While growing up in Springfield, Mass., and later on as a student at Villanova University, Catherine Falcetti always considered herself to be a decent athlete. She competed in the 800-meter run in high school and college, but she never reached the pinnacle as a runner until earlier this month.
On Feb. 2, Falcetti, a resident of Weehawken for the last five years, experienced the event of her lifetime when she ran with the Olympic torch for two-tenths of a mile through the streets of Glenwood Springs, Colo., as the torch relay made its way to Salt Lake City in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
“It really took my breath away,” Falcetti said. “I actually hadn’t been training for a while, so I really didn’t know if I would be ready. When I took that flame in my hand, I heard the people clapping, cheering. It was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
Falcetti was selected to run as part of the Olympic Torch Relay because of the work she has done, working with public relations firm Manning, Selvage and Lee to promote the torch relay for sponsor General Motors and Chevrolet. The relay made its way through 13,000 miles from Atlanta to Salt Lake City.
Although she has dedicated her life for the last three months to the Olympic Torch Relay, Falcetti had no idea that she would be chosen to run with the torch.
“I didn’t know I was going to get a chance,” said Falcetti, who followed the torch for much of its 65-day journey, which began in Atlanta Dec. 4, after arriving from Athens, Greece, via plane.
“I finally found out right before the relay kicked off from Atlanta,” she said. “I was ecstatic when I found out. It was the chance of a lifetime. I never thought I would be one of those chosen to run as part of the relay, not in a million years.”
In all, some 11,500 torch bearers from all different races, creeds, origins and backgrounds, from points all across the country, participated in the relay. Some of the more famous participants were Cal Ripken, Jr., Kurt Warner, recent baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith and basketball great Karl Malone.
“But there were also people carrying the torch in a bobsled, on skis, in wheelchairs, on crutches,” Falcetti said. “There were so many emotional and inspirational stories along the way. It wasn’t just famous people. There were people from all walks of life, all getting the chance of a lifetime.”
Falcetti’s job was to promote the torch relay to media outlets throughout the country and answer some of the questions about the torch.
“I guess the most asked question was what happens to the torch at night,” Falcetti said.
“All right, inquiring minds want to know. What happens to the torch at night?
“It’s kept safely in a lantern,” Falcetti said. “It remains in a hotel room, but a United States Marine sleeps right next to it, guarding it all night. I thought that was cool.”
For part of the journey, Falcetti traveled with the Corvette Signature Car, which has been signed by all of the famous people who ran with the torch. The car will be going up for auction very shortly, with all the proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Some of the people Falcetti met while promoting the Corvette Signature Car included actor Martin Sheen of “West Wing” fame, basketball legend Julius “Dr. J.” Erving, football great Merlin Olsen and Olympic standouts Michele Kwan and Kammi Granato.
“Being with these great people was so incredibly exciting,” Falcetti said. “I was happy to be a part of that as well.”
Opening day
As part of her duties, Falcetti was able to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, watching the torch that she carried get handed to the final carriers, namely the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team, the gold medal winning group that performed the famed “Miracle On Ice.”
“I think everyone was wondering who would be the final torch bearer,” Falcetti said. “No one knew. They kept it a secret. When the hockey team lit the flame together, that was so exciting. The whole ceremonies were unbelievable. Everyone talks about getting emotional when the World Trade Center flag was brought out. I mean, the whole place was totally silent. It was amazing to see all these people from all over the world just standing in complete silence. I will never forget that.”
But the highlight of the opening ceremonies for Falcetti was the chance to cheer on the American athletes. “It was so amazing to cheer for them, to let them know how much they were appreciated and to be able to do it in person,” Falcetti said. “I was really prepared to be in the cold weather. I had four pairs of pants on and three pairs of socks. I was able to stay warm that way.” But participating in the torch relay will always remain Falcetti’s greatest memory of the 2002 Winter Olympics. “It wasn’t the longest run I ever had, but it definitely was the sweetest,” Falcetti said. “It actually didn’t seem that long to me. I just soaked it all up and who wouldn’t? Who wouldn’t want the chance to run with the Olympic torch? I was able to see a lot of local heroes from all over the country. It was unbelievable. I had a chance to work with athletes that most only see on TV. Being an athlete myself made it even a bigger thrill.”
Added Falcetti, “These people dedicated their lives for these Olympics. I mean, their entire lives, working for this one goal.”
After such enjoying such excitement over the last three months, what does Falcetti do for an encore?
“I’m telling everyone the same thing,” Falcetti said. “I’m sleeping. I’m going to take a little time off and enjoy being home again. I want to get used to Eastern Standard Time again. It’s nice to be home. And I love being in Weehawken. We have a little bit of everything here. It’s a perfect place to live.”