European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 16, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine Tymi Metully United press International n december of 1987, Mary Lou Retton dined with the reagans and the Gorbachev in the White House. She recalls a whirl of veal Billy Graham Awe Meadowlark Lemon grandeur and Jimmy Stewart. She concedes she might never have experienced such an evening had she not owned credentials As an olympic Champion. Absolutely not the Gold medal winning gymnast said. They would t have known who i was. Those Are experiences i can Tell my children  in preparation for this year s olympics up spoke with prominent olympians of the past to see How the games changed their lives. Some agreed with Retton that olympic Fame brought recognition and Opportunity. Others like Tommie Smith John Carlos and Bruce Kimball fared less Well. Hardly anyone agreed with Long jumper Bob Beamon who said the olympics made virtually no difference. It has t really changed my life said the Man who set a world record of 29 feet 21/2 inches in 1968. I go on with daily routines. I get up and do the same things everybody else  despite what Beamon says the olympics can change things. People remember olympians for feats accomplished a generation ago. Today s champions can expect the same. After All television can forge an image that lasts a lifetime. And the olympics Are Well the olympics. There s no other Force in the world that has the Power and the presence said 1968 decathlon Champion Bill Toomey now a director of fund raising for the United states olympic committee. I guess that was the part i was least prepared for said swimmer Nancy Hogshead who won three golds and one Silver in swimming in 1984. I remember after the olympics i made a collect Call. The operator said congratulations " Retton won the women s Overall gymnastics title in 1984. She showed style that made her Welcome not Only on Madison Avenue but also at state dinners. The White House press office for example says Nancy Reagan helped choose the guest list for that Summit dinner in december. Guests represented a Cross Section of people who have made contributions in their Field. Retton qualified. I flew in the night before Retton said. I was on the White House Lawn when the Gorbachev arrived. I was standing 10 feet away when they spoke. I was in  today Retton endorses products makes appearances gives motivational speeches. She says her biggest priority involves working As a commentator for Abc to during this year s olympics in Seoul. Track stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos forged another image. In fact their lives changed the moment they flashed the Black Power Salute after meddling in the 200-meter dash in the 1968 they la regret this for the rest of their lives said . Track coach Payton Jordan of american Gold medal winners who gave Black Power salutes during award ceremonies at 1968 olympic games in Mexico City among them the men s 1,600 meter relay team pictured Here. For Mary Lou Retton below olympic Fame has meant experiences i can Tell my children  living with that olympic image olympics. Members of the winning 1,600 meter relay team Lee Evans Ronald Freeman Larry James and Vincent Matthews also rendered the gesture they la regret this for the rest of their lives Newsweek reported . Head track coach Payton Jordan As saying. Maybe he was right. Smith and Carlos carried the Label of militants and radicals. Both experienced trouble finding work. Smith works at Santa Monica Calif Junior College and did not return phone Calls. Carlos worked As Community relations Liaison officer with the los Angeles olympic organizing committee. His wife committed suicide. He has told an associate he prefers not to give interviews. Boxer Joe Frazier said the olympics brought him no immediate rewards. He worked in a Philadelphia slaughterhouse at the time and his Gold medal did not exactly Advance his career. I went Over to Tokyo won a Gold medal with a broken hand then got fired from the slaughterhouse he said. Bruce Kimball a Silver medallist at the 1984 summer olympics was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide after an Accident aug. 2 that killed two teen agers and injured six in Brandon Fla. Kimball 25, has been diving in the Shadow of 1984 double Gold medallist Greg Louganis since joining the National team in 1978. After beating Louganis in six of the previous 11 National competitions heading into the los Angeles games Kimball finished second to Louganis in the platform. He survived a 1981 car Accident that left him with every Bone in his face broken a fractured Skull ruptured spleen broken left leg lacerations and a severely torn ligament in his left knee. Beamon 20 years after his record olympic jump travels to various cities speaking to youth groups. He still mentions the thrill of meeting people from All Over the world. I believe in the olympic event he said. Breaking bread and sharing feelings is still the reality. That has t changed. Overall the athlete wants to  Gold medal winning wrestler Jeff Blatnick says he does some free Lance Public relations. He also gives motivational speeches works with the olympic committee and the american cancer society and does some work on leukaemia. He will work for Abc in Seoul Statnick and Beamon have both won the olympic spirit award Given by Maxwell House. The award exemplifies the olympic spirit. It s changed me in that i have More ways to make a living Blatnick said. I Don t think i be changed As a person. I be tried to capitalize a  Retton laughed when she heard a Vignette from that dinner in Washington. Joe Dimaggio also attended and left with a baseball signed by Gorbachev and Reagan. Maybe i should have brought a beam she said. Tuesday August 16, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 13