Boxers who failed gender tests last year cleared to compete in Paris
Two boxers who were previously disqualified from world championships for failing gender eligibility tests will be allowed to fight in the Olympics. The two will compete in the women’s competition during the Games. The decision sparked backlash on social media.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-Ting will face female opponents in Paris.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified both athletes during the Women’s World Championships in March 2023. Officials said they failed to meet gender eligibility tests. The IBA said DNA tests found both boxers had X-Y chromosomes instead of X-X. The IBA also said that several athletes posed as women to fight in the female competition.
However, the IBA does not govern Olympic boxing competitions. Instead, a Paris-based boxing group is in charge, and it has more relaxed rules for gender eligibility than the IBA.
“It’s incredibly complex and actually boils down to not just sport by sport, but discipline by discipline,” IOC Spokesperson Mark Adams said. “So people may have an advantage in this discipline and not in this discipline if they’ve been through male puberty or not. That we need to leave to, and this is a conversation we have, to each federation.”
The IOC said the Paris-based group used rules from the 2020 Tokyo Games. Those rules were also in place in Rio eight years ago.
The set of rules, issued in November 2015, state that people who were born female but identify as male can compete in the men’s category without restriction.
However, those born male who identify as female have to meet certain criteria before they can compete. First, the individual must have identified as a woman for at least four years and taken testosterone suppressants for at least one year. Additionally, the testosterone levels have to be below a certain level for the duration of the competition.
Additionally, the athlete has to undergo testing for compliance. If they fail, they face a 12-month suspension from women’s events.
“Rules should be in place for the protection of women in sport and the promotion of the principles of fair competition,” the IOC said in a statement.
Many former athletes took to social media to express their opinion on the IOC’s decision.
“It’s shocking that they were actually allowed to get this far, what is going on?” Barry McGuigan, a former world-champion boxer, wrote on X.
“Imagine training your WHOLE life, getting good enough to earn a spot on the Olympic team, hoping to a win an Olympic medal….then you’re told you have to fight a man,” Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer, said. “That’s the tragic reality for these women.”
Scientists conducted an study that found males who have gone through male puberty have an average punching power that is about 162% greater than females. The study also showed that the least-powerful man was stronger than the most-powerful woman.
Until the 1960s, doctors physically examined women to determine if they were female before they could compete in the Olympics.
Acting Secret Service director to testify on Trump assassination attempt
The new acting director of the Secret Service is set to answer questions from lawmakers about the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. And McDonald’s reports its first sales decline in more than three years. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
Secret Service acting director to testify on Trump assassination attempt
The new head of the Secret Service, Ronald Rowe, will be on Capitol Hill Tuesday, July 30, testifying over the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, as security questions remain to be answered. It comes one week after the former Director Kimberly Cheatle’s testimony that led her to step down from the position.
According to excerpts of Rowe’s testimony reviewed by news outlets in advance, the new acting director is expected to tell lawmakers what he saw in Butler, Pennsylvania made him “ashamed” and that he “cannot defend why the roof where the gunman opened fire was not secured.”
Tuesday’s hearing comes as newly released police text messages show that officers were aware of the gunman, Thomas Crooks, at least 105 minutes before he opened fire. That’s more than half an hour earlier than previously known.
The local SWAT team also said they never spoke to Secret Service until after the assassination attempt.
Trump will sit down with the FBI on Thursday, Aug. 1, for a victim interview where he will describe what he experienced.
It’s been 17 days since the Republican presidential nominee nearly lost his life at that rally. While Congress will look to learn about security lapses in Tuesday’s testimony, there are long-term efforts to obtain answers, as well, including the newly launched House panel which will also have subpoena power.
Arizona voters head to the polls Tuesday; Tennessee holds primary on Thursday
There are still some high-profile primary races taking place in several states. Voters in Arizona will head to the polls on Tuesday, July 30, and Tennessee will hold its primary on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who switched from being a Democrat to an independent earlier in 2024, is not running for re-election, so there are new candidates for that highly sought after open seat.
The top Democratic candidate is Rep. Ruben Gallego. That means his House seat is up for grabs, along with several other House seats.
On the Republican side of the Senate race, it’s former TV anchor Kari Lake leading over her opponent.
In Tennessee, controversial Republican Rep. Andy Ogles facing a challenge and potentially close race when voters head to the polls Thursday. Ogles secured a major endorsement from former President Trump ahead of the primary.
Biden proposes Supreme Court changes, end to presidential immunity
The ethics code proposal comes after a review of the justices’ undisclosed personal and business dealings, namely those of conservatives Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. It also comes in the wake of some controversial rulings, like the 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade and the ruling on presidential immunity.
President Biden is also suggesting a constitutional amendment to change that.
Biden gave his case for reform in a speech at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas on Monday, July 29.
“The Supreme Court established in Trump v. The United States a dangerous precedent,” Biden said. “They ruled, as you know, as the president of the United States has immunity from — for potential crimes he may have committed while in office. Immunity. This nation was founded on the principle there are no kings in America. Each of us is equal before the law. No one is above the law. And for all practical purposes, the court’s decision almost certainly means that a president can violate their oath, flout our laws and face no consequences.”
He added, “This decision is a total affront to the basic expectations we have for those who wield the power of this nation. That they are expected to be wholly accountable under the law.”
The amendment would face a difficult path to become a reality. It would first have to be passed by two-thirds of the House and Senate — which is unlikely, given the Republican majority — then ratified by three-quarters of U.S. states.
Park Fire now 6th largest in California’s history
California’s Park Fire has grown into the sixth largest wildfire in the state’s history. According to Cal Fire, it has now scorched more than 370,000 acres across four counties and is still only 12% contained.
It’s forced thousands to abandon their homes and contributed to poor air quality from coast to coast.
Authorities said the fire started when a man pushed a burning car into a dry ravine. He was officially indicted on arson charges Monday, July 29.
McDonald’s reports first sales slump since 2020
McDonald’s is reconsidering its pricing strategy after the fast-food giant reported its first sales slump since 2020 in the second quarter. Experts said budget-conscious Americans are eating at home more often due to higher prices at fast food chains.
This summer, McDonald’s released a $5 meal promotion to drive more foot traffic, though competitors have also launched similar deals.
The McDonald’s CEO said customers can expect more discounts in an effort to bring more people in and stop the sales decline.
Dragonflies swarm Rhode Island beach like “black cloud”
A swarm of dragonflies overtook a Rhode Island beach on Saturday, July 27, with video being posted online. Local media said the beachgoers reported the insects descending all of a sudden like a “black cloud,” forcing some to pack up and leave.
Experts said this is normal, as dragonflies are starting their annual migration south.
U.S. men’s gymnastics wins first Olympic team medal in 16 years
Olympic officials postponed Tuesday, July 30, morning’s men’s triathlon race after they said the Seine River remains contaminated. They said levels of E. coli are too high for the swimming portion of the competition. The event is now tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 31.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the big story for Team USA was not about gold medals, but bronze. The U.S. men’s gymnastics team earned the first Olympic team medal in the sport for America in 16 years.
Team USA’s Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Stephen Nedoroscik and Frederick Richard topped Great Britain for the third spot on the podium. Japan took the gold and China won silver.
The last time the U.S. men’s gymnastics team won a team medal was at the 2008 Beijing games.
2024 Olympics sees its eco-friendly goals face accusations of ‘greenwashing’
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics have been promoted as the most eco-friendly Games ever. However, experts are raising concerns about the effectiveness of these sustainability commitments, calling them “greenwashing.”
Paris organizers have set a goal to halve the carbon emissions of this year’s Games compared to previous Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and London. To achieve this, they are investing over $16 million in carbon credits to offset the emissions generated during the event. This involves funding climate-friendly projects worldwide to compensate for the pollution in Paris.
“As climate change accelerates, the Games’ response to it must do the same,” Marie Sallois, IOC director for sustainability, said. “The Paris 2024 organizers are stepping up to the challenge, and they are doing so by focusing first and foremost on the core part of addressing it: by cutting emissions.”
Some of these credit-generating projects have faced scrutiny from environmental watchdogs over the legitimacy of their claimed benefits. Organizations like Earth Day and Carbon Market Watch have questioned the transparency of the Olympics’ emissions assessment and whether the purchased carbon credits will effectively balance out the pollution they are meant to offset.
“Though commendable, the Paris 2024 climate strategy aim to minimize the event’s carbon footprint is incomplete, and falls short of achieving transparency,” Carbon Market Watch said in a statement. “Transparency regarding carbon credit purchases is lacking, hindering public engagement and an assessable oversight of the event’s environmental responsibility.”
In addition to carbon credits, the Games aim to meet a 100% renewable energy goal through another form of emissions offsetting. The use of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) means that the electricity used in the stadiums may not come directly from renewable sources. Instead, the Olympics will pay for green energy to be produced elsewhere. The New Climate Institute has noted that this practice can lead to significant misrepresentation of reported energy emissions from users of these certificates.
Despite the criticisms, the Olympics have introduced measures to address some of these renewable energy sourcing concerns. It is using blockchain technology to ensure that the power consumed from non-renewable sources during the Games is accurately matched and injected back into France’s power grid from domestic clean power providers.
Seine River contamination forces Olympic triathlon training cancellations
Olympic triathlon training sessions, scheduled to take place in Paris’ famed Seine River on Sunday, July 28, and Monday were both canceled over water contamination levels. Less than two weeks ago, Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo went for a swim in the long-polluted waterway in an effort to prove the water was clean enough for the upcoming Olympic Games.
Olympic organizers said recent heavy rains, which also affected Friday night’s opening ceremonies, raised the Seine’s E. coli levels, making the water unsafe for swimmers.
The swimming leg of the men’s triathlon — the first swimming event at the Olympics — is set to take place in the Seine on Tuesday, July 30. The women’s triathlon is supposed to take place Wednesday, July 31, with the mixed relay planned for Aug. 5.
Paris organizers said they’re “confident that water quality will return to below limits before the start of the triathlon competitions,” and that the events will go on, even if they have to be delayed by a day or two.
The Paris Olympics chief told CBS News that if the Seine’s water quality does not improve, then the swimming stage of the triathlon can be “dropped” and the event would become a “biathlon,” which is not an official Olympic sport.
The city of Paris has spent more than $1.5 billion over the last decade cleaning pollution from the Seine River.
Sabotage strikes French telecom infrastructure during Paris Olympics
As the Paris Olympics unfold, France is tackling a series of sophisticated sabotage incidents that have severely disrupted critical infrastructure. Vandals targeted the nation’s telecommunications network, affecting over 11,000 customers and slicing through fiber optic cables in six regions.
While Paris remained untouched, the southern regions hosting Olympic events saw significant disruptions. French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Marina Ferrari condemned these attacks as “cowardly and irresponsible.”
This telecommunications sabotage follows closely on the heels of arson attacks that paralyzed major railway lines, impacting approximately 800,000 travelers, including Olympic athletes. The rapid succession of these incidents has heightened security concerns, prompting an extensive investigation.
French authorities are scrutinizing possible connections to “ultra-left” activist groups known for similar past actions. Officials have already made one arrest.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin highlighted the precision and intent behind these attacks, suggesting they were well-coordinated. The government has responded by ramping up intelligence efforts to safeguard the ongoing Olympic Games and restore affected services swiftly.
The full extent of the impact, particularly on Olympic activities, remains under assessment, but the swift restoration of services has been a priority. As France grapples with these challenges, the resilience of its infrastructure and the effectiveness of its response are under global scrutiny.
Paris Olympics opening ceremony sparks controversy, calls for boycott
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics ignited significant controversy and sparked calls for a boycott. The response follows what critics have interpreted as a controversial reimagining of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, “The Last Supper.”
The ceremony featured a fashion show with a performance that included drag performers seated around a table, with a woman positioned at the center — a spot traditionally associated with Jesus Christ in the famous painting. Additionally, a French actor dressed as Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy, was seated atop the table.
Critics, including Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, have condemned the performance as an affront to Christian sensibilities.
In posts on X, Johnson labeled the performance as “shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world” and Salvini criticized it as a poor start for the Olympic Games.
American fitness coach Jillian Michaels also expressed disapproval, arguing that the performance undermines calls for mutual respect and tolerance.
In response to the backlash, some companies have opted to withdraw their advertisements from the Paris Games. Social media platforms are also seeing a surge in calls for a boycott of the Olympics.
On the other hand, Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, has defended the performance.
Jolly clarified that the segment was intended as a depiction of Dionysus and a celebration of pagan festivities, not a reinterpretation of “The Last Supper.” He emphasized that the goal of the performance was to promote a message of love and inclusion. The official Olympics account on X echoed this sentiment, stating that the portrayal of Dionysus aimed to highlight the absurdity of violence among people.
Anne Descamps, a spokesperson for the Paris Olympics, later addressed the criticism, asserting that there was no intention to offend any religious group. The spokesperson reiterated that the opening ceremony was meant to celebrate community and tolerance, and expressed regret for any offense taken.
Despite the controversy, the opening ceremony attracted a high viewership, with nearly 29 million people tuning in. That surpassed the 17 million who watched the Tokyo 2021 Olympics opening ceremony.
Israel says Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Israel vowed Hezbollah will “pay the price” after the deadliest strike on Israeli territory since Oct. 7 killed 12 children. And former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue on the campaign trail with less than 100 days to go until Election Day. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, July 29, 2024.
Israel: Hezbollah will ‘pay the price’ after deadly attack on soccer field
Tensions are escalating in the Middle East after a deadly assault on Israel on Saturday, July 27. Israeli officials said a Hezbollah rocket launched from Lebanon struck a soccer field in the Israel-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 children.
It marked the deadliest attack on Israeli soil since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack. Hezbollah has denied it was behind the strike.
Now, attention turns to how Israel will respond to the threat and if the war is on the brink of expansion.
Thousands of people attended funeral services for the children who died in Saturday’s attack. Their caskets were hauled through the streets as people paid their respects.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah “will pay the price” for the latest attack.
It’s an escalation in a series of back and forth between Hezbollah and Israel. The Iran-backed militant group has been firing rockets at Israel from Lebanon since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Israel has been retaliating, striking their targets in Lebanon and killing top Hezbollah and Hamas leadership in the region, but this latest hit against Israel could create a larger response.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the country will not get involved in a war but will stand behind Hezbollah. The foreign minister said Lebanon has received reassurances from the U.S. and France that Israel’s response will be “limited.”
The Biden administration has warned Israel of how its next steps could lead to a larger conflict and is warning against them hitting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s capital of Beirut. International flights into Beirut are being canceled out of fears of escalation.
Harris, Trump look to rally support less than 100 days until election day
With less than 100 days left until the 2024 presidential election, both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump spent the weekend speaking to their supporters at campaign events. Harris spoke to voters in Massachusetts and Trump held events in Florida.
“She was a bum,” Trump told his supporters in West Palm Beach on Friday, July 26. “Three weeks ago, she was a bum, a failed vice president in a failed administration with millions of people crossing when she was the border czar.”
Harris promised supporters her “underdog” campaign would prevail.
“Donald Trump has been resorting to some wild lies about my record,” she said on Saturday, July 27. “And some of what he and his running mate are saying, it’s just plain weird.”
New polling from ABC News shows support for Harris is growing among independent voters. Forty-four percent have a favorable view of Harris — up from 28% from only a week ago — as she tries to rally Democratic Party support before officially becoming the nominee.
On July 30 and Aug 1., Harris will hold campaign events in Georgia and Texas, respectively. Trump will head back to Pennsylvania for the first time since surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in the state on July 13.
Mark Meadows asks SCOTUS to intervene in Georgia election interference case
Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff during the Trump administration, is turning to the Supreme Court to intervene in the Georgia election interference case against him. Meadows’ lawyers have asked the justices to take up his bid to move the case to federal court.
In their filing on Friday, July 26, Meadows’ legal team argued his actions are entitled to immunity from prosecution citing the high court’s recent ruling that gave former President Trump immunity for official acts as president.
Meadows has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case, however, remains on hold as Meadows and other co-defendants — including former President Trump — challenge a ruling that allows Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the case amid claims of improper conduct.
Maduro and opposition both claim to win Venezuela’s presidential election
In a highly watched and highly scrutinized electoral process, Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro claimed to have won the presidential election on Monday, July 29. However, his political opponents have too.
With 80% of votes counted, Maduro is said to have won with more than 51% of the vote, leading electoral authorities to declare him the winner.
However, the opposition claims candidate Edmundo González had received 70% of the vote against Maduro’s 30% and González said all rules were violated. The opposition is demanding electoral authorities present all the voting tallies issued by the voting machines to verify the results.
The United States and multiple regional nations have also voiced skepticism about official results handing victory to Maduro.
The man accused of starting what is now the largest active wildfire in the country is set to appear in a California court on Monday, July 29. The fast-spreading fire near Chico has burned more than 350,000 acres in three days, forcing thousands of people in four counties to leave their homes.
The Park Fire had scorched an area greater than the size of Los Angeles as of Sunday, July 28, causing poor air quality in a large part of the northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
Cooler temperatures and more humidity over the weekend helped firefighters make some progress. They say the fire is now 12% contained.
Apple reaches first-ever union deal with Maryland employees
Apple has reached its first-ever union contract with employees at a Maryland store. The union representing the employees of a store in a Baltimore suburb said it’s reached a tentative three-year deal with Apple to increase pay by an average of 10% and offer other benefits to workers.
The tentative agreement still has to be approved by the store’s 85 workers. A vote is set for Aug. 6.
Team USA wins most medals in Olympics opening weekend
Team USA is off to a strong start at the Paris Olympics, picking up 12 medals over the weekend. That’s the most of any country so far in the games.
USA athletes had won gold three times as of Monday, July 29 morning, including the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, giving Caleb Dressel his eighth gold medal. Torri Huske won the women’s 100m butterfly and Gretchen Walsh took silver, with just four hundredths of a second separating the American athletes.
Lee Kiefer brought home gold in fencing. In gymnastics, Simone Biles made her Olympics return, leading the U.S. Women’s Team into the finals despite suffering a minor calf injury.
On the basketball court, LeBron James led Team USA to victory in their first game, defeating Serbia 110 to 84.
Athletes report problems with eggs, meats at Paris Olympic Village
Athletes had to overcome insurmountable odds to qualify for the Summer Olympics. Now that they are in Paris, the caterer faces the daunting task of trying to feed thousands of hungry Olympians — and it is struggling to keep up.
Sodexo Live, the official caterer of the Olympic Village, admitted to a French newspaper that there has been “very high demand” for several items like eggs and grilled meats. Athletes said eggs are being rationed and raw meat is being served as they look for high-protein foods to stay fueled for competition.
Publications from England report the Great Britain Olympic team is bringing in its own chef following the food fouls.
“They are saying the Games are more sustainable and there is way more plant-based food but sometimes if you go at peak times it’s challenging to even get a piece of chicken,” the athlete added.
The caterer said “volumes will be increased” to “satisfy the needs of the athletes.” Over 600,000 meals are to be served at the Olympic Village every day of the Summer Games.
A convicted child rapist is competing in Paris Games, many want to know why
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is facing scrutiny ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris over one particular athlete’s inclusion. Steven van de Velde is set to represent the Netherlands in beach volleyball in the Olympics, which start on Friday, July 26. Van de Velde is also a convicted sex offender, and reportedly still has his name listed in the U.K.’s sex offender registry.
Van de Velde’s inclusion in the Olympic Games is being met with outrage among advocates for sexual assault survivors, who are demanding an investigation into why he’s allowed to compete and have said this allowance sends the wrong message to men that rape has no consequences.
However, the IOC responded to the demands to leave van de Velde out of the Games by saying that the selection of athletes is not up to the international committee, the decision is up to each individual national committee. The Dutch Olympic Committee has thrown its support behind van de Velde and said that he has done everything necessary since his conviction to earn the right to be an Olympian.
While it may be up to national committees to decide which athletes compete on their teams, the British and Australian Olympic Committees maintain that they would never allow a known sex offender to compete for their countries.
Advocates for sexual assault survivors expressed outraged over van de Velde’s set appearance in the Olympic Games. Critics reportedly said that van de Velde showed a “chilling” lack of remorse for his crime and believe it negatively affects survivors of sexual assault.
Meanwhile, Olympic officials have advised van de Velde to stay outside of the Olympic village in Paris in order to avoid publicity.
Van de Velde maintains that he is a changed man since the crime occurred in 2014.
The athlete reportedly raped a 12-year-old girl in the U.K. when he was 19 years old. Investigators said that van de Velde had communicated with the girl online before deciding to travel to the U.K. to visit, and subsequently sexually assault her. He served a year in a Britain prison before being transferred and given a lighter sentence in the Netherlands.
At the time of his sentencing in 2016, the judge told him that his hopes of representing his country “now lie as a shattered dream.” Van de Velde was released from prison in 2017.
However, it appears van de Velde was able to rebuild that once “shattered dream.” The Dutch Olympic Committee maintains that van de Velde deserves a second chance, and asserted that there is no risk of “recidivism” from him.
We asked him to explain the rules of the sport. He gave SAN this concise explanation:
“Canoe slalom is a series of gates hanging over a whitewater river. Athletes have to navigate those gates and there will be 18 to 25 of them. Fastest time wins. If we touch a gate we incur a 2-second penalty. If we miss a gate, go through it upside down or the wrong direction, we get a 50-second penalty. And that’s really about it.”
But that’s far from it when talking about Eichfeld, who will be making history in his sport for most Olympic appearances. He was, in a way, born for canoeing.
“My parents had a boat waiting for me before I was born so I don’t know if I was really given that much choice,” Eichfeld said with a laugh.
So once he started he said everything clicked, a perfect fit like Cinderella’s glass slipper, and he fell in love with the sport.
In 2008, he qualified for his first Olympics in Beijing at 18 years old. It was an experience he called “super surreal,” especially being part of the opening ceremony.
U.S. Olympic Whitewater kayak team members Casey Eichfeld and Rick Powell (AP Photo/Timothy Jacobsen)
“That’s one of the memories that will stay with me all of my life, particularly my first opening ceremonies,” Eichfeld said. “There’s 550 of us, we’re walking through the tunnel into the bird’s nest and everyone’s chanting ‘USA! USA!’ It gives me chills every time I think about it.”
Eichfeld said it’s not just the memories on the water that stick with him. He said he has plenty of other stories to share.
“I have a memory of hanging out at our athlete’s lounge in our village building, chilling out, watching other sports — Michael Phelps walks in,” Eichfeld recalled. “He’s like, ‘Hey are there any Uncrustables left?’ I said, ‘Dude, I got you.’ I took him right to the fridge that had them, had a coffee together, chatted a little bit. ‘It’s cool to see you. I’m not at all starstruck.’”
After placing 7th at the Rio Games in 2016, his highest placement yet, but then not qualifying for Tokyo 2021, Eichfeld contemplated retirement. He was starting a family and wondering if it was time to turn the page on his Olympic quest, but, like Moana, the water called to him.
“I had to make the decision: If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this,” Eichfeld said. “There’s no messing around with this. If I’m going to take the time to be away from my family, as much as I need to be, then I really need to put the effort in and it paid off.”
“I’m really happy with my decision [to compete], now I get to make that decision again,” Eichfeld said. “We got a home Olympics coming and we have a baby boy coming at the end of October. So big, big year for me.”
“I like to add big things to my Olympic years. In 2016, my wife and I got married in December and this time, we’re having a baby two months after the Olympics. So why not make it a big year, a really memorable year?”
With his family in Paris motivating him, Eichfeld is looking to bring home the gold this time around and then celebrate in style.
“I want to prove that I belong here and even in my advanced age that I can still throw it down,” Eichfeld said. “So I’m fighting for the podium. I want to be up there. And then when I get home I want to go Disney.”
