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By Tim Hipps
IMCOM Public Affairs
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Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Raymond Chandler III has breakfast with Installation Management Command Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program on May 4 at a dining facility on Fort Carson, Colo. U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, IMCOM Public Affairs
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FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler III recently gained insights into Olympic training from Installation Management Command Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program.
At first, the Army's most senior enlisted Soldier had to ask Soldier-athletes to join him across the main table at Wolf Dining Facility for breakfast on May 4.
"Lester, you didn't think you were going to be doing this, did you?" Chandler asked Spc. Justin Lester as he settled in with his tray.
"No, not at all, sergeant major," said the second-year Soldier, with a grin.
Within minutes, however, they were getting along like best friends.
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By Tim Hipps
IMCOM Public Affairs
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U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program Greco-Roman wrestler Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers (right) defeats Canada's Sunny Dhinsa, 1-0, 3-0, in the quarterfinals of the 120-kilogram/264.5-pound division of the 2012 FILA Pan Am Olympic Qualifier April 24 at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Fla. Byers went on to win the gold medal and qualify his weight class for Team USA for the 2012 Olympic Games in London. U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, IMCOM Public Affairs
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SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program wrestler SFC Dremiel Byers is more concerned about making good on a promise to his late grandfather than the return of Rulon Gardner, his former archrival on the mat.
“I just want to make sure I get the medals that nobody said I could get, and especially the one I promised
my grandfather,” said Byers, who vowed to win an Olympic medal for his late grandfather, Theodore Byers. “Chase the medals, and the right one will come. That’s our philosophy with the Olympics.
“I want it to be gold. I’ve always wanted it to be gold, and he wanted it to be gold. He would have been proud no matter what I brought home, but gold is why I was going. I’ve got my promise coating that medal. It’s the one that has eluded me. I understand both sides of that coin, I definitely do, but I just need my coin to be gold.”
Byers, 37, is a 2008 Olympian and the lone U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win gold, silver and bronze medals at the World Championships. A 10-time U.S. national champion, he is the only American wrestler to strike gold at both the open and Military World Championships.
Byers’ next challenge comes Saturday at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. He awaits the winner of the challenge tournament for their best-of-three match finals in the 120-kilogram/264.5-pound weight class. The winner will compete for Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Gardner, 40, an Olympic gold and bronze medalist who trained with and competed against Byers for several years before retiring from the mat in 2004, will attempt to make weight Friday, win the challenge tournament Saturday, and get a shot at Byers on Saturday night.
Continue reading "Byers intends to make good on Olympic promise to grandfather"
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