I have been following the qualification for the US Team for the Winter Olympic Games. I also have the good fortune to know some of these athletes. Some I don’t know, but hope to meet at some future date. Having known a few for many years and watching them along with my general interest in sports, I believe we have a team of winners.br /br /They may perform well enough to come away with medals. But that is not why I am referring to them as winners. I saw a note to Johnny Spillane on a facebook page this morning. Johnny is skiing in his 4th Olympic Games. He was World Champion in the sprint event in the 2003 Nordic Combined Worlds. He is at his home in Steamboat Springs, CO to finish his final preparation for the Vancouver games. In the lodge at Howelson Hill he was hanging out with the little kids. He helped tie the laces of jumping boots. One little girl said that he was the best lace tier and she decided to go out and try the 25 meter jump. She said she nailed her tele landings and that Johnny had given her the good luck. br /br /Kikkan Randall and Holly Brooks are spending time supporting a “Fast and Female” program to encourage girls to get involved in skiing. They both are serving as excellent role models for all of us as we look for descent role models in sports. Kikkan has overcome significant health issues, recovered and gone on to become faster than ever. She could have used the health issues to stop skiing. Holly came late to nordic skiing from Seattle. She knew what she loved and focused and is now on the Olympic Team. She also spends time coaching in three different programs run by APU in Alaska.br /br /Kris Freeman continues to seek excellence despite the fact that he is diabetic. Kris has had to deal with that and compartment syndrome and has twice undergone surgery. His getting smarter and faster even with the obstacles that have been thrown at him. Kris works at summer camps for kids with diabetes. Who knows which of these kids is touched by his story and goes on to fight the good fight.br /br /Bill Demong recently attended a local race in Park City as he preps for the Olympics. Bill is a World Champion in Nordic Combined and recently on the podium in world cups in Europe. Bill takes the time to hang out with the little kids. He has been this way for years.br /br /Torin Koos helps to coach a summer track program in his home town of Leavenworth, WA.br /br /My guess is that other nordic skiers on the US Olympic Team exhibit similar personality characteristics. They may or may not be on the podium in Vancouver, but in my book, they are winners.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6589659500745667109-1887267342488676681?l=www.webskis.com%2Fwebskisblog.html’ alt=” //div
