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FEATURE: Tina George has new life realities, and has refocused her international wrestling goals
12/21/2004
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) is living a new life, and has a new perspective on wrestling. She has brought this viewpoint with her as one of the top stars who competed this year at the New York AC Christmas International Open.
After winning World silver medals at 55 kg/121 lbs. in 2002 and 2003, while serving in active duty with the U.S. Army, George entered the 2004 season as a top hopeful for an Olympic medal in her weight class.
At the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis last May, George was upset in the championship series by Tela O’Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) in two straight matches. Her dream of winning a gold medal when women’s wrestling made its debut in the Athens Games fell through in two straight heart-breaking matches in the RCA Dome that night.
Tina George is no longer in the U.S. Army full-time. She is concentrating on graduate school. And she has made a decision to make another run for the next Olympics, while trying to enjoy the process a little bit more.
“It took a little while to sink in that I wasn’t going to the Olympics,” said George. “I just kept training through the summer. When it was being televised, I realized it then. I went through a period of depression.”
George also completed her full-time enlistment in the U.S. Army, where she was a member of its World Class Athlete Program, and became a member of the Army Reserves. Instead of being a full-time soldier, she is doing her duty one weekend a month.
After getting an undergraduate degree a year ago, George also decided to pursue a masters degree in kinesiology, and began taking courses through the Univ. of Texas. She remains a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center to continue her wrestling career.
“Putting my focus on school helped me refocus my life, and use my energy in a positive way,” said George.
Although her disappointment at falling short of her Olympic dream is still very real to her, she also learned some new perspective from others who were not quite as close to the situation.
“The Olympics matter to me,” said George. “But I realized I am a good person. Other people were excited that I had a dream. That I did not accomplish that dream does not matter to them, just that you tried your best. It made me feel better.”
Tina has learned to like her new lifestyle as a student, a resident athlete and a member of the Army reserves.
“It is relaxing,” said George. “I am focusing more on wrestling. I’m getting back to remembering why I enjoy wrestling. It is a different environment for me. I am not completely ruling out returning to active duty. But for now, I am recharging my batteries.”
Competing in the New York AC Christmas Championships was a way that George was able to build from the disappointment of the 2004 season, and focus on the future.
“As a competitor, I am getting rid of all the reservations and doubts about my wrestling, based upon the performance at the Trials last year. You walk around with doubt. You are more tentative with your wrestling. It takes a few wins to get over that,” she said.
Competing in New York allowed George to experiment a bit more with the new rules of wrestling, which many believe fit her powerful style very well.
“I am excited about the new rules. For my style and abilities, I am really pleased about the changes,” said George. “I am even more excited about the weigh-ins. It gives me an advantage over girls who drop more weight. The one-day tournament eliminates that factor.”
George was in great form at the New York AC Tournament this year, capturing the gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. with three straight victories. In the gold-medal finals, she dominated Amy Borgnini of the USOEC in two straight periods by technical fall, 6-0 and 6-0. The decision to compete seems to be paying off for George very well.
“I am happy with my training, as well as the level of my wrestling and my technique,” said George. “I think this is going to be a great year for me.”
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