Student Leaves for Olympic Training

Lia Rousset is the envy of her classmates at Newport Harbor High: The 18-year-old senior checked out of high school forever after being selected as a member of the Olympic women’s kayak team.

Between now and July, Rousset will train full time in Chula Vista at an Olympic training center with the other Olympics-bound kayakers, including Rousset’s training partner, DeAnne Hemmens of Costa Mesa. The team will then travel to Eastern Europe for competitions in Poland and the Czech Republic before returning for the games in Atlanta.

Rousset will continue to work on assignments from teachers while she trains but will not attend class. She expects to graduate on time in June.

Rousset bade farewell to teachers and fellow students before a roaring crowd on campus, thanking everyone for their support and friendship.

“It really hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Rousset, referring to competing in the Olympics. “I’m really kind of excited about it, but I know it is going to be a lot of hard work.”

Roger Rousset, Lia’s father, was not so surprised. He said his daughter has been devoted to the sport since she was introduced to it six years ago by Ralph Whitford, her sixth-grade teacher at Newport Elementary School.

Lia began waking up at 5 o’clock in the morning to ride her bike to the Newport Bay to kayak when she was 13 and has continued to do so to this day, Roger Rousset said.