DERBY, N.Y. (WBEN) "I'm super upset that we can't go," said Martha Mangan of Derby, mother of Olympic Alpine skier Tricia Mangan, during the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.
"She's with three thousand other athletes, and no distractions. I told her to have fun and and seize the moment," Mangan told Susan Rose and Brian Mazurowski on WBEN Friday morning.
The Winter Olympics in Beijing are being held without fans in attendance due to Covid restrictions. After years of hard work, athletes cannot have their families present as they fulfill their Olympic dreams.
This is the second Olympics for 24 year old Tricia Mangan. She competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, finishing 9th in the mixed team.
Martha Mangan admits she was nervous until she finally heard from Tricia after she arrived in Beijing, went through the Covid testing protocols, and got to her hotel room in the Olympic bubble. "She tested negative several times and arrived in her room yesterday after being on the road for about 36 hours. It was a sigh of relief."
Tricia telling her family that protocols are quite strict, but everyone is super nice.
The 13 hour time difference between Buffalo and Beijing is going to be a bit of a challenge. "When we get up in the morning, we'll say goodnight to her."
Tricia's two brothers spent some time in China over the past several years so
Mangan said the family is used to the time difference, adding, "you never really get used to it."
"Her brothers are actually sending her phrases to say in Mandarin. I'm not sure how successful they'll be."
The Mangan family, is going to enjoy the Olympics vicariously. "We're just so excited for her and all of the athletes. We can't be there but the athletes won't have any distractions. They can just enjoy it. They don't have to worry about where their parents are, and things like that."
