Persistent. Positive. Passionate. These are the words that describe Ben Thornock, a Utah-based speedskater. He’s one of 11 skaters on the USA short track team headed to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Short-track racing was first added to the Olympics in 1992. Skaters explode from the starting line and reach speeds up to 35 mph as they muscle down an oval … [Read more...]
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough: Park City woman seeks to ascend Seven Second Summits
In 2018, Jennifer Drummond had a life-changing accident. While driving from Heber City to her home in Park City, she was hit by a semi. Her car rolled three times and landed upside down in the median. She remembers seeing a man running toward her and asking if she was okay. Her first thought was to ask about anyone else involved in the accident. The man told her that she was … [Read more...]
Life Well-Lived: Physical Impairments Not a Factor in Exceptional Accomplishments of Bradley Hintze
Growing up in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, a range of craggy granite peaks are constantly in your field of view. Bradley Hintze was the kind of kid who just had to know what it was like to be up there. There is an excellent trail network along the entire range today, but until the late 1990s, accessing the mountains south of Little Cottonwood Canyon was a challenge – … [Read more...]
Bobby King: Utah is gaining a reputation in producing excellent mixed martial arts fighters
It takes a special kind of person to get into a Mixed Martial Arts ring. To willingly take a powerful punch to the face that can cause a concussion, black eyes, bloody nose or a knockout, makes for an arena where only the toughest of the tough need apply. Bobby King Bobby King is one of these tough fighters. He attributes his toughness to growing up with older brothers. “We … [Read more...]
Wasatch 100: How Far and Fast Can We Go?
For Jesse Rich, distance running started with the proverbial first step. This year he won the Wasatch 100, a 100-mile footrace traversing Utah’s rugged Wasatch mountains. But it all started in 2012 when his brother invited him out for a casual run. For the two brothers, enjoying each other’s company quickly became much more. For Jesse, running became a vehicle for … [Read more...]
Triple Crown of 200’s—Ben Light, Third-Place Finisher
ultra adjective / ul-tra Going beyond others or beyond due limit : EXTREME —Merriam-Webster Dictionary This fall, Utah ultra runner, Ben Light, finished three 200-mile races: Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200, and the Moab 240; and he did it in less than three months—running a total of 645.8 miles in 225 hours, 53 minutes, and 58 seconds. Ben’s efforts were rewarded by placing … [Read more...]