sports

Diné hoping to earn spot on U.S. Olympic team for speed skating

By Nicole Baker
Special to the Times

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 19, 2013

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Jonathan Gorman


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For 21 years, Jonathan Gorman, day after day, put in grueling training. That will be put to a final test on Dec. 27 when he competes in the U.S. Olympic Trials for a chance to earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic speed skating team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia next year.

"I don't care how much it burns," said Gorman, 26. "I don't care how tired I am.  I am going to make it the best trials I've ever had, no matter what it takes.  I'm going to leave it all on ice, everything I've got."

If he makes the Olympics, not only will he have made his dream a reality, but his father's too, who is his biggest inspiration.

"My dad was an All-American archer," said Gorman. "His dream was to go to the Olympics. So I guess I got my inspiration from him."

Gorman will also be racing in honor of his grandfather, Guy Gorman, who was one of the founders of Diné College and passed away just over a week ago. The grandson took a leave of absence from his training to attend the funeral this past week in Chinle.

"He always talked about how proud he was of what I accomplished," said Gorman of his grandfather. "Knowing he's upstairs watching, will make making the Olympic team even better. He always said he'd be at the trials, and he will."

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