The Heart of an Olympian Trips to the Library
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THE DURHAM VOICE STORY EDITED BY AMANDA HAYES & MADELEINE LOEB SPRING 2014 presentations, laptops and the Internet replaced traditional note-taking and The heart of an Olympian trips to the library. It was an adjustment, but he rel- UNC-CH track star Tristine Johnson takes after her ished the chance to spend time with his Olympic gold medalist father on and off the field daughter in a different context. “Not many parents get the opportu- by Michael Lananna Moments later, she heard her father nity to actually see what their child is The Incredible Hulk, Superman, yell. like in class,” said Johnson, who now Wonder Woman — they were never “Tristine, come and clean your dish!” serves as an assistant track and field the real superheroes, not to Tristine A typical parental command, but coach with the Air Force Academy. “I Johnson. what came next was something new. was a little bit apprehensive about it. When she was little, she found power “Hey,” he said, “Do you remember I guess I was little more worried about in running shoes, what the reading assignment was?” being a classmate than a parent in hurdles and jav- It was the summer of 2012, and class. But of course, just as a parent, elins. She marveled Allen Johnson had returned to UNC- I was watching to see how she came at the men and Chapel Hill to complete his degree in to class and that she was prepared women who har- sociology. He and Tristine had a class for class, and I was happy with what nessed those items together. I saw.” to lead them to vic- “I’m like, ‘You can’t do that — you What he saw was more than a stu- tory. can’t just switch back and forth from dent or an athlete — he saw a person Her father was dad to classmate,” said Tristine, laugh- who was assertive, active and confi- one of them. ing as she recalled the moment. “Now, dent. Johnson jokes you’ve yelled at me about washing the “I’m not a very talkative person,” he Tristine Johnson that she’s lived her dishes. I don’t want to tell you what said. “I’m more of a shy person, and sporting her UNC- entire life inside a the reading was.” to watch her be so sure herself and to Chapel Hill jacket. 10-mile radius — That wasn’t the only time father and do things she wants to do and do the (Photo by UNC things she’s passionate about, it makes Track and Field) born in Chapel Hill, daughter butted heads. She said they raised in Durham. often compared test scores throughout me really, really proud.” But with an Olympian for a dad, she’s the summer. But she added that, by First steps also seen the farthest reaches of the and large, she enjoyed the experience. Tristine and her mother made a deal. globe. Her father said he enjoyed it, too. If Tristine could complete one lap When her father, Allen Johnson, Allen Johnson, 42, had originally around a track, her mother would sign won gold in the 110-meter hurdles in attended UNC-CH in the early ’90s. her up for track and field by her sixth Atlanta in 1996, Tristine was there. In his junior year, he met Tristine’s birthday. Sydney, Australia in 2000? She was mother, Marcia Williamson. In March One day, after one of her father’s there. Athens, Greece in 2004? There. of 1992, he won an NCAA champion- meets, 5-year-old Tristine had her She couldn’t quite make it to all of his ship in the 55-meter indoor hurdles, chance. world championships, but, then again, setting a meet record with a time of She started running with a pair of she had class, too. 7.07 seconds. In September of the same boys. One boy was gassed after 100 “Explaining to my teachers, ‘Hey, year, his daughter was born. meters; the other, after 200. But Tristine my dad’s going to the world champi- kept pushing, onships,’ they might not understand invigorated by that,” she said. “But they’ll under- the chase for stand, ‘Hey, my dad’s going to the first. Olympics.’” “People start- Now a senior at her father’s alma ed clapping,” she mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, and a long said. “And then jumper on the track and field team, it just felt good, Johnson, 21, is trying to flex her own so I kept run- superpowers. She’s a two-time NCAA ning and kept championship qualifier, a standout running, and I student, a member of the Carolina finished the lap. Leadership Academy and co-presi- “And my mom dent of the student-run organization had to take me Healthy Girls Save the World. Allen Johnson holds up his daughter, Tristine, after winning to practice when The situation is reversed. the gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles in the 1996 Olympics I was six.” Now, her father is the one doing the in Atlanta. Tristine would join her father for the following two Her parents marveling. summer Olympics. (Photo contributed by Tristine Johnson) never forced her Father-daughter bonding Allen Johnson left UNC soon after to go; on the Tristine Johnson took a quick bite, to pursue his athletic career, and he contrary, Tristine forced her parents’ placed her dish in the sink of her returned in 2012 to a vastly different hand. She was enticed by the physical Durham home and walked away. educational environment. PowerPoint heroics she witnessed at her father’s meets, and she soon displayed similar THE DURHAM VOICE STORY EDITED BY AMANDA HAYES AND MADELEINE LOEB SPRING 2014 prowess, even at a young age. Sometimes, she turns to Rubin to She joined the Durham Striders sort through it all. Youth Association program to refine “He helps me keep all my things in her skills, and by the time she joined order,” Johnson said. “I’m like, ‘Coach, the Jordan High School track team, it I came up with a schedule, can you look was clear she had a future in the sport. at it?’ And he’s like, ‘Tristine, when are “Between (the Striders) and her you going to eat?’” father’s obvious skill set, she had really Johnson, a Global Studies major, good instruction, I think, as a young- said she doesn’t have as much time to ster,” said Jordan High Coach John go out or spend time with friends, com- Gray, 70. “So from my point of view, pared to some of her peers. But for her, it was really just a blessing to have an that’s a worthwhile sacrifice. athlete like this … Just a great a kid, She’s busy applying to graduate and with me, always a great attitude.” schools, including UNC-CH, to earn a But sheer athleticism doesn’t guar- master’s degree in public administra- antee success. tion. And her focus extends beyond While at UNC, Johnson has improved herself. She’s teamed up with her next- her decision-making by learning how to door neighbor from Durham, Camille adjust her approach during meets. McGirt, to promote healthy lifestyles She’s paired her physical talent with for young girls through the non-profit a renewed mindset. organization called Healthy Girls Save “Now she’s at the point where she the World. can be competitive at every single meet It’s possible Johnson may never be she goes to,” said UNC Assistant Coach the Olympian her father was, but she’s Steve Rubin, who works closely with found other outlets through which to Tristine. “Whereas before she would channel her will and determination. kind of wait for the good meet to come “I like to think that the influence she along … but now I think the consis- got from me is just what it really takes tency level is much higher.” to set and achieve goals,” Allen Johnson However, her effort isn’t limited to said. “And really, the hard work that it the track. takes to achieve lofty goals. I think it’s carrying over into her student life. The reason she’s active on campus is because you have to go hard in whatever it is that you do.” Through Healthy Girls Save the World, Tristine works with children who could someday follow in her footsteps — sometimes, she sees a little bit of herself in them. “The girls and their parents absolutely love Tristine Johnson celebrates with her father, Allen, (left) it,” she said, “We have and grandfather Ramon Judkins after her graduation from Jordan High School in Durham. In high school gotten nothing but Johnson was captain of her track team and state cham- rave reviews about how pion. (Photo contributed by Tristine Johnson) much fun they have, how much they learn Saving the world and how much more confident they For Tristine Johnson, organization feel. is what she needs to get through each “It feels great to be able to help week. people achieve their dreams just like The obligations can easily stack up. this same community has helped me There’s track and field, for one, then achieve mine, and a lot of these girls her internship at Northwest Mutual, come from Durham, and that makes her work with Carolina Outreach and me extremely happy.” the leadership academy and other stu- And in those little girls’ eyes, Tristine dent groups, then — sometimes, in Johnson may very well be Wonder between, — class. Woman..