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10 Questions Olympic speedskating gold medalist Dan Jansen
By Luba Vangelova, Special to CNNSI.com SYDNEY, Australia -- Former Olympic speed skating gold medalist Dan Jansen is in Sydney working as a Paralympic Games webcast commentator for WeMedia Inc. 1. How did you get involved with disabled sports? I worked with CBS in Atlanta at the Paralympics. I was under contract to the network, and that was the assignment I got. As it turned out, for all of us that got the chance to work at the Paralympics, it was one of the more rewarding things we’d ever done. The feeling you got being around the athletes was very special. They certainly make me think how fortunate I’ve been, not only in my sporting life and in my general life, but in everyday things. It makes you think how you shouldn’t take things for granted. You see some of the disabilities they have and that they’ve overcome. It’s very heartwarming. More recently, I worked for WeMedia leading up to these Games, commentating on the [U.S.] Paralympics track and field trials. 2. How does the Paralympic ambience compare to that of the Olympics? It’s honestly not that big a difference in terms of the feeling you get when you’re around the athletes. This is their Olympics; it’s big, it’s worldwide. This is what they train for and try to peak for as athletes. I get the sense when I’m around these athletes that they’re simply that: athletes. They don’t want to be seen any other way. 3. Is it a hurdle for them to be thought of as just athletes? I think so, at least by the general public. I was fortunate to experience it first-hand and up close, so I got the feeling that they had [that they’re just athletes]. But I don’t think most members of the general public get that feeling. Hopefully with these Games being the biggest ever, it will bring them more publicity and make people see them as great athletes. 4. Which events do you most enjoy? I haven’t been able to see every event in person. I enjoy track and field. First you have to understand how many different categories of disability there are, but after you figure that out, it’s very interesting. They’re hoping to break 11 seconds in the 100 meters, and that’s pretty amazing. I’m amazed too at some of the field events, like the high jump - they only have one leg and they can jump higher than I can jump. 5. What other events would you like to see? I don’t know if I’ll get a chance, since I’ll be at the track every day, but I’d like to see some of the basketball. On TV, it seems a little more chaotic than I think it really is. Once you’re there, there are actual plays going on. It gets rough. It’s not just passing around and shooting; these guys drive the lane and go after the ball hard and actually will fall out of their chairs at times. 6. What are your impressions of Sydney? It’s one of the most, if not the most, beautiful city I’ve ever been to. They use the water so well here, with ports and harbors. And the people are phenomenal: they’re welcoming, friendly, happy people. You could tell they were proud to have the [Olympic] Games here. And it’s good to see they’re backing the Paralympics too. 7. Have you noticed any difference between the Paralympic atmosphere here and in Atlanta in 1996? It is a little early, but the biggest difference I’m noticing is in the spectators. People seem to be embracing it more than in Atlanta. 8. Are there any differences between commentating on the web versus on TV? For us it’s very much the same. You’re out there talking, and looking into a camera. The difference is that on TV, so much of it is on tape, and you can go back and do it later. Here it’s all live, so we call it as we see it, how we see it, and whatever we say gets on the air. There’s no editing. 9. So you’re on the spot. Do you feel more pressure? Sometimes. Sometimes things come up very quickly that are unexpected. You have to be more on your toes. 10. Do you ever have trouble being objective when you’re covering sports? Yes, you have to watch that. There are times when you have a favorite, and you have to keep from outwardly cheering for that person. In Nagano, I probably got a little overzealous when the Americans were skating. I heard a little bit from the producer.
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