Protected from the evening chill by a white warm-up suit and hat and red gloves, J. Darian Chustz carried the Olympic torch 300 meters on its Feb. 9 trip from Surrey to Richmond in British Columbia. The torch traveled by land, air and water during its 106-day journey to more than 1,000 Canadian communities in advance of the Vancouver Games. Chustz, the Gulf Coast Region president of Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, was nominated to be a torchbearer by his company and Glaceau [Vitamin Water]. “The setup and preparation for the relay really set the tone for the experience,” he says. “Each torchbearer had to attend a briefing that lasted approximately two hours. It was a very emotional experience. When you think about being the only person in the world responsible for carrying the Olympic flame, it really sinks in. For me, I was overwhelmed with excitement and pride and very thankful for the opportunity. For a brief moment, I felt like a rock star.” For the full Q&A and a photo of Chustz carrying the Olympic torch, click here. A sample:
Are participants allowed to purchase a replica of the torch? If so, did you purchase one?
“I actually got to keep the torch that I carried.”
