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    The Newsroom Blog
    11 February 2010 | POSTED BY Doug Andersen

    Mormon Athletes Gather at 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia

    Noelle%20Pikus-Pace.JPG
    The Olympic Winter Games begin in Vancouver, British Columbia, with opening ceremonies planned for 12 February. Part of the pageantry will be the parade of nations, with competitors representing more than 80 countries. A handful of the more than 2,635 athletes are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    David Bissett - Bobsled - Canada


    Torah Bright - Snowboard - Australia

    Erik Fisher - Alpine Skiing - USA

    Chris Fogt - Bobsled - USA

    Christian Niccum - Luge - USA

    Steve Nyman - Alpine Skiing - USA

    Noelle Pikus-Pace - Skeleton - USA

    Shauna Rohbock - Bobsled - USA

    Noelle Pikus-Pace said it was "incredible" to hear her name included in the 215 members of Team USA. After missing the 2006 Torino Winter Games while she recovered from a fluke injury with a runaway bobsled, she looks forward to fulfilling a decade-long dream.

    "I feel like I've been working on this for quite a while, not just me, my family, my coaches, everyone," said the skeleton athlete currently ranked #5 in the world.

    Torah Bright learned she will be competing in her second Olympics when the Australian Olympic Committee ratified the snowboarder's participation on 25 January. This recent report aired on TheTodayShow on 9News in Australia.

    http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-au&brand=ninemsn&vid=6ea06e00-dbee-4353-af9d-4f4d5112e66a&from=&fg=rss

    Christian Niccum arrived in Vancouver this week to train at the Whistler Sliding Centre. He and his luge teammates have been competing in Europe. In a recent news conference the Washington native compared this experience to the Torino Olympics.

    "Having the Olympics in Vancouver, so close to home, was a big driving force for me to keep going," said Niccum. "It's home to me. It's a two-hour drive from my home to Vancouver, about four and a half to Whistler. I'll have lots of family there and I am very excited for them to share in this Olympic moment."

    The Winter Games conclude 28 February.

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