U.S. Athletic Trust Newsletter 2013

U.S. Athletic Trust Newsletter 2013
G
reetings from all of our athletes and volunteers! U.S. Athletic Trust (USAT)
has just completed our first decade of operation, and we are proud of our
accomplishments. Our original mission was to provide a model of direct
support to college graduates training for the Olympic Games. Over time, we have
broadened our efforts locally and thematically. USAT is “A NEW MODEL OF
SPORT PHILANTHROPY”, more broadly a sport NGO (non-governmental
organization) advocating on behalf of America’s under-supported Olympians. Going forward we will focus on
four main initiatives:
1. iPad Coaching Excellence Awards: The advent of easy-to-use, slow-motion analysis mobile software
provides coaches and athletes an incredibly powerful new tool.
USAT is awarding iPads to top coaches in various sports who do not
A special thanks to the following
yet use the technology due to financial or familiarity issues. A
Major Donors:
picture is worth a thousand words; easy-to-use hi-res, slow-mo
Robert and Joan Merrilees
video is worth a million!
2. Hi-Lo Assist: We believe the broad application of our “living high,
training low” training approach will dramatically boost American
competitiveness in a number of Olympic sports. In 2013, we intend
to provide a dozen athletes from sports including track, cycling,
rowing and triathlon with expertise and equipment to improve their
performance and get on the podium in 2014 (Sochi) and 2016 (Rio).
3. NGB and USOC Policy Research: For the most part, American
National Governing Bodies, or NGBs, such as USA Track & Field and
others, as well as the USOC, are self-funding and governing. There is
no third party policy and efficacy examination of these
organizations. Over time, USAT will develop an on-line presence to
provide constructive critique and policy prescriptions of these
organizations.
4. Direct Olympic Athlete Support: Since 2000, USAT has supported
nearly 50 college graduates training for the Olympic Games. In 2012,
all four of our athletes made the Olympic team: Sean Furey
(Javelin), Craig Kinsley (Javelin), Samyr Laine (Triple Jump - made
final) and Donn Cabral (Steeple 7th; USAT provided Hi-Lo Assist). We
will continue to connect deserving athletes with donors.
Frank and Beth Harrison
VJ Dowling
Anne Marden-Grainger
Holborn, Inc.
Dick and Liz Moley
Richard and Nora Johnson
Preston Johnson and Vicki Martin
Vince Crescenzi
George Yancopoulos
Ben Gifford and Jane Carlin
Mark and Lisa Heffernan
Clare Pierson
And Major Supporters:
Dr. Jim Stray-Gundersen
The United States Olympic Committee
USATF Foundation
Bernie and Cecelia Wehrle
US Ski Team
We will continue to pursue our mission in a manner that is a model of effectiveness, both in terms of
impact, and of the leanness of our operation. Thanks to the support of our donors and volunteers, USAT
continues to offer a unique and effective model of sport philanthropy and training. We look forward to
sharing some very rewarding and exciting moments with you and our athletes in the future.
Sincerely,
Augie Wolf
President/Founder
U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U ST
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1. Supporting Coaching Excellence: iPad 3 Gift Program
Natalia Brown is the Throws Coach at New
Rochelle High School. As a college thrower,
Natalia developed an interest in coaching,
and began changing athletes’ lives while
coaching at her former high school’s
program. Natalia’s athletes consistently
dominate the competition. USAT was
delighted to present Natalia with the first
iPad 3 coach’s gift. Using the Ubersense iPad
App, Natalia can train her athletes using
immediate slow-motion footage in terrific
resolution.
New Rochelle HS athlete Biryah Brown, left, achieved recordsetting throws with the help of the Ubersense iPad App, and
the expert instruction of Coach Natalia Brown, right
“A slow-motion video that you can control with your
fingertips is like a million words. The iPad 3 and Apps like
Ubersense and Coaches Eye have given coaches an
invaluable tool to dramatically improve the technique of
our athletes. I can think of no better way to leverage the
generosity of our donors than to identify exceptional
coaches who, for whatever reason, (financial resources,
age, time), have not yet adopted the technology, and
bestow upon them an unexpected gift.”
Augie Wolf, Founder US Athletic Trust
Ubersense iPad App showing arm-swing analysis
To date, US Athletic Trust has provided iPad 3s to the following top coaches to help them better prepare
their athletes for competition:
Natalia Brown
Harry Marra
Mike Pascuzzo
Matt Whitcomb
Tim O’Neill
Frank Harrison
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U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U S T
New Rochelle, NY
Eugene, OR
Lenape, NJ
Park City, UT
Phoenix AZ
Colts Neck, NJ
Throws Coach New Rochelle HS
Coach of 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist, Ashton Eaton
HS Coach of 50+ NCAA D-1 athletes in jumps
US Ski Team Nordic Women’s Coach
Coach of several elite HS athletes in AZ
USAT Elite Track
2. Hi-Lo Assist Program Trial: A Model of Excellence for TEAM USA
Over the last half century, US Olympic
The solution? Spend
performance in cardio sports (rowing,
at least 8-10 hours a
triathlon, running, cycling) has not been
day in an
dominant on the medal stand. Recently,
environment
this has begun to change in some
simulating altitude.
sports, including distance running. One
This is most readily
of the reasons for the shift is the
done by encasing a
aggressive application of altitude
bed or whole room,
management on the body. Dr. James
and pumping in air
Stray-Gundersen, (currently Director of
that has less oxygen
the US SKI TEAM High Performance
than normal. Doing
Center in Park City, UT) and his team,
this properly
pioneered research demonstrating a
demands expertise
Ashley Higginson, USAT-sponsored steeplechaser
conclusive link between living at high
(treadmill testing,
altitude/training low, to improved athletic
hemoglobin and other monitoring), rigor and
performance in cardio sport. Simply put, our bodies
supervision. In the 20 years since Dr. Stray-Gundersen’s
grow more red blood cells (that ferry oxygen to
work was first publicized, many athletes simply bought
altitude tents from aggressive vendors, but did not have
the expertise to properly take advantage.
At the London Games, USAT Founder Augie Wolf had
numerous conversations with USA Olympians and
NGB/USOC staff. He discovered that proper application
of this technique was rare amongst our rowers,
triathletes, and cyclists, to name a few. Subsequently,
USAT launched the Hi-Lo Assist Program Trial.
Ashley’s Facebook post boasts, “VO2 to da max baby.”
muscles) to compensate for the lower oxygen levels in
the air above 4500 ft. But living at high altitude makes
it difficult to train; low altitude is optimal. The ideal
situation of living high and training low is
geographically impossible for 99% of us.
USAT provides the tent, 2 trips to the US Ski Team High
Performance Center in Park City, UT for analysis,
training and consultation in using the tent, and ongoing support. Implemented broadly, we believe the
USA can win 20+ additional medals in the Olympic
Games from broad use of Hi-Lo on this basis. We are
raising $75,000 (10 athletes) to fund this pilot program
—please contact us if you care to help.
Current Hi-Lo Assist Program Trial Participants
Ashley Higginson
Jordan Rapp
Robbie Andrews
Taylor Ritzel
Donn Cabral
Princeton
Princeton
UVA
Yale
Princeton
Steeplechase
Triathlon
800m
Rowing W8
Steeplechase
4th Place US Olympic Trials 2012
13th Place Kona IronMan 2012
5th Place US Olympic Trials 2012
Gold Medalist 2012 Olympics
8th Place 2012 Olympics
U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U ST
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3. National Governing Body (NGB)/
US Olympic Committee (USOC) Policy Research
The original intent of our effort was to publicize
the unacceptably low level of direct athlete
support provided to post-graduate Olympic
athletes. Ten years later, there are small signs of
improvement, but in general, NGBs and the USOC
still do not put the practical needs of the athletes
at the forefront of their planning.
US Athletic Trust intends to re-double its efforts
in analyzing and publicizing the operations of
these organizations, providing comparative
analysis among them and to those of other
countries, and finally
proposing longer term
policy solutions. In 2013,
we hope to markedly
deepen our online
presence with insightful
analysis and critique. We hope to emerge as a
leading “sport NGO” that policy makers look to
for direction.
4. Direct Olympic Athlete Support
US Athletic Trust is dedicated to supporting America's Olympic hopefuls in a sustained and meaningful way.
Since our inception in 2000, we have supported nearly 75 college graduates, many of whom are
accomplished Olympians, and among them, several medalists. With an eye towards the 2014 Games in Sochi,
Russia, and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, we applaud the continued success of our former and
current sponsored athletes.
Former
USAT Sponsored Athletes
Former USAT Sponsored
Athletes
Adam Nelson
Michelle Guerette
Danika Holbrook
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Lindsay Campbell, Princeton
Brian Chaput, Pennsylvania
Susan Francia, Pennsylvania*
Bryon Friedman, Dartmouth
Zoila Gomez, Adams State College
Tora Harris, Princeton*
Gabriel Jennings, Stanford
Scott Macartney, Dartmouth
Adam Nelson, Dartmouth*
Jordan Rapp, Princeton
Jarrod Shoemaker, Dartmouth
Paul Terek, Michigan State
Alexander Ghanotakis, Dartmouth
Trinity Gray, Brown
Michelle Guerette, Harvard*
Tyler Hagler, Georgia Tech
Danika Holbrook, Princeton*
U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U S T
Portia Johnson, Brown
John Kelly, Princeton
Kathryn King, Brown*
Maya Lawrence, Princeton*
Lucas McGee, Brown
Alex Ottiano, Brown*
Jimmy Pedro, Brown*
Gregory Ruckman, Harvard
Artour Samsonov, Harvard
Lauren Simmons, Princeton
Brenda Taylor, Harvard*
Lindsay Taylor, Brown
Soren Thompson, Princeton*
Gabriel Winkler, Cornell
*=Olympian
Tora Harris
Maya Lawrence
Brenda Taylor
Sean Furey
Dartmouth ‘05
Javelin
2012 Olympics
Sean Furey, 30, realized a lifelong dream when he competed for Team USA at the
2012 Olympic Games in London. A multi-talented high school athlete, Fury had an
arm for both football and javelin. Turning his focus to Track and Field at the
collegiate level, Furey was a standout in the Ivy League, where he holds the
Dartmouth school record in the javelin, with a distance of 73.84 meters. With a
personal best of 82.73 meters, Furey also held the top mark in the U.S. in 2012, and
is currently ranked 43rd in the world. His trip to London was the second Team USA
appearance for Furey, after also
making the World Outdoor team in
Donate
2009. Coached by former Olympian Todd Reich, Furey works part time as
USAT is a recognized 501-c3 nona mechanical engineer. When asked why he chose to continue pursuing
profit corporation. Change a young
the javelin, instead of concentrating on his engineering career, Furey
athlete’s life with a gift of cash or
remarked of his life in San Diego with wife Mattie, "We have everything
securities. Your contribution goes a
we need and more. Making money won't make me happier. Being on the
long way toward helping talented
Olympic team will make me happier." US Athletic Trust will continue to
and determined athletes like these
support Furey, with confidence that his Olympic dream will be a recurring
reach their goals.
one. Look for Sean Furey on the roster, and on the podium, in 2016.
Craig Kinsley
Brown ‘11
Javelin
2012 Olympics
“So I went to the Olympics. Good stuff. Now I want more. Looking forward to 2013 World
Championships in Moscow,” says Craig Kinsley, 2012 Olympian. During the qualifying
round in London, Kinsley had his Olympic PR, marked at 78.18 meters. Kinsley’s debut in
London laid the groundwork for his real moment in 2016, where we expect great things.
US Javelin Development Coordinator Tom Pukstys confirmed that Kinsley is one of top
three prospects in the US through 2016, and has the ability to throw far enough
to get on the podium. The US has not had an Olympic medalist in the javelin
since 1972.
Like many Track & Field athletes, Kinsley, 23, found his sport serendipitously; a
broken hand in high school turned this aspiring baseball player into a renowned
Olympic Javelin thrower, with the potential to bring home the Gold.
Kinsley graduated from Brown in 2011, where he was coached by Michelle Eisenreich. Support
from US Athletic Trust allowed him to stay in Providence to continue to train while volunteering as an
assistant coach. After the Olympics, Kinsley committed to train for 2016, and has moved to San Diego to
train at the USOC Training Center in Chula Vista. A monthly stipend from USAT will enable Craig to stay
focused and prepare to represent Team USA in 2016.
U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U ST
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Samyr Laine
Harvard ‘06
Triple Jump Final Round
2012 Olympics
Samyr Laine gained celebrity as roommate to Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg, at Harvard, and as one of the
first members of the social network. But Laine, 29, is generating “Likes” of his own, off the social grid, in the world
of Track & Field. Making the finals in his first Olympic appearance in London with a jump distance of 16.80 meters,
Samyr is just getting started. With a personal best of 17.39 meters, Laine has set his sights on The 2013 IAAF World
Championships in Moscow and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Though born and raised in Newburgh, NY, Laine competes in the triple jump for Haiti,
the native home of his parents. Laine believes he could have earned a spot on Team
USA, but chose to fly the flag for his ancestral home. After a visit to Haiti following the
2012 earthquake, Laine was inspired to create the Jump for Haiti Foundation, which
provides mentoring for Haitian children and aspiring Haitian athletes.
Trust’s monthly
performance
Though not competing for the USA, US Athletic Trust supported Samyr due to
his commitment to excellence and impressive academic credentials. US Athletic
stipend allowed him to focus on his preparation for London; his strong
speaks to the importance of this support.
American athletes not on level playing field
US Athletic Trust was founded in
2002 when our founder
discovered that Tora Harris,
Princeton '02 who graduated as a
top ten American high-jumper,
was not getting any direct
support, just as he did not 20
years before. This was startling
as the sums flowing into
the Olympic movement
had grown dramatically
since 1984. Sadly, it is
not much different
today. USAT athlete NIC
Crumpton is on the USA
Skeleton Development
Team. He gets no direct support
from his federation or the USOC.
Here is his comment after a
training camp in Whistler, Canada
this winter:
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U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U S T
"It's shocking how much better funded the Canadians are than us. They
pay a one- time team fee at the beginning of the year, and then have
everything taken care of after that. They have all their spikes, apparel,
and team gear paid for, as well as their trips to Europe. They even get a
per diem. It's disconcerting that the USOC & NGBs receive more money both in gross terms and per capita terms - and yet does so much less to
support their athletes. More than disconcerting; it's disheartening."
USAT analyzed USOC and NGB tax returns
in the late 1990s and concluded that about
6% of revenues were going to direct athlete
support. We do not believe the figure is
much higher today. Other countries,
notably the UK, Canada and Germany, fund
their athletes materially better. Part of the
solution is more visibility for direct athlete
support at all levels. In addition, development (aka fundraising) is a simple
(yet hardly easy) solution. We estimate that more is spent on a single
typical NFL football game than is donated in an entire year to the USOC
and NGBs. The lack of support for our Olympic athletes is a disgrace given
the value most Americans place on TEAM USA (evidenced by the billions
of dollars paid to the IOC for American TV rights). Addressing this is the
most important long term goal of US Athletic Trust.
Looking forward: Nathan Ikon Crumpton
Princeton ‘08
Skeleton
Nathan Ikon Crumpton is a
modern-day Renaissance man.
Familiarly known as NIC, he was
born in Nairobi, Kenya, and spent
his younger years in East Africa and
Geneva, Switzerland. NIC has also taken up residence
in Harare, Zimbabwe; Canberra, Australia; and the
Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
A scholar and an athlete, NIC studied at Princeton
University and competed in NCAA Division I Track and
Field as a long jumper, triple jumper, and short
sprinter. He
graduated Cum
Laude in 2008 with
degrees in Sociology
and Environmental
Studies. Like any
respectable
Renaissance man,
NIC also developed
talents in the visual
arts. Photography,
videography, and
multiple online
business ventures
occupied his “work”
time, and leisure
time was anything
but, with adventures on snowboards, skis,
skateboards, surf boards, and mountain bikes.
NIC improves technique and reduces push time
with each race, as shown here in Whistler, BC
NIC tried out and qualified for the US Olympic
Development team in skeleton. Skeleton is an
extremely fast winter sliding sport in which an
individual rides a small sled down a frozen track while
lying face down, during which the athlete experience
forces up to 5g. “There's nothing quite like sliding
head first down a serpentine chute of ice at over 80
miles per hour,” says NIC of his new passion.
NIC. shown competing for the
Olympic Development Team in
Salt Lake City, UT
Leonardo daVinci has the Mona Lisa, and
Michelangelo has the Sistine Chapel, but NIC’s
masterpiece may be achieved in his return to
competitive athletics. While spiked shoes are still
required, he can hang up his track spikes and trade in
his running singlet and sand pit for a full-body speed
suit and sled. Building on his Track and Field skills,
NIC reached an impressive PR of 50.33 seconds
on the skeleton course in Park City UT
Skeleton was permanently added to the Olympic
program with the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake
City, Utah, and NIC hopes to earn a spot on Team USA
for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. With
support from US Athletic Trust, NIC has access to
equipment, training programs, and skeleton venues
required to reach the top of the sport, in addition to
the training and disciplined lifestyle.
U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U ST
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Without the generosity of our donors, none of this would be possible. On behalf of all the aspiring
athletes US Athletic Trust has supported over the years, thank you very much. Going forward, we invite
you to continue to be part of the effort as our mission broadens and successes grow.
Gold Sponsors
Robert & Joan Merrilees
August Wolf
Charles & Wendy Block
George Yancopoulos
Mark & Lisa Heffernan
Preston Johnson &
Vicki Martin
Richard & Nora Johnson
William Weaver, Jr.
Dick & Liz Moley
Frank & Beth Harrison
Vincent Dowling Jr.
Anthony A. Yoseloff
Anne Marden-Grainger
Clare Pierson
Benjamin Gifford &
Jane Carlin
Holburn, Inc.
Vince Crescenzi
Dr. Frank A. Cordasco
G.S. Beckwith Gilbert
Gary & Maureen Sagui
Henry Hamilton
Jay Alix
John Botti
Leonard DeBenedictis
Lyman B. Brainerd Family
Foundation
Margaret DeMarrais
Maria & Erik Nilsen
Martha & Clement Dwyer
Mary Ross
Matthew Stedman
Oren Bramson
Pearl Izumi, thanks to Geoff
Shaffer & David Brinton
Philip Dunkelberger
Richard A. Dreissigacker &
Julia H. Geer
Richard W. Kazmaier, Jr.
Robert & Polly Quinn
Robert V. Edgar
Roy Vagelos
Susan Feitelberg
Tamara J. Holliday
Carmen Monks
The JP Morgan Chase
Matching Gift Program
Hope Hill van Beuren
William H, Walton, III
William A. Glaser
Bradley Rowe
Thomas Gronauer
W. Dieter Zander
Warren Davis
William Farrell
Dag Siem
William H. Hampton, M.D.
John Rogers
Matthew Quilter
Mike Vranos
Mr. & Mrs. Clement S. Dwyer
Tracy Sundlun
Trip Mestanas
Silver Sponsors
James Migliorini
Paul & Sandra Skubic
Robert Manning III
Stephen Shine
Gerald Donini
Fith Fithian
MaryPat Issavi
Gary and Nancy Goodenough
Paul Clark
Chris Tokarski
Daniel Ford
Tim Defrisco & Barb DeVries
Dianna Raedle
Donald Denbo
Edward & Kathy Cerullo
Bronze Sponsors
Mitchell Seminario
Ariel Capital Management,
thanks to Lily Pearlman
Isabel D. Wolf
Jeffrey McDermott
Susanne Urschel
Tom Bernard
Alan DeRose
Andrew Flood
Andrew L. Heiskell
AOV, Inc.
Barbara B. Pike
Bernard Kroll
Bert G. Kerstetter
Bruce Jenner
Carl Barisich
Carol P. Brown
Charlotte M. Geer
Chase Caro
Chris Gagnier
Christine Danieliewski
Christopher Harms
Chuck & Naira Chokel
Craig Masback
CULI, thanks to Doug Fiske &
Priya Morganstern
Dale E. Brand
Dana Anderson
David A. Pelligrini
David Morey
David S. Gustovich
David Viele
David W. Utter
Dennis Delaney
Diana Kollevol
Elizabeth Hills O'Leary
Elizabeth Van Dyke
Gary Bartlett
George Hirsch
James Crawford
James Turner
Jane Remillard
Jason Lattimore
Jay Remington
Jeffrey A. & Christine M.
Den Herder Bart
Joe Handelman
John & Kim Allis
John Kelly
John Chaplin
Joseph L. Bolster, Jr.
Joseph LeMay
Josina Reddy
Julie S. Marden
Karin J. Buchholz
Katherine Ficks
Keith Ferguson
Kirk Salvo
Lara Kroepsch
Larry Maltz
Laurel & John Macartney
Lawrence R. Glenn
Lindsay A. Pomeroy
Louise Nicholson Howe
Mark Lockenmeyer
Brian Mariscal
Michael Pascuzzo
Miriam Sample
Murray Peyton
Nancy A. Crocker
Paul G. Levy
Peter Aberg
Peter Carril
Revel Sports
Rich Levandowski
Richard M. D'Angelo
Robert F. Hill
Scott Denbo
Sean Sweeney
Stephanie Curcuru
Steven Caputo
Suzanne Timmerman
Tamir Bloom
Thomas Auth
Paul Mark
Richard Marshall
Betty Ann O'Shaughnessy
Rita Tobin
Stephen Yost
Stuart Zimmerman
Bryant Pappas
Gary Kenick
Kevin Tobin
Robert Gourley
Robert Zenorini
Sherri Baggett
Suzanne Sisolak
Theresa Minervini
Gerard McTigue
KT Tobin
Kurt Sohn
Namratha Devadas
Raymond Cummings
James Wrobel
Colleen McCullagh
Matthew Camus
Burgher Christopher
Steve Bennett
Volunteers and Friends
Janet & Pat Tobin, Mark Slonecker & Julie Tschuiya, John Kelly, Victor Sailer, Dr. James Stray-Gundersen, Hollie Stray-Gundersen, Jon Jessup,
Skattum Family, Ann Pascal, Ann Marden, Soren Thompson, Dan O’Brien, Adam Nelson, Wolfgang Schmidt, Johns Family, Kinsey Family , Tom Jackovic,
Troy & Ruth Flanagan, Sarah Cantwell, Nancy Felix
Contact Us
Website: http://www.usathletictrust.org
President: Augie Wolf; awolf@usathletictrust.org; 914- 400-8834
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UsAthleticTrust
COO: Pat Tobin; ptobin@usathletictrust.org; 914-522-3324
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U.S. A T H L E T I C T R U S T