Photo courtesy of Shannon Bahrke

I can’t even begin to tell you how exciting it was to receive my Olympic bronze medal. I remember getting my silver medal in 2002 at the medal plaza downtown in Salt Lake City, but this time meant even more to me. I think receiving a medal so early on in my career, when I was 21, I didn’t completely understand what it means. So in my last and final year of my 12 year career on the US Ski Team, to ski one of the runs of my life and bring home another Olympic medal, it is just surreal.

Hannah Kearney (my teammate who won the gold medal) and I were backstage at the medals plaza while the men’s mogul competition was going on. We were screaming our heads off for our American boys. There was a TV in the back where we were so we could watch. It was so great to see Bryon Wilson from the USA bring home the bronze.

I really felt elated to know Bryon was going to get to receive a medal here as well. Walking out on stage in front of 25,000 people is one of the coolest things ever. But when they call your name and you step onto the podium—that is just the stuff that every athlete dreams of. When I was waiting behind the podium my entire body started to shake. I thought my legs were going to collapse. When they called my name, my feet somehow carried me forward somehow. Everybody was cheering and screaming and I couldn’t believe that I was on the Olympic podium again! The moment they put the medal around my neck was the epitome of everything I have worked so hard for. It was just such a sense of accomplishment.

It meant even more to be on the podium with two truly amazing women. Hannah and Jen Heil have been the best in our sport for quite some time, so to stand with them was a true honor. The best thing about Hannah winning was that I got to sing the national anthem! There is nothing that an athlete wants to do more.

That moment was absolutely a dream come true, and it is burned into my memory forever. I literally have not taken my medal off since I received it and probably won’t for a few months!

Thank you to everyone back in the USA for cheering so loudly. I am truly humbled to stand on the podium for such a great nation, I love you all!!

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