Olympic excellence closer to home
As the world gets ready for the summer Olympics in Paris, one VA employee recalls a remarkable period in his life.
The Olympics means different things to different people. The entertainment of the sport, a global stage to display national pride, or an inspirational event in which people achieve their dreams. For a select few, it’s the pinnacle of lifetime achievement. And for the Minneapolis VA it’s an opportunity to highlight one of our own staff members with a unique personal connection to the Olympic Games.
Johann Jack not only proudly wore the uniform of the U.S. Marine Corps, but also proudly wore the uniform of the U.S. Olympic Team and now serves his fellow Veterans as an employee of the Minneapolis VA Health Care System.
Jack began his athletic career in Trinidad at age ten and placed second as the fastest runner in the nation in 1985.
In 2003, Jack joined the Marine Corps as a Non-commissioned Officer, Electrical Engineer/Fitness Specialist, and established fitness clinics and workout regimes for the Marine Corps Running Club through Team USA Track and Field and the U.S. Paralympics Team at the Olympic Training Center. Complimentary to his Marine Corps duties Jack maintained yearly top USA Outdoor Track and Field marks with outstanding performances. In 2004, Jack was part of the standby team for track and field at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
In preparation for the 2006 and 2007 World Games Jack projected qualifying marks during his off-season time trials at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. He exploded to 2.95 sec 30m and ran 10.18 sec 100m.
In the 2006 World Para Athletics Championships, previously known as the IPC Athletics World Championships, Jack was selected to run as a guide runner, a person who assists a person with a visual impairment in running, for the U.S. Paralympic Team athletes. He helped secure two spots for the 2007 Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the 100 meter and the 400 meters and set the stage for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Although Jack was invited to participate in Beijing, he was unable to attend due to deployment limitations.
After his military service ended, Jack moved to Minnesota and found work at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through a Veterans job placement program. During his time working for the USDA he utilized the GI Bill to pursue a master’s degree in kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement, from the University of Minnesota.
In 2013, Jack began his career with the Minneapolis VA and is an integral part of the team “I chose working at the Minneapolis VA medical center because as a Veteran of the Marine Corps and former world class athlete I understand the importance of serving others,” Jack said. “Here I can make a tangible impact on Veterans, their families, and the community, all while enjoying flexible schedules to accommodate my commitments.”
In addition to working at the Minneapolis VA, Jack has also chosen to get his healthcare with the Minneapolis VA. “It’s convenient and my care seems to fall into place,” said Jack. “For me it was the obvious choice.”
Jack still holds multiple records for sprinting in New England and is an internationally ranked World Athletics, formerly known as the International Association of Athletics Federations, competitor.