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Shea under fire for school talk
By Bill Konigsberg
Associated Press writer
WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Olympic gold medalist Jimmy Shea surprised faculty and students in a speech Friday at his old high school by not condemning underage drinking.
Shea, whose grandfather was killed Jan. 22 in a car accident that police have blamed on a drunken driver, made his comments to students at Conard High School, where he was welcomed after winning a gold medal in skeleton at Salt Lake City.
"I'm not saying not to drink; I drank a lot in this school," Shea said to thunderous applause from students. "What I'm saying is, don't die. Don't be crippled for the rest of your life, don't lose your arm, don't mangle your face."
Shea, 33, also urged students to go to college and told them to put effort into all that they do.
"Anything can happen. I never thought I could win a gold medal," he said. "But it's not in the medal, it's in the journey."
Students said they enjoyed the speech, but some were surprised by Shea's message.
"It was definitely cool, more like he's got a connection with the students rather than the faculty. He seems like a down-to-earth guy," said student council president Todd Olmstead.
"At the same time, it's kind of a bad example," Olmstead said. "I know the administration is not entirely pleased with that. But kids probably drink no matter what."
Some faculty members were disappointed in Shea's comments.
"Overall the tone was good, but it was surprising," said Barbara Sykes, who teaches special education classes and coaches the track team. "As a coach who is trying to be a role model, it's kind of discouraging."
"It kind of undercuts what we're trying to do with the students here," said Christopher Islaub, social studies teacher and field hockey coach. "Kids are gonna do what they're gonna do, but what kind of message does it send when a gold medalist says something like that?"
Principal Chuck Landroche said the energy of the speech was important but he could not condone the entire message.
"Mr. Shea is free to speak his mind, but our approach will continue to be that the use of alcohol and drugs is illegal," Landroche said.
After his remarks were reported, Shea asked that the USOC release the following statement:
"I want to make it very clear that I do not condone or encourage underage drinking. However, I refuse to ignore the issue of teenage drinking in high school. My comments to the students were open and honest, and were based on my own experiences as a high school student.
"While I understand that kids will continue to make their own choices, I urge them to make wise decisions and, if they unwisely choose to drink, to make sure they do everything to ensure their own safety, the safety of their friends, and to be responsible in every way. . . . Again, I do not encourage or condone underage drinking, in any manner, and I want to make sure that my message for kids is clear."
Shea's family is the first to produce three generations of Winter Olympians. Shea's grandfather, Jack, won two gold medals in speedskating at the 1932 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Jimmy's father, Jim Shea Sr., competed in Nordic skiing in 1964 at Innsbruck.
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March 9, 2002
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