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Last Updated: Mar 19, 2010 - 9:21 AM |
The last several weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind for Curt Tomasevicz for some obvious reasons. Competing in the Winter Olympics, winning the gold medal in the Four Man Bob Sled event, going on the “Late Show with David Letterman” and the non-stop personal appearances throughout the area, not to mention, the countless if not endless, media interviews and requests for personal visits. Through all of this he has remained the same personable, well spoken, articulate young guy, who is fiercely competitive and intensely proud of his hometown of Shelby, Nebraska.
Over the last several months one of the most tangible signs that Curt’s notoriety had really begun to take off in Nebraska and the national media was the fact that people reporting the stories began to be able to say his last name correctly on the first try. For most folks, who were not from around the area, saying “Tom-uh-sev-itch” was kind of hard. Now, you hear his name being spoken flawlessly by the networks, in interviews on the weather channel and by Steven Colbert on the Comedy Channel, to name a few.
Last Monday morning Curt got to experience a heroes welcome back in the place where it all started. Curt was the featured speaker in the high school gymnasium at his alma mater in Shelby. The gym was packed with current students, former classmates and friends, people from the Shelby community and lots of news media.
Pat Davis, Village Mayor and Chairman, welcomed Curt and expressed thoughts about how the village board had discussed various ways to honor Curt for his achievement on his return home. They talked about painting the new water tower to make it look like a bob sled, get him a new car or even give him the key to the city . . . but no one locks their doors anyway, so, the final decision was to present Curt with a plaque and a Village proclamation.
Curt began his remarks by conveying what the community of Shelby has meant to him throughout his life. He described how the town helped to raise him. He had fond memories of spending so much time at the school, even before kindergarten as his mother was teaching there, he would run around the halls. He praised coaches Chadek, Humlicek and Lyons for helping to mold his skills in athletics. He said that these coaches, along with those at UNL, taught him that it’s not about the wins and losses, but the lessons in life you learn along the way. Curt expressed how it made him proud to be a part of something so big and be from the community of Shelby. He also specifically mentioned that he was extremely grateful for the financial support, e-mails and enthusiasm he has received from the community.
He spoke of how he had been moved by a speech once given by coach Jim Valvano, who received an ESPY lifetime achievement award. Valvano described three keys to personal success. {1} Knowing where you are from {2} Knowing where you are and {3} Knowing where you are going.
Curt touched on each of these key points ending with point of knowing where you’re from. He know’s where he’s from, Shelby, Nebraska. Before each push Curt works to build his emotions and takes in deep breaths. As he does this his eyes become wide open and one day a trainer saw him and said, “Your eyes get as clear as a husky dog” and Curt thought, how appropriate, that’s how he began, as a Husky, a Shelby Husky.
Curt answered questions from the audience and brought some of the gear that he uses during the competitions. One of the more interesting moments was when he described the mechanics of getting into the suit that he wears for competitions. The aerodynamic design requires that the suit fit very tight and it takes two people to help him put it on. He then added, “It takes a lot of courage to wear one of these.”
Curt commented that he is looking forward to new challenges and that he is leaning toward becoming a bob sled driver. He said that since he has accomplished about all there is to accomplish as a brakeman, and since he still enjoys the sport, that trying his hand at being the first guy in the sled might be the next step in his bob sledding career. The next season begins in October and he plans to begin training as a driver in September.
Following the presentation Curt took time to take photos, sign autographs and greet his many fans, all with a smile.
© Copyright 2010 by polkcountynewspaper.com
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