Alyson Dudek

[Laura (Lori)]

1000M Semi-Final - Sept 11, 2009; Photo Credit: Doug Benc / Getty Images

[aaosmts19]

www.jsonline.com/sports/etc/70120467.html

Dudek wraps up her spot
She finally makes Olympic team
By Gary D’Amato of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Nov. 14, 2009 9:03 p.m.

Marquette, Mich. — Alyson Dudek didn't want to talk about competing in the 2010 Winter Olympics until it was official.

On Saturday, at the final World Cup/Olympic qualifier for short-track speedskating, it became official.

The U.S. women accumulated enough World Cup points to lock up two Olympic starting spots in the 500 meters. Dudek, who won the 500 at the U.S. Olympic trials in September, will get one of them.

The 19-year-old from Hales Corners, Wis., also will compete in the women's 3,000 relay in Vancouver.

"Now I know for sure," Dudek said. "I'm really excited and I can't wait. I don't even know how to explain what I'm feeling right now, but I'm really excited and I think our whole team, in Vancouver, we're going to do really well."

The Americans had mixed results Saturday in the 500 and 1,500 at the Berry Events Center on the Northern Michigan University campus.

Katherine Reutter fell in the semifinals of the 1,500, one of her strongest events, but bounced back to make her first-ever A Group final in the 500 and finished fourth.

"It was my first 500 A final and I'm happy about that," she said. "This was only my third time competing in the 500, ever, at a World Cup. It could have been a little better, but there is so much to learn."

Apolo Anton Ohno earned the only medal for the U.S., a silver in the 1,500, but was disqualified in the quarterfinals of the 500. Race officials ruled that Ohno impeded Germany's Robert Seifert.

"I didn't agree with that," Ohno said. "Traditionally, if you're way in front of the person and there's no contact, you know, I have the right of way. There was no bumping or anything like that. I thought it was a bad call, but I have to come back stronger and leave no doubt in anyone's mind next time."

Dudek won her 500 heat in 44.666 seconds but then finished third in a photo finish in the quarterfinals; only the top two advanced to the semifinals.

Eun-Byul Lee of Korea got the tip of her skate just in front of Dudek's at the finish line and beat her by 0.011 of a second.

"Oh, my gosh, I think that's one of the hardest ways to win or lose," said Dudek, who attended Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. "Overall, I think I skated a really good race, even though it breaks my heart because I was so close."

More than one dozen of Dudek's relatives and friends were in the stands, wearing sweatshirts bearing a clever take-off on Nike's "Just Do It."

"Just Du Dek" was the message.

"We're thrilled beyond words," said Dudek's mother, Mary Dudek. "At her young age, to be an Olympian, what a great honor."

Francois-Louis Tremblay of Canada won gold in the men's 500. Si-Bak Sung of Korea broke Tremblay's world record of 40.684 in the semifinals (40.651) and finished third in the final.

Meng Wang of China easily won the women's 500 in 42.961, with Reutter finishing fourth in 44.075. Reutter did set a U.S. record in the heats with a time of 43.760. The old record was 43.967, held by Maria Garcia.

Jung-Su Lee of Korea won the men's 1,500 in 2 minutes 13.595 seconds, with Ohno second in 2:13.731.

Yang Zhou of China won the women's 1,500 in 2:22.700.

On Friday, Reutter had made a spirited run at Meng's world record in the 1,000 but came up short. Reutter was devastated and tried to clear her mind with a post-race run.

She wound up at Picnic Rocks beach, near the spot where a close friend, Toni Copeland, drowned in Lake Superior in 2005. Copeland was a women's freestyle wrestler, training in the U.S. Olympic Education Center program.

"Toni actually was one of my friends from high school," Reutter said. "I was so upset after the race and I was so down on myself and feeling like I wasn't worth very much. But I got there and I realized it's just a race. I'm lucky enough to be here. One of my friends never got her (Olympic) shot, so I'm thankful to have my shot."

The World Cup concludes Sunday with the finals in the men's and women's 1,000 and the relays.

[Laura (Lori)]

From Jerry Search (World Cup 4 in Marquette):



For Jerry's complete album, see www.nationalspeedskatingmuseum.org/Photo%20Albums/2009%20World%20Cup%20MQT/1a0004.html

[Laura (Lori)]

Aly will be joining Travis Jayner and Katherine Reutter to visit a Children's hospital on Sunday:

See Katherine and Travis' threads for the complete article.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Reutter, along with 2010 Short Track Olympians Travis Jayner (Midland, MI) and Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners), WI) and speedskater Patrick Meek (St. Louis, MO), is demonstrating her belief in giving back. The skaters will visit Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. to give the medical center 10 digital cameras and 5 notebook laptops for patients to use during their stay.

[Laura (Lori)]

There aren't a lot of video interviews of Aly out there, so it was really nice to see this one, from a TV station near her home town!

JUST DUDEK!

www.todaystmj4.com/bloggers/lanceallan/80485117.html?video=pop&t=a&bctid=CLIP_ID_166277

[Laura (Lori)]

2 Dudek video finds in 24 hours!

Aly Dudek of Hales Corners talks with Dennis Krause about growing up in Wisconsin and training for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver

[mtnme]

....so I was scrounging for some other images (of Jessica Smith specifically...) and stumbled upon more of these unbelievably photogenic pictures of Aly at Olympic Trials.

Lord Above!!! This girl just can't take a bad photo! Makes you wonder why 'Covergirl', 'Clinique' or some other youth oriented cosmetic company hasn't snatched up this pretty, all american, fresh face to use for their commercials.


....maybe someone needs to drop a hint & plant a seed in the minds of the mega-marvelous-makeup-mavens...


....maybe the media and America will catch on during the Olympics!

























Lana Gehring, Aly Dudek and Kimberly Derrick




Alyson Dudek, Katherine Reutter, Kimberly Derrick

[Laura (Lori)]

Aly (center) at a Park City benefit, late 2009:


Photo used with permission

[Laura (Lori)]

Very cute video from USSSpeedskating - Alyson Dudek, Kimberly Derrick, Lana Gehring and Allison Baver talk about Guys and Dogs:

[Laura (Lori)]

Alyson Dudek's new website is up and running!

And it's a very nice one - check it out!

www.alysondudek.com/

[Laura (Lori)]

JUST DU DEK!

Alyson is on her way to Vancouver - and you can be part of her team with one of these shirts (awesome design, Aly!) (ordering info follows pics)

BACK:
No photo of the back, but it simply says: JUST DU DEK

FRONT:



ORDERING INFO:
Price: $20 donation suggested
Sizes: Adult Small to Adult XL
Color: Black

There are limited quantities in each size.

EDIT: These shirts (with many thanks) are SOLD OUT - if they go on sale again, you can find the info at Rocker-U's 'Bookstore':

www.rocker-u.net/the_bookstore.htm

[Deleted]

USA wintertime Olympic Games speed skaters Katherine Reutter and Alyson Dudeck are the most sought after on the web after more than a million people viewed them qualifying for the incoming round.


Katherine Reutter as well as Alyson Dudeck of USA gained ground in the fifty ms Speed skating too, after succeeding to qualify in their individual heats on Sat.

Katherine Reutter succeeded in the 1st head in just forty-four. one hundred and eight-seven secs whilst Alyson Dudeck managed to qualify with a forty-four. five hundred and sixty secs clock time on Sat eve. Katherine Reutter is in competition for 4 medallions.

The closing event in the women’s five hundred m speed skating will take place on Wed at the wintertime Olympic Games.

The youthful duo of Katherine Reutter and Dudeck are earning a lot of attention on the cyberspace, with freshly obtained devotees overflowing admirer pages of Katherine Reutter & Dudeck on a social networking site.

Katherine Reutter as well as Dudeck was among the greatest hot looked for names on the Search Engine Google. They are also the hottest subject on social web sites like Face book & Twitter.

Fans think of Katherine Reutter and Dudeck as loveable and sexy. Katherine Reutter is twenty-one yrs of age. Her dad too caught a lot of attending in television airs of the Speed skating occurrences all around USA. A lot of people noticed him adorning a hat.

Katherine Reutter is graded as being on the 8th position in the globe in

These two ladies will also be taping with Rachel Ray next week. Not sure of the air-date, though! WOO HOO

[Laura (Lori)]

Hope y'all got a chance to see Katherine and Alyson Dudek on Rachel Ray today with Summer Sanders.

They were talking about their favorite healthy snacks. Katherine's is peanut butter, honey and bananas on whole wheat bread, and Aly loves veggies - especially sugar-snap peas!

These screengrabs aren't the greatest, but hey, I tried!

[Laura (Lori)]

From the NYT Video Library:

video.nytimes.com/video/2010/02/14/sports/olympics/1247466984801/speedy-legs.html

SPEEDY LEGS:
Alyson Dudek, 19-years-old Wisconsin native, is making her Olympic debut in short track speed skating. Learn the rules and tricks of one of the most dangerous sports represented at Vancouver.

[Laura (Lori)]

For Alyson Dudek, skating and faith go hand-in-hand
By Jim Lajoie / March 5, 2010 / Diocese of Marquette

Although treasured, an Olympic medal won’t change the way Alyson Dudek of Hales Corners, Wis., approaches her day-to-day life.

The lessons the up-and-coming short track speedskating star learned as a young girl at St. Mary’s Catholic School have prepared her to accept whatever fate comes her way.

“My faith has grown over the years. And, with that, my performances have grown, too,” said Dudek, 19. “I have a strong faith, but it’s not yet fully developed. I’m trying to decide for myself where it takes me.”

Through her strong convictions, close-knit family and prayer, Dudek has ascended to short track speedskating heights far beyond her wildest dreams.

Read the entire article:

www.dioceseofmarquette.org/upcarticle.asp?upcID=2248

+++

In the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Dudek was one of just five female U.S. medal hopefuls in a precision-oriented, fast-paced sport that leaves very little margin for error.

“My family is Catholic, and I have been going to Catholic school ever since I was 5 years old,” said Dudek, a 5-foot-6, 125-pound skater. “Sometimes, it gets hectic and it’s hard to find time to go to church. But there are a handful of us that go to church whenever we can.”

Dudek has been skating since she was 5. Currently a member of the U.S. Speedskating National Short Track Team which trains in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dudek qualified for the Olympics with a strong showing at the Short Track Speedskating Time Trials held in Marquette in September.

Recently, with the world watching, Dudek made her Olympic debut in the 500-meter race and 3000-meter relay. She earned the top spot in the 500m by winning the four-lap time trial and the first of two 500m races at the Olympic trials.

Yet, through it all, earning a prestigious Olympic slot has been anything but easy. That steep climb to the top reiterates the importance a strong faith and two feet firmly planted on the ground has had on her career.

“When the races come, that’s when I pray,” she said. “I pray every day, but when there is a competition, I feel more of a connection there with God. And, when I’m traveling, I feel comfort that God is there. Finding God at the airport is important to me.”

Dudek believes that having God in her heart has enabled her to better cope with the ups and downs of a demanding sport that separates winners from wannabes by mere hundredths of seconds.

“When I was younger, my school friends and I had similar Catholic backgrounds,” she said. “As I grew older and practiced with many different people, I learned there were beliefs different than mine. That was an eye opener. You lead life and fit the homily into your life. I’m very grateful for what I have been taught. Religion was never forced upon me … I learned it and followed it.”

Now, the Wisconsin native is on the doorstep to Olympic fame, and as she lies on her living room sofa daydreaming about things to come, the reality of being an Olympian still hasn’t really sunk in.

“In September, when the Olympic trials were all done, I thought I would feel different,” she said. “But I didn’t really feel any different. I am excited, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“I’m very grateful with what I have and the family I was brought into. They have really supported me. God has given me so much. I sometimes think, ‘Some people don’t have the option to do what I do.’ Even in defeat, I realize, ‘How lucky am I?’”

After failing to medal at the U.S. Championships two years ago, Dudek believes her time has come.

“I stepped on a block and fell when I was ahead,” she said. “I believed it wasn’t my time and God had something else for me. It just drove me to want this even more.”[/img]