KTVB.COM
Posted on June 28, 2012 at 6:24 PM
Updated yesterday at 8:34 PM
EUGENE -- For the past decade, former Boise State discus thrower Jarred Rome has been the best, most consistent athlete in his profession.
But after making the 2004 Olympics in Athens, one bad day kept him out of the games in 2008.
Upset and frustrated, he's ready for redemption.
"It was terrible.? I'll never forget that day.? It was the worst day of my life," said Rome.
Not ready to forgive or forget.
"In 2008 I sat on my couch, and the person in my place got 40th, and I have a potential to get a medal," said Rome. "I had three throws slip off my hand, go straight in the air. I was fourth in the world, third in the U.S. and didn't make the team."
Discus thrower Jarred Rome's bitterness towards the USA Olympic qualifying process is obvious.
"No other country does it.? Why do we?? When we have the number one track team in the world?," asks Rome.
Contemplating retirement, Rome refused to leave his house for a month after the 2008 trials. Locked in a deep depression, it was then he opened his eyes to a sudden sense of pride.
"One morning I woke up and said, 'If I retire this way, I'm going to be 50, and I'm never going to forgive myself," said Rome. "Its a situation where you don't want to have any regrets, and I don't have any right now."
Having battled the peaks and valleys that come with his profession, Rome is now ready for redemption - four years later.
"Making this team in everything to him," said Art Venegas, Rome's coach. "When he was younger, he could get away with ripping at the end because he was just a young powerful guy."
With a more mature approach, Rome is benefiting from his new coach, Art Venegas, with the goal to get this massive man to focus on the finer aspects of throwing. Venegas says the 34-year-old is just scratching the surface of his potential.
"I know he's capable of making the final.? I know he's capable of moving way up in the final and potentially making the final," said Venegas.
Once again, Rome has reached headway in just three throws has determined his fate and made the last four years of sweat and determination a success.
Thursday at the men's discus throw finals,? Rome threw a distance of 61.26 meters in the first round, but fouled in the next three rounds. He came back in the final two rounds with throws at? 60.46m and 63.35m to place 2nd, which secured his spot to London.
He says he's ready, "I truly believe in this.? If your path is easy, you don't truly appreciate it when it happens."
Two other Idaho athletes, Ian Waltz placed 4th and Russ Winger came in 5th.?
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.