Bryan Leturgez (Bobsled, '92, '94, '98)

Bryan Leturgez promised himself he would not become a "hanger on," his term for Olympians who stay in their sport and continue competing as long as they can, simply because they don't know what else to do. Upon retiring after ten years dedicated to bobsled, Leturgez felt years behind his peers and his friends and questioned whether or not he'd be able to provide the kind of lifestyle he wanted for his family. He had his college degree and work experience with brands like Anheuser Bush and Coca-Cola, but sensed that the rigorous training schedule that took him to Europe for six months each year held him back from jobs that were anything more than a "short-term fix." As a mentor on TeamUSAnet, Leturgez hopes to help younger athletes think in advance and set long-term career goals so they can avoid "hanging on" to their sport because they have not planned for life after the Games.

Scott Donie (Diving, '92- Silver Medal, '96)

At the age of 23, Scott Donie had already achieved his Olympic dream, bringing home the silver medal in platform diving from Barcelona. But, upon his homecoming, Donie received no anticipated endorsement deals, invitations to network talk shows or victory parades. Instead, he began an emotional dive into post-Olympic depression and withdrew completely from the sport he had focused on for most of his life. Some felt he may have been considering suicide, resulting in an invitation to address the American Suicide Foundation in 1993, and a subsequent six month leave from diving during which Donie helped teach first- and second-graders with learning disabilities. Eventually, Donie healed emotionally, got back in shape and returned to competition and the Games in Atlanta, this time on the springboard. But, when he officially retired from competition, he moved to New York and struggled once again when deciding what to do with the rest of his life. He experimented with a series of unrelated jobs and could not identify his career goals and aspirations. Gradually, Donie explored his long-time interest in acting and developed a new dream career. Though it was a long and difficult road, he has found happiness working as the coach of the New York University diving team, while pursuing an acting career in the off season. Through the TeamUSAnet network, Donie will work with younger Olympians so they can hopefully avoid the post-Olympic blues he experienced.

Kendall Cross (Wrestling, '92, '96- Gold Medal)

Gold medal wrestler Kendall Cross is no stranger to money management. After devoting his entire high school and college life to wrestling and finishing sixth in Barcelona, Cross decided to go for the gold in Atlanta, despite the fact that he'd need to raise money to finance his ideal training regimen and his wife's law school education. He solicited the help of his congressman, corporations and individual investors to support his training, knowing that-- at age 28-- this would be his last chance to bring home the gold. His preparation paid off. Cross won gold and retired after Atlanta, happy to leave his sport "on his own terms." But, the tide turned quickly, and Cross realized that life is not an individual sport. He sought the help of a mentor in business, who helped steer Cross towards a career as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. In turn, Cross is putting his experience to use mentoring other Olympians and hopefuls through the TeamUSAnet network.

Reed Zeuhlke (Skiing, '80, '84)

For 5 ½ years, Reed Zeuhlke juggled school supplies and ski equipment, pursuing his college degree while training for the U.S. Olympic ski team. He often wondered, "What will I do if I don't win the gold," but did not feel that the skiing community supported or understood his education and career goals, or that more experienced Olympians were accessible for mentoring or career advice. While interviewing, Zeuhlke says he made several mistakes along the way-- from inappropriate attire to improper etiquette-- some of which could have been avoided if he had a mentor. Eventually, Zeuhlke retired from skiing because of the difficulty balancing his job with United Airlines and his training schedule. Though things have changed since Zeuhlke competed, he still sees a need for retired Olympians to lend their insight and expertise to help younger athletes set long-term career and educational goals for themselves. Now the Director of Application Development for United, Zeuhlke invites younger Olympians and hopefuls to contact him for advice.

These Mentors and many others are available to share their stories and individual post-competition experience.

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