Padgett parades, talks about Olympic experience
Track and field
Sunday, Dec 21 2008, 5:58 pm
Gabe Whisnant
The magnet on the side of Travis Padgett’s car in the Shelby Christmas Parade on Sunday read, “2008 Olympian.”
Nearly five months removed from competing on the 4x100 relay team at the Beijing Olympics, Padgett still believes that magnet should have been labeled with an even more distinct honor - gold medalist.
That dream was dashed - for now - during the first round of the event when the baton was dropped by Tyson Gay on the exchange from Darvis Patton, disqualifying the star-studded team from medal contention. Before the drop, Padgett had ran a solid, second leg after Walter Dix ran the first leg.
Led by Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, Jamaica went on to win the 4x100 gold medal.
A lot of Padgett’s disappointment seems to stem from the fact that Gay, injured during the U.S. Olympic trials, didn’t get to train with the rest of the team in China before competition began.
“I was upset because we didn’t even make it around the track. We were in training camp in Dalian, China for two or three weeks getting ready for the 4x100,” Padgett said before the start of the parade.
“Tyson was hurt in the trials and was away from us for a long time. If he would have came there with us, I don’t think that would have happened.”
“Everybody was upset. I guess since he was a veteran, he thought that probably wasn’t going to happen to him.”
Nevertheless, the former Crest High and Clemson University standout said he will always treasure the Olympic experience and hopes to put himself in position for making the U.S. team for the 2012 summer games in London.
“Being there was like a dream come true because I’ve always wanted to be in the Olympics,” he said. “Running in front of 90,000 people was amazing. I learned a lot culturally and made some friends.”
Now a professional sprinter with a five-year contract with Adidas, Padgett trains with Loren Seagrave in Marietta, Ga. at Life University.
His next big event is the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas in February. Padgett said he’s preparing to compete in the 100 and 200 meter events.
“Meets like that are important because they get you ready for the Olympics,” Padgett said. “Big meets like the Tyson and the World Championships play a big role in getting us ready.”
Training in Georgia offers Padgett the opportunity to come home to visit with family and friends on a consistent basis. He said he was asked to be in the Shelby parade in October and gladly accepted.
“I love coming back and doing things for my hometown. It makes me feel good that they appreciate me,” Padgett said. “I don’t mind coming back, because they were behind me from elementary school and all the way up.”