Cat Osterman and softball have not always been synonymous. She started playing in the first grade when a friend persuaded her to join the team, but quickly moved on to soccer after losing interest. But fate introduced her to softball again. At Osterman’s request, she was given a pitching lesson as a birthday present and has never looked back. Today Osterman has the amazing and unique opportunity of being part of history as she and her teammates head to Athens for the Olympic Summer Games. The U.S. team will defend its gold medal this year and Osterman anticipates the Olympics will be a choice forum for her to play hard and show off her pitching skill. Mostly she looks forward to “being in the Olympic atmosphere, being around other athletes and talking about it,” she says.

To get to this point, Osterman had to face a rigorous selection process, including a four-day-a-week training regimen.

“It was the one time when I was adamant about not missing even one workout,” she says. “I knew the process and what they were looking for.”

Obviously, her knowledge and ability paid off, as she was one of only two collegiate players selected for the team. Upon becoming a member in January 2003, Osterman quickly found herself part of a new family.

“It’s like I have 16 older sisters,” she says of being the youngest member.

In addition to training extensively on the road and playing relatively non-stop, fans can follow this incredible athlete’s progress on a daily basis. The University of Texas Web site (www.texassports.com) features “Catching Up with Cat,” a journal chronicling Osterman’s experiences and a live chat room where she can communicate with people all over the country. She also plans to keep her journal updated throughout her journey with the U.S. Olympic team.

Overall, Osterman believes that her high level of activity through the years has helped keep her healthy and well-rounded. Even when not touring, “I do something active every day,” she explains. At the moment, Osterman has little trouble finding ways to stay fit on the “Aiming for Athens” tour. Her most memorable touring experience to date has been the team’s conference trip to Italy. “We saw so many things and really bonded,” she says.

In the future, Osterman aims to continue playing on the U.S. Olympic team, hopefully qualifying in 2008 and 2012, and eventually wants to attend graduate school and coach a university softball team of her own. And looking at her track record thus far, it seems she’s already well on her way to earning a gold.