Sports Medicine Physician Cares For Skaters On Winter Olympic Adventure

He was awed by the brilliantly choreographed opening ceremonies as the 2002 Winter Olympics got underway. Yet for Dr. Thomas Terrell, one of two primary care sports medicine physicians at the USC Sports Medicine Center, his trip to Salt Lake City wasn’t merely for the enjoyment of sport. He served as one of over 1,000 medical volunteers who cared for athletes, Olympic staff and volunteers.

During his two-week stay, Dr. Terrell was designated to work with figure skaters and speed skaters; some of whom he met at the Lake Placid Olympic Training Center in 1999 and has since enthusiastically followed their progress. “Lake Placid was my first exposure to winter sports,” said the Florida native, who also volunteered at the 1996 summer games in Atlanta.

In his 10-hour shifts in Salt Lake City, some of which started as early as 5:00 a.m., Dr. Terrell helped man a clinic to treat medical and orthopaedic problems and provided on-site medical coverage at figure skating competitions and speed skating practice sessions. “Essentially you are watching the action carefully, ready to assist someone who might be injured seriously,” he said. He added, “If something occurs on the ice, if an athlete has a major crash or a significant laceration, you go out there to evaluate the patient. Fortunately, that rarely happens.”

As Dr. Terrell worked with various athletes as they practiced and competed, he was impressed by the perseverance of an Uzbekistani figure skater who competed despite having a broken foot. “She had a fifth metatarsal fracture of the foot that would have put someone else in a cast for eight weeks,” he said.

While his volunteer schedule was demanding, Dr. Terrell did have the opportunity to take in some of the events purely as a spectator. He was particularly interested in the luge competition after working with some of the athletes in Lake Placid. “It’s neat to watch people that you got to know, and be there as they win their medals and see their dreams come true,” he said.

As an athlete and a former college basketball player, Dr. Terrell can relate to the competitors he has come to know through volunteering at the Olympics. “I’m struck by how dedicated they are to what they do and the tremendous sacrifices they make along the way. They give up years and years of their lives to compete,” he said.

Dr. Terrell considers himself fortunate to have experienced the unique chemistry that occurs when top athletes from around the world converge. He recalled his stay in Atlanta six years ago. “There was a tremendous positive energy there that was almost palpable in the air. What struck me was how the Olympics really does what it sets out to do – to promote a global understanding through sport,” he said. As much as his previous experiences impacted him, something hit him even more powerfully this time. “There was a strong sense of patriotism and the crowd would roar whenever an American did anything positive,” he said. While the spectators’ overwhelming support brought back memories of his own athletic endeavors, he said, “This was the most special kind of cheering I’d ever heard; this was the Olympics, and the Olympics after September 11,” he said.

One of Dr. Terrell’s most lasting impressions came during the opening ceremonies when the tattered American flag that had been recovered from the World Trade Center was carried into the arena. “I couldn’t help but tear up,” he said, “standing there and remembering all the people who lost their lives on September 11.” He added, “Billions of people were watching this flag, which is a symbol of democracy around the world, and the only thing that was left from the World Trade Center. It was a rare privilege just to be able to bear witness to that.”


Reprinted from Connections newsletter, March 2002

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