University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Jenny Dahlgren
June 05, 2020 | Track & Field, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Jenny Dahlgren, one of the greatest throwers in Georgia track and field history, has done so much already: three NCAA titles during her superb Bulldog career, four trips to the Olympics for her native Argentina, plus she's written a children's book, "The Flying Hammer," and is an advocate for body positivity and against bullying.
And there is much more she'd like to do, including, she hopes, adding a fifth Olympics before she retires from the sport. Dahlgren, who was born in Buenos Aires and spent part of her childhood in the U.S. before coming to Georgia, has not only the Georgia record in the hammer throw (239 feet, 4 inches) — and she held the collegiate record for more than a decade — but she has the South American record, as well.
Dahlgren has been home in Buenos Aires throughout the coronavirus pandemic and recently participated in a Quick Chat via email. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: What have the past few months been like for you? What do you miss most about getting out and about in the real world?
Dahlgren: These past few months have been crazy. I was getting ready to start my season in March when everything started getting canceled. Here in Argentina, we have been staying at home, with pretty strict protocols, only going out to the supermarket, since March 20th, and they have extended it until mid-July so it's been really tough.
I was so set to make a run at my fifth and last Olympics and I was going to retire in September of this year ... now its all up in the air. We probably won't have any competitions until the end of the year. It's really hard not having set objectives like we as athletes are used to having.
Frierson: Since this was supposed to be an Olympic year, what memories from your Olympic experiences do you think about most often?
Dahlgren: I think my favorite Olympic memory is one of my first. Seeing the Olympic flame during the Athens 2004 opening ceremony. It just made it real, being at my first Olympics. It was always such a huge dream and I achieved it sooner than I thought. To compete under the Olympic flame was amazing.
Frierson: You had a great Georgia career and then have been able to travel the world competing, so are you amazed at where you've been and what you've been able to experience thanks to sports?
Dahlgren: I've been really lucky to compete and travel the world. I've been to some pretty far and amazing places. But today I look at my life, the experiences and trips I've had and the opportunities I have today, and it's amazing. Sports have shaped my life in every way.
Today, I'm not only an ambassador for sports and hammer throwing but I also get to work on different athlete commissions — I'm working with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and their Believe in Sport Campaign, as well as being an Ambassador for the INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination). I get to talk to kids about Olympic values as well as share my story about being bullied as a teen and how sports really helped me build my self-esteem back up. I'm just so thankful for everything!
Frierson: What is the best meal you've ever eaten? Is there one that stands out above the rest because of the food or you were celebrating something special?
Dahlgren: That's a tough question! I've definitely had some amazing meals but I would probably say my favorite meal is having fajitas with my family. My parents, brother and sister live in Houston and I only get to see them once a year, so whenever I go back we always have fajitas on the first night I'm there and its quite special for me. I love TexMex and obviously I love to see my family!
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day just to experience what it's like, what would you want to be great at?
Dahlgren: I would love to be an amazing skateboarder!! It's one of those sports that I've always loved but have been very cautious of because of the possibility of getting injured! So I would love to tear it up one day with some huge tricks!!
Frierson: Is there one movie you find yourself watching over and over again, no matter how many times you've seen it?
Dahlgren: I think "Forrest Gump" is probably the movie I've seen the most times, no matter if I catch it at the beginning, middle or end.
Frierson: If you could sit down and have lunch with anyone in history, who would it be? And what would you two have to eat?
Dahlgren: Freddie Mercury! I always think he's such a character in history! And we'd have some Thai food!
Frierson: What do you miss most about competing for UGA?
Dahlgren: I really miss having my calendar set for the whole season and all the logistics, travel all thought out. But what I miss most is competing on a true team. In an individual sport, we don't get that feeling too often.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Jenny Dahlgren, one of the greatest throwers in Georgia track and field history, has done so much already: three NCAA titles during her superb Bulldog career, four trips to the Olympics for her native Argentina, plus she's written a children's book, "The Flying Hammer," and is an advocate for body positivity and against bullying.
And there is much more she'd like to do, including, she hopes, adding a fifth Olympics before she retires from the sport. Dahlgren, who was born in Buenos Aires and spent part of her childhood in the U.S. before coming to Georgia, has not only the Georgia record in the hammer throw (239 feet, 4 inches) — and she held the collegiate record for more than a decade — but she has the South American record, as well.
Dahlgren has been home in Buenos Aires throughout the coronavirus pandemic and recently participated in a Quick Chat via email. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: What have the past few months been like for you? What do you miss most about getting out and about in the real world?
Dahlgren: These past few months have been crazy. I was getting ready to start my season in March when everything started getting canceled. Here in Argentina, we have been staying at home, with pretty strict protocols, only going out to the supermarket, since March 20th, and they have extended it until mid-July so it's been really tough.
I was so set to make a run at my fifth and last Olympics and I was going to retire in September of this year ... now its all up in the air. We probably won't have any competitions until the end of the year. It's really hard not having set objectives like we as athletes are used to having.
Frierson: Since this was supposed to be an Olympic year, what memories from your Olympic experiences do you think about most often?
Dahlgren: I think my favorite Olympic memory is one of my first. Seeing the Olympic flame during the Athens 2004 opening ceremony. It just made it real, being at my first Olympics. It was always such a huge dream and I achieved it sooner than I thought. To compete under the Olympic flame was amazing.
Frierson: You had a great Georgia career and then have been able to travel the world competing, so are you amazed at where you've been and what you've been able to experience thanks to sports?
Dahlgren: I've been really lucky to compete and travel the world. I've been to some pretty far and amazing places. But today I look at my life, the experiences and trips I've had and the opportunities I have today, and it's amazing. Sports have shaped my life in every way.
Today, I'm not only an ambassador for sports and hammer throwing but I also get to work on different athlete commissions — I'm working with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and their Believe in Sport Campaign, as well as being an Ambassador for the INADI (National Institute Against Discrimination). I get to talk to kids about Olympic values as well as share my story about being bullied as a teen and how sports really helped me build my self-esteem back up. I'm just so thankful for everything!
Frierson: What is the best meal you've ever eaten? Is there one that stands out above the rest because of the food or you were celebrating something special?
Dahlgren: That's a tough question! I've definitely had some amazing meals but I would probably say my favorite meal is having fajitas with my family. My parents, brother and sister live in Houston and I only get to see them once a year, so whenever I go back we always have fajitas on the first night I'm there and its quite special for me. I love TexMex and obviously I love to see my family!
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day just to experience what it's like, what would you want to be great at?
Dahlgren: I would love to be an amazing skateboarder!! It's one of those sports that I've always loved but have been very cautious of because of the possibility of getting injured! So I would love to tear it up one day with some huge tricks!!
Frierson: Is there one movie you find yourself watching over and over again, no matter how many times you've seen it?
Dahlgren: I think "Forrest Gump" is probably the movie I've seen the most times, no matter if I catch it at the beginning, middle or end.
Frierson: If you could sit down and have lunch with anyone in history, who would it be? And what would you two have to eat?
Dahlgren: Freddie Mercury! I always think he's such a character in history! And we'd have some Thai food!
Frierson: What do you miss most about competing for UGA?
Dahlgren: I really miss having my calendar set for the whole season and all the logistics, travel all thought out. But what I miss most is competing on a true team. In an individual sport, we don't get that feeling too often.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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