BEIJING (AP)—As the crowd roared and his team exulted in its gold medals,
the coach of the U.S. men’s volleyball team buried his head in his hands and
walked off the court. He had gone from the lowest low to the highest high, and
it was all too much.Hugh McCutcheon needed to be alone.Just two weeks ago, at the start of the Olympics, his father-in-law had been
stabbed to death in Beijing. He stepped away from his job to take care of his
family. But his team, stirred by the tragedy, began an incredible run, ending
Sunday with a 3-1 victory over defending champion Brazil—a team that they were
never expected to beat.“It all was starting to sink in,” he said. “I had to take a step out and
collect my thoughts and collect my emotions and come back out. It’s a very
meaningful moment.”In two weeks of competition, the Americans were undefeated. The 20-25,
25-22, 25-21, 25-23 final gave the U.S. men their third Olympic gold medal in
the sport, matching the record set by the Russians. Top-ranked Brazil, a
two-time gold medalist, was left with the silver medal. Russia won the bronze
earlier in the day with a three-set victory over Italy.sually, the Olympic focus is on the athletes. But the tragedy endured by
this coach was an integral part of his team’s story.“He’ll be the first to tell you that winning won’t bring Todd back,” U.S.
wing spiker Reid Priddy said. “However this is a goal that he and his family
have invested their lives in, just like we have. And so I know this is an
incredibly special moment for us.”Todd Bachman was killed while sightseeing at the 13th-century Drum Tower in
Beijing the day after opening ceremonies. Bachman’s wife, Barbara, was badly
wounded; the assailant jumped to his death from the tower.McCutcheon missed the team’s first three games to be with his wife, former
volleyball Olympian Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman McCutcheon, who was there when the
attack occurred. Barbara Bachman eventually improved enough to return to the
U.S. by air ambulance. SOURCE:NBCOLYMPICS.COM