Being one of the best in the world has its perks.
For West Point’s John Burris, the hard work that went into helping the United States’ 35+ Water Ski Team win the gold medal at the 4th 35+ Water Ski World Championships this past weekend at the Sesena Water Ski & Wakeboard Complex in Toledo, Spain, gave him an opportunity few people realize.
On Monday, as Burris made his return to Clay County, he had the privilege of wearing the gold medal he won as he walked through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world’s busiest airport. The medal also enabled him to take a picture with a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worker he met along the way.
“We had a great experience,” Burris said Monday walking through the airport in Atlanta. “It was so much fun. I am glad we had the opportunity. It was amazing. I couldn’t have imagined that it would be any better than it was.”
The U.S. 35+ Water Ski Team and 26 U.S. water ski athletes combined to earn 40 individual medals, including 14 golds, at the biennial event. The U.S. tallied 12,239.46 points in winning gold. France earned silver (10,228.02 points) and Canada earned bronze (9,721.3).
Athletes and teams from 28 countries competed in the five-day event as the world team title and world individual titles in slalom, tricks, jumping, and overall were at stake.
“There are so many people I would like to thank,” said Burris, who was in his second appearance representing the U.S. “There is not enough newspaper for me to thank them.”
Burris finished ninth in the individual competition. His best individual finish was a fourth-place showing in jumping (884.34 points).
Burris said he really didn’t do anything differently from the preliminaries to the finals in the jumping competition. He said he felt a little more relaxed in the final because he made it and he knew what he had to do.
“I just put one out there,” Burris said of his longest jump. “Unfortunately, the other guys were able to jump further. The level of competition is insane. I would equate it to SEC football.”
Burris said he competed in the preliminaries Wednesday and then didn’t compete again until Sunday because he only qualified for the finals of jumping event. Still, even though unaccustomed to waiting that long to get back on the water, he said he was pleased he was able to improve from seventh seed to finish fourth. He said the conditions Sunday were “absolutely gorgeous,” which was a big improvement from the windy conditions on the first day.
As for the team competition, Burris said it was “amazing” and almost indescribable to be a part of something that big and to be surrounded by so many athletes who are the best in the world at what they do. He said he was even prouder to be a part of the U.S. team that “kicked butt.”
“I was able to represent the U.S., and the US is made up of winners. That is what we are,” Burris said. “We strive to be the best, and we generally are the best. I have a gold medal hanging around my neck walking through the airport.”
Burris said he has an “incredible” experience in his 11 days in Spain. He said the country was “absolutely gorgeous” and that everyone was “super friendly” and made him feel like he was “at home but in a different country.” He said he couldn’t have asked for anything else on the trip because tournament organizers had it waiting for the all of the athletes.
“I really wanted to represent well,” Burris said. “I did what I could do to contribute. I have people back home counting on me, and I wanted to make them proud, myself proud, and the people who support me proud. There are several people in our area that were counting on me to do something.
“My supporters meant the world to me financially, personally, personally more than financially. All of the Facebook messages I received, all of the likes on my posts, the comments on the posts I have made, when your home gets behind you, you kind of want to do good, don’t you?”
Burris joined Janie Fausold (Pleasant Grove, California), Mitch Grau (Carrollton, Texas), Renee Jaquess (Miramar Beach, Florida), Joy Kelley (Loudon, Tennessee), Tony Knight (Jacksonville, Florida), Lori Krueger (Martindale, Texas), and Kelly Zoellner (Jacksonville, Illinois) on the U.S. 35+ Water Ski World Championships Team.
The American Water Ski Association’s International Activities Committee selected the team earlier this summer based on qualifications criteria previously approved by the American Water Ski Association’s board of directors. Christy Kingsmill (Roselle, Illinois) was the team manager for the U.S. contingent.
Burris doesn’t know where the next world championships will be, but he said there is no doubt he will participate. He also said his girlfriend, Sara Judson, who accompanied him on the trip and was instrumental in his efforts — “I couldn’t have done the little bit I did without her,” Burris said — would be water skiing two years from now to make the biennial event even more special.
“I have two years to get ready,” Burris said. “I have to. There are no ifs, ands, or buts. I have to.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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