Sarah Konrad Becomes First U.S. Female Winter Olympian
in Two Different Sports in Same Olympic Games
Antholz, Italy, January 18. Sarah Konrad (Laramie, WY) became the ultimate Olympic multi-tasker, when just two weeks after making the Biathlon Olympic Team, she was yesterday named to the US Olympic cross-country team.
While adding Olympic cross country skier to her resume, Konrad assumes a unique place in US Olympic history. She is the first US female Winter Olympian to compete in two different sports in the same Olympic Games. Making this an even bigger ‘dreams can come true story” is that Torino will be her first Olympic Winter Games…at age 38!
Konrad, a 1989 Dartmouth graduate in Earth Sciences, has focused on biathlon since taking up the sport three years ago. She had been a cross country skier for years, having won Masters (over 30) World Championships in that sport. Her decision to try biathlon in 2003, came as a result “of having gone as far as possible (until 2005 when she made World Championships Teams in both cross-county and biathlon), in skiing, because I am a skate specialist and not a sprinter.”
Having no biathlon experience, she started training at her own expense under US Biathlon Head Coach Algis Shalna. Shalna’s philosophy includes: taking fast cross-country skiers and teaching them how to shoot, as well as the nuances of biathlon that will make them successful biathletes. Konrad immersed herself in biathlon, dedicating herself, with short range goal of first making the Biathlon World Championships and then the 2006 Olympic Team.
She credits two things with her success in making both Olympic squads. “Quitting my job and focusing on my sport are a big part of this. But Algis’ training plan and support are the second critical part.”
When asked if she expected to be on one, let alone two Olympic teams two years ago, Konrad answered with an emphatic “no!”
Shalna’s relationship with Konrad has not always been easy. “The one thing about Sarah,” he commented, “is that she is very analytical and likes to know the reason for a workout or a change in technique. But she has fully dedicated her life to becoming a biathlete and it is now paying off.”
As of today, Sarah Konrad is the oldest member of the US Olympic Team for the Torino Games, by eight years. She hopes to compete in at least two biathlon competitions in Torino, the 15K individual on February 13 and the 7.5K Sprint on February 16. A top 60 finish in the sprint would see her advance to the Women’s 10K Pursuit on February 18. With five women on the biathlon team and only four starting positions in Torino, she will have to wait for a couple of weeks until the biathlon staff announces the entrants in each competition. In cross-country, she hopes to compete in the 30K freestyle on Feb. 24.
Regardless of how many times she breaks the starting beam in Torino, Sarah Konrad will have her place in history and at the same time be the envy of every 38 year-old who sees her wearing the red, white and blue next month.
The United States Biathlon Association is the National Governing Body for the sport of Biathlon in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Biathlon Union. The US Biathlon Association supports the US Biathlon Team and development of the sport on all levels within the United States.
TD Banknorth is the title sponsor of the US Biathlon Team. Lapua, adidas®, the Hilton Family of Hotels and Exel Ski Poles are supporting sponsors of the US Biathlon Team.