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Area Olympians share their memories

U.S. women's hockey player Jenny Potter and her daughter, Madison, 1. (MPR Photo/Melanie Sommer)

Men's curlers aim for better finish
Feb. 8, 2002 — In the curling world, Tim Somerville is known for his uncanny natural ability. As captain of the U.S. Olympic men's curling team, the Roseville resident has a good shot for a medal in Salt Lake. But Tim Somerville knows fate can be fickle.
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Lugers ready for Games
Feb. 8, 2002 — Tony Benshoof and Nick Sullivan, both from the Twin Cities area, are preparing for the luge competition at the Salt Lake City Games. Benshoof, of White Bear Lake, is expected to be in the medal hunt. He and Sullivan, who lives in Oakdale, spoke to MPR's sports commentator Jay Weiner about preparing for their Olympic races.
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In Bemidji, curling is queen
Jan. 30 — If there is a curling capital in Minnesota, it may well be the city of Bemidji. The winter sport took hold there in the 1930s, and the community has embraced it ever since. In the past two decades, Bemidji has produced 20 national championship teams. This year, two Bemidji sisters - coached by their dad - will compete in Salt Lake City for Olympic gold.
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High schooler makes Olympic debut
Jan. 30 — Mahtomedi's Lindsey Weier is a member of the U.S. Olympic cross-country ski team. She's just 17, and a senior at Mahtomedi High School. Weier is the first high-schooler to make the cross-country Olympic ski team. After months of training and racing around the world, Weier is squeezing in a few days of school this week before heading to Salt Lake City on Sunday. She'll race for Mahtomedi in the State High School League's conference championships Jan. 31. Weier told MPR's Lorna Benson she was competing at the World Juniors in Germany when she heard she was chosen for the Olympic team.
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Former Minnesota high school champ on cross-country ski team
Jan. 24 — Minnesota native Barb Jones is in Salt Lake City at a pre-Olympic cross-country ski training camp. Jones was named to the U.S. Olympic cross-country ski team, one of eight women who will compete. Jones, 25, won the Minnesota state cross country ski meet three times when she was a student at St. Paul Central High School. She talked to MPR's Lorna Benson about the long road to the Olympics.
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Herb Brooks goes for the gold again
Jan. 15 — St. Paul native Herb Brooks received one of hockey's most prestigious awards Tuesday. Brooks was among the winners of the Lester Patrick Awards, which honor outstanding service to hockey in the United States. At a ceremony in St. Paul, Brooks reflected on his Olympic coaching experiences - of the past and present.
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Biathlete takes another shot at the Olympics
Dec. 18 — With the 2002 Winter Olympic Games fast approaching, competitors are preparing for Salt Lake City. In Duluth, one of the world's top biathletes is working on her skiing and shooting.
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Women's hockey team has strong Minnesota ties
Dec. 18 — Minnesota will be well-represented on the U.S. women's Olympic hockey team. Five women with local ties have made the final roster. Natalie Darwitz of Eagan, Krissy Wendell of Brooklyn Park and Gopher defender Courtney Kennedy were named to the team. Karyn Bye of River Falls, Wis., and Jenny Schmigdall Potter of Eagan will also play for team USA. Potter is a veteran of the gold-medal winning 1998 U.S. women's hockey team. She told MPR's Greta Cunningham she's looking forward to competing on U.S. soil.
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UMD hockey has international flavor
Dec. 12 — The Bulldogs from the University of Minnesota in Duluth are the reigning national champions in women's college hockey. But this is a confusing season. The team's roster seems to change from game to game. Several of the team's stars are taking off a week here and there to train for the Olympics - and they're playing with four different national teams.
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