Community propels local athletes to the 2012 Olympic Games
Patrick and Ryan Dolan paddling – photo courtesy of the Dolan family, with our thanks
By DENA CASSELLA
- Island Sun Weekly -
Scooping the remaining rice grains peppering his dinner plate, Patrick Dolan stares outside at the arsenal of boats lining his front lawn. He is tall. His younger brother Ryan is taller. Even as they sit slouched, leaning on tired, sun-tanned arms at the kitchen table, it is clear they are athletes. “Ryan and I wanted to compete against the world,” he says. “We did it to represent Hawaii and our country—and now we finally will. It was all worth it.”
Born and raised in Kailua, Patrick and Ryan Dolan feel most comfortable on the water.
“The 2008 Olympics was the only time a Hawaii athlete wasn’t represented in kayaking,” Patrick says. “That shows the strength of the athletes we grow here and the strength of the community that supports them.”
The Dolan brothers know firsthand the generosity of the people of Hawaii. Patrick and Ryan have spent the past three years training with Hawaii Canoe & Kayak for the preliminary time trials and events leading up to the 2012 London Olympics.
After their program lost its funding from the Olympic Committee, the brothers began various fundraising efforts to keep their dream and the dreams of future Hawaii paddlers and athletes alive.
Corporate and individual contributions came from all over the Islands, sponsoring and supporting them throughout their training and affording the many international trips an athlete must take to qualify for the Olympics.
“All the support from friends and family was immense, but the paddling communities here in Hawaii took it to another level when it came to supporting us,” explains Ryan.
“It was quite amazing the level that people went to help us succeed. While it was very humbling to be holding our hands out for donations, it also made me very proud to be a paddler from Hawaii. It gave me so much motivation to make all of these people proud, and hopefully inspire a few people and the younger generations of paddlers, as well.”
Contributions and inspiration from Kai Bartlett of Kai Wa’a Canoes, the folks at Epic Kayaks and Oiwi Ocean Gear, and their sponsorship from Maui Jim Sunglasses were finally repaid this past October at the Pan American Games, as Ryan qualified a spot for the United States at the 2012 Olympics in the K1 200-meter event.
Although the spot is secured for the U.S., Ryan has one more race ahead of him before he can be the athlete in the boat at the London games in 2012. Another race in April will determine which kayaker will represent the country in the K1 event.
Ryan and Patrick Dolan, with many reasons to celebrate – photo thanks to the Dolan family.
Patrick raced the K4 1000-meter event with three other teammates at the Pan American Games. They were successful in their efficiency and effort, but did not qualify a spot. A loss that was only disheartening for a mere moment, as Patrick proceeded to train for other athletic events with a new goal–competing in several Molokai crossings through various disciplines.“Everyone’s always looking for the best coach or the best program that will help them win, but what I believe and what I’ve learned from this process is it’s just a matter of hard work and dedication,” says Patrick.
“It just comes down to who can push themselves to that level not just physically but mentally too. And I believe my brother is able to win his spot. And I believe he is going to be some serious competition to all the other kayakers at the games. He’s just going to keep getting better and faster.”
Ryan agrees. He followed his older brother into the world of Olympic kayaking right out of high school. His determination to win that U.S. spot isn’t just to represent the country, but to represent his family and Hawaii.
“I try to find motivation to help me get through these times, but I am also my biggest critic,” he says.
“I remember when Pat and I were younger, we’d watch the Olympic games on TV. We would battle each other at anything we could think of and we’d make our own Olympic games. When I was young I wanted to be an Olympian, but never really thought I could be one until after I started kayaking. And I never thought I could win until I realized how many people believed in us.”
