My Emotional Interview With Lopez Lomong

Hi Everybody,

I am finally getting a chance to write to you about my incredible trip to Beijing! This is my first time in Asia and my very first Olympics, so I am experiencing so many new things and meeting some phenomenal athletes.

I'm going to try to share with you everything that has been going on. It's not often that I cry during an interview, but I just finished one that was very emotional for me. Even my producer, Whitney, just teared up when she was logging the tape of my discussion and had to leave the room.

I'm sure it will touch your heart also.

Lopez Lomong is the American flag bearer for the Opening Ceremonies and he is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. When he was six years old, he was taken from his family by the militia and forced to become a soldier, only to escape and run away to a refugee camp in Kenya. Then, at age 16 (he is 23 now), he was adopted by an American family, who are now coming to Asia to see their son run in the 1500m Track & Field event for the Beijing Olympics. Quite a story!

Lopez is definitely a star at these games because of his incredible journey, but he surprised me when he walked into our room for our interview and said he was so excited about being interviewed by Access Hollywood! He said that he watches all the celebrity news updates, from Angelina Jolie to Will Smith.

One of the highlights for him, so far, has been meeting the American basketball players who are on the Olympic team; like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. You should have seen his face light up when he talked about taking pictures with them. Lopez says he is truly the American story and when he carries the flag for his new country, he will be thinking about his family back in Africa, especially those who never made it out of the militia camps. He knows he is one of the lucky and blessed ones and we will all be rooting for Lopez Lomong to bring home the GOLD!

Peace, Shaun