Category Archives: Olympics

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Surfing - Women's Shortboard - Round 1 - Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach, Tokyo, Japan - July 25, 2021. Carissa Moore of the United States in action during Heat 1 REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

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LOS ANGELES, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Winning the first Olympic gold medal in surfing might have been a high watermark for some, but for Carissa Moore it has done little to dampen her competitive hunger as she aims for a sixth World Surf League title in California this week.

The affable Hawaiian hall-of-famer is never slow to smile or laugh, but beneath it all is a burning desire to be the best in a sport that has become even more visible since making its Olympic debut in Tokyo a year ago.

"I'm definitely competitive, like I want to win -- when that horn blows, there's that part of me that wants to play the game hard with all the other women do on tour," the 30-year-old told Reuters in a video interview.

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"There's this nice contentment now in what I've achieved and not feeling like I need to need this win, but it's more like, I just really want to win, and I want to perform well."

Her 2021 clean sweep of the WSL title and the Olympic gold medal put her in the public eye like never before.

"I definitely saw an increase in followers and interest on Instagram, (I was) travelling and interacting with people that I never would have thought knew surfing or would watch surfing, and they were like, oh, they knew my name. And I thought that was pretty cool," Moore said.

In the past season women got to compete at Teahupo'o in Tahiti, the beach that will be the venue for the 2024 Olympic competition but previously had been considered too dangerous for female competitors.

"It is definitely a very intimidating wave. It's something that I like you have to see in person, because just seeing it via a TV screen, or a phone screen, or a computer screen just does not do it justice," Moore explained.

"It's a wonder of the world, how it just comes in over this reef and it surges. And there's this big barrel, and it's crazy... there's a lot of consequence in a wave like that, but it's really, really exciting if you get a good one."

When asked if she intends to surf it to defend her Olympic title, Moore points to the strength of the competition in American surfing at the moment, and says it is by no means a given she will be chosen to attend.

"I'd love to be a part of the Olympics. But I have some work to make that, I have some work to do if I want to, (but) I want to be there," she said.

For now, she has the WSL finals to look forward to starting on Thursday at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California, where she once again expects the surfing to put on a show for the global audience.

"You will be glued to your screen from sunup to sundown, and it'll be eight hours of really great actions, because all of the athletes left in the event -- there are five men, five women -- they wouldn't be there if they weren't incredibly talented, driven, competitive," she said.

"There's some really great matchups and it'll be fun, I just I love the head-to-head matchups all the way through and it looks like there'll be some really good swell on offer, so lots of good surfing."

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Reporting by Philip O'ConnorEditing by Christian Radnedge

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Olympic champ Moore aims to make it six of the best in WSL finals - Reuters

Seran Krikorian

It was another beautiful day at the AYF Olympics in Worcester. The weather was a carbon copy of Friday. It was in the 70s again and clear skies that turned partially cloudy. The events on tap were softball and basketball at Clinton High School. To make things more festive, delicious kebab dinners were sold all day long and the Nor Kef Ensemble provided the soundtrack. It was an old-fashioned Armenian picnic softball and basketball tournament.

There were 15 teams playing softball. Boston actually had two teams: Boston AYP and Boston Pen. Last years winner, Detroit, had a bye in the first round. Boston Pen faced Chicago and advanced to play Detroit in the second round. North Andover beat Washington to meet the Western Region in the second round who bested Worcester in the first round. New Jersey beat Granite City and moved forward to play Philadelphia who won their opening round against New York. Providence made quick work of Manhattan and moved on to play the Boston AYP team who beat Canada.

In the second round action, Detroit looked likely to repeat as champions this year in their win over Boston Pen. But Providence looked equally powerful in beating the other Boston team. North Andover got everyones attention in an impressive upset win over the Western Region. Philadelphia won the game with neighboring New Jersey.

In the semi-finals, Detroit took on North Andover while Philly and Providence squared off. Detroit again looked unstoppable in their win over North Andover. The Philadelphia Providence matchup was a blowout with a final score of 28 to 2, sending Providence into the finals.

Detroit jumped out to an early lead, but Providence adapted, tightened up their defense and began an offensive assault of their own. They took a commanding lead and held a late surge from Detroit to secure the championship with a 25-19 win.

There were acrobatic catches and plays, great base running and heartbreaking errors in almost every game. I witnessed two grand slams in the three games I watched. The fans cheered on their teams, who were all pumped to win. The games were hard fought and fun to watch. Yet, win or lose, the teams shook hands and took group photos together. AYF spirit and fraternalism shines during the softball games.

Basketball was happening during the softball tournament at the gymnasium which was convenient for those who want to attend both. The half court, three-on-three, version that is played in the AYF is also exciting to watch. As there were only two womens teams, the one game that was played was for the championship. Philadelphia faced a mixed team of New Jersey and Detroit. It was hard fought, but Philadelphia gradually pulled away.

On the mens side, I had the opportunity to watch the semi-final game between Boston and Worcester. Worcester was scrappy but no match for agility of a few of the Boston players. Boston took the game and was to face Philadelphia in the final. As chance would have it, the Philadelphia men also played on the softball team, and they were playing Providence in the semi-finals. The final game had to start right away to get it in before the hard stop that was in the contract for using the gym. Basketball or softballPhiladelphia had to forfeit one of them, and they chose basketball. As a result, Boston became the winners of this years AYF basketball tournament.

Tomorrow is the big day. Track and Field will determine who wins the Olympics this year. Will it be Boston, Detroit or Providence? We will know in a few short hours after which we will all celebrate at the Olympic Ball.

Mark Gavoor is Associate Professor of Operations Management in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago. He is an avid blogger and oud player.

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Saturday at the 2022 AYF Olympics - Armenian Weekly

The image appeared in Sports Illustrated, then in the newspaper Bild including to illustrate a report on a field archery tournament and then in a textbook on archery published in 1969.

Somehow, it ended up with the design chief for Munich 1972, Otl Aicher.

He appeared in person at the sports shop in Waldtrudering in which Lehner worked as a salesperson and built an archery department to show her a draft of his poster for the Olympics.

He asked me if I agreed with it, says Irene. She did and the poster was released. Lehner was subsequently accused by her teammates of violating the amateur rules that then surrounded sport.

Neither then, nor later, did I ever get a penny, not even a poster, she says. Although her sister-in-law who worked at the Franzis-Druck printers in Munich did find her a copy.

Lehner didnt make it to the Olympics. Although she was a top archer in Germany in the years preceding, she stepped away from the sport after her son had an accident in 1970. She later founded Hofolding Archery Club in the south of Munich in 1972 and sat on its board for 40 years.

Now in her eighties, and 50 years since her image was used to promote archerys historic return to the Olympic Games, Irene can still be found shooting her bow.

Quotes, photos and research courtesy Stefan Grus and based on an article previously published on DSB.de.

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The poster girl for archery's return to the Olympic Games in 1972 - World Archery

The remarkable achievements of Michael Phelps describe how he is one of the greatest swimmers the world has ever seen. His devotion to swimming was seen in 2016 when he grabbed five gold medals before he ended his career as a swimmer. In addition, he did a runway walk in his last Olympics with model Gisele Bndchen, wife of footballer Tom Brady.

It was also the last runway walk of the Brazilian model, Gisele, where she slayed with her looks.

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The 2016 Rio Olympics excited everyone with its opening ceremony. Also, before it started, there was a rumor regarding Gisele doing her runway walk. However, when the moment of her runway walk came, she mesmerized her audience with her glamorous outfit. The walk was the last moment of her modeling career.

Similarly, the legendary swimmer also did his last runway walk before putting a full stop to his career. In the opening ceremony, Michael was seen holding the flag of the U.S. with full pride. Other athletes followed him. He also stated, Im honored to be chosen, proud to represent the U.S., and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for.

The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics was emotional for the fans of Gisele and Michael. Even though they belong to different professional backgrounds, their work was remarkable. The Brazilian model gave a perfect touch to the moment by wearing a beautiful dress made by designer Alexandre Herchcovitch.

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Gisele announced her retirement way before the 2016 Olympics.However, in 2015, after doing a So Paulo Fashion Week, she posted about her retirement on her Instagram handle. Meanwhile, Michael announced his retirement after 2012s London Olympics but made a comeback in 2014 to complete what was left. In 2012, the model topped the category of the highest-paid model, as perForbes.

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She was the perfect face of huge brands like Chanel, Carolina Herrera, and Louis Vuitton. Another common thing Michael and Gisele shared was their contract with Under Armour. In 2018, she published a book titledLessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life,where she described her moral values in life. At the same time, Phelps released his autobiographyBeneath the Surfaceway back before he flourished in his career.

WATCH THIS STORY:Resurfaced video shows Michael Phelps Race of the century with Ian Thorpe, Pieter Van Den Hoogenbands at 2004 Athens Olympics

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Tom Bradys Super Model Wife Gisele Bundchen and Michael Phelps Walked Their Last Career Run at the Same Olympic Games in 2016 - EssentiallySports

(Tarkio) -- East Atchison junior Tommi Martin has already cemented herself as one of the top javelin throwers in Missouri.

She recently displayed she's one of the top in the nation.

Martin -- the Class 1 state runner-up in the javelin -- recently ventured to North Carolina for the AAU Junior Olympics, where she placed eighth out of 89 participants.

"It was an amazing opportunity," Martin said on Tuesday's Upon Further Review. "It was crazy to go up against the top girls from each state. It was awesome."

Martin qualified for the opportunity after a top-six finish at the AAU Region 16.

"I didn't know that placing in the top six would mean moving on to the Junior Olympics, but I placed fourth and moved on."

From there, Martin threw 131 meters to place eighth.

"Most of my throws were consistent," she said. "I didn't throw my best, but what kept me in a good place was that I was consistent."

Martin went to the Tar Heel State with confidence and little nerves.

"I wasn't exactly nervous," she said. "I was just proud to be there. I had a great time. It was something I didn't expect. I didn't know how good everyone else was or how I sat."

Martin's showing in the javelin gives her confidence going into her final two years at East Atchison.

"I've learned so much," she said. "I can't wait for next year and put everything together. I have goals. I want to get first in the state and get a new PR, but my main goal is to break the state record, which is 45 meters."

Check out more from the interview with Martin below.

At KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.

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East Atchison's Martin reflects on impressive showing at AAU Junior Olympics - KMAland

The two individual trampoline events (men's individual and women's individual) set to take place during the Games involve athletes bouncing over 8 meters in the air on a trampoline, performing a series of twists, bounces and somersaults. During the competition, athletes perform exercises composed of 10 elements that are scored based on difficulty, execution and time spent in the air.

Trampoline was originally invented in 1934 by George Nissen, but only grew in popularity during the first world championships in London in 1964. The sport then integrated with the International Gymnastics Federation 34 years later in 1998. Trampoline was introduced to the Olympic program in at the 2000 Sydney Games.Since becoming an Olympic sport, trampoline has been dominated by China which has won 14 of the 36 medals awarded, including four of 12 titles.

Nicole Ahsinger is the only gymnast who represented Team USA in the women's trampoline competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and she made history by placing sixth overall. Her finish tied 2012 OlympianSavannah Vinsant as the best finish by an American trampoline gymnast.

The trampoline events at the 2024 Paris Olympics will take place on August 2.

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Trampoline at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games - NBC Olympics

When Seoul got the chance to host the Summer Olympics in 1988, it marked a tremendous shift in the nation's international image. As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) points out, Korea's reputation prior to the games was deeply enmeshed in the Korean War. The games became a massive cultural showcase wherein kimchi seemed like an obvious thing to celebrate, but the event's organizers were hesitant at first.

According to Smithsonian Magazine, Olympic officials agreed to make kimchi one of the official foods of the Olympic Village, but they worried that foreign visitors would not be able to handle the smell. So great was their concern, that event staff were instructed to thoroughly brush their teeth after any time they ate kimchi. However, these fears were dismissed once guests actually arrived and sampled the dish.

Some of the first foreign nationals to sample kimchi were the athletes residing at the Olympic Village, who gave it positive press exposure. Word of kimchi reached the ears of Elaine Louie, an American reporter on site for the games, and she included it in a profile of Korean cuisine for The New York Times. That sealed the deal. According to Smithsonian Magazine, exports of kimchi skyrocketed in the immediate wake of the '88 Olympics. Kimchi became a celebrity in the culinary world, a lofty status that it retains to this day.

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How The Olympics Helped Spread The Gospel Of Kimchi - Tasting Table

Microsoft, Xbox, and Special Olympics are working together to make gaming more inclusive.

In a blog post published last month, Microsoft and Xbox announced the upcoming second annual Gaming for Inclusion event in collaboration with Special Olympics.

The all-virtual, multi-day esports tournament aims to make gaming inclusive and welcoming to all players so that everyone can experience the joys of gaming, according to Jenn Panattoni, Xboxs head of social impact, who wrote the post. The event will bring together gamers from Canada and the United States.

Microsofts mission of empowering every person to achieve more drives the companys business goals and is the foundation of its long-term partnership with Special Olympics. The company is committed to developing innovative ways for technology to uplift and empower people regardless of ability, Panattoni said in a recent interview with me conducted over email. Within Microsofts gaming business specifically, there is a culture and belief that gaming is for everyone. We want to make gaming inclusive and welcoming for everyone, and let them know they belong in the gaming community.

This years event stands on the shoulders of past partnerships between Microsoft and Special Olympics that were obviously successful. Work between the two began in 2018 when they brought the first-ever esports tournament to the USA Games in Seattle. Two years later, during Covids zenith, saw the Xbox Virtual Gaming Event emerge for the first time. The event brought together more than 118,000 people, with last years edition growing nearly six times by having 627,665 people.

Special Olympics is working with programs across the [United States] and Canada to coordinate athlete and unified partner participation for the event and drive support, said Prianka Nandy, chief information and technology officer at Special Olympics, in an interview with me. All of this investment by Microsoft, Xbox, Start.gg and Special Olympics tells a broader story, one of gaming and technology communities coming together to support each other. [We want] to say, All abilities are welcome, all abilities can participate and have fun.

An integral part of the Gaming Event are shoutcasters. These people more or less serve as broadcasters for the event. Microsoft held a two-day training workshop at Microsofts Redmond campus. Three Special Olympics athletes participated in this years workshop, with each person receiving hands-on lessons from notable gamers such as Kate Yeager, Joshua Gray, Sean Spaceman Rogers, and Jon Kefaloukos. The workshop culminated with the students each taking their turn in an on-camera appearance during an Xbox livestream streamed on Twitch. In addition, they were also treated to surprise behind-the-scenes tours of the Mojang and 343 Industries studios, both headquartered in Redmond.

The participants have given rave reviews in their feedback on the shoutcaster workshop. I got to hang out on the Xbox livestream set. That was, as a small streamer, getting to do something that big was amazing, said Ben Gregory.

Jose Moreno concurred. It was awesome. I loved it, he said. Its something that I really wanted to do. I think I was born for this [gamer] profession.

Gaming for Inclusion has amassed over a million views in the last two years. The barometer for success lies in the response from Special Olympics athletes, families, and fans. Playing games alongside their favorite WNBA, NBA, NFL, and WWE athletes has been a bucket list item and a dream come true for the Special Olympics athletes. For viewers, Panattoni said, It was an example of how gaming and technology can combine to be a force for good [and] how online gaming can bring inclusion, joy and community to those who need it the most.

I typically wouldnt be able to play with somebody from Special Olympics across the country from where I live, Gregory said of Gaming for Inclusion. With gaming and technology, I can just press a button and were connected.

Nandy said her organization feels the Gaming for Inclusion event has a bright future. She explained they have two primary long-term goals. The first is pushing harder on expanding the event and esports as a whole. Esports is a powerful platform on which to promote inclusivity and equality, particularly for athletes who dont want to (or cant) participate in real sports due to their disability. They also break barriers around geography, language, and social isolation. Secondly, Special Olympics wants to ensure athletes have ample opportunities to obtain leadership roles and be authentically integrated in the esports world.

We would like to work with amazing partners like Xbox and Microsoft to ensure this platform will drive change and create a new understanding of leadership, inspired by our athletes, that will unlock leadership potential in people of all abilities, Nandy said.

Panattoni is on board with Nandys sentiments.

As Gaming for Inclusion continues to gain community support and participation, the real opportunity and dream lies in providing Special Olympics athletes with more opportunities to participate in a leadership capacity, she said.

This years Gaming for Inclusion event begins on September 10.

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Microsoft, Xbox, And Special Olympics Team Up For This Years Gaming For Inclusion Event - Forbes

Klaus Langhoff experienced World War II as a child, and found memories of the war flooding back when he went to Munich in 1972 as a handballer captaining East Germany at the Olympics.

Langhoff and his teammates were staying just across from the apartment block that Palestinian gunmen stormed into on September 5, 1972, taking the Israeli team hostage.

As the day wore on, he witnessed helplessly the terrifying scenes unfolding from his balcony -- from terrorists dropping the lifeless body of an Israeli coach on the street to the tense negotiations carried out between the hostage-takers and the West German police.

"It was like part of a war," said Langhoff, who had seen corpses of German soldiers lying in hastily dug graves as a six-year-old.

"These memories of the war came back" when he saw the gunmen carrying out the body of Israeli wrestling coach Moshe Weinberg and leaving it on the street, he told AFP.

The shock had been doubly hard to bear as the Games had started off so well, said Langhoff, who still cuts an imposing figure at the age of 82.

Langhoff had counted among the few East German citizens who were permitted to head abroad for the first time and had arrived in Munich "with great expectations".

The first week at the Olympics was "so excellent, so joyful," Langhoff recounted.

But that ended abruptly when the team's secretary general woke him up at 5:30 am.

"He came to me in the room and said 'Klaus, inform all the other players. Over there at the Israelis' lodgings, there's been a shooting and a terror attack'," said Langhoff.

The East Germans were initially told to stay well away from the windows and to remain inside.

But it soon became clear that they were not the target, so Langhoff began looking out and going on the balcony where he took photographs of the terror.

Pointing to one of the photographs, Langhoff said he saw a member of the Palestinian militant group Black September patrolling the roof "with a Kalashnikov ready to fire".

Below, guarding the front door "was always someone, probably the head of this terrorist group, who always had a hand grenade in his hand."

During a scuffle, coach Weinberg was shot and killed.

His body lay on the street "for a long time until they took him away," said Langhoff.

"It was awful. Whenever we looked out of the window or on the balcony, we saw this dead athlete there."

Weightlifter Yossef Romano was also shot dead, while another nine Israelis were taken hostage.

But West German police's bungled rescue operation ended with all nine hostages killed, along with five of the eight hostage-takers and a police officer.

With the Games suspended for the first time in Olympic history, the team prepared for a complete cancellation.

However, they were halted for only 34 hours, with then-IOC President Avery Brundage declaring "the Games must go on".

Langhoff said it was "doubly difficult" for his side to focus on their sporting objectives after the attacks.

The team lost against the Soviet Union and ultimately finished fourth.

Despite the harrowing experience, the team found little understanding from the East German public upon returning home.

"Only medals counted," he recalled."For us in the GDR (East Germany), finishing fourth was a shock to the system. I mean, there wasn't a prison camp, but only places one to three were financially rewarded."

The East German government, allied with the PLO and hostile to Israel, officially called the hostage-taking a "tragedy", while there was hardly any mention of the atrocity in the media.

The Communist authorities "completely ignored this attack and didn't include us in any evaluations or anything else (they) were only concerned with being successful in the competition," Langhoff said.

But the West German government was also criticised for failing to acknowledge responsibility for the disaster.

In 2012, Israel released 45 official documents on the killings, including specially declassified material, which lambasted the performance of the German security services.

Included in the reports is an official account from the former Israeli intelligence head Zvi Zamir who said the German police "didn't make even a minimal effort to save human lives".

Relatives of victims have over the years battled to obtain an official apology from Germany, access to official documents and appropriate compensation beyond the 4.5 million euros ($4.5 million) provided in 2002.

Only on Wednesday, 50 years after the atrocity, did Germany reach a compensation deal of 28 million euros with relatives.

"In retrospect, there were great omissions in the process of reckoning with the terror," Langhoff said.

"I don't even want to get started with the financial aspect. But even morally there are many things that are just incomprehensible."

dwi/hmn/pi

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'Memories Of War' Returned, Witness Of 1972 Olympics Terror Recounts - Barron's

Jamel Herring is most known for his boxing success as the World Boxing Organization junior lightweight champion from 2019 to 2021 with a record of 23-4. He is a 2012 US Olympian competitor, the only Marine to compete in the 2012 games and the last active-duty Marine to qualify for the US Boxing team since 1992. Herring deployed twice, once with the 2nd Marine Division and once with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group. His first deployment was in 2005 to Fallujah, Iraq and again went to Iraq in 2007. His deployment experiences consisted of a lot of convoys and security details during his tours, and he served as a gunner on convoys during his 2007 deployment.

Can you share with us about your life growing up?

I grew up in Long Island, Gordon Heights, and was always out and doing sports. Im still close today with one of my friends from childhood who is an Army veteran. One of my influences from growing up was Stephen Brown (pronounced Stefan) and he was a Marine. He encouraged me to join the Corps and I already loved sports, so it made sense. He died in 2004 from lung cancer while still in the Corps and I named my oldest son after Stephen. Stephen was a year older, and he came back from boot camp in the Corps. Im now a world champion boxer and U.S. Olympian and the only U.S. Marine to represent the Corps in the 2012 Olympics. The deployments made me appreciate the simple things in life. I came back and was happy to see grass and a good lawn, even proper plumbing. Now, even today I dont ask for much. Ive been to places where people dont have much but then are grateful for what they do have. My deployment experience gave me a better aspect of how I look at things in my own life. Ive seen people with little, but they are happy. Theres always somebody out there that wishes they were in your place. So, I was never the type of person who needed to have more. In reality, I have more than enough. I could be out chasing what I could have, or I could be happy for quality time with my friends and family.

Do you have a spirituality?

I lost a daughter in 2009 due to SIDS. It took a lot of faith for me not to break. I took that negative and turned it into a positive. I look at my daughter as a Guardian Angel and I look at every decision based on character. I ask myself, If I do this, how would my daughter view me and keep her in mind when I do things more impactful for othersI go off of thathaving my faith intact kept me on the right path.

What got you into Boxing?

A good friend of mine named Ashanti Henderson introduced me to boxingI grew up watching it with my parents and friends but didnt ever see myself doing it, especially when you come from watching the Rocky movies, I didnt want anything to do with boxing. Growing up I wanted to stay out of the streets and would go from school to gym and then from home to bed. I didnt have time to mingle and get in trouble. Thats the main reason why I picked up boxing and to stay busy. Over time I fell in love with the sport, took it more seriously, and then started studying it a lot more to get where Im at now. Another influence was a fellow veteran (Army), Lindberg Freeman. We started boxing together around the same time and motivated each other.

Are there certain key traits and memories from the Corps?

When Im in the boxing ring and am having a rough fight and go back to the corner, I always think about what Ive been through just to get to this point. I always go back to a place in Iraq and have seen roadside bombings and had RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) flying directly towards me and stuff of that nature. Basically, it could be worse, and I have been through worse. More importantly, I know for a fact that there are Marines out there that look up to me and would love to be in my place. Its more of a sense of, theres no room for me to complain about the situation that Im in. Ive overcome so much, and Ive been through worse and there are people who would love to trade places with me. I always think about those tough times in the Corps and think about everything Ive learned from the beginning in basic training. Because a lot of people dont know I spent my 18th birthday in basic training. I was still a kid when I went to boot campstraight out of high school and right in the fire. I had to mature and grow quickly. Most of my adulthood so far took place as a United States Marine. Its all I knew as a Marine growing up, so a lot of those Marine Corps traits stick with me.

Are there a top two or three of those traits that come to mind?

Ill share a story that opens my eyes to this life and how serious it can be. In 2007, I was expecting my oldest son, who was named after Stephen. His mother was pregnant with him, and I happened to be deployed at that time. Ill never forget this EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Sergeant giving us a class on what to look out for, like roadside bombs. Ill never forget he had a 2-week-old son, and a few of the Marines I was in class with out there in Iraq were fooling around and not taking him seriously. Rightfully so this Sergeant lost it and went off and he told us, Hey Im a father trying to get home to my newborn son and you guys are out here playing around. Im giving you my time so that you all go home safely.

The guys wisened up and stopped fooling around, but a week later that same sergeant lost his life to a roadside bomb. I always think, this is really serious. This is really real life here. This was a man who was a good man and had a 2-week-old son. He has a son now that will never meet him. All his son will hear are his stories. I didnt want to be that guy. I didnt want to be the Marine who falls victim to the war. I actually matured a lot more because of that real-life scenario and grew up a lot faster. That always sticks with me. I always share that story when other people take things for granted. There are people out there who really will put everything on the line for you to get to the next level. Its my duty to give back.

About a year agoI went down to Camp Hope (PTSD healing center/foundation) to speak with Marines and veterans in general about their personal issues and what they have dealt with. I may be the champion of the world but at the same time, Im a fellow brother to you guys as well and am still human. I go through the same hardships at times that we all do. Once I felt like we all connected, it just got a lot easier to communicate with these individuals.

Another trait I learned from the Corps is leadership. A great prime example: As a leader you have to learn how to deal with all types of personalities and people from all over. On the 2012 Olympic team, they voted me in as the team captain because of my military background. I took the honor very seriously. Ill never forget, as a Marine, you can easily talk to Marines in a stern way and with civilians, you have to take a different approach. I can talk to this individual strictly and sternly, but for another individual, I might have to have a lighter tone and open up more not only to them but to patiently get them to open up as well.

At the end of the day, as long as I got the same results down the road, I was happy with that. That is when leadership really came in. True story, these individuals, these Olympianswe actually still speak today because of having a great relationship and knowing how to be a good leader and to be more understanding of others.

I owe that due to the Marine Corpswhen I went to the Marine Corps, I was a kid and was in no position to lead. As time went on, I really grew into that leader that was expected of me and I have nothing but the Marine Corps to thank for that.

In what ways did the Corps prepare you as a boxer and in the community?

Boxing is 80% mental, and 20% physical. The Corps strengthens you more mentally and even in basic training, your drill instructor will always tell you its to break you down and to build you up stronger. I truly understand the meaning of that even in the boxing world, even just in life in general. The Corps actually makes life easier for me to speak in life openly. When I went to Camp Hope, I respect every one of those men and women out there who open up about their traumas and past experiences in their lives, making it a lot easier for me to do the same. I instantly, as soon as I walk into the room, find something that can be picked out and connect with them. We will all be laughing and joking as if we knew each other for years. That just comes from great qualities and speaking skills thanks to the Marine Corps.

Is there anything you are doing for community service?

Ive traveled out of the country and have gone from defending a world title and winning on Saturday to being, sore and bruised up on Sunday to getting on a plane just to go see fellow veterans around the world. Giving them a few days of my time. I have been really sore and in pain, but I felt there is a greater need out there and the greater good for me to do. I got on a plane, went out there for a few days and had a blast. I can honestly say that is probably a moment that I wont forget, and they wont forget as well.

What are your next goals and plans?

Its many times day by day, but I want to continue laying down a foundation to where I can help others. Honestly, even though Ive been through tragedies, Ive lost my best friend and I lost a daughter, yet I still look at the great things I have in life. My next thing is to better themselves in their life and to continue going out there and speaking out. I also lost good friends I served with because they didnt have someone to talk to or they couldnt get the help that they needed. I dont want to see that on my watch. Im going to continue to speak to others, help others and be the best individual I can be in life. Taking my free time to go out there and share my love with others as well.to give back.

If it wasnt for the Marine Corps I probably wouldnt be in the position where Im at. People thought I was a good boxer, but, the mental aspects of the Marine Corps are what made me into a better boxer and a better fighter, not only inside the ring but out of it. Thats why I give so much love and respect back to the Marine Corps. Whenever they called me to come back and visit, hey Im there. Give me the date and time and Ill fly myself out there. I already had Marines ask me a few weeks ago to come to the Marine Corps ball. Give me the details and Ill be there in my dress blues. I can still fit in them. I just need a haircut and a proper shave and Im fine.

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How faith, family and focus took this Marine through Iraq and to the Olympics - We Are The Mighty