Wrapping Up a Phenomenal Winter Games Experience

It’s bittersweet as the Games here in Vancouver are winding down. I had the opportunity to go to the speedskating Team Pursuit medal round. To see races won or lost by .02 seconds is incredible. The difference between gold and silver is so unbelievably minute — a second feels like an eternity out on the ice!

The race that sticks out for me was when Germany's Anni Friesinger-Postma lost her balance and slid on her stomach for the final 25 meters. She looked more like a swimmer on ice as she crossed the finish line. She started to cry thinking she lost the race but she was able to get her skate across the line (skate has to cross to finish) to beat the U.S. by .23 seconds!

My friend Derek Parra (US Speedskating Head Coach) was in total shock. He told me after the race that Friesinger-Postma did a remarkable job getting her skate across the line but he was pretty bummed about losing the race.

I also caught up with Dave and Renee Wentz again at the USA House. Dave shared his pin collecting hobby with me and talked about it on the video posted above. You have to watch!

The Olympics have been so inspiring. This was my first Winter Games and I am extremely grateful to the USOC for providing me with such great access to current and former Olympians and for hosting me and all of the Olympians at the USA House. I was able to meet so many outstanding people!

Having a Blast in Vancouver!

Dave Wentz wearing his lucky USA hat.

Apolo Ohno

Friday was a blast! I toured the P&G House for Olympians and their families. It is similar to the USA House, but more commercial. One cool part of the P&G House was the spa where athletes can get massages, makeovers, hair styling, etc. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to get a massage!!


Later in the evening, I had the opportunity to catch up and spend time with Dave and Renee Wentz and host them at the USA House. Dave was sporting a few pins from his collection but the best part of his outfit was the USA hat! He said he wore that hat with pride in 2002 as well!

We had a great time seeing the athletes and we all got the opportunity to meet and talk with Apolo Ohno. Each night at the House, athletes come after their competition to celebrate with friends and family. No press is allowed, so it really allows them to get away. I continue to be impressed by how nice and humble the athletes are.

Here are some photos from the day:

Ryan Suter, Team USA Hockey

Again, the hat

US Speedskating short-track coach Jae Su Chun

US Speedskating's Travis Jayner

Cameron Myler, four-time Olympian for USA Luge

Speedskating great Dan Jansen

A Win-Win Day in Vancouver

I started the day with a reception for USANA Associates and the US Speedskating group at the US Speedskating House. It was a blast to get together and share our paths in USANA.

Karen Shumka, USANA Emerald Director, and I were betting (no money!!) on who would win the USA vs. Canada Women’s Hockey gold medal game yesterday. Of course I was USA all the way, but I was a tiny bit torn, as we have an incredible Canadian athlete on Team USANA — Jennifer Botterill.

As it turns out Canada won, and USANA won ... and I was really proud of Team USA! They have an incredible rivalry with Canada and on any given day either team could win.

Team USA Women's Hockey Team

Checking out Caitlin's silver medal

I was able to catch up with the USA Women’s Hockey Team after the game at the USA House. I talked with Caitlin Cahow (No. 8 USA) and her mom Barbara about their experience here and I got to hold Caitlin’s silver medal!

Although I may have a medal of my own, I was like a little kid when I got to touch Caitin’s medal. The design is spectacular!

To top it off, I got to meet members of our USANA-sponsored Women’s Speedskating team as well. All of the athletes are so gracious and humble. It’s inspiring to be around them...

US Speedskating's bronze medal 3,000 meter relay team

Behind the Scenes in Vancouver (Day 3)

Another fantastic day here at the Olympics!

I had the opportunity to get a real behind the scenes look at speedskating. My friend Derek Parra, Olympic gold medalist and USANA Associate, is the US Speedskating national all-around head coach. We caught up for a few minutes and he spoke about coaching being a bit like parenting — you hope you raised them right and then you send them on and hope for the best.

When I walked into the Olympic Oval, I got chills watching the skaters glide effortlessly around the track. The sound of their skates on the ice makes an incredible sound — if “speed” had a sound that would be it.


The skaters were both extremely focused and relaxed at the same time...it reminded me of our practices at the Olympics. It was not about hard work, it was all about focus and getting mentally ready. There is a universal feeling on the day of any competition — getting nerves under control to relax, focus, and do your best.

From there, I had the opportunity to meet a member of one of the greatest Olympic teams in history — Bob Suter from the 1980 USA Hockey Team!!! What a thrill for me and he was so incredibly humble!

Although it was another rainy day here in Vancouver, it continues to be an awesome experience!