A tradition like no other: Tennessee man carries Olympic torch in France

Published

5 months ago

July 5, 2024

A tradition like no other: Tennessee man carries Olympic torch in France

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Konstantin Kondylis was the first to ever carry the Olympic torch back in 1936.

The tradition of the Olympic torch relay continues on nearly 100 years later, with relays happening across France in preparation for this year’s Paris Olympics.

Rutherford County’s Andre Hillsman was chosen alongside 19 of his colleagues at Bridgestone to run a part of the relay in France.

“We always focus on dignity and respect,” Hillsman said. “I come to work every day, my thought process is to follow that.”

Hillsman joined the Bridgestone family 25 years ago at their La Vergne plant, which employs nearly 1,000 people.

Now in a position of leadership, he says he oversees the same quality control labs he trained on when he started.

“Even though I’m in leadership, I’m not one of those people that goes looking for accolades,” Hillsman said.

Hillsman says he never wants the spotlight, but the spotlight would find him a year ago. He found out a peer had nominated him to carry the torch for the 2024 games.

Even with that nomination, he’d have to be voted on globally in a company of nearly 120,000 people. It all became real when he found out he was 1 of 20 chosen.

“We have roughly over 120,000 employees worldwide,” Hillsman said. “To be considered in that top 20 is an amazing feeling.”

It’s truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

With over 8 billion people estimated living in the world, and with 11,000 torch bearers between the Olympic and Paralympic games, Hillsman’s chance to carry sat at 0.0001375%.

He has a better chance statistically at winning the lottery.

“It’s going to be surreal, without a doubt,” Hillsman said.

Hillsman’s relay was a 200 meter stretch in Rouen, France. That’s about the length of half of a track.

“First thing I asked, I said, ‘How far is this thing we’re going to actually be running?’”

Two weeks ago, before his relay, his teammates in the La Vergne plant had a celebration to send him off and wish him well before the big trip.

One of his peers even 3D printed a model of this year’s torch design.

”God has always had a hand on me, I feel like that,” Hillsman said. “I’m blessed beyond belief, and I’m blessed to be able to touch these peoples’ lives everyday as well.”

Hillsman says when the relay is said and done, he’ll be spending time over in Europe with his family, making a trip of the opportunity.

“To have this honor, it’s quite high on my list of things in life,” Hillsman said.

Bridgestone is an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner. The company sent 20 employees over to be torch bearers for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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Related Topics:2024 Bear bearer bearers bridgestone Featured games LA midstate Olympic olympics Paris partner relay Tennessee torch torches vergne worldwide

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Jordan Crooks Blasts 1:30.00 200 Freestyle at Day 1 of Tennessee Invite

Published

7 mins ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Jordan Crooks Blasts 1:30.00 200 Freestyle at Day 1 of Tennessee Invite

2024 Tennessee Invite

Jordan Crooks started the first midseason meet with a bang in the 200 freestyle. Crooks led off the Tennessee men’s 800 freestyle relay with a blistering 1:30.00. He is currently the number 8 performer all time, but you could write a book with all of the places this time is #1. Fastest he has ever been. Fastest Vol in history (beating his own record of 1:30.41 from NCAAs). Fastest swimmer this year. Fastest midseason 200 freestyler ever.

Let’s start with the personal best time. At this meet last year, he went a 1:32.07 leading off the same relay. At the time, this was a two second drop from his previous best time, also leading off the 800 free relay at the Tennessee invite of 1:34.30. He dropped more time at SECs where he swam the event individually and went 1:31.45 and 1:31.17 in prelims and finals respectively. Finally in prelims at NCAAs he went his best time until this evening at 1:30.41. This means in about 3 months, Crooks dropped a second and a half after previously being known as pretty-exclusively a drop dead sprinter.

Here are his splits from NCAAs and from tonight:

2024 NCAAs	2024 Tennessee Invite
20.64	20.48
43.56 (22.92)	43.22 (20.74)
1:06.82 (23.26)	1:06.82 (23.36)
1:30.41 (23.59)	1:30.41 (23.59)

What about the fact that this is at a midseason meet? Is Crooks the fastest midseason 200 freestyler ever? Yes. Here are the top 6 midseason times in history:

1:30.00- Jordan Crooks: 2024 Tennessee Invite
1:30.57- Drew Kibler: 2020 Texas Hall of Fame Invite
1:30.83- Drew Kibler: 2019 Minnesota Invite
1:30.86 Andrew Seliskar: 2018 UGA Fall Invite
1:31.10- Drew Kibler: 2020 Texas First Chance Qualifier (October)
1:31.30- Charlie Hawke: 2023 Tennessee Invite

Crooks’ time this evening is more than 5 tenths faster than the next fastest time at mid-season. Drew Kibler is on the list 3 times though, which makes the list look especially fast. Here are the top 6 performers in history:

1:30.00- Jordan Crooks: 2024 Tennessee Invite
1:30.57- Drew Kibler: 2020 Texas Hall of Fame Invite
1:30.86- Andrew Seliskar: 2018 UGA Fall Invite
1:31.30- Charlie Hawke: 2023 Tennessee Invite
1:31.65- Joao de Luca: 2013 Winter Nationals
1:31.73- Grant House: 2021 NC State Invite

Only two other people have ever been 1:30 at this point in the season, which just makes Crooks’ time that much more impressive. It does leave the world of swimming with a lot of questions. Is he next to go under 1:30? How will Luke Hobson respond at the Texas Invite later this week? Can we expect another half second drop in March? One thing is certain, however. It is only November, and only the first day of the meet. There is a lot more swimming in store, and if tonight is any indication, it is going to be exciting.

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Tennessee

Titans Drop in Latest Power Rankings

Published

8 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

The Tennessee Titans are on a losing streak after falling 23-13 to the Minnesota Vikings in the team’s Week 11 matchup.

The loss puts the Titans at 2-8 on the year, meaning the team must win out in order to avoid a losing season. The Titans are tied for the fewest amount of wins in the league, putting them in position to potentially acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Sports Illustrated writer Conor Orr also views the Titans as one of the NFL’s worst teams, placing them at No. 30 in his latest power rankings, one spot lower than the previous week.

“Will Levis was hurried on half of his snaps on Sunday. I don’t think we’re under any illusion that he’s the long-term answer and certainly he’s earned a place of deep suspicion among the fanbase, but there are some games where he plays at least halfway decent — Levis bested Rodgers for a barely-positive EPA per dropback rating Sunday — yet it feels like the Titans don’t have a shot,” Orr writes.

The only teams that rank below the Titans in the power rankings are the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, who also lost by multiple scores in Week 11 action.

The Titans have struggled with offensive line play all year long, so it’s no surprise that it led to another loss against the Vikings. The Titans will have to get better in that department, along with several others, if they want to move up in the power rankings and grab a few more wins in the final third of the season.

The Titans are back in action on Sunday as they travel to the Lone Star State to face off against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Week 12.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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With I-40 damaged from Helene, how will it impact holiday traffic in Tennessee? What to know before you go

Published

15 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

With I-40 damaged from Helene, how will it impact holiday traffic in Tennessee? What to know before you go

Are you taking a road trip this holiday season?

You’re not alone. AAA experts predict 71.7 million travelers to be on the roads nationwide around Thanksgiving, a 1.3 million increase over 2023 numbers.

In East Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Transportation Spokesperson Mark Nagi anticipates the highways being “very busy.” Road damage and closures add even more complication and congestion to the already-crowded roads.

Tropical Storm Helene caused grave damage to Tennessee and North Carolina highways when the storm swept through on Sept. 27. Months later, road damage continues to be top of mind for drivers.

“We’re continuing to work to get these roadways and bridges open as quickly as possible,” Nagi said.

Interstate 40 remains closed across the Tennessee and North Carolina state border after a mudslide wiped out a portion of the highway. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has a plan to reopen two-way traffic in the gorge, but not in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas travel.

To make travel a bit easier, there will be no temporary lane closures from noon on Wednesday, Nov 27, through 6 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to Nagi. However, this does not apply to long-term closures like I-40 where roads are closed for damage.

Tips for holiday travel

Knowing that highways in East Tennessee could be extra busy this year, Nagi shared some road trip tips to make the holiday travel easier.

Download the SmartWay app, or look at the road closure map online.
Give yourself extra time to travel. Leave early if you can.
Try to avoid travel during peak times, including Wednesday, Nov 27.

Where is I-40 closed?

Still, you’re unable to drive across the Tennessee state line into North Carolina on I-40.

In Tennessee, there is one lane of traffic open in each direction between Mile Marker 446 and Mile Marker 451 at the state line. Commercial traffic cannot go any further than Mile Marker 440 on I-40 East, according to Nagi.

The highway is closed in both directions from Mile Marker zero to 20 in North Carolina.

How many people travel across I-40 at the gorge?

I-40 is a major thoroughfare through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The stretch of I-40 in North Carolina that was damaged by Helene supports about 7,610 trucks daily and a total average daily traffic of over 26,000 vehicles.

Alternate route: Use Interstate 26 through Erwin

You can use I-26 through Erwin to cross the state line. This route option reopened in late October, according to Nagi. There is one-lane two-way traffic through the area.

Nagi said there would likely be more traffic on this route through the holiday travel season.

Alternate route: Use Interstate 81 and Interstate 77

From Knoxville, travelers can head north on I-81, which connects with I-77 toward Charlotte. It’s more miles, but you can eventually get to Ashville and other areas of North Carolina from there.

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