Rita Hanscom salutes family and friends at San Diego awards
Rita Hanscom is used to public speaking — she’s a lawyer, remember — but the crowd that heard her February 22 at the Town & Country Resort Hotel in San Diego was full of superstar luminaries, including Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis, perfect-game pitcher David Wells and Chargers quarterback Phil Rivers. Rita showed no butterflies in her acceptance of an Amateur Star of the Year award at the Salute to the Champions annual awards banquet — in front of 900 attendees. And she was gracious enough to mention me! I was thrilled not for the free publicity but because my wife and son were present (as guests of Rita). Also, the publisher of the paper where I work. Check out this video.
Photo montage of Rita's 2009 season was shown during Salute to the Champions awards banquet in San Diego on Feb. 22.
A week later, Rita was in Kamloops for indoor worlds, where she came away with five medals (four gold) despite a hamstring pull that led her to scratch from several events.
She won the W55 high jump handily — needing only five tries to secure gold.
Here’s a great shot she brought back from Canada:
Rita's best jump at Kamloops was 1.30 (4-3 1/4), but she's gone 1.36 (4-5 1/2) in an event she's still learning.
17 Responses
Rita, Congratulations! I loved your comment about wanting to learn pole vault since the other events just looked too hard. 🙂
congrats Rita. Well deserved!
Congrats Rita!! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me at Kamloops. I’m a great admirer and fan! Bubba
Indeed there is much to learn in the high jump, I fear you will become dangerous for the high jumpers too…
Congratulations, Rita, and great speech. You mentioned you are still learning the high jump. If you’d like HJ tips, I’d be happy to share some with you. We’ve chatted and I’ve watched you at meets in the past, and I think you have tremendous potential. With a killer high jump in your repertoire, there’d be no stopping you! See you in Boston.
Well spoken … well deserved. Hear, hear!
Rita is such a great athlete skilled in so many disciplines. She is a wonderful competitor, always doing her best, taking delight in the effort, and encouraging others to have fun and to do their best as well. I’m so glad that she didn’t run away to be a circus performer as it seemed her parents were encouraging her to do, but joined Masters track to inspire and encourage the rest of us instead. Love ya, Rita!
If Phil Rascher is “all world” – what is Rita Hanscom- eh Peter Taylor – will be listening to hear the title with which you crown this very accomplished athlete and even more amazing person.
You ARE my idol! I can only imagine the time, energy, and effort put into the training to be able to achieve those amazing results! Great job, Rita!
Well, Mary, because you called my name, I will respond:
1. Phil Raschker is “All World No. 1.” I started with that because Phil told me quite awhile ago that she listens to nothing from the announcer (and thus can have a short intro). In addition, she has too many credentials to list in less than 15 minutes, much less 15 seconds.
2. Nadine O’Connor is “All World No. 2.” She won’t be at Boston and so I don’t have to worry about that.
3. Rita Hanscom is the emerging superstar out of the Univ of Hawaii, now operating out of California. I will think of something.
Thanks Everyone! As I told my husband, if I’d known I was going to have this kind of year I would have turned 55 much sooner!
To John, Mike and Bubba: Thanks for your well-wishes. I hope this is the year I learn to turn!
Weia & Karl: I gladly accept and appreciate all coaching and advice! I look forward to meeting you for much needed lessons.
Thanks Karla, Kay and Mary: you’re all amazing athletes and your positive influences help make it fun.
And to Pete Taylor, the masters track world is so much richer with your encyclopedic knowledge and exciting commentary. I’m glad you didn’t retire. It wouldn’t be as fun, or as interesting without you.
And I agree, Phil is All World No. 1. She is my hero. And Nadine, well, she simply defies the rules about aging athletes. She is my inspiration.
Great Job Rita!
Mike Sullivan
Nickname for Mrs.Hanscom? …Easy…the “Pineapple Express”
Hi Rita,
Don’t you have a jump videoed? And whenever you are in my country, you are very welcome to join my high jump training!
Hey Rita,
Great vaulting with you last weekend. You inspire beyond words, and continue to amaze me with your accomplishments. See you in BOS!
Mega Congrats Rita! You are awesome!
Rita,
We are now in Maine.
An area coach & I talked yesterday.
Somehow 🙂 your name appeared.
How do we connect and have you
help support Girls & Women’s decathlon
at every level?
Jeff Robbins
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