In Sydney, 55 Bruins are going faster higher stronger
Playing for the other side, these bruins are representing their home countries in the games
NICOLE MILLER/Daily Bruin Sean Kern, a 2-meter man for Team USA, looks to pass against the Romanian National Team in a pre-Sydney exhibition game at Pepperdine.
By Pauline Vu
Daily Bruin Senior Staff Though 55 Bruins are competing in the
Olympics right now, not all of them are seeking glory for the U.S.
The Daily Bruin profiles three of 10 athletes who are going about
it in Sydney the un-American way.
Marilyn Chua (junior)– Malaysia, Swimming
She nearly didn’t make it. At Malaysia’s Olympic swim trials in May, Marilyn Chua placed second in the 50-meter freestyle to earn a berth for the country. But her time still did not meet the Olympic qualifying time of 27.27 seconds. Chua swam in several other races to try to make the time, but still couldn’t do it. Then, at the Janet Evans Invitational at USC in July, her last meet before the Olympics, Chua gave it one last go. And made it. Her time, 27.16, was a Malaysian record.
UCLA Sports Info Mebrahtom Keflezighi races as a Bruin against USC and BYU in 1997. “It’s not a big deal. I felt relieved,” Chua said afterward. “I’ve been trying to make it since forever.”
The Bruin, who was born in Malaysia and has a student visa to the U.S., came specifically for the opportunity to both swim and learn. “Back home in Malaysia, the (government and school) system does not provide for student-athletes. It’s either you swim or study,” Chua said in a phone interview from Sydney. “It’s virtually impossible to excel in both, but here in the U.S., you are able to do both at the same time.” She made the decision to leave her family and go to a new country when she was 16. “I guess it was kinda hard for my family to let me go and be thousands of miles away from their ‘little baby girl,’ but they knew it was what I wanted to do and they knew it was the best thing for me, so they were really supportive after I made my decision,” Chua said. After she qualified for the Olympics, Chua stayed in the U.S. and trained with Bruin head coach Cyndi Gallagher. In early September she went to Kuala Lumpur to train with the six other Olympic-bound Malaysian swimmers. “It’s a lot different,” Chua said. “It isn’t as fun training with the (Malaysian) team compared to UCLA. The team’s a lot smaller and people aren’t as wild and crazy, so it’s less interesting and a lot quieter. “Generally, Malaysians are pretty introverted and conservative, and do not let their thoughts or emotions show much.” Chua has only lived in the U.S. for four years and goes home twice a year. Asked if she considered herself more Malaysian or American, she answered, “I haven’t been in the U.S. as long … so I wouldn’t really consider myself more American than Malaysian. “But I’d like to think that originally and culturally I’m Malaysian, but I’ve adapted and been very heavily influenced by American thinking and ways, so in that sense, you could say I’m American,” she added. This season Chua will be back to swim for UCLA. But for now, she’s participating in what she calls “the greatest accomplishment an athlete can achieve.” “It means the world to me to be able to do it,” Chua said. “Being here in Sydney is like a dream come true and I can’t really describe my emotions. You gotta be here to understand.”
JESSE PORTER/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Former Bruin Holly McPeak and partner Misty May (not pictured) from Long Beach State are the United States’ No. 2 team for beach volleyball in this year’s Olympic competition.
Nada Kawar (’98) – Jordan, Shot Put
Nada Kawar is the greatest track and field Olympian in Jordan. She’s also the only track and field Olympian in Jordan. The Middle Eastern country, nestled between Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Israel, sent only 10 athletes to the games. “They’re not that great at sports in Jordan,” Kawar said in a phone interview hours before leaving for Sydney. Born in Irbid, Jordan, Kawar came to the U.S. in 1989 and has dual citizenship. Kawar, who is competing in her second straight Olympics for Jordan, is the country’s most recognizable track and field face and has been featured in several newspapers. “I’ve brought a lot of recognition to the sport,” she said. “They all know me.” But is it at all strange being a woman and representing a Middle Eastern and Islamic country as an athlete in such a powerful sport? “(Jordan) is still considered, I guess, third world. Women are still not given all the rights … they’re still expected to raise kids,” Kawar said. “It’s like America in the 1950s or 1960s.” Still, she added, “I’ve never had the impression that people are surprised (that I’m an athlete).” At the recent Arab Track and Field Championships held in Jordan, Kawar was the hometown favorite. With the whole stadium cheering for her, she didn’t disappoint the crowd, winning the shot put title. “Jordan doesn’t have very many great athletes, so they’re proud of the athletes that do well,” Kawar said. It was in the U.S., though, that Kawar had the throw that qualified her for Sydney. At the UCLA-USC dual meet this year, competing as an individual, she threw a personal record 17 meters, 83 centimeters, better than the Olympic “B” qualifying standard of 17.35 m. Though she doesn’t live in Jordan, Kawar says that it means a lot to have the right to represent her country. “Even though I call the U.S. my home, Jordan’s my home country. It’s my birthright.”
Mark Williams (senior) – Australia, Indoor Volleyball
When he first joined the Australian National Team a year ago, Mark Williams was nicknamed “sepo” because, Williams explained, Australians say Americans are like septic tanks – full of, uh, waste. Now Williams, who was born in Sydney but became an American transport at the age of 10, is more accepted on the team. But still, “Once in a while I still get a sepo call,” he said in an interview from Sydney. “The longer I’m here I feel more Australian, but I am definitely an American in the eyes of the Australians because of my thick accent,” he added. Williams is a starter for the Australian Team, though not in the capacity he’s used to. Just months after being UCLA’s outside hitter, setting the single-season record for most aces and delivering the winning kill for UCLA’s 18th national championship, he is now Australia’s libero, a player who is only allowed to pass and dig. “It’s hard to play libero when I’m used to doing many other things, but on the team I am the rookie and do whatever I can to play,” Williams said. “Ultimately I would rather be playing outside, but it wasn’t my decision.” That’s not the only thing that’s tough about playing for the Aussies. “It’s different from UCLA because volleyball becomes your entire life,” Williams continued. “You practice twice a day and lift weights. It’s a lot harder work than the training at UCLA.” Williams, who once said he felt more American than Australian, is getting back to his roots with all the time he has spent in the country. “The best thing about being in Australia is being able to see family that I haven’t seen for a long time,” he said. “I was born here and spent nine years here, so it also brings back fond memories.” The Australians begin play on Sept. 17 and play every other day. In their pool they will face Cuba, Brazil, the Netherlands, Spain and Egypt. The U.S. is in the other pool, and the two teams won’t meet unless both make it to the medal round. As the host country Australia, playing in its first Olympics in mens’ volleyball ever, received an automatic bid. They are fielding one of their best teams ever and in the past two years have defeated teams from the top 10 like the United States and Brazil. “Hopefully being on our home turf will give us an advantage,” Williams said. Still, despite his desire to help Australia go further than it ever has before, Williams is eager to get back on American soil. “I miss America because that’s my home,” Williams said. “I feel comfortable with my family and friends.”
UCLA'S 2000 OLYMPIANS This year the Bruins sent a total of 55 athletes and coaches to the Olympics, 42 of them for the United States and 10 for foreign countires. Below are the American Olympians. Women's Basketball Natalie Williams ('94) Men's Beach Volleyball Kevin Wong ('95) Women's Beach Volleyball Annett (Buckner) Davis ('94) Jenny Johnson Jordan ('95) Holly McPeak ('90) Men's Gymnastics Steve McCain ('94) Women's Gymnastics Alyssa Beckerman* (incoming freshman) Jamie Dantzscher (incoming freshman) Kristen Maloney (incoming freshman) Rowing Sally Scovel* ('96) Men's Soccer Brad Friedel ('92) Frankie Hejduk ('94) Peter Vagenas ('99) Sasha Victorine ('99) Women's Soccer Jillian Ellis (Asst. Coach) David Vanole (Asst. Coach) Joy Fawcett (former UCLA coach) Nandi Pryce* (freshman) Softball Christie Ambrosi ('99) Jen Brundage ('95) Sheila (Cornell) Douty ('84) Lisa Fernandez ('93) Amanda Freed* (junior) Stacey Nuveman (junior) Dot Richardson ('83) Track & Field Amy Acuff ('97), high jump Andrea Anderson ('98), 4x400m relay Shelia Burrell ('95), heptathlon Gail Devers ('88), 100m hurdles Dawn Dumble ('95), shot put John Godina ('95), discus & shot put Mebrahtom Keflezighi ('98), 10,000m Suzy Powell ('98), discus Seilala Sua ('00), discus Ato Boldon ('96), - Trinidad & Tobago, 100m, 200m Men's Volleyball Dan Landry ('93) Jeff Nygaard ('95) Erik Sullivan ('95) Men's Water Polo Dan Hackett ('91) Sean Kern (senior) Women's Water Polo Guy Baker (coach) Robin Beauregard (junior) Nicolle Payne ('98) Coralie Simmons ('00) Catharine von Schwarz* ('00) *signifies alternate SOURCE: Sports Info
Original by JACOB LIAO/Daily Bruin Web Adaptation by HERNANE TABAY/Daily Bruin Senior Staff UCLA OLYMPIANS FOR OTHER COUNTRIES This year the Bruins sent a total of 52 atheltes and coaches to the Olympics, 42 of them for the United States and 10 for foreign countries. Below are the American Olympians. SOURCE: Sports Info Original by JACOB LIAO/Daily Bruin Web Adaptation by HERNANE TABAY/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
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