Chat With Bown

One of the few players in the world who always SMILES on the court!

The London Olympics is less than 6 months away, can you believe it?

We took the chance to bother ask 3 time Olympic Heather Bown from Team USA about her moments playing in Sydney, Athens and Beijing. After winning the silver medal at the 2011 FIVB World Cup which granted Team USA an Olympic ticket, we also asked her about the upcoming quadrennial event – Heather’s 4th.

2000 Sydney Olympics: How was it playing at the Olympics for the very first time?

There is really nothing I can equate it to. Representing your country on a world stage is an amazing feeling. But the one thing that I remember the most about Sydney was the energy that collects in the tunnel before you walk out into the opening ceremonies stadium for the first time. It’s so hard to describe. Like a wall of pure energy. Being there walking with hundreds of other athletes it makes you jump out of your skin with excitement.

2004 Athens Olympics: Team USA was ranked as the #1 team in the world but failed to finish with a medal after losing to Brazil in the Quarterfinal round. Your thoughts on this defeat?

Bitter and disappointed. It was actually tough to talk to people on our team for me. We had so much talent. We all worked so hard under Toshi (Coach Toshi Yoshida). He was a great trainer. He brought out the most in each of us individually and made sense of what we were doing on the court. So it was tough to swallow leaving Athens with no hardware. But it drives you to be better and avoid the same mistakes if the time arises again. I think it pushed everyone that much more for the following quad.

2008 Beijing Olympics: After 3 Olympics, you finally stood on the podium with a medal around your neck. Recall your thoughts during that very moment, like the first thought in your heard, as you held hands with your hardworking teammates.

I need to call my parents. Haha honestly that was it. Second was how special it was for me to make the journey from the start with Robyn, Dani, Stacy, Logan. It was gratifying to see them so happy.

2012 London Olympics: 2012: With tougher teams in London, what would it take Team USA to win the gold?

We need to be more consistent and emotionally stable. We have an amazing group of athletes that all try their hardest. It’s been a great group from the start, such a pleasure to be giving my time to them. But when it comes down to it we just need to be better than our opponent that day. Plain and simple.

Awwwww thank you so much Heather for sharing!

With Team USA’s success in the last couple of years, we have a feeling winning the Olympic gold medal is within your reach.

See ya in London and Go USA!

(images: FIVB/ Heather Bown Facebook Page)