When you think about the Olympics or Paralympics, you think of sport stars and fanfare. To me, though, I think about the kids they influence.
Last week as Gov. Spencer Cox and sport officials gathered at the state Capitol to push the SUBMIT button on Salt Lake City-Utah’s bid to bring the Winter Games back in 2034, they were flanked by young athletes between the ages of 8 and 15. The future stars stood proudly in their sport uniforms amid the elegant furnishings and Beaux Arts-style ceiling mural of the Capitol’s Gold Room as another milestone was carved into our Utah Olympic and Paralympic history.
What began as a new concept of legacy in 2002 is manifesting itself today. Since then, sport has become part of our culture — on the slopes, ice, and trails here in Park City and across our state.
Nickolas De Bock, 12, and sister Emma, 15, are speed skaters from Farmington. They are in the early stages of learning a new sport at the Olympic Oval in Kearns with gold medalist Derek Parra.
Catherine Raney Norman was a speed skater herself in 2002, competing in her second of four Olympics. Today, she chairs the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games.
“We have a different focus — a focus on impact this time around,” she said. “How we relate to youth and to our communities is completely different than we did in 2002.”
Maybe, just maybe, one of the five athletes gathered at the capitol will be Olympians in 2034. But one thing is for sure. Each of them will gain valuable life lessons from their experience in sport, which go much further than medals.
As the athletes lined up for photos, the youngest in the group, 8-year-old Renn Demong, calmly found his place. Renn is a relatively new athlete with the Figure Skating Club of Park City.
“I’m learning new jumps,” he proudly exclaimed. What was specifically happening may have been a bit lost on him, but it didn’t matter. It was a cool room, and when the governor said hello to him, he knew it was something special.
Renn doesn’t know much yet about his father’s own Olympic background. But Dad, Olympic champion Bill Demong, was there at his side.
“What I like about all of this (Olympic and Paralympic bid) is that it engages the people of Utah,” he said.
Sydney Ervin, 11, is a second-year U12 ski racer with Park City Ski & Snowboard.
“It was cool to meet all the people involved in getting the Olympics here,” she said. Gazing around, she marveled at all the marble and elegant ornamentation around her. Meeting the governor and mayor had a big impact.
After a season chasing races around Utah, Ervin’s next stop will be Tamarack in Idaho for own big event — the Intermountain Championships.
Zoe Happy is a bubbly 11-year-old who loves moguls skiing, soccer, and volleyball. With a two-time Olympic medalist mom, Shannon Bahrke, Zoe’s long been comfortable bashing the bumps at Deer Valley or skiing deep powder at Snowbird. And while she kind of has her eyes set on 2034, she’s quick to point out that she would love to go to the Summer Olympics, as well.
It was her first visit to the Capitol, and she was impressed. “I kind of met the governor — he gave me a fist bump!” she said.
She was also quick to grasp the importance of the event. What was her biggest takeaway? “Probably being a part of the experience and also being a part of why Utah wants the Olympics again.”