A flag, however no end line:
The story of Andrea Jaeger, one 1984 Olympian who paved the best way for others virtually 40 years later.
The 1984 The Los Angeles Olympics marked a seismic shift. For the primary time, sure sports activities may permit skilled athletes like Andrea Jaeger, the world’s No. 1 on the time, to take part. 3 tennis participant, to grace the Olympic podium. A teenage prodigy who turned professional at simply 14 years outdated, Jaeger represented the US. in Los Angeles 5 years later on this historic shift. Now with Paris 2024 approaches, Jaeger displays on her groundbreaking journey. She shares the triumphs and challenges of being a pioneer, providing a uncooked reminiscence of her Olympic experiences virtually 40 years later.
*Interviews have been edited for brevity, grammar and readability*
Dylan Friedman: What stands out whenever you take a look at your time as a participant within the ‘84 video games? The great, the dangerous, the ugly?
Hunter: The great, the dangerous, the ugly is an efficient solution to put it. It was an fascinating time as a result of I did not develop up eager to grow to be knowledgeable tennis participant. I grew up loving sports activities and thought the Olympics had been the tip of all sports activities. In case you made it in sports activities, you had been an Olympian. That appeared logical to me. And once I turned knowledgeable tennis participant, which I did on 14 and was no. 2 on the planet by age 16(the) Olympic Video games weren’t inside my attain as a result of we weren’t allowed to play as professionals. So I believed I would not make it within the prime sports activities world as a result of I would not grow to be an Olympian.
When it was determined that skilled athletes may play, it was exhausting to say sure as a result of I had grown up with the standing of newbie athletes who labored so exhausting to get to the Olympics. And I, as knowledgeable tennis participant, had discovered a lot from skilled tennis. We have now a grand slam 4 occasions a 12 months. We had tournaments each week. We made cash. However the reality was that I needed to know who else was enjoying, as a result of I already obtained a lot from tennis and sports activities, and if somebody was an newbie and his entire purpose was to get to the Olympics, I took his place. did not know if that was honest.
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Friedman: What do you keep in mind most out of your time on the sphere and through these video games?
Jaeger: I most likely shouldn’t have performed as a result of my shoulder was nonetheless dislocated at the beginning of the Olympics, however I used to be decided to complete the match pain-free. However the docs pulled me from my second-round match. They noticed me and I had a tough time stepping into my crew uniform. The Olympics take a look at athletes on-site (to verify that you’re) male or feminine and for steroids.
And I am tremendous excited. As a result of I used to be clear all my life. However I failed on the bodily a part of my shoulder. The physician instructed me I will pull you in case your shoulder is dangerous as a result of I am right here for the athlete; I am right here to guard the athlete. And I begged you to let me end the match, as a result of I am right here now.
And he stated I’ll watch you each recreation. So I received my first recreation with the dislocated shoulder. And the second earlier than I performed my second spherical, the physician got here to me and stated, you are going to be pulled. I could not even cry. I used to be so devastated. I could not even cry.
I simply sat there numb, fully numb, pondering, effectively, God by no means answered my prayer for me to present my place to another person, now I’ve taken a spot and I am at fault. I will not even come dwelling with a medal for my nation.
After which after which the one factor, the opposite factor I keep in mind about that’s Arthur Ashe, proper after I defaulted, he interviewed me, and I did not develop up in, actually in his time, he was earlier than me, he was already doing commentary, and he was such a humanist for tennis and the whole lot. He checked out me and stated do not look offended; you simply needed to default, and I stated, we’re skilled athletes; that is what we do. Nobody is aware of our ache, nobody is aware of our struggling, proper?
And this is likely to be the worst day I’ve ever had in sports activities. And never simply because I characterize my nation; that is all I ever needed to do. I performed Fed Cup. I performed within the Wightman Cup. These are the Olympic Video games. I could by no means get one other likelihood at this. And he stated he stated, yeah, however you are right here, , you are right here.
And I stated, sure, however I simply needed to characterize my nation in a means that I might be happy with. And my coach on the time was Gayle Godwin, who I believe was the UCLA coach. She obtained one of many Olympic flags, and I do not know the way she did that, however she took it and gave it to me.
She stated, you might not have gotten a medal, however you bought the flag. And I did not keep as a result of I felt like I did not deserve to remain and watch the opposite athletes compete as a result of I could not end it, after which it took two extra summer time video games earlier than I may even watch it as a result of I used to be simply disenchanted.
Friedman: Regardless of the controversy surrounding professionalism within the ‘84 (tennis as an illustration sport, soccer in case you have no World Cup expertise or sponsored athletics athletes who shamelessly obtain cash underneath the desk). Wanting again, how do you are feeling about your function in paving the best way for skilled athletes within the Olympic Video games?
Hunter: It’s at all times fascinating to be the primary at one thing. You get either side; you get the wow issue, and then you definately get the opposite issue: whether or not individuals have caught on to the idea. So there’s at all times going to be criticism whenever you’re the primary at one thing, and there’s at all times going to be glory; the way you cope with it is determined by what sort of particular person you’re.
For me, the Olympic Video games are about true humanity in sport. It’s the true coronary heart of the world. And so it is nice to be part of one thing, so long as the athletes profit from it afterwards.
Friedman: You talked about earlier that athletes talked about making use of for jobs or returning to common jobs after the Olympics. On that be aware, I used to be questioning should you had any particular reminiscences of athletes on the ‘84 video games getting ready for his or her post-competition transition?
Hunter: On my flights from the THE Olympic Video games to Florida, many male Olympians got here from the US Group. They stated that they had been excited concerning the Olympics all their lives, and now they might search for jobs within the normal workforce. One stated he was grateful he nonetheless needed to go to varsity earlier than he may discover a job, one other hoped House Depot was nonetheless hiring Olympians who would by no means make a Wheaties field, and others stated they might work on their resumes. Nobody mentioned coaching for the following Olympics. It was one of many many explanation why I at all times felt, and nonetheless really feel, how lucky skilled tennis gamers have such great alternatives all 12 months spherical.
Friedman: Now approaching 40e anniversary of these Olympic Video games in July and the following Olympic cycle goes again to LA How do you view the Olympic Video games in 4 years’ time?
Hunter: I look as much as the Olympic spirit. I imagine within the Olympic spirit. For me, the Olympic spirit exists. You fought, however you fought with coronary heart and also you fought with good will. You fought with ardour, however you fought with honesty. That was an instance of the Olympics for me: you can obtain one thing nice in a sport, however you may be individual. And that meant one thing. I’ve at all times admired the athlete who does all that coaching. For that one second, that’s what the Olympics are about.
After I got here in and obtained my badge, I hung it round my neck, and also you regarded round, as a result of that is the place the Olympic Village is, and spectators aren’t allowed the place you’re. And all you see is that this large group of individuals: everybody’s an Olympian, everybody’s such as you, Carl Lewis is there, or Flo-Jo or whoever is there. You already know they’re there to realize one thing. In order that sense of connection, as a lot as I knew I used to be an illustration sport (athlete), I knew I may assist that spirit that has carried the Olympics for generations since its existence, the place you exit and have ardour on your sport, honesty, coronary heart, and also you belong to one thing larger than your self.
And that is what I felt once I walked in there. You see these opponents from all these totally different nations, however they’re speaking to one another. They’re laughing with one another. They’re coaching. They’re competing, they’re opponents, however they’re human beings. And that is what I’ve at all times liked concerning the Olympics.