The magical mix of the Games Posted: 25 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST Shaklee Health Wise We are drawn to the unusual, the exceptional, and the amazing. Our attention hovers on the very new, but also on the old. And the allure of witnessing determined competitors reaching their challenging goals is virtually irresistible. So when you mix all those elements together, pack them into 17 days, throw in a passel of Shaklee heroes, and top it all off with a heapin’ helpin’ of patriotism and precious breathtaking moments, you’ve got a world-changing event for the ages. That’s exactly what will happen at the Sochi Games beginning Feb. 6, 2014. The 19 elite athletes of the Shaklee Pure Performance Team who are competing for the U.S. will inspire the world as they push toward their golden goals. For two of our athletes, “push” is the operative word. Curt Tomasevicz and Jamie Greubel will each, with their teammates, drive their bobsleds with explosive power nearly a mile toward the finish line. Jamie is a pilot who will see the finish line as she crosses it, and Curt is a “pusher” who won’t see the finish line at all—a rarity in athletic events. But Peter Frenette will have a grand view of the finish line. In fact, he’ll have the best view of all athletes since he’ll be soaring nearly 200 feet in the air as a ski jumper. It’s doubtful, however, that he’ll be focusing on anything but his flying position as he streaks down the grooves of the 90-meter jump. The members of the men’s and women’s curling teams don’t have a finish line, so they’ll be sweeping their way to a sweet spot on the ice that might lead to a sweet spot on the podium. Curlers Craig Brown, John Landsteiner, and Jared Zezel are making their first trip to the Games, while Jeff Isaacson and Erika Brown are making their second and third trips respectively. In fact, Erica competed in her first Games in 1988, before many of the Team members were even born. Speaking of rest, did you know that biathletes have trained to compact their “rest” into a few short breaths so they can shoot at two-inch and four-inch steel targets interspersed along their 15-kilometer cross country sprint? Lanny Barnes will ski and shoot at her third Games, as her twin sister, Tracy, cheers her on. Incidentally, both sisters were named to the Team; for their story, click here. While every Team member has a great story, few can match Kris Freeman’s amazing journey. This cross country skier will compete in the Games for the fourth time (2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014), an incredible feat of persistence. But throw in the fact that Kris is a type 1 diabetic and you can see why we refer to him as one of our “heroes.” Short track and long track skaters have produced some legendary heroes at the Games, and Kelly Gunther (long), Brian Hansen (long), Jordan Malone (short), and Jilleanne Rookard (long) will have their shots at fame. Brian will have four opportunities to earn a medal as he competes in the 500m, 1,000m, 1,500m, and team pursuit events. And yes, there are several team events in the Sochi Games. Click over to women’s ice hockey on Feb. 20, when we hope to see Kacey Bellamy, Megan Bozek, Brianna Decker, Brianne McLaughlin, and Molly Schaus join their teammates in the medal-winning games. Kacey and Brianne have been there before (silver in 2010), and they expect to score big this time around. On behalf of the Shaklee Family, we wish these amazing competitors good luck in Sochi. You carry our best hopes, dreams, and support with you every step of the way!
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:38:20 +0000
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