For some 2018 U.S. Winter Olympians, their origin stories almost seem inevitable.
There is British-born but American-raised freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy, who grew up in Telluride, Colorado, one of the skiing capitals of the country, if not the world. It would’ve been more surprising had the 2014 Olympic men’s freestyle skiing silver medalist not begun to ski.
Likewise, there is cross-country skier Jessie Diggins, whose background is quite similar: Raised in chilly Minnesota, where, she says, she “grew up on skis,” Diggins remembers riding in her parents’ backpacks as a child as they cross-country skied themselves.
Nathan Chen was three when he said he wanted to be a hockey goalie, and his mother rented him skates, only she saw the flatter, figure-skating skates and figured that those might be the right starter kit. This winter, he’ll be contending for a gold medal in Pyongchang, South Korea, so perhaps she was right.
And there are those for whom one chance meeting – like, say, when Lindsey Vonn met Picabo Street when she was nine, one gold medalist encountering another – set the stage for their success.
But for so many, just watching the Winter Olympics becomes the spark for a youth to want join a new sport.
For a long time, simply getting an introduction into sports was a challenge. Is there a white pages for the luge? Who did you call when you wanted to join a bobsleigh team? What kind of equipment do I need to play hockey?
Now, with SportsEngine’s launch of a new youth sports directory, finding a way to convert a child’s newfound interest into action is easier than ever. The NBC-owned youth sports property has teamed up with the U.S. Olympic Committee to increase participation in sports that kids (and adults) are just discovering during the Olympic season.
“The Olympic movement inspires millions of people, and there is no better time for the youth of America to start their Olympic journey than during the Games,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “Our Gold Map initiative has connected thousands of kids with sports organizations in their local communities for the past two Games, and with the power of SportsEngine.com, we’re confident that we will generate greater interest in Winter Olympic sports by providing parents and kids with a more seamless search experience.”
SportsEngine’s youth sports directory is not only for those with an eye toward a gold medal, but also for casual newcomers looking for fun in a sport they’ve only just discovered, as winter sports can be some of the hardest for which to find an introduction.
But SportsEngine is not just about making an introduction to new sports – it is not only a one-stop shop for everything Winter Olympics, including Go For More Than Gold, which features Olympic Sports quizzes and an app to send personalized messages to young athletes, it also serves as a hub to learn more about youth sports and to connect with other fans and participants.
Afterall, just getting involved in the first step, whether the path someday leads to the podium or simply a fun new hobby.
“The advice that I would give to anyone that was trying to get into this is just to do so, to pursue it, to get on skis, to get on a snowboard– whatever you wanna do– and just spend time on the mountain,” Kenworthy said. “And think that you’ll fall in love with the sport. I know that I definitely did and I know that a lot of people in my life have. And I think that once you do fall in love with it, pursuing this path almost just falls in line.”