## Grads Made Their Impact on Olympic Games
### By Randy Roughton
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications
Alonzo Babers and Kathy (Callaghan) Rex, graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy, reflect on their Olympic achievements every four years. Both represented the United States in the Olympics after their graduation.
Alonzo Babers, a 1983 graduate, won two gold medals in the 400-meter and 4×400-meter relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Kathy (Callaghan) Rex, a 1984 graduate, competed on the U.S. Handball Team in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
“For the most part, I can go for years and not be recognized,” Babers said. “From time to time, someone will recognize my name. It has always been a huge part of my life, but I’ve tried to keep it low profile.”
Babers earned a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Sciences at the Academy, where he competed in track after playing one year of football. After graduation, a special assignment allowed Babers to work in the Academy sports information office and train for the Olympics. By the summer of 1984, Babers had gained significant experience running against elite competitors nationally and internationally. He overcame a near-miss in the Olympic trials to achieve a personal-best time in the preliminary heats and final, leading to his qualification for the U.S. Olympic team. Babers went on to set a personal record and win gold in the 400-meter final and contributed to the U.S. team’s victory in the 4×400 meter relay.
After his Olympic success, Babers completed flight training and served as an active-duty officer. He flew during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and Operation Southern Watch in 1994 as an Air Force reservist before retiring from the military in 2002. Today, Babers continues to fly for United Airlines and remains active in supporting his alma mater, visiting high schools to promote academic success.
Kathy (Callaghan) Rex, a 1984 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Management, played for the Academy’s volleyball and water polo teams and the national handball team. She maintained her handball position through national competitions during summer leaves. As a second lieutenant and finance officer in the U.S. Air Force, she continued her pursuit of Olympic dreams, earning the 1986 Military Athlete of the Year award. At the 1987 Pan American Games, her team won gold and qualified for the 1988 Summer Olympics, where she served as co-captain and helped her team secure a seventh-place finish.
“When the Olympics come around every four years, I remember all the people who believed in me and helped my dreams come true,” Rex said. “I love all sports and especially love to hear the stories of people who overcame obstacles to achieve something great.”
Now working as a loan officer in Colorado Springs, Rex is nearing retirement. She and her husband founded a non-profit running club in 1999, which has since served over 75,000 youth. Inspired by her own childhood experiences, Rex created the program to help kids succeed in sports as she did.
Participation in athletics at the Academy fosters key attributes such as initiative, teamwork, and the will to win, essential for developing cadet leaders. Every cadet is required to participate in athletics, which includes physical education courses, fitness tests, and engagement in competitive sports at intercollegiate or intramural levels. The Academy is home to 27 men’s and women’s Division I NCAA teams.