VESTAL, N.Y. – As
Emily Mackay '21 prepares to represent Binghamton and Team USA at the upcoming Paris Olympics, former Olympians and Binghamton Athletics Hall of Fame members
John Moreau '77 and
Chris Coleman '89, '93 offered some words of advice and reflection.
Moreau and Coleman will both be in Paris, as will former Bearcat wrestler
Justin Hoch '04, who is one of just two credentialed U.S. photographers covering wrestling at the Games.
Mackay will be the University's first former student-athlete in 30 years to compete at the world's highest level when she runs the 1,500 meters in Paris beginning August 6.
Moreau competed in fencing at both the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as well as the 1988 Games in Seoul. His 1984 team placed 10
th in the epee. Moreau was inducted into the USA Fencing Hall of Fame in 2023 and now is the No. 1 ranked Modern Pentathlon International Judge for the United States. He served as a judge at both the 2008 and 2012 Games and will be participating in his fifth Olympics when he adjudicates the Pentathlon in Paris.
Like Mackay, Moreau is a native of nearby Endicott. He went to Union-Endicott High School before running cross country at Binghamton for Hall of Fame coach Gary Truce.
After being a five-time NCAA All-American sprinter at Binghamton, Coleman earned distinction in the sport of bobsledding. He beat out prominent NFL players Herschel Walker and Willie Gault to gain a spot as a pusher for Team USA's four-man bobsled that competed in Albertville, France in 1992 and Lillehammer, Norway in 1994. His Albertville four-man team placed ninth.
Coleman is also a Broome County native, having grown up in Vestal. Like Moreau, he ran for Gary Truce at Binghamton and following his competitive career, worked as an account manager for the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs.
Both former Olympians praised Mackay for her achievement.
"Welcome to the club," Moreau wrote in his letter to Mackay. "My advice is the enjoy the Games with the same enthusiasm you demonstrated on TV at the Trials. Congratulations! You were AWESOME."
"This is an extraordinary accomplishment and a testament to your immense talent, dedication and hard work," Coleman wrote. "You have not only made the University, Binghamton Athletics and track and field team proud but have also become an inspiration to countless aspiring athletes. Your journey is a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and unwavering commitment."
Both Moreau and Coleman shared vivid memories of their opening ceremonies.
"My favorite memory from my first Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 was marching into the stadium," Moreau wrote. "My friend wanted to move to the outside of the track so he could be on TV. I told him we were going to be on TV if we stayed where we were. Carl Lewis happened to be in front of us."
"I savor the electricity of the Opening Ceremony in both Albertville and Lillehammer and appreciate the lifelong friendships made at both of those Games," Coleman shared. "As I think about it, I still have a flag from Albertville in my basement (not that I'm encouraging stealing flags!!"
Mackay's Opening Ceremony will be unique as it will be the first Games where the athletes don't march in on land. Instead, they will be in boats on the famous Seine River moving down a 3.67-mile stretch of the waterway. The July 26 Ceremony is expected to be watched by 1.5 billion people worldwide.
Mackay will run in the first round of the 1,500 at 4:05 a.m. ET on Tuesday, August 6 at the Stade de France, the national stadium which seats 81,338. The semifinals are at 1:35 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 8 and the finals are at 2:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 10. All three races are expected to be shown live on the Peacock app with NBC showing highlights and select events later during their live nightly broadcasts.
