By Derek Belt
Mary Whipple placed her carry-on bag on the X-ray belt and casually stepped through the metal detector. Nearby, a Sea-Tac International Airport security guard saw something in the former Husky coxswain's bag that looked a little suspicious.
"Yeah, right."
Turns out she wasn't fibbing. Whipple, '02, won gold in Beijing along with UW teammate Anna (Mickleson) Cummins, '02, as part of the women's eight crew. It was the first gold medal for the U.S. in that event since 1984, when an American octet raced to victory in Los Angeles under the guidance of Washington coach Bob Ernst.
"Every time I look at it I just remember how we got it," Whipple says of her new hardware. "I think that's what's so special about a gold medal. It represents something great you achieved." Whipple and Cummins have been rowing together since 1999, their freshman year at the UW. Together, they've won national championships, world championships and a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Now, they're good as gold.
"Winning with Mary is beyond words," Cummins says. "To have somebody there with you that knows you in and out and has your back—it just made it more magical."
For Cummins, one of the most decorated rowers in U.S. history, the gold medal race marked the end of a stellar career. She recently moved back to Seattle with husband, former national team member Bob Cummins, to start a chiropractic clinic in Bellevue. And what a swan song Beijing turned out to be. "It still hasn't sunk in yet," Cummins says with a sigh.
Washington's rowing history is incredibly rich, and the Huskies have long made their presence felt at the Olympics. This year alone, the UW sent 10 rowers to Beijing. David Calder, '02, won a silver medal for Canada in the men's coxless pair.
"The first thing you learn when you put on your Washington uniform," Cummins says, "is that you are no longer an individual. You're a part of this wonderful tradition."
Going to the Mat
Leon Preston, '73, reached the
pinnacle of his sport this summer,
qualifying for the Beijing Games
as a tae kwon do referee. Preston,
a part-time lecturer for the UW
School of Social Work, was one of
29 international referees chosen
to work at the Olympics. He has
practiced tae kwon do for more
than 35 years.
Never-Give-Up Hope
Hope Solo, '04, is a goalkeeper
in two senses. Banished from the
U.S. women's soccer team after
publicly criticizing her coach for
benching her in the 2007 World
Cup semifinals, Solo worked tirelessly
toward her goal of reclaiming
her roster spot and regaining
the trust of her teammates.
And she did it. At the gold-medal game in Beijing, against the same Brazilian squad she was denied a shot at in the '07 World Cup, a rejuvenated Solo showed why she's considered one of the top goalkeepers in the world. She made several key stops, including a one-handed beauty in the 72nd minute, to help the U.S. net a 1–0 overtime win and earn its third gold medal in four Olympics.
"I went through hell," Solo told The Seattle Times after the game. "But one gold medal takes away all the pain."
Hitting High Notes
Husky Band Leader Brad McDavid is
an Olympian, too. McDavid was one
of the international band directors
for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Orchestra,
which performed at concert
venues around the city, including Tiananmen
Square. The 2,000-person
orchestra featured 300 members
from the Pacific Northwest and 63
from the UW.
Muscle Mom
Just a year after giving birth to her
son, Theo, Aretha (Hill) Thurmond,
'98, donned the red, white and blue
for the third time in her illustrious
career. A four-time All-American at
the UW and one of America's preeminent
discus throwers for more
than a decade, Thurmond finished
10th in Beijing after qualifying for
her first Olympic final.
Olympic Alums
The UW was one of the best-represented American universities at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Here's a look at the Huskies who made the big trip to Beijing.
CREW
David Calder, '01, coxless pair (Canada) — SILVER
Anna (Mickelson) Cummins, '02, women's eight — GOLD
Scott Gault, '06, four-man scull
Rika Geyser, '01, single scull (South Africa)
Rob Gibson, senior, coxless pair (alternate)
Megan Kalmoe, '06, scull pairs
Ante Kusurin, '06, two-man (Croatia)
Giuseppe Lanzone, '05, straight four
Brett Newlin, '05, straight four
Mary Whipple, '02, women's eight — GOLD
TRACK & FIELD
Aretha Thurmond, '98, discus
Brad Walker, '04, pole vault
Leila Ben-Youssef, medical student, pole vault (Tunisia)
SOCCER
Clare Rustad, '04, defender (Canada)
Hope Solo, '04, goalkeeper — GOLD
SOFTBALL
Danielle Lawrie, senior, pitcher (Canada)
BASKETBALL
Patrick Femerling, center (Germany)