Olympic medalist visits old stomping grounds

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Perras
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  A 2003 Ben Eielson High School graduate returned to Eielson to share her journey from high school athlete to Olympic medalist January 14, 2013, at Ben Eielson Junior-Senior High School.

Team USA member and 2012 London Olympic Games long jump bronze medalist Janay DeLoach was welcomed back to Ben Eielson to the familiar hallways she once walked. The place, she said, had not changed since she left 10 years ago.

Col. Thomas Daack, 354th Mission Support Group commander, presented DeLoach a commander's coin, saying what she earned is attributed to hard work and devotion, two ideals that are tied into Air Force values.

"Janay represents and exemplifies perfectly at least one of [the Air Force's] core values, and that's excellence in all we do," Daack commented. "To achieve that level of greatness on the U.S. stage and the international stage is definitely excellence. To put herself and her life and to dedicate the time to achieve third place in the world is truly, truly amazing."

DeLoach, 28, spoke to the Eielson elementary, middle and high school students about her goals and dreams when she was in high school and college and how she eventually made it to the world stage. The journey was not easy, but the hard work paid off.

Her time was devoted to training and working, day after day. She frequently questioned what she was doing, but eventually found her stride and kept pushing forward.

DeLoach told the students there should be nothing stopping them from pursuing what they want. In the end, what matters is they give it their all and stay determined.

"I encourage all of you to do as much as you can," DeLoach said. "Just go into it because you'll never know if you'll be good at something until you try it."

DeLoach plans on returning to the Olympics in 2016 to claim a gold medal and the world, she said, should be ready for her to claim it.

"I still plan to eventually get that elusive, shiny hardware around my neck - everyone better watch out, because I'm coming for it."