From: JOHN FLAHERTY
Subject: Re: The "Kayleigh Phenomenon" continued
Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 2:04 PM

Preface: I hope you will all read this in the spirit in which it is intended and then re-read it again.

I want to say first just how proud I am of Kayleigh and how she is holding up through all of this. The burden of being the "chosen one" comes with a terrific price you may not be aware of and for such a young woman to have to bear this onslaught of pressures from all directions and stand up to it shows a huge amount of presence and character.
First and foremost we all need to remember that she is still one of us. The meteoric rise and attention that the media gives her comes at a heavy price. We all are benefiting from it, as it brings ULHRA to the front page increasing potential sponsorship interest from all markets, but do not have to share in the burden of it. While we have time to pause, reflect, plan and anticipate strategy for the next heat, she is having to constantly deal with the public eye and maintain her composure not knowing who is watching and where the cameras may be pointed.
I just want you guys to remember to include her and when she does have a few minutes to "let her hair down" give her a hug or high five or whatever you want and let her know she is included in the fraternity that is ULHRA. She is human and as such will commit a gaffe or two just like any one of us but I marvel at how well she is holding up and the level of composure she maintains is clearly "grace under pressure". Unless you have seen the KIRO broadcast you may not know about it but her gesture of congratulating Paul Becker on his first win by pushing him off the dock and going in with him was priceless and the media and the public eat that stuff up. Way to go girl!
John Flaherty
UL-11 Technical Advisor