Photo By Cpl. Graham Benson | Erik Bildstein, All-Marine Warrior Games Team field coach, gives Sgt. Alan Kissinger,...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT CARSON, Colo. -- The All-Marine Warrior Team field competitors received a tremendous asset to their training with the arrival of their newest coach, an Olympic hopeful here, May 3.
Former Marine sergeant and college field star Erik Bildstein, who's currently ranked the14th best discus thrower in the U.S., arrived midway through the Marine Corps' two-week training camp being held in Colorado Springs, Colo., in preparation for the inaugural Warrior Games, scheduled to be held May 10-14, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here.
"I hated to show up late, but I couldn't get off work in time to be here for the beginning of camp," said Bildstein, who works as a chemist in Strongsville, Ohio.
Bildstein, a North Olmstead, Ohio native, knows how injuries can be setbacks. During a 2005 deployment to Iraq, he was injured in an improvised explosive attack. He feels his experiences help him bring a unique coaching perspective and advantage to his Marine athletes.
"Anytime you walk into an environment and you can speak someone else's language and communicate with them on a deeper level than just the sport, you're already a step ahead," said Bildstein. "They're going to get the advantage of world-class coaching, but also the advantage of hearing it from someone they know has been through a lot of the same stuff they have."
Bildstein towers over most of his competitors and athletes at 6 feet 9 inches tall and 295 pounds. His stature and accomplishments in the sport made an immediate impression on his athletes during their first day of training together.
"He's a big guy and immediately gets your attention," said Sgt. Travis Bartlett, All-Marine Warrior Games Team athlete competing in discus, cycling and wheelchair basketball. "Last week we were just out here using some of the experience from the guys who have competed in some field events before. In our first day of working with coach I can already see a huge difference in everyone's technique. He's really easy to get along with and makes the right adjustments quickly."
In the first days of practice with their new coach, the team has battled some very harsh weather, with winds upwards of 35 mph at times and temperatures in the low 30s.
"When you get in an environment like that it's only going to test mental toughness," said Bildstein, "no one has complained and that's a good sign for me that I've got some mentally tough guys on my hands."
The players and the coach both expressed one sentiment a day into their intensive training.
"We all know, we're just here to get that gold," said Cpl. Rejy Bacchus, All-Marine Warrior Games Team athlete competing in shot put, swimming, wheelchair racing, and sitting volleyball.
The 12-man field team consists of six standing throwers and six sitting throwers, the sitting are Marines with traumatic lower-body injuries, in both the discus and shot put.
The inaugural Warrior Games features approximately 200 wounded active duty and medically retired service members competing against one another in a variety of Para Olympic-style events, while representing their respective services.
The games are scheduled to be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 10-14. For more information on the Warrior Games go to http://usparalympics.org/usoc-paralympic-military-program/warrior-games.
| Date Taken: | 05.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2010 13:04 |
| Story ID: | 49238 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 548 |
| Downloads: | 424 |
This work, All-Marine Warrior Team field athletes get boost from Olympic hopeful coach, by Cpl Graham Benson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
