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| Army World Class Athlete Sgt. Kristina Sabasteanski was named as one of eight athletes who carried the World Trade Center American flag into Rice-Eccles stadium during opening ceremonies of the XIX Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City Feb. 8. (U.S. Navy photo by Preston Keres) |
| Brian
Lepley Olympic Correspondent U.S. Army Community and Family Support Center Public Affairs SALT LAKE CITY – It was an offer two-time Olympian Sgt. Kristina Sabasteanski couldn’t refuse. U.S. Biathlon team leader Steve Sands had a request for the Army World Class Athlete Program soldier Feb. 7. “I was sitting at breakfast the day before opening ceremonies and the team leader says ‘How would you feel about carrying the World Trade Center flag?’,” she said. Sands nominated Sabasteanski as biathlon’s pick to represent skiing athletes. It didn’t take long for her to say yes. “I was speechless. I was like, wow! It was so exciting,” she said. Recovered from the WTC building’s ruins after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, the flag’s presence at the ceremony caused controversy between the American and International Olympic committees. The tattered flag was carried into the 19th Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony at Rice-Eccles stadium here Feb. 8 by eight athletes, escorted by New York City firefighters and Port Authority police. “It was pretty emotional. This isn’t just touching it, it was both extremes,” Sabasteanski said of the experience. “You’re feeling ‘Wow, this is the World Trade Center flag and it represents the power of America, that we can come back.’ Then you’re thinking ‘What did this flag see?’ This flag was what was left of 3,000 lives. In that aspect you’re feeling somber. “One second you’d be inspired, elated, and the next you’re choking back tears.” The IOC’s concern was that the flag’s presence would cause excessive nationalism at an event that is designed to celebrate international togetherness. Its appearance left the crowd of 55,000 spectators and 5,000 ceremony participants in respectful silence. Most of the rest of the three-hour, forty-minute spectacle had the crowd invigorated in the 18-degree wind chill. Musical performances by artists Robbie Robertson, LeAnn Rimes, the Dixie Chicks, Sting and Yo Yo Ma reflected the diversity of the games’ participants. The crowd pleaser of all Olympic opening ceremonies, however, remains the parade of athletes. Representing 77 countries, more than 2,300 athletes had the spotlight as their nation’s name was announced. With only 234 medals to be presented, marching into the stadium at the ceremony represents the highlight of the games for 99 percent of the Olympians. “I waited 12 years to walk into an Olympic games opening. Last night was so perfect,” said Spc. Mike Kohn of the Olympic bobsled team. “I’m fortunate enough to represent this country in the games as an athlete and a soldier. It doesn’t get any better than that.” The WCAP athlete joined more than 200 American Olympic team athletes, coaches and officials in a pre-ceremony pep talk from President George W. Bush. “Last night being next our commander in chief was just overwhelming for me,” Kohn said. “I just can’t stop smiling, I’m really enjoying this. It was just such a moving experience.” Sabasteanski is on her second consecutive Olympic team. The opening ceremony in the U.S. was different from Nagano, Japan, in 1998. “That was amazing in Japan, but then I was like ‘Wow, I actually made the Olympics!’ Now I’m in my own country and these Americans are cheering for everyone here,” she said. “It was one of the biggest highs of my life.” Sabasteanski and Kohn are two of 12 Army athletes and coaches at the Olympics. Kohn teams with fellow WCAP athlete Spc. Doug Sharp as a pusher on the USA 2 bobsled. Former WCAP members Dan Steele and Garrett Hines are also on the bobsled team, now members of the Army National Guard and Army Reserves respectively. Coaching the women’s bobsled team are Spc. Bill Tavares and Sgt. Tuffy LaTour. The driver of the women’s USA 2 sled is Spc. Jill Bakken. All three are WCAP members. WCAP athletes on the men’s biathlon team are Spc. Jeremy Teela and Sgt. Lawton Redman. National Guard Sgt. Kara Salmela joins Sabasteanski and WCAP’s Spc. Andrea Nahrgang on the women’s squad. The WCAP is one of more than 200 Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs the Army provides at installations worldwide with the philosophy that soldiers and their families are entitled to the same quality of life as the citizens they are pledged to defend. Soldiers have been competing in the Olympic Games since 1912. |
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