2006年VOA标准英语-Olympic Equestrian Michael Matz Turns Kent

By Steve Schy
Washington
03 May 2006
 

Trainer Michael Matz, right, leads his Kentucky Derby hopeful Barbaro, with Peter Brette up, left  
  
Michael Matz has packed a lifetime of accomplishments¹ into his 55 years.  The three-time Olympic equestrian² turned into a hero and saved lives when a plane he was on crashed in 1989.  He is now chasing one of horse racing's greatest achievements, training a horse that could win the Kentucky Derby.

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This Saturday Michael Matz's undefeated three-year-old bay colt "Barbaro" will join the so-called "Run for the Roses" as he attempts to win the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

But the path that led Matz to this point started over 40 years ago in the small town of Shillington, Pennsylvania when a neighbor invited him to ride a horse.  Though he had never been on a horse before, Matz soon grew to love the sport.  He started as a groom³ and worked his way up.  Matz began competing as a show jumper in Europe in 1973, and just three years later made the U.S Olympic team for the 1976 Games in Montreal. 

But fate stepped in in 1989.  Matz and his then-fiancee, DD Alexander were flying to Philadelphia when the plane they were on crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, killing⁴ 112 people.  They both survived, and Matz led three children to safety and then went back into the burning wreckage⁵ and rescued an 11-month old girl.

"We were lucky to survive it and go on from there.  It has been 17 years now and we try to just go on," he said.

Michael Matz made the Olympic equestrian team again in 1992 and 1996.  At the 1996 Atlanta Games he won a silver medal in the team event and was honored by being selected to carry the American flag at the closing ceremonies.  Matz said his harrowing experience of surviving a plane crash has made him more appreciative⁶ of his Olympic success.

"You just don't take every little thing for granted anymore," he said.  "You enjoy everything you can.  And yeah, it was a great moment in my riding career and in my life."

Michael Matz started training horses part-time eight years ago.  But after failing to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2000 Games in Sydney, he decided⁷ to devote himself to it fulltime.  Prior to Barbaro, Matz's biggest success was training 2004 Arlington Million winner "Kicken Kris."

Barbaro's owners, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, were impressed after seeing Matz ride at shows in Pennsylvania.  They started sending horses to Matz to train with the aim of having one good enough to race in the Kentucky Derby.

"You try to get there, then you try to win the Olympic Games or be on a winning team," he added.  "And you know, this is what we hope every year.  This is the first time we have had a horse that even followed the Derby trail.  You know, it is just an exciting time whenever you have a horse that has won five straight [races] and is going to the Derby undefeated, let alone just have a horse that can go in the Derby."

That Barbaro is considered one of the favorites for Saturday's Kentucky Derby is no surprise to Michael Matz.  As he explains it: "People are looking for a superstar.  He has that air about him."

1 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 equestrian   

adj.骑马的；n.马术

参考例句：

• They all showed extraordinary equestrian skills.他们的骑术都很高超。
• I want to book two equestrian tickets.我想订两张马术比赛的票。

3 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

6 appreciative   

adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的

参考例句：

• She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
• We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。