SEATTLE — Two doctors from Seattle Children's Hospital and UW Medicine are heading to Paris for the Olympics. They have been selected to be team physicians for Team USA's track and field and swimming teams.
"This is the pinnacle. This has always been the goal, to get there," said Dr. Brian Krabak.
Dr. Krabak will be front and center before the biggest global sports event of the year.
"This is part of what sports medicine is at the highest level. I feel like the experience I've had in taking care of athletes and being at the games before sets me at a little at ease, just knowing that I just need to go and do my job," he said.
Dr. Krabak is a physician with Seattle Children's and UW Medicine. This will be his fourth Olympics. Each experience has been memorable, but he said the Olympics in Paris could top the rest as one of top docs overseeing the 70 athletes on USA’s Swimming Team.
"We're not there to go to look at the Eifel Tower, we're not there to see the Arc D Triumph, we are there with a purpose and a goal," Dr. Krabak.
The goal is to provide medical services for the best athletes in our country. It's a shared goal for Dr. Krabak’s colleague, Dr. Monique Burton, who will also be making the trip to Paris. Her role will be as a physician with the USA Track and Field Team.
"To be able to put in that work and then to be selected, it truly is a gift," said Dr. Burton.
A gift that keeps on giving with this being her third Olympics as she cares for the 140 track and field athletes going for gold.
“To get to hear our national anthem when they are winning,” said Dr. Burton, “it gives me chills."
Both doctors are grateful to represent their country during a summer they'll never forget.
"There's no win or lose in this,” said Dr. Krabak. “We're heading to the Olympics. This is going to be outstanding this is a win-win-win situation.”