"Bob Schwartz" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> She has been at the top of the sport for over two decades.
> You are correct, it takes more than just training to do
> that. It takes drive and determination and more character
> than any of us will ever know.
>
> I was at Hamilton last year with my 8 year old daughter.
> The Womens race sucked, until Longo attacked on Beckett.
> Before that there was some activity from Spain and some
> really pointless stuff from the Americans but it was Longo
> that threw some suspense into the race. We were sitting at
> the top of Claremont watching the race on a handheld TV so
> we knew she was coming by herself. When she passed there
> was more life that I had seen in the crowd all day.
>
> After the field passed we watched the TV and talked about
> Jeanne Longo. Who she was when she first started making a
> name for herself at Worlds when dad was much younger. How
> dad remembered watching her win an Olympic medal through
> sheer power and fitness, just riding away from everyone
> else. Who she still was, showing more class than anyone
> else over the entire weekend.
>
> When she came over the last climb with just a few
> kilometers left to the finish it was clear that it was
> over for her. But we both watched the TV and were both
> sorry to see her overtaken so close to the finish after
> such a great effort.
>
> My daughter and I talked about the finish on the way back
> to our hotel. The trip was worth it for that race alone
> and it was Longo that made the race.
>
> Bob Schwartz
[email protected]
I missed a chance to see Longo race a while back in my
original hometown where I was born. This was actually
unbelieveable for this little town! Shucks!
