SWIMMER AIMING FOR 2008 OLYMPICS.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
She was 10 the first time I met her back in 1999 -- a gold medal gold medal traditional first prize. [Western Cult: Misc.] See : Prize hanging from her neck and a big smile on her pretty face. But it was the look in Michelle Theriault's eyes that told the story. The look said, ``This is just the beginning, folks.'' And it was. She had finished first in solo performance in the midget novice division, and helped her team representing the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. win four gold medals at the All-City Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Synchronized Swimming synchronized swimming Swimming sport in which the movements of one or more swimmers are synchronized with a musical accompaniment. The sport developed in the U.S. in the 1930s and was admitted as an Olympic event (solo and duet only) in 1984; in 1996 the rules were changed Championships. They were the Bad News Bears of the competition -- the team that wasn't supposed to win any medals, let alone the championship. The rest of the teams from throughout the city had home city pools to practice in, and many had private coaches. Not the Valley girls. Their practice city pool at Cleveland High in Reseda had been empty and shut down for more than a year because of El Nino damage, but that didn't stop the girls. They practiced their routines on the pool deck, on backyard lawns and in each other's living rooms. Once in a while, they got lucky and could use the small pool at the condo of the 22-year-old California State University, Northridge CSUN offers a variety of programs leading to bachelor's degrees in 61 fields and master's degrees in 42 fields. The university has over 150,000 alumni. It's also home to a summer musical theater/theater program known as TADW (TeenAge Drama Workshop) that leads teenagers through an , student who volunteered to coach them. Imagine winning the city baseball championship without your own ballfield to practice on; the football title without a football field; a basketball championship without your own hard court. ``We thought the other girls would be much better than us, but we were just as good as they were,'' Michelle told me at the time -- that beautiful gold medal hanging from her neck. Great story, but just the beginning of a dream. Michelle, now 17, leaves today with the 10-member U.S. Junior National Synchronized syn·chro·nize v. syn·chro·nized, syn·chro·niz·ing, syn·chro·niz·es v.intr. 1. To occur at the same time; be simultaneous. 2. To operate in unison. v.tr. 1. Swim Team for a month's training in Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, city (1990 pop. 281,140), seat of El Paso co., central Colo., on Monument and Fountain creeks, at the foot of Pikes Peak; inc. 1886. It is a year-round resort and a booming military, technological, and commercial city. at the U.S. Olympic training facility. In October, she will compete with the U.S. team in Beijing in the Junior World's Synchronized Swimming Championships. She is within one more dream of making the U.S. Olympic team for the 2008 Games in China. Not bad for a little girl from a working-class family in North Hills who got her start practicing synchronized swimming in her living room. ``Michelle is not just a great synchronized swimmer, she's a wonderful person,'' said U.S. Junior National team coach Sue Nesbitt. ``I call her synchro syn·chro n. pl. syn·chros A selsyn. [Short for synchronous.] Noun 1. smart. She understands what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. in all our routines and what it takes to win a team medal. She's one of our top swimmers.'' Sure, talent and drive are a big part of fulfilling any kid's dream, but Michelle knows she wouldn't have gotten this far if she also didn't have dedicated, supportive parents. For the last few years, Michelle's mom, Martine, has been hitting the 118 Freeway no later than 2:45 p.m. four days a week to get her daughter to Riverside in time for the 5 p.m to 8 p.m. practices with the Riverside Aquettes, Nesbitt's team. Michelle does her homework on the drive. She and other members of the team share the same home-schooling teacher. ``It's a long drive, a sacrifice, and very expensive,'' Martine says. ``But my daughter's pursing her dream, and we will do everything we can to help her.'' On the weekends, David Theriault, Michelle's father, drives her to Riverside and home after practices and competitions. He's a FedEx driver who knows a little about hard work and hustle hus·tle v. hus·tled, hus·tling, hus·tles v.tr. 1. To jostle or shove roughly. 2. To convey in a hurried or rough manner: hustled the prisoner into a van. . ``I told her a few weeks ago that sometimes, when I'm having a tough, hectic day at work, I think about her in the dead of winter when it's raining getting in that pool every day to practice. ``I said, `You know, honey, that thought helps me get through my day.' She just smiled and gave me a hug.'' Next year, Michelle plans to attend Ohio State, which has a synchronized swimming team. Then she will wait for 2008. ``My ultimate dream has always been the Olympic Games Olympic games, premier athletic meeting of ancient Greece, and, in modern times, series of international sports contests. The Olympics of Ancient Greece Although records cannot verify games earlier than 776 B.C. , but whether I make it or not, I'm still proud of what I have accomplished, and proud of my parents for supporting me,'' she said Saturday. ``I'm giving it all I have.'' That's all any parent can ask, honey. Good luck. dennis.mccarthy(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3749 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Michelle Theriault, 17, of North Hills will be leaving for Colorado Springs to train for an international synchronized swimming competition. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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