Spring Break
Fencing alum headed to Summer Olympics
by Mike Prada
Editor in Chief
Sports | 4/8/08
Posted online at 2:00 AM EST on 4/8/08
When Tim Morehouse '00 arrived on the Brandeis campus in the fall of 1996, he did so as a lightly recruited fencer who didn't think he would continue after his college career. Twelve years later, Morehouse not only still fences, but will do so on the world's greatest stage.
Morehouse will become the first Brandeis alumnus ever to compete in the Olympic Games, having clinched second place in the U.S. men's saber standings with only a few international events remaining before the Olympics.
The top three sabers on that list will make up the starting lineup for the U.S. Olympic Saber Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
"It's going to be amazing to be with the other athletes from the U.S. and to be representing the United States and also Brandeis," Morehouse said. "I'm really excited to be Brandeis' first Olympian, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the entire process."
Morehouse learned he had qualified after the U.S. saber team officially earned a spot in the Olympics in the Alger Grand Prix event March 24. That qualification guaranteed the United States three spots on its saber squad, and Morehouse had already locked up second place with just over two months remaining in the qualifying season.
Morehouse did qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens as an alternate, finishing fourth in the standings, but while he was able to travel with the team, he did not get a chance to compete.
Despite not fencing in an Olympic bout that year, Morehouse said he earned valuable experience that he used to qualify this time.
"It's a matter of being there before," Morehouse said. "Now, I feel very confident that I can perform under the pressure and be able to do it under any kind of circumstances."
Fencing coach Bill Shipman, who recruited Morehouse to Brandeis and coached him when Morehouse was an undergraduate, said he was not surprised to see Morehouse take the next step after just missing a chance to compete in the Athens Olympics.
Morehouse will become the first Brandeis alumnus ever to compete in the Olympic Games, having clinched second place in the U.S. men's saber standings with only a few international events remaining before the Olympics.
The top three sabers on that list will make up the starting lineup for the U.S. Olympic Saber Team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
"It's going to be amazing to be with the other athletes from the U.S. and to be representing the United States and also Brandeis," Morehouse said. "I'm really excited to be Brandeis' first Olympian, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the entire process."
Morehouse learned he had qualified after the U.S. saber team officially earned a spot in the Olympics in the Alger Grand Prix event March 24. That qualification guaranteed the United States three spots on its saber squad, and Morehouse had already locked up second place with just over two months remaining in the qualifying season.
Morehouse did qualify for the 2004 Olympics in Athens as an alternate, finishing fourth in the standings, but while he was able to travel with the team, he did not get a chance to compete.
Despite not fencing in an Olympic bout that year, Morehouse said he earned valuable experience that he used to qualify this time.
"It's a matter of being there before," Morehouse said. "Now, I feel very confident that I can perform under the pressure and be able to do it under any kind of circumstances."
Fencing coach Bill Shipman, who recruited Morehouse to Brandeis and coached him when Morehouse was an undergraduate, said he was not surprised to see Morehouse take the next step after just missing a chance to compete in the Athens Olympics.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Michael Schakow '01, MA '01
posted 4/08/08 @ 1:04 PM EST
Wasn't there an Irish diving Olympian from Brandeis about 5 years ago? I remember seeing stories in the Justice that he was applying for Irish citizenship so that he could represent that country in the Olympics, I think in the springboard event. (Continued…)
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