Stacy Dragila - A comeback? A book?

[rainbowgirl28]

Part 1 of the article is here: viewtopic.php?f=40&t=20534

or full article here: http://trackfield.teamusa.org/news/2010 ... 3?ngb_id=3


Dragila did not make the 2008 Olympic team, but that did not stop her from continuing to vault. Now 39, she still has not officially retired from the sport. Her plan is to train again this fall and see how well she does. According to Dragila, the book is not shut and the possibility of the London 2012 Olympic Games, at age 41, has crossed her mind.

But if she does decide to retire, Dragila has plenty going on to keep her busy. Last December, she married 2004 and 2008 Olympic discus thrower Ian Waltz. And just two months ago, she became a mother, to daughter Allyx Josephine Waltz.

“I have waited so long to experience that and it’s a dream come true,” Dragila said.

These days, she also spends a lot of time giving back to the sport. Last fall, Dragila and Waltz started the Altius Track Crew. Enlisting the help of Nielsen, she teaches kids everything they need to know about pole vaulting. And with the help of UCS Spirit, she is able to provide the kids with poles that fit them that their schools might not have.

“That’s something I have passion for – to be able to give back to the sport that way and develop our young athletes and give them experiences and give them knowledge that I have,” Dragila said.

Dragila’s camp is hosted at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. While the first camp consisted of 40 high school kids, her goal is to grow it to 75 – 100 kids.

Most of the kids are from high schools in that area, but she managed to reach the international community without realizing.

“I was so fortunate to have a kid come from the Canary Islands, off the tip of North Africa,” Dragila said. “She saw my website and had emailed Ian and I. She wanted to Skype us. She doesn’t even speak English that well, but her sister translated and said, ‘My sister just adores you and wants to come to your camp.’

“I couldn’t believe she was going to make that international trip to my camp. She came, she brought her sister to translate for her. They had an awesome time, they didn’t want to leave. And it was fun to have that international flare a part of the camp because a lot of kids got to meet them and chitchat and try to learn some Spanish, so that was really fun.”

Dragila is going to continue coaching her, via Skype.

And as if there is not enough on her plate, Dragila said she is going to start writing her memoirs this winter… before she forgets what actually happened.

“I know my coach remembers a lot more than I do, so if I can get his documentation down, we might have the stories half straight,” Dragila joked. “I’ve read a couple memoirs from other people and it’s so nice that people keep journals of their journey, whether it’s everyday things or these big amazing leaps in their lives. And I’ve had some great things happen to me, so I want it for my kids and my grandkids.”