The USOC Media Summit
I’ve just gotten back from the USOC Media Summit. It was an intense few days of being filmed, photographed, and interviewed. Even though I feel like I interview well and deal with cameras with ease I am still glad that I am done. It was a pretty exhausting experience to be “on” for two days straight.
I arrived in Chicago, where the summit was taking place, on Sunday. After checking in and getting all of the required schedules and attire I headed off to the opening reception. As opening receptions go, it was pretty unremarkable. So, after staying the required amount of time, Ian, Whitney, Cullen and I headed out to meet up with a few of Ian’s friends at a bar.
It turned out that the place that we were going was more like a speakeasy than a bar. We were wandering around looking for it and finally discovered it when two people popped out of a wall that had originally looked like plywood construction fronting. There was a secret door! Already, this place was climbing on my cool scale.
Inside, it was really posh but they had a strict cell phone rule. Apparently, texting was alright but if they saw you talking on your cell phone you would get kicked out. Their menu was really unique and interesting and we had a really great time. We stayed there for quite a while and didn’t get back until late. Fortunately, I had already planned on doing my practice in the evening so I didn’t have to wake up early.
Monday was filled with NBC (and their shows’) camera stuff and sessions with a ton of different photographers. Apparently, it costs less for newspapers to hire a photographer than it does for them to buy a picture from someone else who owns it. Afterwards, I swam and then went out to dinner with my agents and went to bed.
Actually, before I hit the sack I had to try and figure out some sort of practice time for Tuesday. Unfortunately, there was really no space in my schedule to fit in transport and my cut-down 1 hour 15 minute practice. I ended up jamming it between broadcast interviews and round table interview sessions. It also turns out that the pool was double booked with Cullen’s photo shoot and they were trying to kick me out. I had to be firm and let them know that it was silly for me to have to get out when they were in the little L of a diving well attached to a huge 8 lane, 50 meter pool.
The interviews all went well. I feel like I had good answers for most of the questions I was asked. Most of the time I think I came off as interesting, and if I didn’t manage that, at least I didn’t look like an idiot (although I am now quoted on ESPN.com using the term “side boob” … oops). I also met Dominique Dawes, the former gymnast, who was doing some interviewing. It was pretty thrilling to talk to her, since she is one of my former heroes.
After all that was over I got to have lunch with some people from Bank of America. It was good to catch up with them since they treat me so well and have been taking care of me for a while. After lunch, all that was left was a quick pack up and then I was heading home.
Originally, I was a little reluctant to interrupt my training routine to go to the summit. But I feel like I got a lot done while I was there so hopefully it will all get to be used in August.