Central Michigan University Athletics
Olympic Dreams Lead to Gold Medal Marriage
8/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Aug. 13, 2004
By Rob Wyman
Sports Information Intern
Competing in the Olympics Games was always a goal for Central Michigan University's Casey Cunningham.
Unfortunately, the former Chippewa wrestler and current assistant coach came up just short in his attempt to qualify for the 2004 games. The 1999 NCAA Champion had trained for a spot on the team since graduation, but was eliminated in the semifinals of the Freestyle Olympic Trials at 74 kg.
However, Casey will be at the Olympics this week as his wife Tara is making her second trip to the games as a member of the USA Weightlifting Team.
"I was disappointed when I did not make the wrestling team, but Tara being able to compete and defend her gold medal is much more important to me," Casey said. "I know all the hardships she has had to face to get back to these games and how hard she has worked. I just want her to be happy and reach her goals."
Having Casey around for Tara's second go-around at the Olympics is something she is looking forward to. The couple first met about a year after the 2000 Games at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
"It is always great to share an experience like this with someone you love," said Tara. "Having Casey in Athens will be a great calming influence on me before I compete. Having him around puts into perspective this whole process and has made it much more enjoyable. I think we both wanted the other to make the games, but since I was the one fortunate to make it, I want to make him proud by competing as well as I possibility can."
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Tara Cunningham won gold in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.  |
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Shortly after meeting each other, Casey left to take the assistant coach job at CMU. The two were just friends when Casey left, but over the next year they began to build a relationship that culminated with the two getting engaged in the winter of 2002. They married in July of 2003, but only managed to see each other only five to six months out of the year due to their conflicting schedules.
"It was tough to build a relationship with me in Colorado and Casey in Michigan, but we made it work," said Tara. "I think it shows how much we care about each other. Every time we are apart, I can not wait to get back to Michigan to see him. I know this is the path I have chosen and he will support me the whole way."
Casey agrees that being apart from one another has been tough, but it has also helped to build a stronger relationship.
"It has been tough only spending five or six months out of the year together, but even though we can not physically be together does not mean we can't be thinking about one another every day," he said. "We talk a lot on the phone and that has taught us how to communicate our feelings without seeing each other. The time apart has made our relationship stronger because we both know that God has called us to be doing this. I think not seeing each other everyday has actually grown us closer together because we cherish the time we have."
One of the nice things for Tara is when she is able to spend time in Mount Pleasant she has a place to train, the CMU Indoor Athletic Complex.
"It is great to have such a nice facility at CMU where I can train," Tara said. "When I come home for a couple weeks I don't have to worry about finding a place to train that will fit my needs because the IAC weight room is such a great facility."
Tara competed in the 2000 Games and was awarded the gold medal in the 48 kg weight class after originally finishing second. The winner of the event tested positive for an illegal substance and was disqualified. Tara also competed that year with a torn abdominal muscle and after the Olympics, she had surgery to repair the tear. Her road back to the Olympics has been tough, but she credits Casey with helping her make it back to Olympic competition.
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Casey Cunningham won the NCAA title at 157 pounds in 1999. |
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"Just being able to share this experience with Casey has been so special. He has added such a great balance to my preparations. He has made me realize that this competition is not life or death, and no matter what happens we still know this is what God had planned and we still have each other."
As to what is next for the couple, the Olympics will be Tara's final weightlifting competition and both are excited to being able to start a family together in Mount Pleasant.
"Being able to do the things I have done during my time as an athlete has been awesome, but I am looking forward to starting a family and supporting Casey like he has supported me," Tara said. "It is time to move on to the next stage in my life, and I am excited to be able to spend that portion of my life with Casey."
