EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Olympic athlete John Nunn is a graduate of Harrison High School, and he's in London right now getting ready to compete in his second Olympic games.
Charlie Siesky coached track at Harrison for almost 40 years.
He says it's very rewarding and satisfying seeing a former athlete represent our country at the Olympics.
Nunn is a Tech Sergeant in the US Army, and part of their world class athlete program, meaning he trains a lot.
His dad says 10 to 20 miles a day. That work's paid off though.
In just about two weeks, John will compete in his second Olympic games, this time in the 50 kilometer racewalk.
"I think it really cements his place as one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of the city of Evansville, even though it's in a sport that we did not have in the high schools," Sieskey said.
Siesky coached John at Harrison back in the mid 90's.
"My first impression was he could be a pretty good runner, because he had nice, he was tall, about 6'1", had long legs."
that impression was spot on. Siesky says John was a city champion in both track and cross country.
A leader, someone the other distance runners looked up to.
"He had a little bit of a quirky personality," Siesky noted. "He could be funny at times but he also had the ability to turn off the playful funny mood when it came time to run, then he could be focused and really do the job."
And that's just what Nunn aims to do in London on August 11th.
His former coach just hopes he's able to see it.
"I hope that I'm awake, it's not at 1:00 in the morning, where I can watch that."
John's father Les is a professor at USI.
14 News spoke to him earlier Thursday and he says he's heading across the Atlantic for the big event and that he wouldn't miss it for anything.
From all of us here at 14 News: John, we wish you all the best!
Copyright 2012 WFIE. All rights reserved.
In just about two weeks, John will compete in his second Olympic games, this time in the 50 kilometer racewalk.
Nunn and his daughter following the 2012 US Olympic Trials
