One amazing aspect of the Olympics is that these athletes have the patience to train for 4 long years before competing on this famous international stage. And because the Games occur every 4 years, most Olympians will only compete in them a couple times. Maybe this is extraordinary to me because I'm (personally) impatient. But the enduring stories of Olympic athletes are truly inspiring!
So here's a great Olympic story. Jimmy Watkins competes for the USA Cycling team as a sprinter. Most Olympians dedicate their full-time attention to training. But not Jimmy. He's a husband, a father, a firefighter... and then an athlete.
Jimmy is a firefighter in Bakersfield, CA (Kern County, Station 55). His experience is primarily as a hotshot (wildland firefighter), so he'll be missed during this active wildfire season. And incidentally, he went to Colorado Springs last month to train with his team in the altitude. But due to smoke from the very wildfires he would normally be fighting his cycling team had to relocate to Los Angeles.
Jimmy starting cycling when he was 21 years old to train for his firefighting job, but he quickly realized there might be more. And his competitive drive now has competing in the 2012 London Olympics!!
Go Team USA!
Click here for a great video clip... Jimmy Watkins on Bakersfield News17
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