Though his colleagues and friends don't typically think of Brian as a "clock watcher," readers will see and appreciate that Carberry kept an eye on his timepiece during these experiences. Enjoy!
GUEST COLUMN: J. Brian Carberry's 20:16 in Austin, Texas
With 2016 upon us, and the Rio Olympics on the horizon
(along with my family being out of town on school and family business), a
driving journey to Austin from Shreveport, La., offered the perfect getaway to
set the Olympic/Brazilian mood for the year.
My 20 hours and 16 minutes (20:16) in the Texas capitol -- built around attending the Arena Pro Swim Series at Austin (a FINA-approved competition for athletes to log qualifying times for Rio) -- accomplished
this goal.
Departing at noon on Jan. 16, I arrived in Austin at 5:30 p.m. after a pleasant drive through eastern Texas’ pinewood-laden geography.
Following a rapid check-in at the Courtyard
Marriott (Official Partner of USA Swimming), I quickly navigated my way to the
Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on the main campus of the University
of Texas where the finals session of Day 2 of the Arena Pro Swim Series
commenced at 6 p.m.
With 10 minutes to spare, I paused to take in the Olympians
Plaza right outside the venue (modeled after the 1972 Munich Olympic pool, according to this page on the UT website), which features a fenced-in tree with a
band of round medallions inscribed with the name of every UT swimmer or diver
who competed in the Olympics. The name,
discipline, and (where appropriate) medals won, are denoted.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Illinois native and
current oldest living U.S Olympic gold medalist Adolph Kiefer (USA) attended
and swam at the University of Texas in the wake of his inspiring gold medal-winning swim (at age 17) during the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games in the 100-meters backstroke.
Given Kiefer’s Jewish heritage, it was a nice reminder of
the overall climate at the ’36 Games, and an affirmative testament for the MLK
Jr. Holiday.
The final medallions denoted Kathleen Hersey (USA), who is a two-time Olympian through 2012 in
the women’s 200-meter butterfly and James Feigen (USA), who won a silver medal
at the 2012 London Olympics in the men’s 4 x 100-meters relay and whom I would
see swim later that evening. A long and
rich Olympic swimming and diving tradition indeed!
After viewing the plaza and medallions, I
made my way into the venue and to my seat with moments to spare before the first
“A” final of the night in the women’s 400-meters individual medley.
As veteran Olympic attendees know, you travel the swiftest
when alone and focused on your destination. My fast-tracked entry was also assisted by the lack of multiple layers
of security to process through prior to entering, and no line at on-site
ticketing where $15 afforded me the equivalent of an Olympic “A” level vantage
point for the evening session.
In year four of their exclusive sponsorship with USA
Swimming, aquatic gear manufacturer Arena’s logo was ubiquitously presented at the venue with a full
array of branded training and casual wear products available for purchase.
Eight finals were on the slate for the evening, and the
performances did not disappoint. Over 35
Olympic medalists from around the world were on the program to swim, along with
many noted up-and-comers set to make an impression as they worked to make their
first Olympic team this year.
Some swimmers at this meet were clearly in the process of
rounding into shape or focusing on rarely swam distances/events as part of
their training towards a peak in Brazil later this year.
Others were there to serve notice as world
class times were swam over the course of the night.
For the women’s 400 IM final, a notably partisan section of
the crowd was on hand waving Hungarian flags as the 2015 World Champion and
Olympic hopeful in this event, Katinka Hooszu (HUN), pulled away in 4:37.50 to win a final that included Olympic IM medalists Caitlyn
Leverentz (USA) finishing sixth and Elizabeth Biesel (USA) seventh.
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| AP Photo/Stephen Spillman |
Next up was what would turn out to be arguably the marquee
performance of the evening as Olympic veteran Ryan Lochte (USA) took to the
pool against a final field that included two other Olympic gold medalists,
though in different disciplines.
Backstroke Olympian Tyler Clary (USA) would finish fourth and long
distance freestyle specialist Oussama Mellouli (TUN) would take eighth as
Lochte, who at 31 was eight-plus years older than the average age of the
field, set a UT Pool record of 4:12.66 in winning the event outright by 1.98
seconds over second place finisher Chase Kalisz (USA).
Not to be outdone, the women’s 200-meters freestyle final
featured three Olympic gold medalists from the 2012 London Olympic Games. Missy Franklin (USA) came in third in her
first of two finals for the evening, while her 2012 4 x 200 teammate Shannon
Vreeland (USA) took eighth.
Neither were
a match for 2012 women’s 800-meters gold medalist and 2015 World Champion in this event,
teenager Katie Ledecky (USA), who won in 1:54.43 to record the all-time sixth-fastest
time in the event, beating out Sarah Sjostrom (SWE). This time by Ledecky was also a UT pool record.
 |
| AP Photo/Stephen Spillman |
The men’s 200-meters freestyle final brought the crowd to
its feet as Olympic legend Michael Phelps (USA) stepped to the blocks. Also in the field was Olympic gold medalist Jeremy
Stravius (FRA); a perennial member of the French Olympic men’s relay teams that
rival Phelps and others in the USA men’s relay units.
On this night, Stravius prevailed in a time
of 1:47.56. Phelps finished fourth behind Townley Haas (USA) and Jordan
Pothain (FRA), foreshadowing the 2016 Olympic men’s freestyle
relays should be as competitive as ever.
The women’s 200-meters backstroke final included the 2012 Olympic gold medalist Franklin and the 2015 World Championship bronze medalist Hosszu both contesting their second final of the evening. Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), the 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist in this event, was also in the field. Perhaps due to fatigue from the attempt to
double, Hosszu, with the aforementioned Hungarian crowd contingency
rooting her on was beat at the touch by .34 seconds by up and comer Maya DiRado
(USA). Franklin was third and Coventry was sixth.
The men’s 200-meters backstroke final included 2012 Men’s 100-meters backstroke and men’s medley relay Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers (USA) stepping up to
the longer distance. With 2012
Olympic gold and bronze medalists (Clary and Lochte, respectively) absent from the field after the men’s 400 IM earlier in the evening, the event
was a showcase for aspiring Olympians.
Ryan Murphy (USA) who swam on the 2015 World Championship men’s 4 x100 medley
relay gold medal team won easily in 1:55.99 with Grevers finishing fourth.
The penultimate final of the evening was the women’s 50-meters freestyle. Winner Sjostrom in a time of
24.17 and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (BAH), who placed third, were
semi-finalist and finalist, respectively, in this event at the 2012 Olympic Games,
indicating a strong progression.
Olympians Natalie Coughlin (USA), Dana Vollmer (USA) and Theresa
Alshammer (SWE) swept the B Final in that order. The former two Olympic gold medalists were
moving down in distance for this tune up, and the 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medalist
in this event, Alshammer, is still going strong at the age of 38 after a
sixth place finish at the 2012 Olympics.
The last Final event was the men’s 50-meters freestyle, which
included 2012 Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meters freestyle, Nathan Adrian (USA),
who finished first in 21.85. Olympic silver medalist and UT alumnus Jimmy
Feigen (USA) finished third and the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the event
Cullen Jones (USA) finished sixth. The
2000 Sydney Olympics gold medalist in this event, Anthony Ervin (USA) recorded
the 10th fastest time of the night with a third place finish in the B Final.
After the competition, Arena provided an autograph and photo
area with their sponsored athletes including 2015 World Championships silver medalist Connor Jaeger (USA), and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Breeja Larson (USA).
Hosszu, Cullen Jones (USA), and Rowdy Gaines (USA),
who was there as media, all made time to mingle with the crowd outside of the
venue.
Jones was born on Leap Year Day in 1984 so good luck and
birthday wishes for the Olympiad year were offered as I secured an autograph before
returning to my hotel to watch the last half of the NFL Divisional Round
playoff game between the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers. Folks interested in the upcoming Arena Pro Swim Series events in Orlando, Charlotte, Indianapolis and other cities will find ticket information via this link.
The next morning, I grabbed a hearty breakfast at the
International House of Pancakes (a nod to the weekend’s global theme), and
headed to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) Downtown Paddock to take in the Hall of Fame Collection of memorabilia
documenting and commemorating the career of Brazilian F1 legend Ayrton
Senna (BRA).
The exhibit, which is described as having been “meticulously
gathered over a period of 20 years by private collectors Howard Jacobs and
Darren Jack,” consists of photo authenticated race worn clothing, steering
wheels, autographed pieces, and original F1 car parts.
The exhibit does an excellent job of documenting and
including an array of items from each phase of Senna’s F1 career with an array
of impressive items, many of which are signed by the late Senna.
Of note is the
inclusion of items from periods at the beginning and end of his career when he
served very short stints with the teams of Toleman and Williams.
The exhibit showcases some very interesting and appropriate
items without overwhelming the viewer with clutter.
In an 11 year career in motor racing’s highest echelon, Senna
won 41 Grand Prixs and three Driver Championships before his tragic death at the
Imola Raceway in San Marino on May 1, 1994. In death, Senna remains a national hero in Brazil as I had learned more
about in a preparatory viewing of the 2010 film Senna that documents his life.
A frequently used freeway in Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Ayrton
Senna, has been named in his honor and many Olympic visitors this year will
find themselves traveling this thoroughfare. Fans might also enjoy a listen to
the CD A Tribute to Ayrton Senna: A Music Documentary, which
features a collection of affirmational songs from noted artists including
Queen, Tina Turner, Pink Floyd, Phil Collins, Enya, and others interspersed with
recorded statements by Senna himself, and notable audio race calls from key moments
in his career. (The exhibit continues through March 2016, and it is advised to call ahead at
512-655-6400 to confirm dates and times.)
My final stop before departing Austin was a visit the
commemorative statue of Texas native and
Unveiled in 1993 and installed along the Riverside Drive’s
Bike Trail, the statue was executed by Ralph Helmick, and on this day small
roses had been placed upon his sculpted hands by prior visitors.
Vaughn’s Blues guitar, which I first heard on MTV in 1984 while watching the video to his hit song Cold
Shot, was distinctive and electrifying even among other guitar greats.
I was thankful for the morning walk along the bike trail, and
the time to reflect on the musical genius of another legend whose time on Earth
was short but made a global impact.
With the clock approaching 1:20 p.m., and with a long drive ahead of
me, I pulled onto the northbound on ramp to I-35, and as I exited the Southern metropolis I noted it was 1:46 p.m., and my
20:16 in Austin had come to an end to the minute.
It was a weekend to reflect on the past, celebrate the
present, and look forward to a great Olympic year in Brazil and beyond.
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