TIFFANY KICKED MY ASS
It's my job (and the hardest part of it) to make sure only properly accredited people get to the ice for the flower ceremony (which is immediately after competition -- metals are later in the Olympic Plaza). I have a corps of five men and women who assume a triangle, tactical posture to defend the ice. I'm at the top to catch anyone who pushes past the others. We've turned back lots of really mad and unaccredited Russian, German, and American trainers, coaches, and friends.

Derrek Parra came from nowhere (well, Orlando) to take the silver in the Men's 5000m on the first day of competition. Tiffany Parra flew in this week to see her husband go for the gold in his best event, the 1500m. When he broke the world record and took the gold, Tiffany (5'3", 125 lbs.) went flying past three check points and me (6'1", 200 lbs.) to get to her husband. There was just absolutely no stopping her.

I was annoyed at some of my peers who directed her and cheered her run -- until I saw them on NBC tonight.
But it won't happen again! (We set up a better system for athlete families.)