Lane 9 News Archive: Olympian Larsen Jensen Releases Open Letter to U.S. Swimming Community

Olympian Larsen Jensen Releases Open Letter to U.S. Swimming Community -- August 17, 2008

BEIJING, China, August 17. SHORTLY after the conclusion of swimming at the 2008 Beijing Games, U.S. Olympian Larsen Jensen released an open letter to the swimming community. Originally seen as a retirement letter, Swimming World helped get the word out as such. Jensen has since stated that it was not a retirement letter, only a thank you to the swimming community.

Swimming World apologizes for its part in the confusion.

Here is his complete letter:

To all of my family, friends, supporters and Americans who I have never met: Thank you for all the support that you have given Team USA and me. We have all been incredibly honored to represent all of you at the 2008 Olympic Games.

It has been a dream come true to reach the pinnacle of sport success and each of you should consider yourselves a part of that success. I can't thank each of you enough. Today, I swam my final race and it was a tough battle. Unfortunately, I finished out of the medals...

My good friend and training partner Ous Mellouli won the event, and I couldn't be happier for him. He truly deserved it and I look forward to congratulating him personally.

Our final award ceremony today finished the way it started-with the playing of the United States National Anthem. I began to get choked up. I was choked up because I understand what our flag and our anthem represent. It represents freedom and opportunity. Freedom to pursue any dream-and the opportunity to make that dream a reality.

Mine have become a reality, and our team is proof that America is great-and always will be.

A few days ago I received an American Flag and accompanying Flag Citation from Navy Special Operations Task Force - West, Camp Shane Patton, Fallujah, Iraq. I was hoping to personally carry that flag around the pool; but that wasn't in the cards.

However, that flag was carried around the pool by Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps, and Jason Lezak for the awards ceremony of the 400 Medley Relay.

They are great Americans and they carried that flag to make all of you proud-they did a damn good job. This team has made me proud by their grace in victory and poise in defeat. A man could never ask for a finer group of men and women to be associated with than our USA Olympians.

It has been an honor to represent The United States of America. I will never forget this experience and I will never take it for granted.

Thanks again America for your support. I, and all U.S. Olympians, look forward to coming home to the land of the free-and never forget WE ARE THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.

Regards, Larsen Jensen

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Reaction Time Comments

August 17, 2008 What a beautiful letter, Larsen. I know you mean every word. And thank you for sharing the story of that flag. It was a thrill to watch you all in Beijing, and every single one of you is precious to this fan's heart. Thank you for putting all you had into every single race. Team USA behaved so beautifully. The spotlight was on all of you this week, and each of you shone like precious stones in the crown of this sport. Thank you for keeping the Olympic spirit alive.
Submitted by: laurenish

August 17, 2008 Larsen Jensen is the man. All those people that gave his crap for an interview on floswimming.com needs to read this. Everybody saying he is cocky and not worthy of swimming the 400 and mile at the Olympics needs to recognize he is the U.S.A.'s greatest distance swimmer of all time with American records in the 400, 800, 1500 free.
Submitted by: WUswimmer

August 17, 2008 Congratulations to Larsen for his performances in Beijing: American record and bronze medal in the grueling 400 free. Nice job.

Here's a thought for your consideration: the 1500 was so competitive that it took a sub 14:50 to make the final. One of the consequences was that some (most?) of the swimmers had to use to considerable energy resources just to make the final. Hackett, Cochran, and Prulikov (second, third, and fourth place finishers) all had faster prelim times than final times.

Why not have two days between prelims and the finals in the 1,500 in Olympic and World competition? That way the athletes would be able to recover more fully. And the racing would be even better.

In the track world, there are at least 2 days between semis and finals in events 400 meters and longer.

[Note: I believe that Erik Vendt could have used an extra day of rest before the 1,500 final during Trials.]
Submitted by: SilverMedalMel

August 17, 2008 Great letter, Larsen! You all did America proud.

SilverMedalMel

That's definitely a great idea about the extra day of rest.
Submitted by: mario2007

August 17, 2008 What a beautiful letter Larsen. You make all of us proud.
Submitted by: Ako

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