|
|
|
|
|
 The Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games Remembers Matt Walters By By Kimi Puntillo NBC 2002 Olympics Staff Writer 1/12/02 Reposted from the Official Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Web Site (www.saltlake2002.com)
Jan. 12 2002 - "We wouldn't be here without Matt," is a common sentiment you'll hear among colleagues working on the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee. MATT WALTERS organized the nominations, selection process and registration of thousands of torchbearers participating in the relay as well as helped develop the Olympic web site, SaltLake2002.com, before he died died last March of a viral infection of the heart after having just turned 30 years old. In Santa Fe, New Mexico, slightly past the midpoint of the flame’s 13,500-mile journey, Darlene Walters carried the torch Saturday in memory of her husband in the relay city closest to their Los Alamos hometown. Oddly enough, I’m really nervous,” said Darlene, who’s been on the road with the torch since it left Atlanta on December 4. At the same time, she feels comforted by taking part in an experience that she feels brings her closer to her late husband. Matt embodied the Olympic spirit,” said Darlene, before running with Matt’s mother by her side.He could make friends and breach barriers in an instant with people of all ages and personalities. Matt always found a way to connect to people. He was amazing that way.” He only lived in Salt Lake City for five years, and 300 people show up at his wake,” said Cathy Walters, Matt’s mother.I was overwhelmed by the notes and tributes.”
DEDICATED, OPEN Matt’s dedication went beyond his work on the Olympic Torch Relay. An avid swimmer since childhood and a member of the Texas Christian University swim team, Matt often volunteered as a coach, including helping the Gay Masters Swim Team in Salt Lake City. He wasn’t pretentious and was open to other people’s beliefs” said Tim Steele, a senior production coordinator for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC).Everyone felt very comfortable around him.” Friends and family say Matt loved to make people laugh, and one way was to poke fun at himself. Rick Wangen, a childhood friend and SLOC colleague, has a favorite memory. He had this false tooth that he liked to remove for fun,” said Wangen.At his wake, people blacked out their front tooth with india ink in his honor. PERSONAL ATTACHMENT Wangen, who recruited Matt for the Olympic Torch Relay project, returned to Salt Lake City to help fill Matt’s shoes after his sudden death.It’s a way of me honoring Matt because he had such a personal attachment to the whole Games,” said Wangen.It still doesn’t seem right that we’re here and he’s not. His death hit me as hard as those who lost loved ones on September 11th.” Darlene also left her job, as physical therapist at Lakeview Hospital in Bountiful, Utah, to be part of the Olympic Torch Relay in honor of Matt. The heroes and inspirational people she’s met help hertake it one day at a time.” Every day you cry, smile, laugh, hug people and make new friends — they’re the reason we get up at insane hours and follow the torch,” said Darlene. Sometimes I want to call Matt up and tell him, ‘You can’t believe the person that I met today,’ — and I can’t. He was my best friend and I miss him.” |
