http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=8399669
Central Coast native back on track toward Beijing
Posted: May 29, 2008 11:47 PM
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Reported by: Ryan Foran
CENTRAL COAST
After a freak accident threw Chelsea Johnson's Olympic dreams off track, the Atascadero native is back on track to represent the red, white and blue in Beijing.
With the Olympic Trials just months away, Atascadero native Chelsea Johnson was clearing bar after bar and won three straight meets.
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Then last month she took a big vault in the wrong direction. The UCLA alum and two-time NCAA Champion fractured her wrist in practice and landed on the sidelines in a cast.
"It's hard just sitting and not doing what you're supposed to be doing at such an important time. It's probably one of the most frustrating things I've ever experienced," Johnson told Action News Sports during a practice a Cuesta College.
Her father and coach, Jan Johnson, a 1972 Olympic medalist, is there by her side helping provide support in every way possible after the unfortunate accident.
"We lost five weeks. We were jumping really awesome, just great. We just came out here and blew a pole up. It was really unexpected," said Jan.
Now, Chelsea is gripping without the cast and fully recovered physically. But the hard part she said was the mental jump.
"A little hesitation at first, just because it's still in the back of my mind, the break, a little traumatic. But the first couple of jumps were a little scary but since then it's been going really well," said Johnson.
While Chelsea wasn't able to vault for five crucial weeks, she said there was still plenty of training to be done.
"I used that time, I think, very wisely to get in the best shape possible. Jumping twice a week you have to keep your legs going good. And so without having to jump, I just ran out all my frustrations so I got into great shape," added Johnson.
With her frustrated frown turned upside down, Chelsea believes she is back and headed in the right direction once again, right toward Beijing for the upcoming summer games.
In order to qualify to represent the USA in Beijing, Chelsea must qualify at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon the last week in June.
......somebody can do the research and find his progression that year. I think he went about 5.55 @ Pre and 5.70 at the Arizona sky invite. Then he went 5.90, 5.85 at small meets leading up to the trials......could it be deja vu all over again? I hope so.