General | 9/25/2025 11:00:00 AM
ASUNCION, Paraguay (nazathletics.com) - The U.S, flag flew high in Asuncion, Paraguay this August as American athletes claimed seven medals in sailing and triathlon at the Junior Pan-American Games. Behind the scenes of those podium moments was Nazareth athletic trainer Phil Steckley, who spent nearly two weeks providing medical care as part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee's medical staff.
From August 11-23, 2025 Steckley worked with athletes who went on to capture three medals in sailing (two gold, one bronze) and four in triathlon (two gold, two silver). He recalled the pride of watching their names announced on the world stage.
"It was very exciting," Steckley said. "I got to see the medal ceremonies which were all done official – It was like the Olympic, but at the junior level."
"It was a great experience," Steckley said. "I got to meet a lot of new people – athletes, parents, medical staff, physical therapists, athletic trainers and physicians. It was exciting to work with the men's and women's sailing teams and the men's and women's triathlon team."
Steckley was placed at the sailing and triathlon venues, a location so remote that he and the staff had to take a military plane to reach it. Once there he quickly immersed himself in two sports he'd never covered before.
"The sailing was brand new for me," Steckley admitted. "One event was the ILCA 7, a single-person dinghy, and the other was the IQFoil, which is almost a wind surfer that lifts out of the water. It's crazy! It takes a lot of strength and flexibility. To see the athletes master that and then win medals was incredible."
"Ive always been fascinated by the Olympics," he said. "I wrote a paper in fourth grade about the Olympics, and I still have it," Steckley recalled with a laugh. "I knew I wasn't going to make it there as an athlete, but to be there providing medical services is the next best thing."
The dream is still alive. Athletic trainers at events like the Junior Pan-American games are graded on their performance, and strong reviews and results can open doors to future opportunities. While the staff for the next Olympics is already in place, Steckley has his sights on Los Angeles 2028, when the Games return to the U.S.
"That has always been my goal," Steckley said. "Not just to say that I worked the Olympics, but for the overall experience of being at the elite level."
For now, Steckley is grateful for the lessons he brought back to Nazareth.
"Our athletes here deserve the best possible care," he said. "Working at that elite level helps me bring world-class techniques and knowledge back to campus."
"To see them succeed, knowing you had a role in keeping them healthy and ready to compete, that's what it's all about."