banana leaf folded on the outside and white flowers that are sprayed quite green. All very natural and selected as the Olympic/ParaOlympic bouquet from a contest of entries.
Then lots of us went tubing. It was fun sliding and hooking up and going down the tube park. Not as good as skiing but fun with the gang.
Only one more day left and I shall enjoy that with a yoga class in the morning, then a walk and check-in to work. Hopefully see the closing ceremonies from some angle somewhere.
It's been quite the ride - just about time to go back home. The food has been amazing - no cooking, no dishes and such variety here. I guess that I have adjusted before. The people have been enriching - from the athletes and their wonderful spirits to the dynamics of how the doping control stations function and all of the relationships and personalities that comprise them - from the absolute rule bound to the more liberal approach, from the excellent interpersonal skills to those that seem to lack them, from the team players to those with big egos. They are all there and all a pleasure to see. I am sure that each has learned something on this opportunity that usually only comes around once. From the posh 5 star boutique hotel to the functional trailer here at Athletes' Village. I will not miss the security check everytime you enter a secure area and especially the manual check as we come into the Village from the trailer. They probably won't miss it either. Even the bus drivers have been amazing and some have tales to share with you - sometimes you go all the way to Whistler (15minutes) in a bus all by yourself....rather a big limo don't you think? They are pretty good guys and most really enjoy the people that they pick up. So the experience has touched many people in many ways. How is the contribution to breaking down barriers in this world? Anyways it's been fun!!!
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