By Staff
Jeff Smoke is a long way from home, but it's right where he wants to be.
The 1996 Buchanan High School graduate is currently living at the U.S. Olympic Canoe and Kayak Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., a suburb of San Diego.
Smoke, 26, recently qualified to be a member of the 2004 United States Olympic Team which will take part in the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
Smoke will be competing in the K-2 1000-meter sprint race.
Before competing in the Summer Games, Smoke will be participating in races in Europe and then continuing his pre-Olympic training.
Smoke graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2000.
During his high school career, Smoke participated in ice hockey and tennis and was a member of four state finalist tennis teams.
The 2004 Summer Games will be held Aug. 13-29 in Athens.