CSI HomePage What's New Just for Athletes 2000 United States Aquatic Sports Convention A Report by Brian Carey As the Junior Athletes representative of the Connecticut LSC (Local Swimming Committee), I had the privilege of attending the 2000 United States Aquatic Sports Convention in Orlando, Florida, from the 10 th to the 15 th of October. Coming into this convention I had no clue what to expect. The only thing that I knew for sure was that my flight was leaving from New Yorks LaGuardia Airport on the 10 th at 7:55 PM. However, this sole certainty of my trip didnt end up they way I thought it would be, as my flight was delayed to around 9:30 PM. I, along with Lauren Taft (Senior Athletes Representative from Wilton), and Mrs. Mary Lynch (one of Connecticuts non-athlete representatives) sat in LaGuardias Delta Terminal waiting for the airplane to arrive. Finally, we boarded the plane and flew south to Orlando International Airport. We reached the airport at around 12, and by the time we had picked up our luggage and got on the shuttle to our hotel (the Hyatt Orlando) it was after 1 am. Lauren, Mrs. Lynch and I, checked into our rooms and got some much needed sleep. The next morning I was awoken a little after 7 by my roommates, Mr. Clark Cooper (Connecticut Administrative Vice-Chair) and Mr. Ken Block (Connecticuts Age-Group Committee chairman). After preparing for the day, I headed over to the convention center to the registration booth where I was give my credentials and my nametag for the week. I then headed to a First Timers Meeting, a meeting that introduced me to the format of the convention and which allowed me to meet some of my fellow athlete delegates. Following the meeting, I met with my coach, Ms. Ellen Johnston, who was serving on the USA Swimming Senior Swimming Committee, and we had a nice buffet breakfast. Only after the breakfast did Ellen inform me that the man who was sitting in the table to the left of ours was Jeff Rouse, the former 100 Backstroke World and American record holder (those records are now held by Lenny Krazyelburg, who later in the week was awarded Swimmer of the Year by USA Swimming). | |
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