Apr 16, 2007 6:37 pm US/Central
Local Athletes Primed For Chicago 2016 Olympics
NU Stars Willing To Wait For Hometown Happening
by Vince Gerasole
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Some top local athletes are already dreaming about the 2016 Olympic Games -- and that dream would be even sweeter if the games are held in "Sweet Home Chicago."
CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports that they're willing to wait for a hometown happening.
As a wrestler, Jake Herbert pulls his weight.
Already a global champion, the Northwestern junior is pumped up for possible Olympic competition -- especially on home turf.
"I'm looking at… three shots at Olympics: I've got '08 in Beijing, I've got '12 in London, and I'd love to finish up and retire here in the city where I went to college," Herbert said.
In the water, Matt Grevers gets along swimmingly.
The NU senior, NCAA champion, and Lake Forest native is primed to test the Olympic waters and will stay at it a bit longer if he can compete near his own back yard.
"2008 is a good bet, [and] 2012 is a better bet," Grevers said. "There's older swimmers nowadays and if I really have the drive I'll probably be able to stick around until 2016."
Herbert earned wrestling's bronze medal last year at world competition in Mongolia. Grevers swam his way to six All-American honors at this year's NCAA meet.
"It's the greatest feeling in the world," Grevers said. "What athlete doesn't dream of the Olympics?"
As Chicago gets serious about winning the international Olympic bid, these athletes are getting serious about making their Olympic dreams come true --- and stay at it perhaps a bit longer than they expected.
"I've got to work harder, I've got to get bigger, I've got to get stronger, I've got to get faster and I've got to work on technique," Herbert said.
"Hard work does pay off," Grevers added. "And now that I know that if you put the time and effort in, anything can happen."
2016 may seem like a long way off, but your 8-year-old gymnasts at home doing some flips around the sofa might be bringing home the gold in Chicago if they play their cards right along with the city.
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