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Oldest Living Gold Medalist Dies
America's oldest living Olympic Gold Medalist had been looking forward to watching his grandson compete in the Salt Lake games. But a tragedy has prevented that from happening.
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(Jan. 22, 2002)------ View Real Video - Click On Desired Bandwidth
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Tuesday morning, 91-year-old Jack Shea died from injuries suffered in a car accident. Olympics Specialst Shelley Osterloh has more.
The driver of the van that slid out of control and hit Jack Shea's car Monday night, was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated.
Jack Shea was excited about coming to the Olympic Games here in Salt Lake.
His grandson, Jimmy Shea Jr., had made the Olympic Skeleton team. And as the oldest living Gold medalist, Jack Shea was to be honored during the Games.
Jack Shea was the oldest of America's first three generation family of Olympians:
Jimmy Shea Jr. will compete in Skeleton.
Jim Sr. competed in 1964 in Nordic Combined.
Jack Shea won two gold medals in 1932 in Speedskating in his hometown of Lake Placid.
Jack Shea 1932: AT THE CRACK OF THE GUN I TOOK THE LEAD AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KEEP THAT LEAD UNTIL I CROSSED THE TAPE FOR THE GLORY FOR THE UNITED STATES.
In 1936, Shea was expected to win more gold at the Olympics in Germany. But Shea did not compete in protest of Hitler's treatment of the Jews.
Jack Shea believed in the Olympic ideal of peace, hope and friendship and shared that philosophy with his son and grandson.
Jack Shea: THE OLYMPIC GAMES, IT'S NOT ALL MEDALS. IT'S HOW YOU ACT AS A CONTESTANT FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES. IT'S HOW YOU ACT PERHAPS AS A DISAPPOINTED MEMBER OF THE OLYMPIC TEAM. MEMBERS OF THE OLYMPIC TEAM ARE PEACEMAKERS.
Jim Shea Sr./Olympian: IT'S NOT THE TRIUMPH, IT'S THE STRUGGLE. TO ME THAT IS THE REAL TRUE OLYMPIC SPIRIT.
Jimmy Shea Jr./Skeleton: MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME, JIMMY HE SAID, IT WON'T BE THE MEDALS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, IT'LL BE THE FRIENDSHIPS.
Jack Shea's death is a loss to many who admired this strong, but humble Olympian.
Mitt Romney/Pres. CEO SLOC: JACK SHEA HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO US IN SALT LAKE CITY, THOSE OF US WHO KNEW HIM.
Phil Thompson/Family Friend: I TOLD JIMMY BEFORE HE WENT TO THE AIRPORT TODAY, WE HAVE TO GET USED TO THE IDEA THAT HIS GRANDFATHER IS GOING TO HAVE A BETTER SEAT FOR THE GAMES THAN THE SEAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD HE BEEN THERE IN PERSON.
Jimmy Shea Jr. has said many times that his Olympic dream was to share his experience with his father and grandfather.
That dream, he says, has not changed, because he believes his grandfather Jack will be there in spirit.
Jimmy told me this morning that he plans to carry something of his grandfather's in his helmet when he competes in the Olympics, and take his grandpa for a ride.
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