Shannon Rowbury

Media Coverage of Team Cook's Olympic Adventure

Below are some great stories and pictures covering our Olympic experience:

• Flotrack Video Interview: Shannon Talks about her Olympic Experience
• SF Chronicle:  Rowbury's Olympic Roller Coaster Ride has Ended
• SF Chronicle: No Medal for Rowbury, but Best USA Finish Ever at the Olympics for the Women's 1500m Race
• NBC Olympics: Video of Rowbury's Final Round of 1500 Meter Competition
• NBC Olympics: Video of Rowbury's First Round of 1500 Meter Competition (Note - Shannon's race is the third heat to show on this video)
• Rowbury's Photo Album:  The USATF Training Camp in Dalian, China
• Rowbury's Photo Album: Travelling to China with Team USA and the Opening Ceremonies in Beijing
• Redwood City Daily News: Medal Hopeful Rowbury Trained on Peninsula
• SF Chronicle:  Successful Round One for Rowbury...Energy Conservation a Huge Issue for Finals Bound Athletes
• SF Chronicle:  Rowbury's Calm is Over...Time to Storm!
• SF Chronicle:  Rowbury's Olympic Village Experience...The Magic Kingdom with Skittles
• SF Chronicle: Rowbury Writes about USATF Olympic Training Camp in Dalian at Golden Pebble Beach
• SF Chronicle: Rowbury gets Goose Bumps Despite the Heat during Opening Ceremonies
• Eagle Tribune: Flanagan's Final Intense Workouts before the Real Races Begin
• Courier Post: Donohue Sends Updates from Beijing
• AOL.Com: Photo of Rowbury walking in the opening ceremonies (advance photos to image number 33)
• Huffington Post: Photo of Rowbury, Donohue and other track athletes with President Bush
• DyestatCal: High School Coach, Andy Chan, talks about the support system that has helped catapult Shannon to the world class level
• The Boston Globe: Flanagan Peaking at the Right Time
• FloTrack - "Track Revolution": Rowbury Talks About Her Olympic Goals
• Philly News: Donohue Gets Olympic Send Off
• Salem News: Flanagan Looks Back Before Running Ahead

"Papa Rot Sees!"

That man keeps following me with a camera!

 

 

Now that we are back in the USA I have access to the site again and can post my photos. Here is Paula in the line for Japan, except we are flying nonstop to Beijing. It's always a good idea to allow enough time at the Airport. If you stand all the way in the back of the airplane you can open the window to get a little light to read by since the light over my seat was an energy saver,so to speak. Plus, with all that extra legroom it's nice to stretch your legs.

The Hotel was only a few days old so finding our way was a challenge but the taxi drivers were helpful and the cell phone helped to talk him in. Shannon was very occupied with preparations for her races but was able to get away for a trip to the Mu Tian Hu section of the Great Wall. Coach was a little worried, maybe all those stairs, but we took the ski lift up and we didn't walk too far. Just to see this small section climbing off into the distance on these precipitous cliffs knowing that it continues for hundreds of miles in both directions is awe inspiring. I did my best to get the tower to stick out of the top of Shannon's head but couldn't get it just right.

Coach thought we should take the ski lift down also, but tobogganing is so simple and faster. A few minutes shopping for a Chop and then hit the road. I hope that donkey lives to a ripe old age. And back to drop Shannon at Beijing Normal University for a workout and dinner.

 

The first round was cancelled but we had tickets so we went to the Bird's Nest to learn our way around and meet up with friends. Almost as many stairs as the Great Wall and great views of the Olympic Green.

Afterwards we went to the Noodle Loft for what else, noodles. That's not all on the menu though. I hope that donkey is doing okay up there at the Great Wall. I'm still trying to get that straw out of my nose. We tried the 22 meter noodle but I couldn't find the end and was forced to eat it from the middle out. Sorry, but I couldn't help another goofy photo.This time of Tomahawk.

 

Updates on Shannon's Competition in Beijing

We had hoped to be able to post updates on Shannon's races in Beijing, but this website has been blocked by China so we won't be able to access it until we get back to the States.

FYI - Shannon's first round of competition, which was supposed to run on August 19, was cancelled because they did not have enough entrants to warrant three rounds. Her first race will be contested on August 21 at 7 pm Beijing time. If she makes the finals, that will be contested on August 23 at 7:50 pm Beijing time.

Below is a link to the IAAF website which will have Shannon's race results shortly after her competitions have completed. Once you find her event (listed in chronological order) look to the right of the page and click on the word "results".

Here is the link for the results on August 21.

Here is the link for the results on August 23.

Go Shannon Go!

Ice Baths - The Glamorous Life of a Professional Athlete!

Sitting in an ice bath, post workout. The only baths I have taken in the past year have been around 50 degree in temperature. This is the glamorous side of being a professional athlete.