Beisel gets silver at the Olympics
By Andrea Medeiros
Twitter: www.twitter.com/abc6
NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – The London Olympics started with a bang, Saturday, as a local Olympian swam to a silver medal across the pond.
People filled the cafeteria at North Kingstown High School to witness it all happen.
Shouting, chanting and cheering as their hometown hero took home silver. 150 looked on, Saturday afternoon as North Kingstown's Elizabeth Beisel swam to the finish.
“She was second in the world today, but number one in our hearts, and she will always be,” said Beisel's former high school coach Leslie Becki.
The moments leading up to that silver medal win were suspenseful. So many people were watching the Olympics streaming online, the video kept going in and out.
“We had a little bit of streaming problems with our computer, so it was here and there, but fortunately we got to see most of the race and then the end results,” said Becki.
One of Beisel's former teammates and coach put together the watch party in North Kingstown High's cafeteria. It was well deserved honor for someone they call a bubbly, leader with a good attitude.
She's actually the reason I started swimming,” said former teammate Bryan Flanagan, “And now I'm captain of the swim team, hoping to do well in states, so she's actually a giant inspiration on me.”
Beisel is also an inspiration for one mom at the event with her two young girls, teaching them a lesson about the hometown girl following her dream and making it big.
“I wanted to show the girls that, you know, showing that dedication something can happen to them, if they go for it something special can happen,” said Robyn Wallace.
Beisel lost to someone who set a world record. The North Kingstown native had the best times in the morning prelims.
