The Bronze "Medal"

An article written by/for my roomate Streeter Lecka III

BEIJING – Lewis “Streeter” Lecka waits to be jetted off from his Olympics of a lifetime on Tuesday night, zooming into a future that includes newfound celebrity status, oodles of money and a possible redo four years from now at the London Games.
The photographer who won a historic one bronze fake media medal and set no world records in Beijing is departing on an overnight flight to Charlotte, North Carolina where he'll eat the hell out of a mexican dish of his choosing, sleep in his gigantic bed for countless hours and watch the television in English. Then he's going to steal away on a vacation by shooting American football three days after working 24 hour days for a month straight.
"I'm just taking everything step by step, enjoying the ride," Lecka told Getty Images in an interview hours before leaving.
Since winning the last of his bronze medals on Sunday, Lecka has been on a whirlwind of sponsor and TV appearances in Beijing, and he's enjoyed some of the city's nightlife including the exclusive CARGO. The exhaustion was evident in the 27-year-old champion's droopy eyes.
"I really want to spend as much time with my friends and family as I can," he said. "It's coming up on two months on the road. I want to be able to see them and just relax."
Lecka’s world changed dramatically during his 3 and 1/2 weeks in Beijing. After one TV appearance, he was driven off on a 40 year old bike and promptly got mobbed.
"It was scary," said his boss, Brandon Lopez. "That's what will be the different thing for him."
But he's letting his playful side come out. Lecka was waiting to be introduced last night at yet another sponsor's event Wednesday when he spied a spread of McDonalds on the bar. He ducked over, grabbed a Big Mac, Chicken Nuggets, fries, coke more fries and teasingly put his fingers to his lips to quiet the server. She responded by saying, “thank you for your cooperation.”
Lecka recalled sitting down to enjoy his first alcoholic drink with a colleague after an epic conquest of one record, survival. He raised his glass and said, "Well, my career's over, let's toast. All downhill from here."
Actually, the ride is only uphill.
Lecka plans return to Charlotte to be honored at the University of North Carolina home football game on Sept. 27.
Aussie Olympic greats Chris McGrath and Nick Laham have noticed a change in Lecka, too.
"It sounds really cliched but it's true, he's really grown as a human being," Laham told Getty about his former rival. "That in itself is going to serve him well as he makes these decisions in the upcoming few months and few years."
Lecka’s agent is sorting through a mountain of offers that could propel the one time bronze medalist into a household name that lasts long past the Olympics. Sponsors photographers were thrilled to have the champion around.
"I don't see him being an actor," Travis Lindquist said. "I think he'll just want to be a celebrity, whatever that means. He'll just have to keep improving if he wants to do that. He handles himself so much better than he did. I was just amazed at some of the answers he gave to a lot of these questions this time."
Lecka can always ring Down Under and seek Stuart Hannagan’s advice.
"I'm happy to help him out if he wants a hand with some of these things including the Intercontinental lobster," the Aussie said.
Lecka will hopefully return to the international sports photography stage at the next Winter Olympic games, where he will focus on colder events.
Lecka hopes to return for his second Olympics in 2012 and he's not ruling out working more hours.
"I'm never, ever ruling it out," he said. "We just have to play it by ear and see how things go, but definitely start some new events and see where it takes me."