A WHS Coach's Olympic Connection

With the Olympic Winter Games back in North America, there is added excitement in the U.S. Many people are reminded of the 2002 games in Salt Lake City, UT, but within Westfield none more so than WHS girls track head coach and Tamaques Elementary School physical education teacher Jennifer Buccino.

Nine years ago Buccino had the privilege of carrying the Olympic torch as it made its journey across the country.

Buccino got the opportunity to be a part of the Olympic experience thanks to a former student athlete. She wrote to Tamaques, encouraging the principal and students to nominate Buccino to carry the torch.

Tamaques's response was enormous. Students in every grade voted for Buccino, and in July 2001 she was officially named a torch carrier.

"I was just absolutely speechless that the kids did that," Buccino said. "It was incredible."

The torch relay began on December 4, 2001 in Atlanta (home of the 1996 Summer Olympics), and the flame traveled 13,500 miles in 65 days to Salt Lake City. After going through Texas, and the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, it arrived in New Jersey on the 23rd.

Buccino carried her torch in Princeton as the relay made its way north to New York City.
               
Buccino was not only inspired by getting to participate in a world event, but also by the people she met in the relay.

"You ride in a van with the other torch carriers, and they all told stories of how they got there," she said. "By the time it got to me, my story didn't sound so amazing."

She particularly remembers the story of one man who had both of his legs blown out while saving a handicapped employee from the World Trade Center bombing in the 1990's. Aside from the memories, Buccino also has her torch (which you can purchase following the relay), as well as a book with all the nomination letters written by Tamaques students.

Regardless of her brief affiliation with the Olympics, Buccino has always liked the games both for their competition and spirit.

"I like that all the athletes come together and the countries put their differences aside," she said. "They are out there to compete, and there is a lot of respect for each other."