St. Paul Pioneer Press
CESANA PARIOL, Italy — Brian Olsen's 2006 Olympic Games were over before they began, and the Minnesotan accepted his fate with grace.
Olsen, a biathlete from Bloomington, hoped to compete in Saturday's individual 20-kilometer race but lost out on the Americans' fourth spot to teammate Lowell Bailey.
"Since my teammates have proved that they are competing at such a high level, I will most likely not race at these Games," Olsen said Sunday by e-mail. "I'm proud to be part of the team, and to assist in any way that I can to help."
The United States brought five biathletes and races the top four. Olsen said the 20K was his best shot at competing here — "the race I have prepared for the most" — and that barring an injury, he'll assist his teammates and study the world's best biathletes.
After learning he would not race, he skied the course at Cesana San Sicario on Saturday morning behind Norway's Ole Einar Bjorndalen, who was the fastest skier in the 20K and won the silver medal.
"It was the most exhilarating four kilometers on skis of my life, trying to shadow his every stride and watching how he approached each part of the course," Olsen said. "Those 15 minutes made this Olympic Games, and the prospect of not competing, worth it."
The Americans did well in the 20K: Jay Hakkinen's 10th-place finish was the best ever for an American. Bailey finished 27th. Watching their performances, Olsen said, "was inspiring."
"I was put to work on the course, to shoot video of the athletes who did compete, so that we can all learn," he said. "I already have 20 pages of notes on how I am going to prepare better for next season and the Games in Vancouver in 2010."
Olsen, 22, earned his spot in the Olympics despite being cut from the U.S. senior team a year ago. He worked on his own in Maine and Utah, riding his bike to and from his training site, and cooking for his rent at various friends' houses.
When he was 16, shortly after being introduced to the sport by a classmate at Bloomington Jefferson, he made it his goal to be the world's greatest biathlete. Part of that plan included making the 2006 Games, but he said last week he doesn't anticipate peaking until he is about 30.
In that sense, not competing here will be far short of a disaster.
 |
