During the Olympics, some students will travel and others will work?a select few will compete.
Torin Koos, a junior majoring in pre-architecture, will compete on the 2002 U.S. Cross Country Ski Team this month.
“It’s been something I’ve been working for and thinking about for a long time,” Koos said. “This is allowing me to realize my goal.”
Most cross-country athletes don’t hit top condition until their late 20s or early 30s, but Koos is only 21.
“This is such a good opportunity at 21 because I can draw on this experience in the 2006 and 2010 Games,” he said.
Although he’s excited for the Games, Koos realizes the Olympics will provide “unique challenges.”
“This is a new experience for me. There’s so much built up into this competition,” he said.
As far as bringing home gold, Koos is reluctant to speculate on the results.
“I don’t want to put in a specific place. I know what I can do because of past competitions,” he said. “So, I’ll go in, do what I can do, and then see the results.”
U ski coach Kevin Sweeney is proud of Koos’ accomplishments.
“Torin was chosen to ski the sprint on Feb. 19,” Sweeney said. “He’s been performing exceptionally well.”
According to Koos, he’s come a long way in his skiing since competing on the U’s team.
“When I came to the U, I wasn’t at a national level,” he said. “I’ve improved so much because I’ve had a whole team to train around and had Kevin as coach.”
Sweeney also agrees Koos has improved.
“It has taken a little bit of time for him to get his technique at a higher level,” he said. “While he’s been here, he’s had to improve his overall strength.”
Strength is necessary for such a demanding sport.
“For sure, cross country skiing is one of the most physically demanding Olympic sports?winter or summer,” Sweeney said.
Koos has always had a knack for demanding athletics, Sweeney said.
“In many ways, he’s always had a lot of raw talent. He was a really good foot runner,” he said.
Koos’ rsum showcases that raw talent.
He was an All American as a sophomore, placing seventh at the NCAA Championships last year.
He was a first alternate for the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games, and he qualified and finished 29th at the 2001 World Nordic Skiing Championships in Lahti, Finland. The pace was the second highest for any American.
After a ninth place finish in his first World Cup race, held in Utah at Soldier Hollow, Koos was named to the U.S. Ski Team.
His success continued there too.
Koos took first place in the freestyle race for the United States at the Continental Cup held in Fairbanks, Alaska, Nov. 3. Koos added a third place finish in the same race 20 days later.
In December, Koos returned from a European trip with the team, a trip in which he competed in three World Cup races. Koos recorded a 29th place finish in the classic competition in Asiago, Italy, and he crossed the finish line 33rd in the freestyle at Salzburg, Austria. However, his best finish came Dec. 27. Koos, the only American racing, glided to a 20th place finish in the freestyle sprint race at Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany.
Most recently, Koos competed at the Idaho International Grand Prix, where he placed 12th in the men’s 10K skate race.