Heavy Medals
Photography: Courtesy of USSA
Vancouver 2010 was the most successful showing ever for United States athletes at an Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, and so many of the medalists have ties to Park City. We’ve watched these world-class athletes train and compete, and we’ve cheered them on. Park City Magazine already introduced several of them in its recent winter issue, and now we offer a round of applause to these winning locals.
Shannon Bahrke won bronze in moguls on the opening day of the Olympics. She also won silver at the 2002 Games at Deer Valley Resort.
Brett Camerota, a Park City native, won silver in the Nordic combined team 4x relay. It was the first Olympic team medal ever for the United States in this sport.
Billy Demong won gold in the Nordic combined individual large hill event and shared silver in the team event. His gold was the first in any Nordic sport for the United States. Demong’s peers acknowledged the feat by selecting him to be the U.S. flag bearer at the closing ceremonies, in which role he joined the ranks of Olympic legends such as speed skater Eric Heiden—who also calls Park City home.
Steve Holcomb, who trains at Utah Olympic Park, led the four-man bobsled team to a gold-medal victory, ending a 62-year American drought in the event.
Julia Mancuso, a graduate of the Winter Sports School, added to her career medal collection, winning silver in both downhill and super combined. She also won a gold in 2006.
Jeret “Speedy” Peterson won silver, landing his signature jump, the Hurricane, to the roar of an appreciative crowd. The Hurricane (a quintuple-twisting triple flip) is the most difficult jump in freestyle aerials competition.
Greg Shaw helped Team USA win gold at the Paralympics in sledge hockey. His goal in the second period was a pivotal moment
in the game.
Danielle and Rob Umstead brought home Paralympic bronze medals in downhill and super combined. It was the first Paralympic Games for Danielle, a visually impaired racer, and her husband, Rob, who is her course guide.
Stephani Victor added to her Paralympic medal collection from 2002 and 2006, winning three medals including gold in super combined and silver in both slalom and giant slalom.
Lindsey Vonn, who can be found in Park City each summer working out at the U.S. Ski Team’s training center, won gold in downhill and bronze in super G.
And, Bryon Wilson surprised the world (but not his coaches) when he won bronze in moguls.
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