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Friedman answers the call
jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
These are the type of early-morning phone calls Mike Friedman doesn't mind answering.
On the other end was an official from the United States Olympic Cycling Team telling Friedman that he had been selected to compete in this summer's Olympics in Beijing.
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"I just broke down," said Friedman, a 2001 graduate of Peters Township High School. "I was laughing and crying at the same time. It was just unreal."
He quickly called his father, mother and stepfather to tell them the news.
"My dad cried right away," said Friedman. "My mom and stepfather were off the wall, screaming and hollering."
What made Friedman's inclusion so dramatic was that he had to be picked by the a nine-person selection committee according to USA Cycling's Principles of Discretion.
Friedman earned a discretionary nomination for the Madison, an endurance track race.
The three ways to earn a spot on the team is, in order, medaling in the world championships, winning the time trials or being picked by the selection committee.
Friedman's best chance was at the time trials but he finished second to Bobby Lea, who was Friedman's roommate while the two were at Penn State University.
"This could not have worked out any better for me," said Friedman. "If I had won the time trials, then Bobby wouldn't be on the team. Now, we're both on the team."
The 25-year-old Friedman spent the first six months of this year competing in Europe and returned just in time for the qualifiers. He will compete in Italy this month before returning to join other members of the Olympic Team at the White House to have dinner with President Bush.
"It's been a long and arduous process to get here, and I've got a lot more gray hair," said Friedman. "I'm already training for that day. Now, I'm just fine-tuning. I just don't want to crash. But I don't want to think about that because that's when it happens."
Friedman is the fifth local athlete named to a U.S. Olympic Team and fourth to compete in the Summer Games, Canonsburg's Bill Schmidt won a silver medal in the 1972 javelin, Cecil's Archie Strimel was the goalkeeper on the 1948 men's soccer team, Jefferson-Morgan's Cary Kolat wrestled in the 2000 Olympics, and Michael Seibert, a Washington native, participated in ice dancing during the 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics.
Friedman will arrive in Beijing Aug. 6 and compete Aug. 15-19.
"My mom and dad will be making the trip," Friedman said. "I'm going to pay for my mom's trip. They are not going to be out there for the opening ceremonies. They'll stay for 10 days before coming back. They are really excited."
Madison : 7/4/2008
Geat selection! we follow our grandson, Daniel Holloway in Madison and Crit. Go get them!
