Post by bubblebuttsbabe on May 27, 2009 18:07:39 GMT -5
Source: www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2009/05/alex_izykowski_retiring_family.html
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Alex Izykowski retiring? Family says Olympic medalist is leaving the ice
by Ryan J. Stanton | The Bay City Times
Wednesday May 27, 2009, 9:34 AM
When it came to speedskating, Alex Izykowski was ranked among the best in the world. In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, the Bay City relayer known as "Izy" took home a bronze medal in the men's 5,000-meter short track relay.
But three years later, the 2002 Bay City Western graduate is battling nagging injuries from a series of unfortunate accidents, and wondering what to do next.
At 25, he's retiring from the sport that has kept him on the ice for most of his life.
"It's an emotional time. It's a big transition," said Al Izykowski, the speedskater's father. "You're talking about a young man who gave his whole life to his sport."
Alex Izykowski, who has been living and training in Utah, was in Bay City this past weekend for his sister's high school graduation party but declined an interview with The Times. He's still coming to terms with the fact that he won't skate competitively again, according to his father, who hesitates to say his son made that decision of his own accord.
"I think his body has just made it for him," he said. "He's not able to train at the level that he needs to and he can't go out there in a compromised condition."
The young Izykowski's hopes and dreams of getting back on the ice with the U.S. Short Track men's speedskating team - and going to the 2010 Winter Olympics - came to a screeching halt two months ago when he was hit by a car during a bicycle training ride in a suburb of Salt Lake City. He was riding about 25-30 miles per hour when a car turned in front of him, sending him smashing head-first into the vehicle, his father said.
It was the third major setback to come the speedskater's way since taking home an Olympic medal three years ago. He suffered injuries from other incidents, including another bicycle mishap while training in Colorado Springs, Colo., three summers ago.
At the time of his most recent accident, Izykowski had been riding three to five hours in the mountains trying to recover from a hip injury. His father said he was in good condition and finally ready to get back on the ice.
Izykowski has been receiving treatments and physical therapy at an Olympic training center in Salt Lake City. It's uncertain whether he will stay in Utah or return to Bay City.
"Hopefully if he moves back to Bay City and decides to live in Bay City, he'll be able to be active in the sport from the standpoint of coaching," said Bay County Executive Thomas L. Hickner, a longtime speedskating enthusiast who has followed Izykowski's career.
Hickner, a supporter of the effort to build the Bay County Civic Arena in the 1990s, said it's sad to see Izykowski step down.
"He certainly is one of the most accomplished speedskaters in the history of Bay County," he said. "The training and conditioning to get there requires a significant amount of commitment and focus on the part of the skater, because it is an individual sport, and he certainly demonstrated a commitment."
thingy** Somalski, founder of the Bay County Speedskating Club, has been involved in short track since its inception at the Olympics and other international venues.
"I was on the Olympic committee for 32 years. I've been to 10 Olympics. I've seen a lot," he said. "He was one of the best and he had a very bright future.
"It's tough to quit, but I think it's a good decision. When you get to his age, the chances of getting much better are unlikely," added Somalski. "You cannot miss a year of competition and come back and be as good as you were before, because the competition gets better and better all the time."
Whatever happens now, Somalski said Izykowski will do fine if he applies himself like he did to his sport.
"If he has the same exuberance ... that he had with speedskating, he'll take care of himself," he said. "Persistence is the most important thing. You've just got to keep going."
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My heart practically clenched when I saw the title. I feel so bad because it seemed like he was making his way back and all these injuries set him back so much. :/
I'm gonna miss seeing Izy on the ice. Whatever he does - I'm sure he'll do well.
thingy** = Somalski's name which the board changed since it's a bad word. Lol. You know, starts with a d ends with k... :]
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Alex Izykowski retiring? Family says Olympic medalist is leaving the ice
by Ryan J. Stanton | The Bay City Times
Wednesday May 27, 2009, 9:34 AM
When it came to speedskating, Alex Izykowski was ranked among the best in the world. In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, the Bay City relayer known as "Izy" took home a bronze medal in the men's 5,000-meter short track relay.
But three years later, the 2002 Bay City Western graduate is battling nagging injuries from a series of unfortunate accidents, and wondering what to do next.
At 25, he's retiring from the sport that has kept him on the ice for most of his life.
"It's an emotional time. It's a big transition," said Al Izykowski, the speedskater's father. "You're talking about a young man who gave his whole life to his sport."
Alex Izykowski, who has been living and training in Utah, was in Bay City this past weekend for his sister's high school graduation party but declined an interview with The Times. He's still coming to terms with the fact that he won't skate competitively again, according to his father, who hesitates to say his son made that decision of his own accord.
"I think his body has just made it for him," he said. "He's not able to train at the level that he needs to and he can't go out there in a compromised condition."
The young Izykowski's hopes and dreams of getting back on the ice with the U.S. Short Track men's speedskating team - and going to the 2010 Winter Olympics - came to a screeching halt two months ago when he was hit by a car during a bicycle training ride in a suburb of Salt Lake City. He was riding about 25-30 miles per hour when a car turned in front of him, sending him smashing head-first into the vehicle, his father said.
It was the third major setback to come the speedskater's way since taking home an Olympic medal three years ago. He suffered injuries from other incidents, including another bicycle mishap while training in Colorado Springs, Colo., three summers ago.
At the time of his most recent accident, Izykowski had been riding three to five hours in the mountains trying to recover from a hip injury. His father said he was in good condition and finally ready to get back on the ice.
Izykowski has been receiving treatments and physical therapy at an Olympic training center in Salt Lake City. It's uncertain whether he will stay in Utah or return to Bay City.
"Hopefully if he moves back to Bay City and decides to live in Bay City, he'll be able to be active in the sport from the standpoint of coaching," said Bay County Executive Thomas L. Hickner, a longtime speedskating enthusiast who has followed Izykowski's career.
Hickner, a supporter of the effort to build the Bay County Civic Arena in the 1990s, said it's sad to see Izykowski step down.
"He certainly is one of the most accomplished speedskaters in the history of Bay County," he said. "The training and conditioning to get there requires a significant amount of commitment and focus on the part of the skater, because it is an individual sport, and he certainly demonstrated a commitment."
thingy** Somalski, founder of the Bay County Speedskating Club, has been involved in short track since its inception at the Olympics and other international venues.
"I was on the Olympic committee for 32 years. I've been to 10 Olympics. I've seen a lot," he said. "He was one of the best and he had a very bright future.
"It's tough to quit, but I think it's a good decision. When you get to his age, the chances of getting much better are unlikely," added Somalski. "You cannot miss a year of competition and come back and be as good as you were before, because the competition gets better and better all the time."
Whatever happens now, Somalski said Izykowski will do fine if he applies himself like he did to his sport.
"If he has the same exuberance ... that he had with speedskating, he'll take care of himself," he said. "Persistence is the most important thing. You've just got to keep going."
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My heart practically clenched when I saw the title. I feel so bad because it seemed like he was making his way back and all these injuries set him back so much. :/
I'm gonna miss seeing Izy on the ice. Whatever he does - I'm sure he'll do well.
thingy** = Somalski's name which the board changed since it's a bad word. Lol. You know, starts with a d ends with k... :]
~Lori
