Ricky Berens, who grew up in Charlotte, made his first U.S. Olympics team in the 4x200 relay. There, he teamed with Michael Phelps in the finals to set a world record and win a gold medal.
Following that, Berens' time in China included an appearance on the “Today” show alongside the U.S. women's gymnastics team. He came home to Charlotte for a few days after that. Now the 20-year-old is about to return to college, where he will be a junior at the University of Texas this fall. Berens answered three questions via e-mail. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: What were the favorite moments of your Olympics?
A: The whole Olympic experience was amazing to me. If I had to pick a few of my favorites it would be the opening ceremonies, being on the awards stand with our national anthem being played, and then being at a sporting event with all the different countries.
It was an honor to be able to walk in opening ceremonies, and being able to represent my country like that. Also, walking around the village or being at the swim meet I saw many countries I have never heard of. It was incredible to see athletes from these countries and having them being able to participate in the Games. Some of them looked like they had never swam a whole 50 meters before, but they were in the pool and able to experience everything we were. It was great to see that and what the Olympics can do for the countries that are not as fortunate as we are.
Q: You practiced and competed alongside Michael Phelps at these Olympics — how was that?
A: Just having him on a relay with you is inspiring enough. You feel faster just being around him. He is the greatest swimmer to ever dive into the pool and to have him standing behind you yelling at you to go faster 1/8 in the 4x200 relay 3/8 was pretty cool.
Q: After you won the gold medal, what were the next few hours like?
A: After the relay was over and I went through drug testing and the press conference, I went to the NBC station. I did interviews with about five different TV stations from around the U.S.
Later that night I was interviewed on the “Today” show. I was there with the whole U.S. women's gymnastics team because they had just won a silver medal in the team, so I got to meet that whole team.
They were a really good, fun group of girls to hang out with for awhile. It was pretty unbelievable that I was being interviewed on one of the most-watched morning news shows. That whole day my parents (John and Leslie Berens, of Charlotte) got to follow me around to the different stations, and it was just incredible that they were right there and able to experience everything I was going through.
@Nyx.CommentBody@