First Ever Thai Winter Olympian

[glassdude007]

Thai skier is an unlikely but fired-up Winter Olympian

By Jesse Hyde

Deseret News Ollympic specialist

SOLDIER HOLLOW — Asking a Norwegian to describe snow is like asking a Utahn to recall his first experience with dirt.

Thailand's Prawat Nagvajara skis in the men's 30K cross country race at Soldier Hollow Saturday.

Tom Smart, Deseret News

One Olympic cross country skier from Norway didn't even unstrap his skis to eat lunch as a child, and another skied to and from school.

Thailand's Prawat Nagvajara is different.

He clearly remembers running out of an English-as-a-second-language class as a teenager in Boston to touch snow for the first time — on his tongue, in his hands and across his face.

"Everything was quiet. Snow is so peaceful," he said. "It's amazing how snow muffles everything."

From the way Nagvajara describes snow, to the way he skis — slowly — to his age, the 43-year-old cross country skier is the most unlikely of Winter Olympians.

Born in Bangkok, Thailand, where the temperature rarely dips below 70 degrees, Nagvajara had never seen snow until that day in Boston more than 20 years ago. He discovered cross country skiing in the backwoods of Massachusetts as a college student and began racing a few years ago.

On Friday night the computer engineering professor from Philadelphia's Drexel University carried the Thai flag alone into Olympic Stadium, becoming the first Winter Olympian from his country. Somewhere, rows and rows up, his wife nudged their 2-year-old son awake to chant "Go, Thailand, go."

It was the culmination of what Nagvajara called a "big crazy Olympic dream," which he had shared with few in case it never happened.

Saturday morning those fears nearly materialized. Just hours before the men's 30K mass start began, Olympic officials told Nagvajara he couldn't compete because he hadn't properly registered with the body that governs the sport.

His coach, a Bulgarian woman who lives in Vermont, pleaded his case before an Olympic jury that eventually allowed him to race.

He arrived at Soldier Hollow one hour before the race, did a brief warmup and then made his way to the starting line 20 minutes early.

"I was the first one there. I didn't want to be late for that," he said. "At first I felt like I didn't belong. I looked at these guys 100 times better than me. But I love the sport."

Nagvajara's goal was to ski twice around the course without being lapped, but on the hill coming into the stadium he fell and lost his wind. As he finished his first lap, nearly three minutes behind the pack, a crowd of 12,000 stood and cheered for him.

"I wasn't sure if they were cheering for someone else. I thought I was about to get lapped," he said. "I was worried that I would fall down in front of the crowd and trip (the leader). I just wanted to get out of the way and fall quietly."

On the next hill Nagvajara withdrew from the race. His coach told him he started out too fast, trying to keep up with the pace set by eventual gold medalist Johann Muehlegg of Spain.

Nagvajara thought of those cheering in the stands, the superior athletes who hadn't qualified, and the people of Thailand. He worried he had let them all down.

But to many watching Saturday's race, Nagvajara embodied the Olympic spirit as an athlete competing for the sake of competition.

"The crowd was so supportive," said Nagvajara's wife Gina, a former hockey player and speedskater. "They didn't care what he looked like, or that he was in last, they were just happy he was there."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edited February 11, 2006 by glassdude007

[suegha]

This story is kind of sweet...

[MyNameIsFarang]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

[mumbojumbo]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

Reminiscent of the Jamaican bobsled team. But that was made into a movie. Go bad Thai athlete, we might have a movie in the making.

[sierra01]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

What about Eddie the eagle, a no hoper that did alright out of it!

[MyNameIsFarang]

What about Eddie the eagle, a no hoper that did alright out of it!

Yes, he did alright out of it, got famous and made some money. How nice for him. But what good did it do for the sport he "competed" in? I place that in quotes because the word competition implies that you have a hope in hades of winning or at least a respectable placing.

There's a definite line between a legitimate competitor and a self-serving glory hound. Allowing these no-hopers in is just a step above pissing on the Olympic flag and if they had any appreciation of the true ideals of competition they would stay home.

[GuestHouse]

I disagree.

Sport is about a lot more than how good or talented the competitors are.

Hats off to the guy I hope he does well.

[mumbojumbo]

The Olympics used to have qualifying events, and you could not go unless you beat the qualifying time.

Has this been relaxed to unqualified athletes from smaller countries??

[Sophon]

The story is from the winter olympics four years ago.

Are any Thai athletes competing this time?

Sophon

[sierra01]

The story is from the winter olympics four years ago.

Are any Thai athletes competing this time?

Sophon

So how did he do last time?

[slimdog]

A bit more info and answers to some of the questions can be found at:

http://www.time.com/time/olympics2002/arti...,212042,00.html

[mittheimp]

I think he is American anyway - just using the Thai flag for convenience!

[The Dan Sai Kid]

What about Eddie the eagle, a no hoper that did alright out of it!

Yes, he did alright out of it, got famous and made some money. How nice for him. But what good did it do for the sport he "competed" in? I place that in quotes because the word competition implies that you have a hope in hades of winning or at least a respectable placing.

There's a definite line between a legitimate competitor and a self-serving glory hound. Allowing these no-hopers in is just a step above pissing on the Olympic flag and if they had any appreciation of the true ideals of competition they would stay home.

Well, obviously it promoted a sport that gets very little coverage in the UK. It let the sport make the back page of the papers, when it would have maybe gotten a few lines inside. Bringing in new viewers and perhaps creating enough interest so that one day perhaps someone will be good enough.

Do you live in a world where all sport should be played by the very best. If you're not David Beckham then pack up and go home. Surely these sort of people (Eddie the Eagle) make up the stories that make the Olympics special.

Afterall, who remembers who got the gold in E the E's event?

Edited February 11, 2006 by Grant

[Ricardo]

Wasn't there also an Indian - who did quite well in the luge ?

Taking part is more important than winning, although that would be nice too !

Good for him, for trying.

[Rinrada]

I am sure that we all wish the wee guy all the best......

Told K.wife to get her skis on......

bit of info.

Prawat NAGVAJARA.

Profile Family name NAGVAJARA

Given name Prawat

Date of birth 01 December 1958

Gender M

Country of birth THAILAND

City of residence Pennsylvania

Country of residence USA

Height 1.69 m

Weight 74 Kilo

Nationality THAI

Event ......Cross-Country Skiing, Men's 15 km Classical

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Given name Prawat

Date of birth 01 December 1958

Gender M

Country of birth THAILAND

I don't know buckley squat about Cross Country Skiing, but is he not a bit old?

Edited February 11, 2006 by Grant

[roamer]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

No. What makes a mockery of sport are the increasingly sophisticated methods so called sportsmen & women use to avoid having the drugs they have used detected. The lack of talent that causes someone to finish last lies not on the track but in the laboratory.

[daleyboy]

I disagree.

Sport is about a lot more than how good or talented the competitors are.

Hats off to the guy I hope he does well.

Indeed, well said. You dont have to win to be good, just taking part is an achievement in itself.

Total respect for Eddie the eagle, how many of you out there would have the balls to go flying off a ski jump, when you really arent very good at it?

[Mighty Mouse]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

I watched the opening ceremony on television last night. The sole Thailand representative looked so proud as he marched, waving the Thai flag.

My Thai g/f sat up, with a huge smile on her face, and she refelected the same pride because one of her countrymen was representing Thailand in the Winter Olympics.

His chances of winning a medal may well be slim but he is already a winner in the eyes of so many sports lovers from all around the world, because he is competing with the world's best and proudly representing his country.

By competing, he becomes a role model for younger Thais, encouraging them to become involved in sport.

Look how tennis has grown in Thailand through the success of Paradorn Scrichaphan and Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Nagvajara will not "make a mockery of (his) sport." He will do his best, as will those other solo athletes representing their respective countries, and that's what sport is all about.

No sportsperson in any sport will ever win anything if they adopt your poor attitude.

Edited February 11, 2006 by Mighty Mouse

[backflip]

This reminds me of the Chinese skier, at least a dozen years ago, who had to borrow skis. Easily the worse in the competition, he haltingly made his way to the bottom of the run. Throughout, everyone - competitors and observers - encoraged him with constant cheering. Despite whay MyNameIsDopey posted, that's the Olympic spirit.

[gburns57au]

Its easy to sit at home at your keyboard and criticise his age, ability, and make inferences to drug use etc etc....But at least this guy is out there having a go. Interesting to note that he did qualify for the event last time and also paid his own way without sponsorship.

Good on the guy....

I had my ex here when the boxer won the first gold medal for Thailand, we managed to get some news footage form his win and return to Thailand...she was so proud that it brought tears to your eyes watching her....

I hope that Prawat competes with dignity and pride because it is certain, that win or lose, Thailand will be proud of him.

Edited February 12, 2006 by gburns57au

[Misplaced]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

I watched the opening ceremony on television last night. The sole Thailand representative looked so proud as he marched, waving the Thai flag.

My Thai g/f sat up, with a huge smile on her face, and she refelected the same pride because one of her countrymen was representing Thailand in the Winter Olympics.

His chances of winning a medal may well be slim but he is already a winner in the eyes of so many sports lovers from all around the world, because he is competing with the world's best and proudly representing his country.

I was doing that myself , but here's the kicker, my wife started crying (happy tears) :D . After that I had to paid attention to her and had to do my duty and hugged her; therefore I didn't get to see much of anything else

Found this its a nice little video: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/5091372/detail.html

"He's my new hero" GOOOO THAILANDDDD

[The Dan Sai Kid]

Its easy to sit at home at your keyboard and criticise his age, ability, and make inferences to drug use etc etc....But at least this guy is out there having a go. Interesting to note that he did qualify for the event last time and also paid his own way without sponsorship.

Good on the guy....

I had my ex here when the boxer won the first gold medal for Thailand, we managed to get some news footage form his win and return to Thailand...she was so proud that it brought tears to your eyes watching her....

I hope that Prawat competes with dignity and pride because it is certain, that win or lose, Thailand will be proud of him.

I wasn't criticizing his age, I merely asked if it's common for skiers to be older. If you look at my previous thread in this topici you'll see what I was talking about before. I don't think anyone was suggesting that he took drugs either, merely that that is what kills the olympic spirit!

[Sophon]

I wasn't criticizing his age, I merely asked if it's common for skiers to be older. If you look at my previous thread in this topici you'll see what I was talking about before. I don't think anyone was suggesting that he took drugs either, merely that that is what kills the olympic spirit!

Yes, it's common for cross country skiers to be older, although not as old as this. It takes many years of training to reach your peak in this sport, which for most skiers is when they are 30-35 years.

It's similar to marathon runners and cyclists.

Sophon

[gburns57au]

I wasn't criticizing his age, I merely asked if it's common for skiers to be older. If you look at my previous thread in this topici you'll see what I was talking about before. I don't think anyone was suggesting that he took drugs either, merely that that is what kills the olympic spirit!

I don't know buckley squat about Cross Country Skiing, but is he not a bit old?

Sorry I couldnt read between the lines....

[Maestro]

Found this its a nice little video: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/5091372/detail.html

At least your link refers to this year’s Olympics, not that of four years ago.

Wasn’t the event in which he took part yesterday? Does anybody know how he fared?

---------------

Maestro

[Sophon]

Found this its a nice little video: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/5091372/detail.html

At least your link refers to this year’s Olympics, not that of four years ago.

Wasn’t the event in which he took part yesterday? Does anybody know how he fared?

---------------

Maestro

No, he is scheduled to participate in the 15 km classical, which is on the 17th.

Sophon

[Maestro]

No, he is scheduled to participate in the 15 km classical, which is on the 17th.

Thank you! In the meantime I googled for it and see that the event starts at 09.00 hours GMT (17.00 hours Bangkok time) on the 17th. Good luck to this Thai athlete!

---------------

Maestro

[cdnvic]

Letting someone with so little talent into a prestige competition makes a mockery of sport.

Thinking that winning is all it's about makes a mockery of the olympics. Maybe this skiier will draw interest of other Thai athletes.

I remember Lillihamer in 96 when a Mongolian skater rode trains for thousands of miles to get there, had little funds that he had raised himself, skated in the first round but got knocked out, then had to make the same long trip home again. Yet he was positively beaming after having completed his race.

I can't remember who won the race, but I won't forget him.

cv

[gisele]

I think it is really great that he is participating. It doesn't matter what his chances are of getting a medal, he is putting himself out there to be part of the Olympics, hooray for him!