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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Sept 14, 2009 1:24:10 GMT -8
Source: www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/drc_malone_0194.17a0edc56.htmlSpeed skating: Malone gets ready for Olympics11:42 PM CDT on Sunday, September 13, 2009 Todd Jorgenson / Sports Editor On Sunday afternoon, Jordan Malone wasn’t sure if it had hit him yet. Less than 24 hours earlier, the Denton native qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in short track speed skating by placing third in the men’s overall standings at the U.S. Championships in Marquette, Mich. The ensuing hours for Malone were a whirlwind of awards presentations, press conferences, photo shoots and drug tests, with barely enough time to eat or sleep -- let alone to bask in the glory of an Olympic berth that represents the culmination of more than six years of training and hard work. “It’s what I wanted to do,” Malone said Sunday after returning from Michigan to Salt Lake City, where he lives and trains for much of the year. “I just wanted to prove myself this time around.” The accomplishment has been a goal for Malone ever since his disappointment at the Olympic trials for the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy. At those trials, Malone was not at full strength because of an ankle injury and just missed an Olympic berth. Now that he’s on the team, Malone, 25, doesn’t get much time to rest. He was scheduled to leave late Sunday for Beijing, where he will compete in a World Cup event beginning Thursday. Malone will be among four first-time members on the five-man U.S. men’s squad that will compete at the Vancouver Games in February. He qualified for the 500 meters and the 1,500 meters, which are the longest and shortest individual distances in short track, and will be eligible for a spot on the U.S. relay team, which is determined by the coaching staff. Seeding for the Olympics will be determined at international World Cup events in November in Montreal and Marquette. Malone finished second in the 500 at the Olympic trials and third in the 1,500. The 1,000 meters is generally his strongest event, but a fall in the semifinal round relegated Malone to fifth in the 1,000 at the trials. He will be joined on the U.S. team by Apolo Anton Ohno, who won a gold medal in 2006 and took the overall U.S. title on Saturday, as well as fellow Olympic rookies J.R. Celski, Travis Jayner and Simon Cho. Malone said it will be the strongest men’s team the U.S. has ever sent to the Olympics, with this year’s trials being the most competitive and producing the fastest times. “Just to make the team with this caliber of guys is quite a feat,” Malone said. But the Olympian knows that after making the team, he cannot become complacent. He said now the goal becomes an even more difficult one -- to win races and earn a spot on the medal podium in Vancouver. “There’s a lot of relief. But once you make the team, you have to set it aside as a stepping stone,” he said. “If you treat that as your primary goal, then you’re not going to get where you want to go.”
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 15, 2009 12:37:21 GMT -8
The following Hero Card was provided by US Speedskating: Jordan won the 4-lap Time Trial and also qualified for the Vancouver Olympic team at the recent Olympic Trials!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Sept 20, 2009 23:03:39 GMT -8
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 6, 2009 16:46:59 GMT -8
Awwwww - here's a glimpse into a different side of 'headphone Malone'... Coach qualifies for Winter Olympic GamesPark City Speedskating Club cheers on coach Malone by Jen Watkins / Park Record (Park City, UT) - Oct 6, 2009Seven-year-old Zia Terry and Park City Speedskating coach Jordan Malone practice drills at the Park City Ice Arena - Photo Credit: David HarrisThe Park City Speedskating Club recently learned that its coach, 25-year-old Jordan Malone from Denton, Texas, had qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Malone, a member of the U.S. Speedskating Team, travels from Salt Lake two days a week to coach in Park City. According to a press release from the U.S. Speedskating Team, Malone skated off with the only medal won by the U.S. team at a four-day competition at the ISU World Cup 2 in Korea for short-track speedskating in September. His performance against three Korean skaters in the Men's 1000m A Final, earned him a second-place finish and a silver medal. Malone is ranked fifth for World Cup overall 1000m classification following the World Cup events. David Harris with the Park City Speedskating Club said Malone skated in the U.S. Olympic trials on a broken ankle four years ago, which resulted in his inability to qualify for the Torino Olympic Games. "That was a big disappointment for me," Malone said. Malone said he began coaching the Park City Speedskating Club after a member from the association asked for volunteers. He coaches with U.S. Speedskating teammate Ryan Bedford. Malone said coaching has helped him improve his own skills. "It's one of those things where you can't keep it unless you give it away," he said. "In order to really have a grasp onto what I do I pass on what I've learned and what I'm learning onto everyone else. I really like coaching. It makes me feel good." Harris said it has been satisfying to see the progression of the young skaters Malone coaches as they mature and improve their skating ability from week to week. "Our young skaters look up to Jordan and see that his hard work and perseverance has resulted in a place on the U.S. Olympic Speedskating Team," he said.
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Post by bubblebuttsbabe on Oct 28, 2009 0:06:03 GMT -8
Community rallies to support youth athletesJans Winter Welcome raises over $200K for young athletesJen Watkins, Of the Record staff Posted: 10/27/2009 04:31:12 PM MDT Amount the guests was short-track speedskater Jordan Malone, a 2010 Olympic team member and coach of the Park City speedskating team.
"As a coach, you see the end result (of the fundraiser)," he said.Taking a cue from Lori, you can read the rest here at the source: www.parkrecord.com/summit_county-sports/ci_13653309#at
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Oct 28, 2009 18:52:17 GMT -8
Thanks, BBB - Gasp contributed this photo of the event, too!
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Nov 2, 2009 16:58:03 GMT -8
This was posted on the Montreal WC#3 thread, but it's appropriate to copy it here on Jordan's thread too: Sadly, Jordan has been injured and won't be competing at World Cups 3 & 4. He will be replaced by Ryan Leveille. Heal fast and heal well, Jordan - you can do it!
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Post by mtnme on Jan 11, 2010 13:41:46 GMT -8
I stumbled onto some wonderful photos of Jordan while looking for something else...(isn't that always the way? LOL) At any rate, they really need to be posted here. ;D Jordan (with possibly Chris Creveling in the background???) Jordan Malone, Anthony Lobello and....? Jordan Malone, Apolo Anton Ohno and Travis Jayner Jeff Simon and Jordan Malone
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2010 8:18:44 GMT -8
Grit, determination--go Jordan.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 16, 2010 21:04:46 GMT -8
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/khairopoulos/olympics/stories/DN-olycol_17spo.ART.State.Edition1.4bfedfe.htmlParty's on for Olympic speedskater, despite injury scareby KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News |January 16, 2010 Photo Credit: Carlos Osorio-AP Jordan Malone, injury-prone speedskater, is the last guy to be reckless with his health. After all, the 25-year-old from Denton attempted to make the 2006 U.S. Olympic team despite skating on a broken right ankle during the team trials. He knows his body and luck have betrayed him. But Malone didn't cocoon himself in Bubble Wrap after he, at long last, made the 2010 U.S. Olympic short-track team at the team trials in September. And he didn't feel even a twinge of warning during an Oct. 23 birthday party in Park City, Utah, which he attended with teammates and coaches. The main event? Well, get this – play-grappling in those huge, inflatable sumo wrestler costumes. For a guy who zooms around the ice on a 1.1-millimeter blade, where was the danger? Malone was wrestling an assistant coach when it happened, well into his third match of the tournament. "Nobody else so much as stubs a toe," Malone said. "Leave it to me to get injured wearing a suit full of padding." Malone said he stepped back the wrong way, suffering a partially torn ACL in his left knee. Peggy Aitken, who is Malone's biggest supporter and has helped her only son through his countless injuries, was back in Denton when she heard the news. "My heart was in my stomach," she said. But, this time, it would not be devastating. There was time to recover. Malone flew home to see his longtime Dallas orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Tandy Freeman – whom Aitken credits for putting "Humpty Dumpty back together again." Malone then headed to Colorado Springs, Colo., to begin rehab. He worked on strengthening his hamstring and the muscles around the knee. The belief is that Malone actually aggravated a long-standing injury that has existed since he suffered a spiral fracture in his leg in a severe 2002 inline skating incident. After the Olympics in Vancouver next month, Malone will undergo knee surgery. "I've been through way worse than this," Malone said. "You have to realize, I'm at risk every day on the ice. If I fall there, it's way worse than what I would ever do in a sumo suit. ... Apparently you don't need an ACL." The injury forced Malone to miss the final two World Cup races of the season, races the U.S. used to qualify competitive spots in Vancouver. He had been coming off winning silver in the 1,000 meters in a World Cup event in September. He's grateful to the alternates who skated well enough to secure his spots to skate next month. Malone will race in the 500, 1,500 and the 5,000 relay. Competition begins for him the day after the opening ceremony, on Feb. 13. Malone has been back on skates since about a week and a half after the knee injury and said he is "95 percent" back to form. He is fully focused on Vancouver – and working on a Web site, JordanMalone.com, his Twitter account and Facebook pages to let supporters know who he is when speedskating gains its rare time in the spotlight next month. "You have to get everything out of it if you can when the Olympics come around," Malone said. For an athlete who waited four years longer than he expected for his first Games, no sumo suit will keep him from doing just that. -------------------------------------------- And if you're in the Dallas/Denton TX area: What: Jordan Malone Olympic Rally When: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday Where: PourHouse Sports Grill (3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd., Denton) What: Supporters can learn about short-track speedskating and Malone. Videos of races leading up to the Olympics, complete with Malone's analysis, will be shown. T-shirts and other merchandise will be on sale, with profits to support Malone's training.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 18, 2010 8:45:08 GMT -8
Jordan's biggest fan (well, next to Mom, of course) is his pup, Oly - short for guess what? Jordan often brings Oly to the rink, and we've watched him grow - one of the most adorable lil' dogs you'd ever meet! Photo Credit: Gabi Roozee (used with permission)
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 18, 2010 22:48:52 GMT -8
An addition to the Party's On article upthread: Here is the ST athlete who risked life and limb in that most daring of athletic endeavours: The inflatable-sumo-wrestling-suit-tournament... Photo used with permissionDon't cha just love that belly button! ;D My mind wanders at a time like this - d'ya think that USS should include a 'No Sumo' clause in their athlete agreements? Funny thing is, most pro football players would probably be precluded from speedskating in their own contracts... Jordan, I'm so glad that this had a happy ending - it's good to see nice guys finish at the top, and you're one of the nicest...
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 20, 2010 0:01:41 GMT -8
www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/Speedskaters-Supporters-Gear-Up-For-Winter-Olympics-82125567.htmlSpeedskater's Supporters Gear Up for Winter Olympics Jordan Malone, who trained on streets of Denton, will compete in 3 races By KEVIN COKELY / Tue, Jan 19, 2010 North Texans will be cheering on a speedskater from Denton at the Vancouver Olympics. Jordan Malone, 25, will compete in three races at the Winter Games after an injury prevented him from making the U.S. team four years ago. "There are a lot of people who are really rooting for this kid," said his mother, Peggy Aitken. "He grew up skating on the streets of Denton, Texas, and I followed him on a moped. So there are a lot of people who saw that crazy lady following her kid on the streets of Denton while he was training." Friends and supporters got together Tuesday night in Denton to gear up for the Olympics. But with less than four weeks until the Olympics, Malone is still training in Salt Lake City and couldn't make it to the hometown rally in his honor. He told his mother by phone that making the team still hasn't sunk in yet. "It's all his same routine that he's done for the last four years, so nothing's changed," Aitken said. "So when it really will set in is when he gets his team gear and they get the Olympic uniform with the rings on it." His biggest fan will be in Vancouver to see it for herself. "I was really excited that he made the team, but then again, I've just kind of learned not to get too excited too soon," Aitken said. "And I'll get excited when I get there, too." Malone's mother is organizing watch parties at Pourhouse Sports Grill on Unicorn Lake Boulevard to cheer on her son during the Olympics.
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Post by Laura (Lori) on Jan 20, 2010 21:03:15 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2010 20:21:10 GMT -8
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