YOU HAVEN'T LIVED HERE UNTIL … You visit the US Olympic Education Center in …
WHAT’S THAT? Based at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, this is where top-tier U.S. athletes practice short-track speed skating, weightlifting, boxing and Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle wrestling.
WHO TRAINS THERE? Athletes participating in the Vancouver Winter Olympics who have ties to the Marquette mecca include short-track speed skaters Allison Baver, Kimberly Derrick, Katherine Reutter, Simon Cho and Travis Jayner, as well as long-track speed skaters Shani Davis and Ryan Bedford. since the renowned facility was founded in 1985, it has been home to more than 70 Olympic medalists.
WHY IS THIS PLACE SO SPECIAL? It’s the second-largest Olympic training facility in the United States — even bigger than Lake Placid — and the only one in the country where athletes can go to school, too. Medal-lusters attend Northern Michigan or Marquette Senior High School.
WHAT IF I WANT TO SUPPORT THESE YOOPER ATHLETES — WITHOUT BEING BUNDLED UP IN A PARKA, HOLDING A SIGN AND CHEERING? the center sells United States Olympic Education Center-emblazoned clothing, water bottles, key chains and other merchandise. and you may order Olympic Education Center Michigan license plates at www.michigan.gov/documents/orderform_oec_16245_7.pdf.
I’M NO APOLO ANTON OHNO, BUT MAY I GO TO THE CENTER? Sure. It’s open to the public. If you couldn’t travel to Canada for the Olympics, you can watch the competitors, who are among the best in the world, in the flesh at Northern Michigan.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VISITING AND DONATIONS: Call 906-227-2888 or go to http://webb.nmu.edu/SportsUSOEC.
YOU HAVEN'T LIVED HERE UNTIL … You visit the US Olympic Education Center in …