American Murdered at Beijing Olympics
The Beijing Olympics have already been marred. Not by pollution or political oppression but by an act of violence:
The close-knit world of U.S. volleyball had such high hopes and positive energy coming into the Olympics.
But on Day One, a bizarre tragedy turned everyone’s attention to life and death, not spikes and digs.
“There are some things you never think would ever happen,” middle blocker Heather Bown, a veteran of the American women’s indoor team, said late Saturday night after her team beat Japan in four sets. “Today was one of those things.”
What happened was that a 47-year-old Chinese man attacked American tourists in downtown Beijing. The victims happened to be the parents of 2004 U.S. indoor Olympic volleyball player Elisabeth “Wiz” Bachman, who is married to current U.S. men’s indoor coach Hugh McCutcheon.
Todd Bachman, 62, of Lakeville, Minn., was killed. His wife, Barbara, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Their daughter, who has eight former teammates on the current women’s team, witnessed the attack but was not injured.
“Somber Volleyball Team Manages Win Despite Tragedy”
