Member-only story
My Olympic Quest for the Gold
World-class athletes aren’t the only heroes. Behind the scenes, a virtual army of volunteers keeps the Games humming.
In 2002, I was 42 years old and living in Salt Lake City. As a single mom working a more-than-full-time job, life was insanely busy. Each day, it was all I could do to hold it all together.
But then came the announcement that the Olympics would be coming to my town. Immediately, I felt a fire within. More than anything, I wanted to be involved — even if as only a lowly, unpaid worker. So I applied to be an Olympic volunteer.
My friends said I was crazy. Why would I burn my precious two weeks of vacation to work a second, unpaid, sure-to-be-exhausting job?
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I knew I needed to follow my heart. And the journey took me to unexpected places.
Making the commitment
Utah was chosen as the Games host in 1995 —giving officials more than seven years to prepare. But something no one could prepare for happened right before the start: The 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The horrifying event made me reconsider my decision to volunteer. The high-profile Olympics could certainly be targeted again — a risk too high for a single mom…
