Steve Panosian was named a King at the Detroit Olympics. Unless you are of a certain age, the name might not be familiar. Even in Detroit he is not known by the current AYF generation. (He has not lived in Detroit for more than 25 years.) His 35 points do not get him on the high scorer’s list in the Ad Book. Many of us, however, were delighted to see Steve get this recognition because back in the day his points and contributions were electrifying and game changing.
Electrifying and game changing? Really?
Most definitely! Sadly, these are the kinds of things that get lost or clouded over with the passing of time. Steve’s participation in the AYF Olympics as a swimmer marked a change in Olympic swimming which has lasted until now. Steve’s first Olympics was in 1970 in Montreal and he swam every year until 1976 with the exception of the 1972 Games in Los Angeles.
The swimming was well attended in those days, but the events were lesser distances than in an average high school meet. There was nothing longer than the 100 freestyle. The records were nothing special. The breast and backstroke events were only added in 1970. The swimming events had good participation and crowds, and were exciting and fun, but the top performers were less skilled than the top performers in track, field, tennis, and golf. That was about to change.
Enter Steve Panosian in the Montreal Games. In the warm-ups, he looked like he was gliding through the water. He was like a pro compared to everyone else…who barely warmed up at all. What was that he just did? A flip turn? That was indeed a rare sight at an AYF swim meet. Steve set the record in each of the 3 events he swam: The 50 freestyle, the 100 freestyle, and the 4×25 relay. It was incredible. Everyone in the stands was impressed. It was the era of Mark Spitz and for most of us back then, Steve was the Mark Spitz of the AYF. That may sound kind of hokey today, but it was how many of us felt back in those days.
The Detroit chapter had recently merged from two chapters, “Christopher” and “Mourad-Zavarian,” to one: the “Kopernick Tandourjian” Chapter. Steve’s performance, coupled with being one chapter where we could focus our efforts, led a few community leaders and coaches, namely Aram “Sonny” Gavoor and Steve’s father George Panosian, to develop a vision, mission, and plan to actually win an Olympics. Sonny handled the track and field. George became the swimming coach. They realized their dream in the 1975 Detroit Olympics, with the 1st of 14 Cups.
Using Steve’s example and success, Coach George put together a powerhouse of a swim team. The swimming participation and points were key to the 1975 win. In 1973 and 1974, Detroit had a sizable lead coming out of the swimming competition only to lose in the track and field. Swimming was the cornerstone on which Detroit emerged as a national power in the AYF Olympics.
George had a great team that included Steve, his brother Rick, Paul Arakelian, Armen Korkigian, and Vartan Arakelian on the men’s side. On the women’s side, George coached Steve’s sister Diane, Arax Misakian, Anahid Azizian, and Jill Tosoian Dolik.
***
Mark Gavoor—Did you have any inkling that you would be named an Olympic King? Steve Panosian—First, it was an honor to be associated with my hometown, and this year’s Olympic theme, “Our Roots Run Deep,” says it all. I was caught completely by surprise being named King during Sunday’s Olympic Opening Ceremonies. I realized that my family and friends, both local and distant, did a great job throughout the weekend keeping it under wraps. Even looking back there was no hint of anything.
M.G.—How did it feel when you realized you were an Olympic King? S.P.—“Our Roots Run Deep” was heartfelt when my mother, Rosemary Panosian, the 1975 Olympic Queen, placed the medal over my head. It was her eyes that said it all and made it a touching moment in my life. It’s tough. I am 27 years removed from my hometown Detroit community. While disappointed my career never brought me back to Detroit, who I am is certainly all about my roots growing up in Detroit—being part of the Armenian community and cherishing my AYF days.
M.G.—Describe your AYF days and do you have anything to share with today’s AYF members? S.P.—Looking back, my AYF years were a very defining period of my life with respect to education, ethnic awareness, community involvement, and bonding with people who I still share fond memories and deep friendships with today. It was through my involvement in the AYF and the experience of spending a summer as a life guard at Camp Haiastan that solidified my love for being Armenian.
My years in the AYF grew to become more than participating in the Olympics; it was through the AYF that I learned about political awareness and what it meant to be an activist. … [B]eing involved in the AYF helped teach me the organizational skill sets required to succeed in the corporate world. Learning to grow, learning to never give up on the things you believe in, learning to follow visions and dreams that are central to who you are, and to learn from those who you accept and respect as mentors, and most importantly, separate those who ascend with times from those who are wanna-be’s.
Look around you, learn to identify who you’ll accept as a mentor, move beyond the others, especially those who demonstrate themselves consistently as proponents of passive resistance or with divisionary intent. Live to be a builder.
Each generation must grow to build on what your have been taught by your parents and what you learn from your community involvement. Change must start from within and knowing you’ll outlive the generations ahead of you, it’s incumbent for all Armenians to prove to the world how strong and passionate we are despite the adversity we face individually or as a people. It’s part of the DNA that make up our people…
M.G.—What was going through your mind when you realized you were being named an Olympic King? S.P.—I was thinking a lot about my father George Panosian who passed away on Father’s Day in 2012. My father was a great community contributor, he found good in everyone and served his community selflessly. It was my father who built the Detroit AYF swim team and put “KT” on the map; it was my swimming abilities that defined a new frontier for others to jump in, advance, and carry the tradition forward. George was always in the forefront contributing unselfishly to his community. He was more deserving of being named King than me.
I dedicate my award to all Detroiters who have won the King and Queen award in the past, and to my father who inspired me in so many ways to do my best.
I was also thinking back to 1975 when my mother and Sonny Gavoor were named King and Queen of those Games. I remember being very happy for my mom and here she was, 39 years later, putting my medal on me, and Sonny was doing the same for Alex. That was a great moment.
I look at Sonny, my father, Rich Chebookjian, and my co-King, Alex Sarafian, who all turned to organizing and coaching, built winning teams, and created something their athletes will keep with them their entire lives. That is something very special and something we should all aspire to.
M.G.—What are you thinking now having received this honor? S.P.—I am humbled by being named King and now must find a way to step up and do more for the AYF. My support over the past 15 or so years has been focused on the Armenian Youth Foundation and its work to raise money for cultural interests including our Camp Haiastan. I love the camp, my kids loved the camp, and I hope thousands of young Armenians have an opportunity to build more bonds with new Armenian friends. It’s been good to see Detroit win that first Olympics in 1975 and grow to the power community it is today. It was great in the year Alex and I were named Kings to see Detroit win the Olympics again.
M.G.—Any last words? S.P.—Yes, our roots run deep, and we learned to proudly say back in the day: Yes hay em.
Latest posts by Mark Gavoor (see all)
- Improvising at my first Tigran Hamasyan concert experience - April 3, 2024
- Hachig Kazarian’s new book a must-read for Western Armenian music lovers - March 6, 2024
- Chidem Inch: Watching “Armenia, My Home” - March 5, 2024
Be the first to comment