Geannette Wittendorf

Needless to say, the Coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19) is shaking up everyone’s way of life at this time. This week, Olympians and fans of the Olympics learned that Tokyo 2020 is no exception to the pandemic’s devastation. It’s a sad day for fans of the Olympic Games. On Monday, March 23, 2020, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound told USA Today that the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo “probably won’t happen.” With shutdowns going into effect around the globe, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for this announcement. IOC, however, has yet to release an official statement regarding postponement of the Games. This news is a devastating blow to Olympians and fans of the Olympics alike. A whopping 1 million spectators attended the 2018 Winter Olympics. This was a surprising feat for the Winter Games, which often fall behind in attendance when compared to the Summer Olympics. With this number in mind, it is clear why postponement i...

The Crossfit world is ever-evolving and growing more and more popular since the first official Crossfit games in California in 2007. Sport fanatics from all around the world now tune in and cheer on their favorite competitors first hand in the Crossfit stadium every year!  Crossfit is a sport designed to separate the fittest in the world from all other athletes. In order to be a top competitor in the official Crossfit games, athletes must train year round in every aspect of the sport, waiting until the day before each event for each individual course to be announced. The objective of Crossfit itself is to master training across all platforms of sport, focusing on functional fitness, heavy weight lifting and agility. The games change every year, adding to the mystery and mastery of the sport while adding a challenging edge for all competitors.  Some of the fiercest competitors include Sara Sigmundsdottir, Katrin Davidsdottir, Anna Thorisdottir, Tia-Clair T...

May you crush personal records, leave race times in the dust, and reach for new goals in the year 2020! Here are 10 inspirational quotes to get you jump-started on your best year yet!  Geannette Wittendorf fully appreciates the camaraderie that often comes with sports . The true meaning behind any sport, are the people who play . Each player has their own passion and spirit that they bring to the game, and it's important to fuel that flame with inspiration. A new year brings an endless amount of new opportunity to athletes old and new. Whether you just started on a new team or you're a seasoned all-star, athletes from all walks of their athletic career could use an inspirational boost , especially rounding the end of a decade. 1.) "Never forget why you started." 2.) "The body achieves what the mind believes." 3.) "If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you." 4.) "Some people want it to happen. Some people wish i...

Geannette Wittendorf is a steadfast supporter of the Special Olympics , along with many other sports charities that empower their athletes.  Geannette Wittendorf is passionate about supporting sports charities , organizations, and nonprofits that help create a positive and encouraging environment for individuals who are faced with physical and mental challenges. As an Olympic sports enthusiast herself , Geannette Wittendorf understands the sense of community that sports can create for athletes and their supporters. To express her personal interest, Geannette Wittendorf regularly shows her support for both the Special Olympics and Paralympics . Both organization's main purpose is creating an outlet for those with physical and mental disabilities, giving them a place to enjoy their love for sports while participating in healthy competition on a global scale. Both the Special Olympics and Paralympics aim to provide their athletes with life changing tools - freedom, confidence an...

Growing up, Geannette Wittendorf developed a love for the Olympics at a young age, and has continued to support this worldwide sporting event throughout her entire life. Ice sports are among the some of the favorites that Geannette Wittendorf proudly cheers on as a bystander , though hockey reigns supreme in her eyes. Ice hockey and figure skating may appear to be two similar sports played on the ice, but in reality they lie on completely different ends of the spectrum, sharing more differences than commonalities. Through years of watching her favorite Olympians compete against the greatest on the world, Geannette Wittendorf considers herself well versed i n the commonalities and differentiators between the two. Though Wittendorf may be biased to hockey , she fully understands that an equal amount of blood, sweat and tears goes into each sport. How does figure skating and ice hockey compare out on the ice?    Footwear Figure skates and ice hockey skates vary due t...

Tokyo 2020 is already looking to be quite the thrilling series of events! Olympics fan, Geannette Wittendorf discusses the five new sports set to debut at the summer games. According to many Olympics fans -- including Geannette Wittendorf -- the Olympic Games have been long overdue for a shake up! When Japan welcomes the world to Tokyo for the 2020 Summer Olympics, they’ll also be introducing new sports to the mix. According to the official Olympic Games Committee, the new sporting events are being introduced to keep pace with currently popular athletic activities. The five new sports coming to the Olympics at Tokyo 2020 are Karate, Skateboarding, Baseball/Softball, Karate, Surfing and Sport Climbing. Karate For some fans of the Olympics, the debut of karate at the Games feels long overdue. Many other martial arts have been thriving at the Olympics for decades already. Karate will now join the ranks of judo, boxing, wrestling and tae kwon do. Finally, martial artists...

As a major fan of the Olympic games, Geannette Wittendorf can’t wait to cheer on her favorite athletes at Tokyo 2020.  Recently, it was announced that tickets for the games will go on sale May 9, 2019.  But here’s the catch: only Japanese residents will be able to purchase tickets. It’s an interesting part of the Olympics that people often overlook.  Tickets are initially sold only to residents of the host country. Even then, tickets are purchased in a lottery.  But don’t fret, there’s still a chance for you to attend the 2020 Summer Olympics! But there’s a catch: it’s going to cost you quite a pretty penny.  You’ll have to be willing to burn a hole in your wallet if you want to snag tickets at resale prices. Now, you’re probably thinking:   resale?  Isn’t that dangerous?  No one wants to be scammed!  And when the tickets are marked up by more than 20%, this isn’t exactly something you want to play around with.  That’s why...

Geannette Wittendorf is a proud supporter and fan of the Olympics. She is incredibly inspired by the courageous efforts of Olympian Gabriele Grunewald, who isn’t letting her battle with cancer keep her from running to victory. The Olympic games are always full of inspiration.  The victories, the ups and downs and the energy of the atmosphere is powerful enough to grip spectators in a motivational way.  What’s even more inspiring than the actual events are the incredible athletes who compete. Their backstories are often awe-inspiring, with many Olympians having overcome adversity in amazing ways.  In particular, Team USA’s middle-distance runner, Gabriele “Gabe” Grunewald is an Olympian with a tremendous story of perseverance. In 2009, Gabriele Grunewald was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland.  In 2010, with treatment for the condition under her belt, she crossed the 2010 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships finish...

As a German-American, Geannette Wittendorf finds herself supporting both Team USA and Germany at the Olympic Games. It makes matters just a bit more exciting! Following two teams of incredible athletes is quite a fun journey. Wittendorf enjoys researching highlights of past Olympic games. Recently, she discovered an incredible young athlete who won a Gold medal for USA at only 13 years old: Marjorie Gestring. Marjorie Gestring is revered as one of the youngest Olympians to ever win a Gold medal. At just 13 years and 268 days old, she competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were hosted in Berlin, Germany. This was an incredible historical feat which made her, at the time, the youngest person ever to win an Olympic Gold medal -- in any event! Gestring was a competitive springboard diver with an impressive career for someone so young. After winning Gold in Berlin, she continued to claim victories at national competitions across the United States. For two consecutive ...