海角大神

Olympic gold-medalist snowboarder Kelly Clark was standing in a lift line when she felt a tug on her sleeve.

Chloe Kim, then age 8, had spotted her snowboarding hero and was asking to ride up together.

Clark said sure.

Today Kim won her own Olympic gold. And Clark was there to see it 鈥� because she is still competing.

When Clark stood at the top of the pipe on the third and final run today, she was up against not only the best snowboarders from other countries but also her own legacy: the strength of the US women鈥檚 halfpipe team, which she has helped to mentor. Her teammates 鈥� some just half her age 鈥� have pushed her to reach greater heights, but they鈥檝e also become some of her toughest competitors.

Indeed, it was another young American, Arielle Gold, who edged Clark out of a medal听with an outstanding final run.

鈥淜elly is a huge part of why I鈥檓 here today and that鈥檚 what was bittersweet today, about it being between Kell and I for that third spot,鈥� said Gold, who captured bronze behind China鈥檚 Liu Jiayu. 鈥淏ut she鈥檚 always been a huge inspiration to me throughout my career, always been looking out for me every step of the way whenever I needed it.鈥�

So while Clark wasn鈥檛 on the podium today, she had her footprint all over it.

鈥淜elly has defined the sport of women鈥檚 snowboarding through her pursuit of personal growth and self鈥揳wareness,鈥� says听Rick Bower, the head halfpipe coach, who has coached Clark for 15 years.

Despite her clear disappointment at not winning a medal in her fifth and possibly final Olympics Games, Clark was gracious even in defeat.

鈥淚鈥檝e had one of the most wonderful, successful snowboarding careers anyone could ever hope for, and I take great joy in seeing these young women succeed,鈥� said Clark after her final run. 鈥淲here I finish, they get to start.鈥�

Since winning gold in 2002, Clark has dramatically redefined how she thinks about success. And that stems in part from seeking a deeper purpose or sense of fulfillment that goes beyond medals 鈥� something a number of athletes at these Games have done through embracing causes, goals, or relationships beyond their immediate performance objectives, looking outward听and upward.

Sense of gratitude

While Olympians鈥� intense focus and self-sacrifice is key to reaching the highest levels of their sport, it can also lead to a self-centeredness.

鈥淏eing an athlete is pretty selfish sometimes, and about me and my schedule, and from time to time I take a step back and realize how blessed I am and try to find ways to give back,鈥� says slopestyle snowboarder Jamie Anderson, who won gold yesterday. Growing up in a large family, where hand-me-downs were the norm, she appreciates how hard it is for young athletes to get the equipment and travel opportunities they need to progress听鈥撎齛nd started a foundation to help.

鈥淏eing able to run my charity and help kids who want to get into sports and may not have the financial accessibility is such a privilege because I know how expensive life is, and I know it鈥檚 really hard for parents,鈥� she says.

鈥淓ven if they鈥檙e little things, like 鈥� flying the kids out to Nationals [Championships] 鈥� that鈥檚 so fun and something I really needed help with when I was kid,鈥� she adds.

Biathlete Susan Dunklee is part of the Craftsbury Green Racing Project in northern Vermont,听which provides elite-level skiers听and rowers听with听housing, meals, health insurance, and coaching. In exchange, the program听requires them to help out around Craftsbury Outdoor Center and the surrounding community 鈥�听with a particular focus on sustainability. Past skier work projects include producing local food on the property and analyzing heating systems. Dunklee, who last winter became the first American woman in history to medal at a biathlon World Championships, says the program has provided a community and sense of purpose beyond her daily training and competition goals.听

US Ski and Snowboard, recognizing the value of such perspective, has started offering summer trips to Tijuana, Mexico. Athletes build a home for local residents through Hope Sports, a nonprofit founded by former Olympic cyclist Guy East.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of those trips that every athlete should go on because it really humbles you,鈥澨齭ays Devin Logan, a freestyle skier who has participated in the trip during two of the past three summers.听Seeing 鈥渢his family that doesn鈥檛 even have a foundation on their house 鈥� it鈥檚 just like, 鈥楬ow are they getting through?鈥櫶�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a short trip 鈥� you build a house听in two days, but it stays with you.鈥� The next year, you can have those down days but you鈥檙e like, I鈥檓 out skiing, I鈥檓 in Switzerland. I had a rough day, I crashed, but I can still walk, I can still talk, I鈥檓 healthy, I have a home to go back to 鈥� it鈥檚 the little things that I feel so much more grateful for,鈥� she says.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not all about gold medals and winning 鈥� it鈥檚 about being a good person and being appreciative of what you have.鈥澨�

鈥業t鈥檚 no longer about me鈥�

Other athletes cite religious faith as helping to ground them and give them a sense of purpose beyond medals.

If it weren鈥檛 for that, pairs figure skater Alexa Scimeca Knierim says, she never would have been able to come back from a long illness to win US Nationals with her husband, Chris Knierim, and be named to the Olympic team.

鈥淚 was so sick and didn鈥檛 really know where things would be going for me, whether [in] skating or life in general. So I finally just threw my hands up and said, You lead the way,鈥� said Knierim, who won bronze in the figure skating team event. 鈥淓ven here at the Games, it鈥檚 no longer about me鈥�. I鈥檓 treating this competition [as a way] to glorify God.鈥�

Clark, the snowboarder, also credits her faith as crucial to finding fulfillment in her career. After winning gold in 2002 as an 18-year-old, she felt strangely empty, which prompted her to search for a greater purpose.

鈥淚t is a noticeable shift for all of us who knew her,鈥� Mr.听Bower听says of her faith. 鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 flaunt it. She鈥檚 not judgmental, not obnoxious about going to find Jesus.鈥�

But it鈥檚 part of what has grounded her as she has helped to build up the team 鈥撎齛nd her teammates.

鈥淚 think anyone who is in a leadership position, whether it鈥檚 sports or business, you want to create a culture that you can step back from and there鈥檚 no hole,鈥� said Clark. 鈥淚 would never take credit for how wonderfully talented these women are, but I feel like women鈥檚 snowboarding is in great hands.鈥�