Forever grateful, Ziemek thanks team that got him to Rio
August 16, 2016 | Men's Track & Field, Andy Baggot
Olympian takes time to show his appreciation on eve of biggest competition of his career
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON Wis. — Before Zach Ziemek packed up and left for South America earlier this month, the latest leg on his remarkable personal journey, he made sure to complete an important writing project.
His thank-you note arrived via email not long before Ziemek, one of the greatest athletes in Wisconsin track and field history, departed for the Summer Olympics in Rio.
"There are so many people who helped me and supported me through my life," he began."As my athletic career has developed, there have been more and more people supporting me. I want this to be a thank you to every person that has helped, supported and believed in me. Without your help, support and belief I would not have been able to accomplish my goals.
"A 'thank you' doesn't truly capture how much I appreciate the support, but it is the best way I can truly express my gratitude to everyone."
Ziemek, the most accomplished multi-event performer in UW history, will begin his pursuit of a medal in the decathlon when the two-day, 10-event test begins Wednesday at Olympic Stadium.
The last 13 months have been a whirlwind for Ziemek. He qualified for Team USA and competed in the World Championships last August. He won a NCAA indoor title in the heptathlon in March. He graduated with a degree in sociology in May. He set a school and Big Ten Conference record on the way to placing second in the NCAA decathlon in June. He subsequently broke those marks during the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, a feat that gave Ziemek a berth on the American squad and enhanced his international profile.
Along the way, Ziemek has stayed true to himself, which might be his greatest feat of all.
Nate Davis, the UW assistant coach who has worked the last three years with Ziemek, said his evolution as a world-class athlete runs parallel to his growth as a person.
"He's wonderful and has always been like that," Davis said. "He's always been like the right attitude, very friendly, respectful and humble.
"What I think he's learning on this journey here is that your character is tested a little bit by all the articles and accolades and things like that and are you going to change who you are?
"I think he's learning that he's grounded pretty well and that's not going to change him."
Ziemek, 23, fell in love with track and field when he was in middle school in Itasca, Illinois. Once he devoted himself to the multi-events — heptathlon and decathlon — his greatest pleasure became the pursuit of self-improvement.
"How can I improve upon myself as an athlete and a person? That's what I shoot for every day," he said.
You can see that in how Ziemek's career has unfolded.
He admits struggling to appreciate the academic demands of college when he first arrived, but eventually buckled down and graduated.
He placed 12th in his first Big Ten decathlon in 2012, but went on to win Big Ten titles in 2013 and 2014.
He failed to finish his first NCAA decathlon in 2013 due to injury, but became the first in program history to surpass 8,000 points and currently owns the standard with 8,413 points.
Ziemek has stayed grounded in part because he keeps not one, but two journals. One is hand-written. The other is on his laptop. Both are a mix of lessons learned, training data and thoughts about his progress in the 10 events (100 meters, 400, 1500, high hurdles, high jump, long jump, pole vault, shot put, discus and javelin).
Davis suggested the journal project when he became Ziemek's coach. Ziemek was recruited and initially tutored by Ed Nuttycombe, the Hall of Fame coach of the UW men's program who retired in 2013 with a record 26 Big Ten championships.
Davis believes "there's a correlation between successful athletes and journaling" because they "connect with an inner voice and it keeps them organized and gives them perspective."
Ziemek, 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, said he references the journals mainly for a "physical ques that helps me mentally" although there are motivational passages designed to give him a boost.
During a mid-June workout, Davis said Ziemek's most difficult events to master are the 400, the final event of the opening day, and the 1500 meters, which is last event of the competition.
Ziemek was so good as a teenager that he could win decathlons without having to put to exert himself in the 1500. Davis noted that Ziemek, as a prep, once stopped for a drink of water during a race and still finished with enough points to win the Junior Olympic competition.
"Not because he's not good at them," Davis said. "He has the least amount of experience."
Davis said maintaining a journal helps track athletes like Ziemek keep their quest in perspective.
"You focus on the process and you focus on what you can do and try to go out there and put your best effort forward," Davis said.
It just so happens that Ziemek has the greatest athlete in the world not only in his event, but on his team.
Ashton Eaton is the reigning world champion and Olympic gold medalist. The former Oregon standout holds the world record with 9,045 points and is favored to repeat as Olympic champion in Rio.
During the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China, Ziemek found himself dining alone when Eaton and his wife, Canadian multi-event standout Brianne Theisen-Eaton, approached and launched a friendly conversation.
"I was shocked," Ziemek said. "They were trying to get to know me a little bit."
During the chat, Eaton mentioned how much he'd struggled in his first World Championships, finishing 18th and scoring 8,061 points in 2009. That would resonate with Ziemek, who finished 15th and totaled 8,006 points in his first appearance on that stage.
Ziemek's parents, Rick and Victoria, were on hand in China to watch their son. Rick said Eaton was "kind, sincere and nice" and told his son to relax and enjoy the experience.
"Ashton is a class act," Rick Ziemek said.
"He wants to see the United States continue to produce great decathletes after he's done. He wants the rest of the world to know it's not a one-pony show. He's very encouraging to Zach to be one of those faces of the decathlon going forward."
Zach Ziemek proceeded to watch Eaton intently throughout their time in China together. The big takeaway?
Eaton isn't focused on a time or a distance as much as he's locked in on maximizing a specific moment.
"It's a mental thing," Ziemek said.
Ziemek believes the mental part of the decathlon is the hardest thing to master.
"Going into a decathlon and trying to go from event to event, there are going to be bads," he said. "When you do bad, you want to think, 'Man, it's over. I'm not going to do what I came here to do.'
"You have to look at it that every event, every jump and every throw is an opportunity to get better. That's the way I try to look at it."
Ziemek said there's nothing about the decathlon that's easy.
"Every day, physically, it's tough learning new things even if I am a good pole vaulter or a good thrower," he said. "I'm not the world record-holder or anything like that. I'm not the best. There's always something to improve upon."
The thank you note that Ziemek wrote is meant for many people, but a few in particular.
His parents not only encouraged and supported his endeavors, they gave him high-grade DNA.
Rick's father, Ron Ziemek, ran track at West Virginia. Victoria's father, Tony Pasquesi, played football at Notre Dame and the NFL with the old Chicago Cardinals.
"My parents will throw anything to the side to help me and my sister with anything we need," Zach said of his sister, Amanda, who attends Missouri.
Zach Ziemek said he's bonded with Davis and insists they'll be a team "forever."
Rick Ziemek said his son would not have reached these heights had Tom Kaberna, a renowned multi-event coach at Lake Park (Illinois) High School, not provided instruction and encouragement.
"He told Zach he had a career as a decathlete," Rick said.
The thank you list is long. It's filled with people who appreciate a grateful kid who's made it to the biggest stage in the world.
"I look at what I love to do," Zach Ziemek said. "I love to compete and I want to win."
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