Gail McCabe, of Army Broadcasting, interviewed the Soldiers and others March 3 - 5 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they are training, as part of the Army's World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP. McCabe's interview with the WCAP chief, Willie Wilson, can viewed on the iSoldier program on YouTube. It can also be watched on the ARNEWS video player.
All three of the female Soldiers expressed a great deal of commitment and passion for their sport and for the Army, McCabe said. "They want to become Olympians," she said. "They're very proud that they're able to represent the Army and that they're Soldiers as well."
The two boxers are Spc. Alexandra Love, who is in the 112-pound weight class, and Spc. Melissa Parker, a member of the 132-pound class. The wrestler is Staff Sgt. Iris Smith, who happens to also be a two-time national champion.
The training for all three of them is really intense, she said, with a typical training day being from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. During that time, they lift weights, practice their sport and receive mental training, which allows them to focus and keep positive.
"All of these women have a strong competitive edge. They want that medal," McCabe said.
In addition to their training, which is considered a full-time job, they also have to meet all of their military requirements as well, she added.
Besides, normal military requirements including physical fitness tests and inspections, they also visit schools and attend special events, where they represent the Army to the local community, she said.
During these special event visits, young girls come up to them and want to talk, McCabe said. They look at these Soldier athletes as female role models for them.
Smith, 35, is the oldest of the three, McCabe said. She realizes that this is her last shot at making the Olympics because of her age and like the others, she is giving it her all.
To make it to the Olympics, the three must compete at a number of state and national events and when it is all over, the Olympic committee will make the final selection, she said.
The thing that sets the three apart from other athletes, McCabe said, is that they developed a high level of confidence that they didn't have prior to joining the Army. "Being part of this sports training program has given them an even higher level of confidence in themselves and what they can accomplish."
Their coaches believe these women have what it takes to make it and they are highly confident that they will, she said.
The three Soldiers will be featured in separate iSoldier segments during the next month, the show's producer said.
Besides the female Soldiers, McCabe also spoke with Marko Lara, who is trying out for the men's wrestling team. Lara enlisted in the Army and is now an NROTC cadet, she said.
In her interview with the WCAP director, Wilson said that since 1997, WCAP has developed 65 Soldier-athletes who became Olympians.
Wilson related to her that the Army has a long history of producing Olympians, dating from the early 20th century. 1st Lt. George S. Patton competed in the pentathlon in the 1912 Olympics. He would later become a famous general during World War II.
And now, these female Soldier-athletes have a chance to make history as well, McCabe said.
OTHER iSOLDIER SEGMENTS
In addition to the interview with the WCAP chief, the recent iSoldier features two other news segments:
One shows Operation Spartan Pegasus, in which Soldiers of the 40th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, jump into Dead Horse, Alaska - the closest U.S. Army airborne operation to the Arctic Circle in 10 years.
The other, Operation United Assistance, features Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky and the 101st Airborne Division headquarters casing their colors in Liberia and heading home to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, at the completion of their humanitarian assistance mission to help West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak.
Sgt. Rachel Badgeley produced this week's newscast and Sgt. Audrey Santana anchored the program.
http://www.army.mil/article/144032/Female_athletes_prepare_for_summer_Olympics/
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