He wiped off the slick sweat on the back of his neck, knowing it was his time to shine. Centennial Olympic Park surrounded him. The Bank of America Plaza towered to the East. He rubbed the back of his blood stained feet, shook off the blister pain, shoved his polished trainers on his feet, picked up his stick, and started for the other side of the field. He was in the big leagues now.
Grant Fulton graduated from the University of Pretoria in South Africa at 23. At the university, he excelled in biology. While not in class, he was on the field. He was a young field hockey player with a dream–to become an Olympian.
“I was sitting on the floor of my dorm waiting to hear who would be going to the Olympics,” Fulton said. “I didn’t think I had
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“ At least we won that game.”
The South African National Field Hockey team won the game fair and square with a score of 3-0 against the United States. This feat placed South Africa above Malaysia and the United States. Despite placing in the bottom half in the final standings, Fulton remains thankful for the experience.
“I can’t put into words how blessed I am to be able to say that I experienced the Olympics playing the sport I love the most,” Fulton said. “I was excited to be able to share my experience with future Olympians.”
Fulton traveled the world, teaching both men and women's field hockey teams both at the national and the local team level. He also coached and managed several youth teams in the early 2000s.
Fulton met his wife, Meghan, on a trip to Boston. Months of constant travel from country to country rapidly became a chore.
The couple quickly realized their need to settle down. Forward, 10 years, Fulton is now the Associate Head Coach of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s Field Hockey team. At home, he has two children, a goofy four-year-old with a fixation for his tricycle, and a one-year-old with a scream that can only be calmed by her daddy's