Posted on 07/28/2021 5:41:31 AM PDT by God luvs America
SEWARD — More than two hours before Alaska swimmer Lydia Jacoby’s big race Monday night at the Tokyo Olympics, Susan Willet waited in her car outside the Alaska Railroad terminal.
Like a lot of people in Seward, the 64-year-old has watched Jacoby emerge from local kid to a world-class athlete. She swims at the same pool where Jacoby has trained for years, and she wanted to be sure to get a good seat at the community watch party.
Hundreds of residents gathered at the terminal to watch Jacoby compete in the 100-meter breaststroke. They streamed inside a little before the race, holding foam fingers emblazoned with “Go Lydia” as the NBC live feed boomed overhead, projected on large screens inside.
The Kenai Peninsula town of around 2,700 on the edge of Resurrection Bay was plastered with praise for Jacoby, the first Alaskan to swim in the Olympics.
A garden greenhouse, a coin-op laundromat, a brewery window as well as storefronts and T-shirts boasted her prowess and wished her luck: “Go Lydia Go!” they read. It may have been harder to find a Seward storefront that didn’t have a sign cheering the teenager.
As the race neared, the TV camera in Tokyo panned to Jacoby. “We’ve got another American here, just 17 years old,” said an NBC announcer. The watch-party crowd erupted, drowning out the commentary.
When it came time to race, the room was frenetic. Cheers rang out and foam fingers were thrust into the air as Jacoby surged into the lead and won the gold medal.
Jacoby’s hometown lost it.
Videos of the crowd reacting swelled with views online as Seward’s excitement rippled across the internet.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
her race wasn’t really that close...she will absolutely dominate in the Paris Games in 2024.
Haha, Well, I guess if you can have a bobsled team from Jamaica you might as well have a swimmer from Alaska...
Awesome.
This is the way it should be all over our great country...
Uplifting story. Thank you!
I have no idea who is on any team. So many disrespectful punks I’ve purposely ignored this Olympics. Good for any of these athletes who stand up for the USA
I hear ya.
It’s a shame that the Rapinoes and Berries have overshadowed these great athletes and caused people not to watch.
This is a great story along with the gummi bear eating trapshooter.
wow.....multi talented.
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