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Skating for Gold

  • Publish Date: Posted about 6 years ago
  • Author:by Kate Andrews

The Conexus Medstaff team will be cheering from all corners of the globe on Monday 19th February, when US speed skater, Jonathan Garcia, competes in the men’s 500 metres at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, in South Korea.

The Texan native and the son of Conexus’s Travel Coordinator, Marianne, has been dreaming of the Olympics since he was 7 years old after he was inspired by speed skate Dan Janson, and his dramatic gold-medal performance during the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Since then, Jonathan took up speed skating and dream about one day being part of Team USA and standing on the podium at the Winter Olympics. Now, 23 years later, Jonathan will represent Team USA for the second time at the Winter Olympics in Peyongchang.

And like most journeys, fulfilling his dream of being part of Team USA has had its up’s and down’s. It’s not always been a smooth ride for Jonathan. He didn’t qualify for the Pyeongchang in his primary race – the 1000 metres. However, this disappointment was short-lived when he qualified for the Pyeongchang 500 metres the next day. Marianne put this down to Jonathan’s pure grit and determination; ‘Jonathan has always been one of those skaters, when his back is against the wall, he comes through’

Just like Jonathan’s mom, the rest of us here at Conexus are awe-struck by the willpower, commitment, and hard work that Jonathan has put in to making his dream of speed skating for the USA in the Winter Olympics come true. Not only is Marianne very, very proud her son, but so are the rest of the Conexus Family!   

Jonathan’s story shows that your dreams are on the other side of your grit.  Through endurance, perseverance and passion you will overcome any obstacles and will
achieve your dreams. We aren’t telling you it’s going to be easy to achieve your dream, but we are telling you it’s going to be worth it.

Make sure to watch Jonathan on Feb 19 in Pyeongchang and cheer along with us. We are sending wishes of good luck from across the miles and hope Jonathan brings home a medal!