Washington discus thrower Aretha Thurmond qualifies for Olympic final

BEIJING — The first throw was an almost. It slipped just a bit as Aretha Thurmond released the discus.

But the second throw was pure. A golfer would have said he hit it on the screws. A tennis player would have found the sweet spot. For Thurmond, it simply was "awesome."

On the second throw of her third Olympics in front of a packed house Friday inside the Bird's Nest, Thurmond threw 61.90 meters (203 feet, 8 inches), second best in her group and sixth best in the competition.

And for the first time in her career, she qualified for an Olympic final.

"We're finally there," she said, her smile not about to leave her face until Monday's final competition. Although there are five throwers in front of her, the top qualifier, American Stephanie Brown Trafton, threw less than a meter (62.77) farther than Thurmond.

It's crowded at the top, and Thurmond knows there is room for her on the medal podium.

At 32 (her birthday was Thursday), Thurmond is just reaching her peak. After getting married and having a baby a little more than a year ago, she is getting better with age and responsibility.

"I think this is the one time where age is helping me," Thurmond said. "I think this is where just life has helped, just life experiences. Being a mom now and trying to juggle and do different things. It's really fun now. I really love what I'm doing. I love competing.

"And the opportunity to come out here to represent my country and my family and now my son, it is different from the other Olympics for me. Age and experience has helped me more than anything else. I mean eventually you have to get it right. Right?"

Thurmond, who competed in Atlanta in 1996 and in Athens in 2004, punctuated every sentence with a laugh. She was that excited. For the first time in her life, she knows she can compete for an Olympic medal.

"I think I'll sleep a little better tonight than I did last night now that this hurdle is over," she said.

But Thurmond, who threw in college at Washington, didn't sleep long. Because she is the captain of the track and field team, she returned Saturday morning to cheer the U.S. women shot putters.

"I accept that role and responsibility and I've got to come out here and keep cheering everybody on and supporting the rest of Team USA," she said. "It's a great honor to be the team captain. That means a lot of people think really highly of me as a person, not just an athlete."

Discus throwing can be whimsical. One person's best day can be another person's tragedy. Thurmond's longtime friend and competitor, Suzy Powell, didn't qualify for the finals.

"I've been there many a time," Thurmond said. "It's one of those things where it's so hard just to make it here. And just to be here and compete here, we're all champions.

"If you look at the Olympic spirit and the Olympic creed, it's about the struggle and the fight and the journey... and that's what's beautiful about being here. This is a journey and I love it, and that's why I'm still doing it."

From Renton High to Beijing. From Star Track to the Olympic Games, Aretha Thurmond's remarkable journey continues.

Steve Kelley: skelley@seattletimes.com