by Tom Borish

Rock looks get back on track in 2009 for the World Outdoor Championships (Errol Anderson)

It's been a while since we've heard from you. How is everything going for you right now?

Everything is going well. I was taking a little down time from running and racing but now am back lifting. I have been spending time with my family and relaxing some. I have also been studying some for the GMAT since I may decide to get my MBA. I am not 100% sure yet but I want it to be an option.

Stepping back on the track, it was strange not to see you, the 2006 U.S. National Champion, in the starting blocks during the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene. What made you decide not to compete in the event and were you satisfied with the decision?

That's really a question I can't answer with ease. I have just had a tough year competing and really don't have all the answers why. I lost a lot of confidence in myself early in the year and it really just took a toll on me. I put a lot of pressure on myself to compete at a high level and when I wasn't, I really had a hard time handling that. I really have never had anything major go wrong in my track career, and that dates back to age 10. I just got used to having everything go smooth that when it didn't I was really caught off guard. I feel I am a pretty highly driven person and I think every year as I did well as a professional I just put more and more pressure on myself, and got to the point this year that I just couldn't handle it and it became overwhelming instead of something I do because I really love it. Obviously, I wish this would have never happened and that I made the Olympic Team, but I don't believe in looking back and regretting things. I made the decision not to compete and I am fine. Yes, it was a very hard time to go through but I am trying to learn from it. The comforting feeling is that I have made an Olympic team before and I will always have those memories.

Was it tough for you watching the Olympic Games even though knowing just how strong of a team the U.S. sent to Beijing in the 400 meters?

It was hard at times, and at... Read the rest of the Interview with Andrew Rock | Interview from 2003