A Flag, However No End Line:
The Story of Andrea Jaeger, a 1984 Olympian who helped pave the way in which for others almost 40 years later.
The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics marked a seismic shift. For the primary time, sure sports activities allowed skilled athletes like Andrea Jaeger, then the world’s No. 3 tennis participant, to grace the Olympic stage. A teenage prodigy who turned professional at simply 14 years previous, Jaeger represented the U. S. in Los Angeles 5 years later on this historic shift. Now, with Paris 2024 approaching, Jaeger displays on her groundbreaking journey. She shares the triumphs and challenges of being a trailblazer, providing a uncooked recollection of her Olympic experiences almost 40 years later.
*Interviews have been edited for conciseness, grammar, and readability*
Dylan Friedman: What stands out when contemplating your time taking part within the ‘84 video games? The nice, unhealthy, the ugly?
Jaeger: The nice, unhealthy, the ugly is an effective method to put it. It was an attention-grabbing time as a result of I did not develop up eager to be knowledgeable tennis participant. I grew up loving sports activities and considering the Olympics was the tip all of sports activities. If you happen to made it in sports activities, you had been an Olympian. That made sense to me. And so after I grew to become knowledgeable tennis participant, which I did at 14 and was No. 2 on the earth at age 16, (the) Olympics wasn’t in my scope as a result of we weren’t allowed to play as professionals. So I believed I did not make it within the highest view of sports activities as a result of I would not be an Olympian.
When it was determined that skilled athletes may play, it was arduous to say sure as a result of I had grown up with the standing of beginner athletes working so arduous to get to the Olympics. And I, as knowledgeable tennis participant, had amassed a lot from skilled tennis. Now we have grand slams 4 occasions a 12 months. We had tournaments each week. We had been earning money. However the truth of the matter was I wished to know who else was taking part in as a result of I already was receiving a lot from tennis and sport, and if somebody was an beginner and their complete aim was to make the Olympics, I used to be taking their spot, I did not know if that was honest.
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Friedman: What do you bear in mind most about your time on the court docket, competing throughout these video games?
Jaeger: I most likely should not have performed as a result of my shoulder was nonetheless dislocated in the beginning of the Olympics, however I used to be decided to complete the event pain-wise. However the docs pulled me from my second-round match. They noticed me, and I used to be having a tough time getting my crew uniform on. The Olympics check athletes on web site (to substantiate you might be) male or feminine and for steroids.
And I am like tremendous excited. Trigger I used to be clear my complete life. However I failed the bodily half for my shoulder. The physician informed me I am pulling you in case your shoulder’s unhealthy as a result of I am right here for the athlete; I am right here to guard the athlete. And I begged, you bought to let me end the event as a result of I’m right here now.
And he stated I’ll examine on you each match and see. So, I received my first match with the dislocated shoulder. And the second earlier than I performed my second spherical, the physician approached me and stated, you are pulled. I could not even cry. I used to be so devastated. I could not even cry.
I simply sat there numb, like completely numb, considering, properly, God by no means answered my prayer of do I give my spot to somebody, now I took a spot, and I defaulted. I am not even coming dwelling with a medal for my nation.
After which after which the one, the opposite factor I bear in mind about that’s Arthur Ashe proper after I did default, he interviewed me, and I did not develop up in, actually in his period, he was earlier than me, he was already into commentary, and he was such a humanitarian for tennis and every thing. He checked out me and stated you do not look upset; you simply needed to default, and I stated, we’re skilled athletes; that is what we do. No person is aware of our ache, no person is aware of our struggling, proper?
And that is presumably the worst day I’ve ever had in sport. And never simply because I’m representing my nation; that is all I’ve ever wished to do. I’ve performed Fed Cup. I’ve performed within the Wightman Cup. That is the Olympics. I’ll perhaps by no means get an opportunity once more at this. And, he stated he goes, yeah, however you are right here, you recognize, you might be right here.
And I stated, yeah, however I simply wished to signify my nation in a manner I might be pleased with. After which my coach on the time was Gayle Godwin, who I believe was the UCLA coach. She acquired one of many Olympic flags, and I do not understand how she pulled that off, however she acquired it and gave it to me.
She stated, chances are you’ll not have gotten a medal, however you bought the flag. And I did not keep as a result of I felt like I did not earn it to remain and watch the opposite athletes compete as a result of I could not end, after which it took me about two extra summer season Olympics even to observe it as a result of I used to be simply bummed out.
Friedman: Regardless of the controversy surrounding professionalism within the ‘84 video games (tennis as an illustration sport, soccer in the event you didn’t have World Cup expertise or sponsored monitor and discipline athletes blatantly receiving cash beneath the desk), Wanting again, how do you’re feeling about your position in paving the way in which for skilled athletes within the Olympics?
Jaeger: It is at all times attention-grabbing to be first in one thing. You get each side; you get the wow issue, and then you definately get the opposite issue of have individuals caught up with the idea but. So, there’ll at all times be criticism in the event you’re first in one thing, and there’ll at all times be glory; the way you take care of it relies on what sort of particular person you might be inside.
To me, the Olympics are about true humanness in sports activities. It is the true coronary heart of the world. And so it is nice to be a part of one thing, so long as it advantages the athletes afterward.
Friedman: You talked about earlier that athletes mentioned making use of or returning to common jobs after the Olympics. On that word, I puzzled in the event you had any particular recollections of athletes on the ‘84 video games making ready for his or her transition post-competition?
Jaeger: On my flights from the LA Olympics to Florida, many male Olympians had been from the US Group. They talked about how that they had been excited their whole lives for the Olympics, and now they might be in search of jobs within the normal workforce. One stated he was grateful he nonetheless had school to complete earlier than discovering a job, one other hoped Dwelling Depot was nonetheless hiring Olympians who would by no means make a Wheaties field, and others stated they might work on their resumes. None mentioned coaching for the subsequent Olympics. It was one in all many causes I at all times felt, and nonetheless do, how lucky professional tennis gamers have such monumental alternatives year-round.
Friedman: Now, approaching the 40th anniversary of these Olympics in July and having the subsequent Olympic cycle return to L. A. 4 years from now, how do you view the Olympics presently?
Jaeger: I look as much as the Olympic spirit. I imagine within the Olympic spirit. To me, the Olympic spirit exists. You competed, however you competed with coronary heart, and also you competed with goodwill. You competed with ardour, however you competed with equity. That exemplified the Olympics to me: you could possibly obtain one thing stellar in a sport, however you may be a very good human being. And that meant one thing. I’ve at all times admired the athlete who places in all that coaching. For that one second, that is what the Olympics are all about.
Once I walked in and acquired my badge, I put it round my neck, and also you appeared round as a result of there’s the Olympic Village, and its spectators aren’t allowed the place you are at. And all you see is that this enormous group of individuals: all people’s an Olympian, everybody such as you, Carl Lewis is over there, or Flo-Jo or whoever’s there. You realize that they’re there to realize one thing. In order that belongingness, as a lot as I knew I used to be an illustration sport (athlete), I knew I may assist that spirit that carried the Olympics for generations since its existence the place you go on the market and have ardour in your sport, equity, coronary heart, and also you belong to one thing better than your self.
And that is what I felt after I walked in there. You see these opponents from all these completely different nations, however they’re speaking to one another. They’re laughing with one another. They’re coaching. They’re competing, they’re opponents, however they’re human beings. And that is what I’ve at all times liked in regards to the Olympics.
