It's About A Lot More Than Gold

When I first heard about the One Winter, Five Dreams which Panasonic was putting together, it instantly caught my attention. While the TV and other media will spend the vast majority of their time focusing on the star athletes and those who are medal contenders, the part of the Olympics that I have always enjoyed most are the stories behind the athletes and the obstacles they have overcome to even make it to the Olympic Games. Every athlete has a story because it would be impossible to get to an Olympic level without having to overcome numerous obstacles along the way.

It's the dreams of these lesser known athletes that can inspire all of us to do more and be better. Each has found a reason beyond a gold medal to get up each day and put in the grueling time and effort it takes to train and be at an Olympic level. They have learned to enjoy the journey while looking at the goal of a gold medal instead of being so focused on the gold that they miss on the everyday triumphs. They have found a passion that I believe all of us hope to find.

You can see it in their comments and goals. It's about skiing to make sure that future generations in his home country see another winter Olympic athlete from Ethiopia someday:



It's knowing that the results "don't equate (to) the person that I am and my self image." It's about more than that -- to simply to get a chance to land the jump he missed at Torino in Vancouver:



It's about showing a younger generation "what an old man can do" when effort and determination are exhibited -- even at the age of 45:



It's about finding the place where you are happiest which may happen to be on the ice:



Even an athlete that failed to qualify for Vancouver hasn't let this setback stop her. In fact, she probably illustrates best of all that it's about a lot more than a gold medal with her determination to continue to practice and support her teammates -- and even look toward Sochi as her next goal:



When you know the story behind these athletes journey to the Olympics, it's hard not to root for them. Even better, it's hard not to be inspired enough to say to yourself that with some effort and determination, you could be doing some amazing things as well. And in the end, that inspiration to those around them surely shines and glimmers much brighter than any gold medal...

10 Reasons You Should Cheer For Tugba Karademir At The Vancouver Olympics

Now that friends and family know that I am cheering for and supporting a 48 year old freestyle skier from Argentina, a 45 year old skeleton racer from Japan and an Ethiopian cross country skier (not to mention a women's skeleton racer from New Zealand even though she unfortunately failed to qualify) at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics, they take me a little more seriously when I explain that I'm also supporting an ice skater from Turkey. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider cheering for Tugba Karademir at the Vancouver Olympic games:

10. She had an opportunity to make if financially easier on herself and family, but decided that representing her home country was more important.



9. It's always more fun to cheer for the underdog.

8. The smile



7. She has her sights set on a top ten finish which she believes is possible if she performs 2 clean routines.

6. How many other ice skaters are also studying for an honours degree in Biotechnology?

5. It's much more fun to be a trend setter than a trend follower.

4. Talent beyond figure skating.

3. While other ice skaters are treated like rock stars, she's happy to try and teach her country more about the sport of figure skating.

2. How can you not support an ice skater that claims she's happier on the ice than anywhere else?

And the number one reason that you should be rooting for Tugba Karademir at the Vancouver Olympics is:

1. Just watch

10 Reasons Everybody Should Cheer For Kazuhiro Koshi At The Vancouver Olympics

When I tell people that one of the athletes I am cheering for and supporting at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics is a 45 year old skeleton racer from Japan, their first reaction is that I must be joking. When they find out that I'm not, they wonder why I would support such an obscure athlete. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider cheering on Kazuhiro Koshi at the Vancouver Olympic games:

10. How many other middle age men have photos taken of them that look this cool?



9. It's always more fun to cheer for the underdog.

8. The Japanese dragon helmet



7. When there is no snow, skeleton racers practice on cement.

6. How can you not cheer for someone that proclaims to the press, "I'll show you all what an old man can do — you wait!"

5. He's a fantastic example of what your father (husband / self) can accomplish instead of sitting on the couch drinking beer while watching TV.

4. At age 45, his goal is to come back with the gold.

3. Sliding down a half-tube of ice at 75 to 80 miles an hour...

2. approximately 4 inches above the ice...

And the number one reason that you should be rooting for Kazuhiro Koshi at the Vancouver Olympics is:

1. face first.

10 Reason Everyone Should Cheer For Clyde Getty At The Olympics

When I tell people that I am cheering and supporting a 48 year old freestyle ski jumper from Argentina at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics, their first reaction is that they think I'm making up a story. When they find out that I'm not, they wonder why I would support such an obscure athlete. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider cheering on Clyde Getty at the Vancouver Olympic games:

10. Daffy!



9. It's always more fun to cheer on the underdog.

8. Freakin' triple back-flip layouts.



7. Because you should hope that you can be as active when you are 48 years old.

6. He does back flips off of jumps he builds after it snows in his back yard.

5. It's not often you get a chance to root for an Olympic athlete with a touch of gray.

4. Because he can casually announce that he displaced his 10th rib on a jump as if it were nothing more than a normal training hazard.

3. Freestyle skiing take off ramps



2. How can you not root for someone who feels he has already received his medal simply for making it to the Olympics?

And the number one reason that you should be rooting for Clyde Getty at the Vancouver Olympics is:

1. After taking a face plant like this:



as Clyde did in Torino, not only did he jump up and wave to the crowd, he decided that he wanted to try the jump again in the next Olympics:

10 Reasons To Cheer On Robel Teklemariam At The Olympics

When I tell people that I am cheering on and supporting a 35 year old cross country skier from Ethiopia at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics, their first reaction is that they think I'm making up a story. When they find out that I'm not, they wonder why I would support such an obscure athlete. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider cheering on Robel Teklemariam at the Vancouver Olympic games:

10. It's always more fun to root for the underdog.

9. Because it's always good to know some Olympic trivia that nobody else in the room does.

8. You have to love an Olympic athlete who states one of his goals is "making sure I am not the last Ethiopian to compete in the Winter Olympics."

7. When you carry in the Ethiopian flag to any of the Olympic parties you attend, you know that everyone will want to talk with you.

6. The hair.



5. How can you not want to support an athlete that is not competing for himself, but for the next generation of kids who he hopes to inspire.

4. With national colors like that, there will be no problem distinguishing him from the other cross country racers.

3. Nobody will ever claim that you are a trend follower again.

2. Because he still competes even though he has to carry his equipment on his own and travel by train to make it to the races.



And the number one reason you should be supporting Robel Teklemariam at the Olympics is:

1. Because you won't only be cheering for one athlete, but you'll be cheering for an entire nation.

Clyde Getty Helmet Cam

It is amazing that Clyde Getty is still doing freestyle skiing competitively at age 48, but to get a true feeling of what it is like, you have to take a look at these Clyde Getty helmet cam videos:







If that doesn't make you want to cheer him on at the Olympics, I don't know what will...

Tugba Karademir Comments on Her Jumps

Here are the comments from Tugba Karademir on her jumps during the Free Program at the 2010 European Figure Skating Championships:

I didn't have big mental problems. I went for all my jumps, but I didn't land them well. I left about 20 points on the table because of poor landings and lost combinations. All in all, it is a good experience before the Olympics, and it is better that it happened now. I still have a month to prepare. It is worse for other competitors who skate at the Four Continents Championships as they have only two weeks.

For the Olympic games, Canada is almost my home country. It is familiar and I feel comfortable there. Last time (in 2006) I didn't feel as if I belonged as I was a surprise entry. Now I know that I belong with the best and I feel better mentally.

These comments were left by her parents on Tugba's English Facebook fan page

Tugba Karademir 2010 European Figure Skating Championship Free Program Video

Tugba Karademir Finishes 12th in European Championships

At the end of the free program Tugba Karademir finished in 12th place in the European Figure Skating Championships with a total of 82.54 points.

Tugba said that she believed she represented Turkey the best that she could. Her next destination is Vancouver for the Olympics where she hopes to place well. Tugba received a score of 35.74 for technical merit, and a score of 46.80 for artistic merit for a total of 82.54 points and a 12th place finish.

Translated from NTV Sports

Tugba Karademir European Championships Short Program and Results

Tugba Karademir skated a strong short program at the 2010 European Figure Skating Championships in Estonia. Tugba cleanly landed a triple Lutz - double toe loop combination in her routine. She also landed a beautiful triple Salchow out of steps. Watch for yourself:



The performance left her in 10th place after the short program out of 421 participants. She scored a 53.88 with her technical numbers being the 5th best overall. You can see all the scoring here and the overall rankings after the short program here

Skating for the Love of It and Country: Tugba Karademir

In many Asian countries, ice skaters are treated as rock stars. When you come from Turkey, it's a challenge to find any sponsors, let alone find adequate coaches and training time. Those are some of the difficulties that 24 year old Tugba Karademir has had to overcome as she became the first winter skating Olympian for Turkey.

To keep her dream alive, her and her parents made the difficult choice to move to Canada to find better training and more ice time. When the Canadians asked Tugba to represent them, she declined preferring to represent her native Turkey:




Tubga finished in 21st place out of 24 at the 2006 Torino Olympic Winter Games and hopes to greatly improve on that result in Vancouver. She has already qualified so we'll see her competing in February. You can follow her blog and also become a fan on facebook to support her efforts and dreams.

A Triple Flip Without A Face Plant: Clyde Getty's Olympic Dream

Even if you don't recognize the name Clyde Getty, if you watched the Olympics 4 years ago, you have probably seen his performance countless times. Attempting a triple flip, he came up a couple of degrees short and did a face plant that was replayed time and again. Watch for yourself and you'll remember:



One would assume that being 44 years old at the time, that would have been the end of Clyde's freestyle ski jumping. You'd be wrong. Just as he immediately jumped up after that hard landing and began blowing kisses, he set his sights on Vancouver and giving the triple jump a try at another Olympic games at age 48.

You can follow his blog as he competes to make the Argentina team. You can also become a fan on facebook to cheer him on to perfectly landing that triple flip this time around.

Sliding Down A Sheet Of Ice At 45 Years: Kazuhiro Koshi's Olympic Dream

Proving that age isn't the limit that we assume it is when it comes to the Olympics, Kazuhiro Koshi, the "resolute samurai" is aiming to qualify at the skeleton at the age of 45 (I'm nearly his age and I can barely get myself out of bed in the morning without injuring myself). Here is his story:



When Kazu began his skeleton career after the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics where he failed to qualify for bobsled, he managed to do so despite the fact that there were no skeleton coaches or athletes in Japan at the time. He's persevered despite numerous setbacks including job changes and losses -- obstacles that would have made most people quit long ago.

Kazu is currently competing in World Cup races in an attempt to qualify for the Vancouver Olympics. Follow his blog and support his effort to make it to another Olympic games. How can you not want to support a 45 year old that is willing to slide down a sheet of ice face first because he loves it so much?

One Olympic Dream Ends Prematurely: Katharine Eustace Fails To Qualify

Katharine Eustace, the 34 year old New Zealander who was hoping to participate in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic games, came up a little short on her dream. Although she had the best finish of the year with a 5th place finish, it wasn't enough to qualify her for the Olympics.

Despite this setback, Katherine's story is still motivational and worth a view as a model of how the journey is just as important as the goal:



Although she's not going to the Olympics, she finds herself ranked 26th in the world, her highest ranking ever. While we are greatly disappointed that we won't be seeing Katharine in Vancouver competing, we know that we will see a lot of her in the years to come in the sport of women's skeleton.