The married couples who participate in the Olympics can add extreme training schedules, health issues and concerns, national pride, and worry times two to the list of marital challenges.
One Olympics hopeful married couple hit rock bottom, both personally in their marriage, and professionally in their sports. Tatiana Grigorieva and Viktor Chistiakov of Australia separated after not qualifying in the Australian Olympic team trials for pole vault in Sydney in February, 2004.
Possible reasons for their break-up include putting their Olympic aspirations ahead of their marriage relationship, training in separate countries, repeated injuries, and Viktor's admission to having several affairs. Both are spending time with their families.
An Olympics First
For the first time in the Olympics, there will be a husband and wife competing in the same event, going head-to-head for the same medals, while representing different countries. The couple is Andrew and Bettina Hoy.
Successful sports Couples
Being able to keep balance in their lives is one of the keys to the success of celebrity couples, especially those who work together. Reading through the profiles of couples who qualified for the Olympics, you'll notice that being supportive of one another, having good communication skills, and a willingness to make adjustments in their lives are other ways that these couples are able to keep their marriages healthy.
Married Couples Participating in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Australia and Germany - Andrew and Bettina Hoy - Equestrian
Australia - Brad Jones and Loretta Harrop - Soccer / Triathlon
Canada - Barney and Buffy Williams - Rowing
Italy - Bogdan Rath and Francesca Conti - Water Polo
Japan - Yoshitomo and Kyoko Tani - Baseball / Judo
South Africa - Craig and Natalie Fulton - Hockey
US - Alan and Shayne Culpepper - Track and Field
US - Danika and Ben Holbrook - Rowing
US - Mary Beth and Vaho Iagorashvili - Modern Pentathlon
US - David and Karen O'Connor - Equestrian
