Alabama's Morning News with JT
Three-time Olympian Mark Everett joins us with the 2024 Olympics kicking off today
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But I know let's talk about your run and your championships in the Olympics and what you did. Had a chance to run on the, you know, open 400, 800 and four bar before and just to have a chance to represent American where that red, white and blue. It just means so much. And opening ceremonies is when you really get to feel what it feels like to be an Olympian. As I'm talking to you now, I'm getting chilled because I know what the athletes are going through. Just all that hard work, years and years and years and years of just practicing and sacrificing when you realize it's happened. So it's exciting. Well, I'll tell you what, three times, what was it? 1988 and then what? 92 and then you were back. Yeah, I missed 96 and came back in 2000. So I've made three different decades of Olympics. Well, congratulations. That is just fantastic. A little bit of a different situation. Now as we've already seen came out this morning, some idiots, some vandals attacked the rail system there in Paris. We're not sure what the deal is, who did it, why they did it, motive or it was just, you know, a bunch of hoodlums. But you've got security issues and concerns for the Israeli athletes with everything that's happening with that situation. When you were there, was security a major issue during those three different years that you were there in '88 and in '92 and 2000? Yes. If you remember back in '88, we had some issues because it was in South Korea and the South Korean were kind of threatening and they were thinking about pulling out. But the security team for the US did a very good job. As athletes, we felt very, very safe. I mean, obviously you have some people who are looking for attention, but the American athletes are very safe. They have an unbelievable security team. So they will be safe. Everything will be okay. And athletes just get ready to go out there and compete. So that's nothing we really worry about. We know that America has a safe and we're just excited about competing. I think more than anything else is when you see, when you watch every athlete compete, just know there's a bunch of people behind that athlete from sponsors to family to teachers to coaches. So I get a bunch of emails during this time of the year, every four years of teachers and past coaches and people just saying, "Hey, I'm watching Olympics." And I remember when you were competing and how much they're a part of it. You know, and this is one of the few times that people can actually feel like they're a part of something. When you watch that red, white and blue and you watch the team compete and they go after those medals, it's just unbelievable. Well, man, you're giving me chills on that. That is so glad to hear that. And you know, it never ends, you know, and it should never end for these athletes that have sacrificed so much. It works so hard to be there. What are your expectations for the U.S. team and specifically the track runners? Oh, my goodness. This team might be one of the strongest teams we've ever had. I mean, from top to bottom, we have people that can actually compete and get medals. I mean, it's going to be tough, as you know, because the rest of the world is also very, very talented. But just a track and field team from the 100 to the 200, 400, 8. I mean, top to bottom, this is part of the first time I can say in American history that we have a chance, a chance to get a medal in every single event and track and field. And that's never been stated before. That's how strong this team is. It was a hard team to make for a lot of these athletes, but they're already, they're primed and they're looking forward to it. And they know what this means. You know, luckily for me, I had the opportunity to be on three teams, but sometimes this is, you know, somebody's their first time making it. And this might be the only time to make it because a lot happens in four years. I mean, four years ago, we both know we're both younger. You know, it's COVID during that time. So a lot happens in a four year period of time. Well, so this is your time to shine. Yeah, I am so fired up to watch it opening ceremonies tonight, former Olympian three time Olympian Mark Everett. I'm so glad you're with me. I'd love to stay in touch with you next week as well on the events and how they're going and just updates with you next week as well. Absolutely. I look forward to it, JT. Love your show, brother. And keep don't you don't and look forward to it. All right, Martin blue, USA. Let's go USA. Mark Everett. Thank you, buddy. Hello. It is Ryan and I was on a flight the other day playing one of my favorite social spin slot games on Chumba Casino dot com. I looked over the person sitting next to me and you know what they were doing. They're also playing Chumba Casino. 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