West Brookfield Rower To Compete In His Second Olympic Games
BOSTON (CBS) - West Brookfield's Wes Piermarini begins his Olympic run on Friday.
The UMass Amherst grad says competing in the 2008 Olympic Games and being named to the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team are his most memorable sporting achievements.
Piermarini talked about what it's like in London, the pressure cooker that is the Olympics and if he will get any sleep tonight.
He spoke with WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Drew Moholland:
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"I think I should be okay, but you never know I could have some pre-race jitters," said Piermarini.
Wes explained that competing in the Olympic Games, surrounded by the best in the world, is completely different from a normal day on the water.
"You need to try not to let it get to you and the crews that can make it, make it the same as their everyday Saturday on the water, and they're the ones that perform. You try to ignore all the extra stuff and just do what you know how to do and as best as you can. Yeah all the lights and cameras can be pretty distracting but once you're in the moment something else takes over and you know exactly what to do," said Piermarini.
Not only does Wes know what he needs to do to perform well in the games, but he's also having no problem staying focused while in London.
"There is a lot going on, but I sort of keep my head down until after. I'm going to have a week after I'm done competing to go check out some other sports and see everything. It's pretty easy to keep my head down stay focused. Also, this being my second games, I sort of know a little bit more of what to expect and sort of what to avoid and how to run my show," said Piermarini.
He also feels that his crew is in great shape to compete this year.
"We're hoping to turn some heads, we've done some really times in practice, we could turn some heads and that's what we're hoping to do," said Piermarini.
On Friday, Drew talks with Wes' teammate Elliot Hovey, of Manchester By The Sea.
