Jay Fultz

Jay Fultz had the opportunity to volunteer for the 2002 Winter Olympics as a massage therapist. Here is his story:

The Utah chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association graciously decided to sponsor the motion to provide Massage for the Olympians, security, workers, etc. at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Roger Olbrot (Massage Therapist) informed Ron Finley, who is President of the Utah chapter of the AMTA, that he wanted to head up the project of gathering Massage Therapist volunteers for the 2002 Winter Olympics. Roger sent out letters to every Massage Therapist in Utah requesting volunteer Massage for the Olympics and Paralympics. To their wonderment, 400 applications were received from around the world. Each applicant was required a FBI background check and an education check. Out of the 400 applications, 260 of them were selected. Jay Fultz was one of the few and the proud selected.

There were Massage Therapist Volunteers from all over the map. The Massage Therapist were stationed in the Olympic Village (table massage), Salt Palace (seated massage) and Little America (table and seated massage). Jay had the opportunity to work as a Massage Therapist Team-Leader for the majority of the 80 hours he volunteered. As a team-leader, Jay managed the therapists who were volunteering during his shift. Greater than being a team-leader, Jay had the fortune of working on important persons such as Janica Kostelica, 3 gold and 1 silver metal winner for downhill. Also, Jay performed bodywork on the US Men’s Skeleton Coach.

Jay was very emphatic about stating that volunteering for the 2002 Winter Olympics and Paralympics was the biggest thing he has done. Jay said that working on each Paralympian was especially amazing because of the adversity each athlete has overcome. Jay also said that it was amazing to meet Olympians, Volunteers, Massage Therapists, etc. from other counties.