EDITORIAL

Olympian.

What a sweet-sounding word. Just speaking it evokes images of

athleticism, power, competition and greatness.

The Olympics, a showcase of athletic talent from the entire world, has

always managed to lure even those who have little interest in sport.

Much of that is thanks to television. Over the decades, the box in our

living room has beamed those images to our living rooms from such places

as Mexico City, Munich, Seoul, Atlanta and now Sydney.

And it’s hard to not get hit by a strong dose of both patriotism and

pride every time we watch a fellow countryman or woman compete.

In fact, Americans have an almost folkloric attachment to these

sporting heroes, their names embedded in our memories forever. Jesse

Owens, Bruce Jenner, Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz, Janet Evans, Florence

Griffith Joyner, the list goes on and on.

And this year as Newport-Mesa spawned seven more Olympians, locals

were able to feel a special attachment, a special burst of pride watching

the games.

These names, along with other Newport-Mesa Olympians from years past,

will be preserved in our community’s sporting history.

Weightlifter Cara Heads-Lane, volleyball phenom Misty May, tennis

great Lindsay Davenport, Corona del Mar water polo star Chris Oeding,

sailors Pease Glaser and Charlie Ogletree and of course backstroke

speedster Aaron Peirsol are all a testament to the sporting champions

that have long been a fabric of this community.

And while it is only Peirsol who will be able to come home with a

medal, the silver in the 200-meter backstroke, that the others were even

able to partake in the glory of the 2000 games in Sydney and represent

our country is worthy of praise enough.

Still, Peirsol’s victory now seems all the more impressive.

And since the Newport Harbor superstar is only 17 years old, we are

excited at the promise of even more greatness down the road.

We can hardly wait for 2004.