2006年VOA标准英语-Five-Time Olympian to Carry US Flag During

By Parke Brewer¹
Turin
09 February 2006

Five-time Olympian Chris Witty² will carry the flag for the U.S. Olympic team at Friday night's opening ceremonies for the Turin Winter Games. 

Christine Witty  
  
Long track speed skater Chris Witty was selected for the honor by a group of athletes from each of the U.S. sports teams here. The 30-year-old Witty has participated in three previous Winter Olympics and also competed as a cyclist at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

She said she is surprised and honored to carry the U.S. flag because there are so many deserving athletes.

"I know that's one of the greatest moments, is to take part in an opening ceremonies, to walk into the stadium and be, as a team, representing your country," she said. "But to carry the flag, I have no idea what that's going to be like. I think it's just going to be amazing, and I'm looking forward to it."

Chris Witty won the only speed skating medals for the United States at the 1998 Nagano Olympics with a silver and a bronze. She broke the world record in winning the one thousand meters gold medal (1:13.83) in Salt Lake City four years ago.

That performance came as a surprise to most observers, because entering the Salt Lake Games Witty had complained of fatigue³, and it was thought she might have mononucleosis.

Only a few people, including the U.S. team psychologist, knew that her fatigue was caused by emotional stress from childhood sexual⁴ abuse. She went public with her story in late 2004. She now freely talks about her past and speaks at schools to inform children on how to prevent sexual molestation⁵. Witty says being an Olympian again gives her another opportunity to get out her message.

Chris Witty talks to reporters during press event, Thursday  
  
"Abuse of any kind exists because of secrecy⁶, and if I can use this platform and just start talking about it, my hope is other people will talk about it, break the silence," Witty said. "And maybe if it's already happened to somebody in their life, they can get the help and support they need by talking about it. Or if you're a parent, you'll have the courage to talk to your children about it, about good touch and bad touch. And if you're a child, you know that you can say "no." Just breaking the silence, just get people to talk about it, because it's such a common problem and it doesn't need to be. All you have to do is talk about it and break the silence."

Chris Witty says she will continue to share her story because it's made a huge difference in her life. The speed skater knows she will have other thoughts to share after carrying the U.S. flag at the opening ceremonies. Then she plans to compete in the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meters.

1 brewer   

n. 啤酒制造者

参考例句：

• Brewer is a very interesting man. 布鲁尔是一个很有趣的人。
• I decided to quit my job to become a brewer. 我决定辞职，做一名酿酒人。

2 witty   

adj.机智的，风趣的

参考例句：

• Her witty remarks added a little salt to the conversation.她的妙语使谈话增添了一些风趣。
• He scored a bull's-eye in their argument with that witty retort.在他们的辩论中他那一句机智的反驳击中了要害。

3 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

4 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

5 molestation   

n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨

参考例句：

• Michael Jackson is arrested by police on charges of child molestation. 2003年的今天，迈克尔·杰克逊因被警方指控有儿童性骚扰行为而被捕。 来自互联网
• Jackson pleads not guilty on the molestation charges. 2004年：杰克逊认罪不认罪的性骚扰指控。 来自互联网

6 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。