Margaux Isaksen

2008-09-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

I’m not saying that the Olympics are, “just another competition,”’ but except for the thousands of cheering spectators, the events are the same. I was excited to be there, but I wasn’t more nervous than I typically am for a world class event.

During the ride and race I really noticed the difference between the Olympics and other events. To hear that many voices and to know that so many people were interested in my sport was thrilling. Too, it was really nice knowing that my mom’s was one of the voices there.

When I rounded the corner and saw our flag and all the Americans cheering me on, I was moved. I think that’s when it really hit me. What a shot of adrenaline! What a wonderful feeling!

Thank you for your interest in Modern Pentathlon and in me. I’ve enjoyed this experience more than I can say. The Olympics are done for 2008, but the annual competitions are heating up, and I am in training for the next one now.

The picture is me and Sheila Taormina in our outfits for the opening ceremony.

2008-09-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

For me, Linda is now part of my Olympic experience, and her sweetness and sense of wonder will be what I think of when I think of China. That little girl embodies the spirit of the experience; she has an accepting openness, kindness, curiosity, and humanity that make her a gem, and she proves that, as I expected, the Chinese are more like us than not.

2008-09-02T12:56:00.000-07:00

My new friend, Linda, whose mom runs a small shop in Beijing, really made my trip special in a personal way.

My mom met Linda while on a walk by herself in a hutong (residential area) in Beijing. Linda’s mom looked out the door of her shop and noticed my mom having difficulty with a band-aid. Linda’s mom quickly guided my mom to a seat in her shop where she provided and installed a new band-aid.

About that time, Linda woke from her nap and came out into the shop from the adjacent living quarters, she conversed with my mom in English, guessed that somehow mom was there because of the Olympics, and, soon, they were friends.

Mom brought me back the next day, and the four of us went on a shopping tour of their Beijing. In no time at all, Linda had won me over too. What a smart and pretty little girl!
If I asked her a question that required a thoughtful answer, she would stroke her chin with her fingers and say, “I am thinking.” It was just too cute!

2008-09-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

Sheila and I had breakfast with orangutans.

2008-09-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

It was great fun having my mom with me in China. We found time to be tourists after the games. This shot is of a brief encounter with the Mongol hordes at the Great Wall.

2008-08-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been out of touch electronically while I’ve been in Singapore all week. I’m really glad to be back in Beijing!

What a transformation! It’s like they got an air transplant! Clear, blue skies, lower humidity, and fifteen degrees cooler! It’s invigorating.

I’ve missed the Olympic Village and all the wonderful eating opportunities. There is so much food to choose from here, and (I have mentioned that I enjoy my dining adventures – haven’t I?) I am really glad to be back.

I went to cheer for our track and field team mates today. I really am ready to compete! I envied them out there going for it!

My mom will be here tonight. She should be nearing Tokyo soon. I can’t wait to see her.
My training schedule and travel along with the fact that there was no wireless connectivity in Singapore have made blogging impossible for the past week. I’m looking forward to having a regular connection and more time to communicate.

Oh! I rode a hot air balloon in Singapore! That’ll be a story for my next blog.

Thanks for your interest! Stay tuned to cheer for Team USA! What an experience!

http://www.gauxgirl.com

The Opening Ceremony -- Words can not describe it

2008-08-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

Amazing!

Exciting!

Wonderful!

Touching!

Stupendous!

Awe inspiring!

Grandiose!

Captivating!

I have nothing in my previous experience to which I can compare this experience. I imagine that they did a good job of capturing the opening ceremony on television, but the feeling of the combined experience of personally interacting with the citizens of Beijing and the scale, pageantry and beauty of the opening ceremony as I experienced it was overwhelming. I may well live the rest of my life without ever knowing anything to equal it again.

Even the heat, the oppressive humidity and the throngs of people interacted to add to the experience. Electrifying anticipation – that’s how I describe waiting for my turn to march in the opening. The feeling of anticipation and excitement that every one of us felt multiplied the emotional impact of the night’s events. I don’t think the world has ever seen such a show, and to be a part of it . . . well just imagine stepping into the light of the bird’s nest knowing that the best athletes in the world had, or soon would, trod that path too.

I have to echo my team-mate’s observation, “They get it,” said Sheila Taormina of the people of Beijing. They understand the dynamic and the whole spirit of the Olympics. We hold more in common than we have in difference we people of this planet, and to me, the opening was a celebration of our sameness. It was exhilarating, it was exhausting. I am thrilled to have been there.

I hope you are following along with our progress in the games. Hooray for our saber fencers and our basketball team!

Wow! For some things there just aren’t adequate words. This has been one of them.

Next stop -- China!

2008-08-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Our ambassadorship training yesterday was interesting and informative and it added to my excitement about and understanding of the cultural differences between our countries (China and the USA). It also brought home what an historic event this Olympiad will be. This is a great opportunity for everyone involved, and I am more thrilled than ever to be a part of it.

I’m in United’s red carpet lounge waiting for my plane, munching celery sticks and thinking about what a privilege this trip is. We’re all sporting new Team USA outfits we received yesterday. They picked up our bags at the San Jose State Student Union (the University hosted yesterday’s training event), so we had one less thing to contend with en route. The food here in San Jose was incredible (you might not think it to look at me, but I do enjoy eating – I burn the calories). Even on an off day like yesterday, I managed to get in a nice run.

It’s a great day to be me. I’ll rest on the long flight, maybe watch a movie and listen to my MP3 tunes; I’ll be thinking too about shopping opportunities and about what exotic goodies await us. My coaches, Janusz Peciak and Michael Cintas, are on this flight too. In just a few minutes now we’ll be on our way!

The photo is Janusz and I. It was taken just a few minutes ago at the San Francisco airport.

Next blog from China!

On the road to Beijing -- finally!

2008-08-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

I packed up my air pistol yesterday in the morning. It shipped out immediately thereafter, but I won’t see it again until Singapore. International logistics – I’m sure glad that somebody is on top of all these details.

I’m headed for the west coast this morning. People will be coming in from the numerous training centers scattered across the country for all the varied sports. This will be the first time that so many of this year’s USA Olympians will be in the same place at the same time, and I’m told that this is when the fun begins. I’m really looking forward to it, it feels like it’s finally starting.

Right now I’m at the Denver airport with the weight lifting team. We left Colorado Springs two hours before sunup this morning. Our flight to California takes off in a few minutes, but I wanted to capture the moment while I had a few seconds to myself.

Everyone we pass has a smile, a nod, a thumbs up or an encouraging comment. It feels like riding a wave of positive energy just walking through the airport. What an honor to represent this country. What an opportunity to see the world this way.

The experience is gaining momentum, but there are occasional quiet moments, and I plan to upload more of my experiences over the days between now and the games. Thank you for your interest. Go Team USA!

On your mark! Get set!!

2008-07-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

All the hard work and long hours are about to pay off now. I’m packing for China!

The past few weeks have been such a grueling regimen of training that even more than excitement, I’m feeling exhaustion. It’s a good kind of tiredness, the kind you feel when you know you’ve earned the right to feel tired. I’ll put it this way -- I don’t lie awake at night because I’m excited to be going – there’s too much preparation to be done, so at the end of the day, I’m pretty well spent. I mean, think about it, could you ever be ready enough for the Olympics?

All the same, when I think about it now, it’s feeling more and more real to me. It’s a sweet dream; I hope mine’s about to come true.

Riding photo by Gerry Maceda from last week's riding camp.

A week in the desert -- riding, riding and more riding!

2008-07-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

This has been a busy and exciting week for the team.

Three of us (of four) have been in Palm Springs, California for a riding clinic with the Team USA Modern Pentathlon riding coach, Michael Cintas, at his wonderful facility here. It’s been a week of intense training and hard work, but there have been many, many fans here to watch our workouts and attend a dinner for us Friday night. That enthusiasm and support feels wonderful.

The top link below is to Palm Springs’ Desert Sun coverage of the clinic and includes dozens of great photos of the whole team, our coach, and some of the best horses and facilities around.

The bottom link below is to my page on the Team USA website that is now fixed and functional. Have a look.

Thank you for your interest. It’s more exciting and intense daily. I’ll have more to report soon!

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=J1&Date=20080717&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=807170803&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=24

http://pentathlon.teamusa.org/athlete/athlete/1633

Junior World Championships -- Cairo

2008-07-07T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm in Cairo tonight. I advanced to the finals in the Junior World Championships today. I'm really tired, but I'm excited too.

It's been a while since my last competition, and I crave it. The uncertainty of competition is both exciting and nerve wracking. There are lots of good Juniors here.

The run was not hard, just enough to flush out my legs. It's great to compete again; I missed it so!