Spring Break
Beijing bling
Aggie Christine Marshall brought home fond memories and hardware from 2008 Beijing Olympics.
By: Brett Sebastian
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: News
"I met Vince Vaughn, George Bush and George Bush Sr., Kobe [Bryant], LeBron [James], Jason Kidd and Chris Sr., Kobe [Bryant], LeBron [James], Jason Kidd and Chris Paul, and a bunch of cool people," Marshall said.
Marhsall also met Michael Phelps who broke Mark Spitz's Olympic record by winning eight gold medals in eight competitions.
"Phelps is a good guy," Marshall said. "He conducts himself well. He was eight for eight and is a superstar. He's making swimming look really good."
Marshall said, despite the accommodations and pageantry of the event, she was still a member of the U.S. National team and was in China to swim. It was hard for her to see the national team as her true team.
"The team environment here at A&M is more of a family," Marshall said. "U.S. swimming is more individual oriented. You can't make a team that fast and have the type of bond that we have. I'm used to saying there is my competition, Katie Hoff, now all of a sudden you're teammates. You raced against them and competed against them in trials; it just seems kind of forced."
The U.S. led the way with 12 gold medals and 31 medals total. Second place Australia had six gold and 20 medals total.
"It was awesome training with them," Marshall said. "I learned so much because they are the best athletes in the world. I learned to be smarter about my races, what to do, what not to do, how to act and how everything you do reflects on yourself."
On the day of the 4x200 race, the feeling of swimming on the world stage finally sunk in for Marshall.
"I was kind of nervous," Marshall said. "I had the slowest relay start ever. I didn't want to be that girl who got the U.S. disqualified from the Olympics."
Marshall did not get the U.S. disqualified and was the first Aggie swimmer to receive a medal.
"If you're going to be an Olympian you got to be cutthroat," Marshall said while reflecting on what it took to get to Beijing. "Everyone always talks about growing up to be an Olympian. But thinking about everything I had to go through, making up your mind and putting in the time, work, effort and heart. You've really got to put everything in."
At the end of the day, Marshall said the Beijing games helped transform her.
"I'm a lot more motivated," Marshall said. "I was thinking about quitting after my senior year, but now I want to keep swimming. Even though I lived in a hotel for two and a half months I love it and want to travel more. I want to go pro and do good representing Aggies and my family."
Marhsall also met Michael Phelps who broke Mark Spitz's Olympic record by winning eight gold medals in eight competitions.
"Phelps is a good guy," Marshall said. "He conducts himself well. He was eight for eight and is a superstar. He's making swimming look really good."
Marshall said, despite the accommodations and pageantry of the event, she was still a member of the U.S. National team and was in China to swim. It was hard for her to see the national team as her true team.
"The team environment here at A&M is more of a family," Marshall said. "U.S. swimming is more individual oriented. You can't make a team that fast and have the type of bond that we have. I'm used to saying there is my competition, Katie Hoff, now all of a sudden you're teammates. You raced against them and competed against them in trials; it just seems kind of forced."
The U.S. led the way with 12 gold medals and 31 medals total. Second place Australia had six gold and 20 medals total.
"It was awesome training with them," Marshall said. "I learned so much because they are the best athletes in the world. I learned to be smarter about my races, what to do, what not to do, how to act and how everything you do reflects on yourself."
On the day of the 4x200 race, the feeling of swimming on the world stage finally sunk in for Marshall.
"I was kind of nervous," Marshall said. "I had the slowest relay start ever. I didn't want to be that girl who got the U.S. disqualified from the Olympics."
Marshall did not get the U.S. disqualified and was the first Aggie swimmer to receive a medal.
"If you're going to be an Olympian you got to be cutthroat," Marshall said while reflecting on what it took to get to Beijing. "Everyone always talks about growing up to be an Olympian. But thinking about everything I had to go through, making up your mind and putting in the time, work, effort and heart. You've really got to put everything in."
At the end of the day, Marshall said the Beijing games helped transform her.
"I'm a lot more motivated," Marshall said. "I was thinking about quitting after my senior year, but now I want to keep swimming. Even though I lived in a hotel for two and a half months I love it and want to travel more. I want to go pro and do good representing Aggies and my family."
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com