Davis Puts on Clinic, Scheduled as Guest Speaker
By Craig Craker, Odessa American
ccraker@oaoa.com
A running joke between swimmers was played out to perfection Wednesday, even if it was unplanned.
A youngster walked up to Josh Davis and said, “Who are you?”
Davis was in the process of signing one of nearly 100 autographs, and as everyone stood with their mouths agape, Davis responded, “I’m an Olympic swimmer. Who are you?”
It was a moment of levity for Davis, a three-time gold medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games and a two-time silver medalist at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games, one which happens more than you’d think.
“I’m semi-famous around a pool deck, but completely anonymous everywhere else,” Davis said. “The joke is, most people see me and recognize me at the Olympics but don’t know me when I have clothes on.”
Davis was at Ector Junior High teaching swimming technique, proper training, nutrition, work ethic and motivation to 60 or more swimmers from junior highs in the city.
The Olympian is on a 100-city tour around America called Mutual of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinics. He has already traveled to New York, New Jersey, Louisiana and California among other states.
“I love Odessa, I love coming here,” Davis said. “I want to teach not only how to be a great swimmer, but also great people.”
Davis will speak at Jordan and LBJ Elementary schools today as well as at the Odessa High swim banquet tonight.
He will then return home to San Antonio before hitting the road again next week in Minnesota.
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