One of the torch bearers for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver has just started his college career at Herkimer County Community College.
Marty Hill, 19, carried the Olympic torch in his hometown on the Six Nations reservation in Canada on Dec. 23.
“I was surprised,” said Hill on when he first heard the news he had been chosen. He said he had known he was nominated, but “thought there were a lot of other people that they would pick over me.”
Hill said he found out he was chosen from his mother who got the phone call confirming the news.
Hill said he did not get to carry the torch for too long, as he took turns with 19 other athletes representing the reservation in Brantford, Ontario. Hill said he and the other athletes were selected because they had earned national titles for their country. Hill won two national titles in boys lacrosse.
“It’s not something that happens everyday,” said Rich Dommer, HCCC men’s lacrosse coach, who said it was an accomplishment just for Hill to be nominated.
Dommer said this puts Hill in some excellent company of athletes who have also had the high honor of carrying the torch.
“To have Marty on that list is pretty respectable,” he said.
Hill is a first-semester freshman at HCCC studying sports and recreation management. He said he has played lacrosse for 16 years and will play a mid-fielder position when the lacrosse season starts in March.
“I love everything about it,” said Hill. “It’s a thrill.”
The torch was lit in an Oct. 22 ceremony in Olympia, Greece, where actress Maria Nafpliotou played the role of the high priestess and ignited the flame. The first torch was carried by Olympic skier Vassilis Dimitriadis. The torch made it to Canada on Oct. 30 and has been carried around the provinces of Canada since then. The torch relay will conclude its 106 day journey on Feb. 12 during the opening ceremony in Vancouver.