USOPC TEAM USA ANNUAL MEETING // ATHERTON, CALIFORNIA

Olympic Dreams and a Torch from 1984

When I was a kid, I wanted to be in the Olympics. Not just go to the Olympics—be in them. My dream? To ride for Team USA in equestrian eventing. That passion came from my dad, a lifelong athlete who was on his way to join the track and field team in England before he met my mom—and life took him on a different path.

He was a high jumper, a really good one. Competitive, driven, dedicated—and he passed all of that on to me.

So, when I got the call to photograph an event put on by USOPC (yes, THE United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee)… let’s just say it took me a minute to pick my jaw up off the floor.

We’ve photographed some truly incredible people over the years, been part of wildly cool events, and met our fair share of fancy humans. But Olympians?
They’re in a league of their own. (Astronauts, you’re next—wink, hint, nudge, NASA.)

We’ve now worked with USOPC on several occasions and learned just how many incredible Northern California families, foundations, and individuals help fund and support Team USA.

The events we photograph honor these behind-the-scenes heroes—the donors, the visionaries, the ones cheering from the sidelines. And through it all, we’ve gotten to meet people who care deeply about movement, wellness, community, and the unshakable magic of the Olympics: how they bring the world together, if only for a few spark-lit days.

And then…I got to hold the Olympic torch from the 1984 Games.

I was born in 1984. In LA. So, you can imagine—holding that torch felt like touching a piece of my own story. A little full-circle moment. I just about died.

(Insert torch photo here 🔥 because obviously.)

One of the events featured a live snowboarding exhibition—complete with Olympic snowboarders catching serious air, mid-party, right in the middle of Silicon Valley. Snowboarding was my sport through high school and college, growing up in Colorado. So watching those athletes fly—with moves from the “Flying Something” crew (I need to double-check their name!)—was pure magic.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Atherton, with golden light dripping through the hills, the whole event was warm, powerful, and soul-stirring.

We’re so honored to be part of these gatherings. And to continue to tell the stories behind Team USA—the ones full of grit, gratitude, legacy, and Olympic-sized dreams.

eVENT HOSt |  United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)

VENUE | pRIVATE eSTATE, aTHERTON, ca

SNOWBOARDING EXHIBITION | FLYING ACES

Photography | Michaela Joy Photography

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