Love at the Olympic Trials

By Megan Zimlich

Competing for a spot on the U. S. Olympic team is a meaningful pursuit. To earn the opportunity to be competitive among the best athletes in the world is something to be very proud of. To be able to get to that level and do it alongside the love of your life takes the experience of that athletic dream to a deeper level of joy.

My fiancé Scott Houston and I are elite pole vaulters based out of Vaulthouse in High Point, NC. Our relationship dynamic is unique; we are each other’s training partners and coaches, while also being engaged. With shared goals of competing at the Olympic Trials to earn a spot on Team USA, we train together and coach one another year-round alongside our teammate, Austin Miller.

As a group, we have evolved into a true team. We shared the challenges that came with the postponement of the Trials due to Covid-19. Training was difficult during the pandemic and competing nearly impossible; however, we managed to make the most of it and grow into better versions of ourselves through it all.

Austin hit a personal best outdoors in 2020 with a mark of 5.73m which qualified him for the Trials. Scott made a comeback after two hip surgeries with a world standard mark of 5.80m in January of this year, which auto-qualified him as well. I saw big improvements during my indoor season, with averages better than ever over 4.30m. Unfortunately, I suffered an ankle injury in February which required surgery and was unable to remain competitive for the rest of the qualification window.

Coming to terms with this was very difficult. To fall short of a goal that I believed I was capable of is a fate I had to acknowledge was out of my control. While heartbreaking, accepting it has been a catalyst for a change in perspective of how I view the sport and the opportunities it presents.

Life hands you gifts in funny ways sometimes and you have the choice to find the good or bad in any situation. As much as I had wanted to be there competing alongside Scott, I chose not to waste time being upset about my previous goal not being fulfilled. Instead, I found the beauty in this twist of events: I was relieved of the pressure of worrying about my own performance. I enjoyed stepping into my role as Scott’s coach and put all of my energy into supporting our Olympic journey together. I was beyond excited and honored to coach him in the Olympic Trials finals. My gift was to share this experience with Scott.

In order to get to where he is today, Scott faced many battles with injury and overcame them all. Scott believes everyone’s athletic journey is their own. He has dealt with much adversity and his first Olympic Trials ended in injury. In 2016, Scott had cleared the heights with fewer misses in the preliminaries, however, at the bar height to determine the final competitors, Scott landed back on the runway and mildly rolled his ankle. Using the remaining time for his attempt, he made another approach, in pain this time, and came down on the runway once again. Two days later he could barely jog. He ultimately watched the finals from the bench, a gut-wrenching blow as he had felt confident in his ability to make the team. Still, Scott made the best of it. In his own words:

“To travel five years into the future after many life changes, and my future wife at the Trials with me was a new level of fulfillment. The journey ended with us earning my highest ever height cleared at a national championship of 18’10.75” on my last attempt, and a 7th place finish in the best American competition in the history of the sport. I am elated to be where I am with friends, family, and support all along my journey to help make my second Olympic Trials final an experience I will cherish forever. So much credit goes to all the great athletes competing at their highest level to make that day more memorable.”

Scott and I kept the big picture in mind on the big stage, recognizing the honor of the shared experience.

While out in Oregon, we were advised to ‘smell the roses’ and enjoy the present moment. We did exactly that. We approached each day with the intention of making it a memorable experience and celebrated this milestone for Scott’s second Olympic Trials. We were beyond grateful for every moment.

Happy endings don’t always end with an Olympic gold medal. We technically both fell short of our goals. Scott did not make the Olympic Team and I did not compete at the Trials. Yet, we enjoyed every minute that we tried. We gave our best and came very close. The trip to Oregon taught us that life is bigger than pole vault. What is most important is that we pursue our highest potential in life, while enjoying every step along the way together. That is the true beauty in chasing big life goals.

At the Olympic Trials