Mark your calendar for 2045: Stacy Dragila is preggers!
Ian and Stacy Waltz
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Becca Gillespy Peter, knower of all things vaultish, has reported on a Track & Field News message board that Stacy Dragila is pregnant. Stacy, who turns 39 in March, will be a first-time mom at a late age, but at least this will give her a year or so to recover for Sacramento worlds in 2011, when she’ll be W40. She retired from elite vaulting in September, but Sacramento is near where she grew up — and a site of one of her world records. Nostalgia might have its pull. She and new hubby Ian Waltz apparently live in Chula Vista, south of San Diego. If the kid inherits Mom’s jump genes more than Dad’s throw genes, look for some big heights at San Diego worlds in 2045! (I can dream, can’t I?)
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The, “Parents were good so their children will be great” stuff never works. The baby will be a healthy one for sure, but will either be a bulking, pole snapping vaulter or a short skinny discus thrower. This should be fun… let’s name all the elite Olympic Gold medal winners that were children of both parents being medal winners of any kind in the Olympics.
Mariel Zagunis double gold medalist (Fencing 2004, 2008). Her parents were both 1976 Olympic rowers.
I was kind of going with the article’s and this web-site’s theme of track and field. Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough in explaining this. I’m sure there is an archery medalist somewhere who’s mother was a curling medalist and dad was an ping-pong medalist. Not what I was looking for, but nice answer anyway you old crafty master’s athlete, you!
How about Steven Hooker? His parents both excelled in athletics.
http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/hooker-has-high-expectations/story-e6frg1wu-1111116753260
one never knows…that crazy thing called dna can recall one’s great great grandfather’s pitching ability…or a grandmother’s song and dance talent…or both…or none. it can forsake the mom and dad completely, or mimic them a’la the mannings..it’s always amazing for me to see young adults, the spitting image of their mom or dad…and also some youngsters that are dead ringers for their great grandparents…ah mother nature…either way , best wishes for a healthy child.
What makes a great athlete – genes, environment? No set answer. But for insight consider the two marriages of Harold ‘Hal’ Connolly (Olympic Hammer Gold medalist, 1956).
First, to fellow Olympic gold medalist Olga Fikotova (Discus, Gold, 1956).
Of their three children, eldest child Mark played basketball at Oklahoma State and became a amateur heavyweight boxer. Twins Jim and Merja also excelled. Jim – while at UCLA – won the 1987 NCAA Decathlon title (8,121 pts.) and, of those ten events, the javelin was considered his best event. In 1988, Daughter Merja was considered a “strong candidate for the 1988 Olympic women’s volleyball team” when she was injured and underwent ankle surgery. Her individual success transfered to a successful coaching career including Clemson’s two consecutive Ivy-League championships (1992, 1993).
When Hal remarried in 1975 it was to three-time Olympian Patricia Winslow (1960, 800m as a high school student), 1964 (pentathlon, 7th), and 1968 (pentathlon, 6th). Equally she was one amazing coach – including being the first women’s track and field coach at UCLA where they won AIAW collegiate 1975 and 1977 titles.
In 1999, their younger son Adam ranked 4th among U.S. hammer throwers (5th in 1998).
So how did the Connollys ‘parent’ when it came to their children in sports? This wonderful 1987 New York Times article by Frank Litsky: “Connollys Find Fun in Fitness.”
http://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/29/sports/connollys-find-fun-in-fitness.html?pagewanted=1
Today, Hal continues to mentor young throwers. At the 2008 High School Hammer Championships (outside of Washington, DC) I marveled at how his ‘love affair’ with the hammer continues and how fortunate these young people were to have such an opportunity.
Another superspawn we need to watch for:
Son of Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery!
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_4_104/ai_105619339/
Superspawn indeed! I wonder how much HGH is running through that kids DNA?!
Another great set of speed genes should have beeb passed on to the children of Leory Burrell & Michelle Finn.
Clemson is not in the Ivy League – nice post though.
I think that Ms. Jones also has a son with Mr. Thompson.
I think that Ms. Jones also has a son with Mr. Thompson.
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