July 18, 2000
The Utah towns of Granstville and Tooele have a new hometown hero.
Amy Palmer placed second this weekend in the Olympic trials. And that secured her spot on the Olympic team.
Olympic Specialist Shelley Osterloh spoke with Amy today.
Amy is thrilled, and also getting ready for two more months of intensive work outs.
Amy has a chance to make history in Sydney. This is the first time women will throw the hammer at the Olympics, and Amy wants that first ever gold medal.
But for now, she's still enjoying her success at the Olympic trials, and so is her community.
Tooele County wants everybody to know how proud it is of Amy Palmer.
The day after she arrived home from the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, a small parade spread the news.
And the day before a crowd gathered at the airport to greet her.
Palmer may be reveling in the limelight now, but she knows what got her this far, and what she needs to do.
Amy Palmer: A LOT OF HARD WORK, A LOT OF DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE.
Helen Christiansen/Amy's Mother: WELL, SHE'S BEEN WORKING SINCE HIGH SCHOOL, IN COLLEGE AT BYU, AND SINCE SHE'S GRADUATED SHE'S STILL WORKS SIX DAYS A WEEK.
Three days a week she commutes to BYU to practice throwing that 9 pound hammer. And the other days she lifts weights.
Strength is an important part of the hammer throw, but it also takes speed, and technique.
Her longest throw is 224 feet at the Pen Relays --- in Sacramento a throw of 212 feet landed her a spot on the team.
Palmer's coach says there is still work to do, but she is a medal contender.
Tapio Kuusela/Palmer's coach: BUT I THINK BEFORE SYDNEY, WE'LL IRON OUT SOME PROBLEMS, AND WHAT WE STILL HAVE. AND I THINK SHE HAS A VERY GOOD SHOT AT THE MEDAL IN SYDNEY.
But for now, Palmer is grateful for the opportunity to make her dream for an Olympic medal come true.
Amy Palmer: I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT. IT MEANS A LOT, THANKS.
Now Amy is hoping for some financial support from the community --- she has to raise some $15,000 so her husband and coach can accompany her to Sydney.
So in addition to training, she is also doing some fundraising.
