RIDGEWAY, Fort Erie — U.S. Olympians and Paralympians spanning several generations got together Friday in Canada to reminisce about their competition days.
As we countdown to Paris, Olympians and Paralympians from past games are looking back at what it's like to compete on the world stage.
Craig Gilbert played Team Handball in 1984 in Los Angeles.
"What was that like being able to go to the Olympics in your home country?" 2 On Your Side's Kelly Dudzik asked.
"There is nothing better than having an Olympics in America," Gilber said.
Gilbert, who went to Williamsville North, is also the President of the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut chapter of the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association.
"Meeting up with Olympians and Paralympians is something I just truly love. Hearing their stories, hearing how they got to where they, you know, how they got there, everybody's story is a little bit different," Gilbert said.
Jack Mathias grew up in Buffalo and is a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic Sailing Team. He enjoys meeting the other athletes.
"It's really wonderful because they're so humble. I've been to an Olympic reunion in 2023, and one in 2019, and they can be an Olympian that has seven medals and they don't, they say it's not about the medals, it's about us all being friends and being together, so they're a very humble group. They don't brag about winning or losing. It's just about being an Olympian and being together," Mathias said.
Steve Coppola won a bronze medal in rowing in 2008 and now coaches at Cornell.
"When you meet up with a fellow Olympian, like, it doesn't matter what your discipline, event was, how old you are. There's this like kind of, this shared language of, oh yeah, I know what you did. And so there's like this instant camaraderie that's really cool and really special because, you know, in our field, we're in the point-zero-one-percent of people who have done it," Coppola said.
The athletes said they are looking forward to the Olympics starting in Paris in two weeks.