Utah Athletes Give Back

While most people spend their Memorial Day weekends taking trips to the beach and hosting barbeques with friends and family, 16 of Team USA’s Olympians, Paralympians and hopefuls decided to use their extra time over the holiday to give back to a good cause.

2010 Olympians Steven Nyman (alpine skiing) and Katherine Reutter (short track speedskating), who are Athlete Ambassadors with the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Team for Tomorrow program, led the group during the “Olympic and Paralympic Build Day with Habitat for Humanity” on Saturday, May 29, in Magna, Utah.

The 16 skiers, snowboarders and speedskaters spent the day building the foundation of a children’s play area and landscaping the communal area of an upcoming Habitat for Humanity neighborhood. Many of the materials used during the day were recycled from the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that were held in Salt Lake City, Utah. All of the athletes at Saturday’s build have a connection to Utah, whether through training or growing up in the state, and they saw it as a way to give back to the community that has embraced them so graciously.

Spirits were high among the Team USA athletes and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers as they arrived at the build site Saturday morning. The upbeat attitudes and enthusiasm did not waiver throughout the day.

“It’s really nice to have an opportunity to give back to this community that has supported me so much, and to meet some of the families that will benefit from our work today,” said speedskater Travis Jayner.

Added Aerialist Emily Cook: “What I’ve been doing here today is very similar to how we build jumps on the snow. It’s been a great day meeting some of the families who are benefitting from the Habitat for Humanity program, and I’ve enjoyed meeting the other athletes and doing something productive together.”

See more photos from the Team for Tomorrow “Olympic and Paralympic Build Day with Habitat for Humanity” in Magna, Utah.

The camaraderie among the teammates was obvious as everyone worked together throughout the day. For many athletes, it was their first opportunity to catch up since the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

“Today has been so much fun working alongside my speedskating teammates and Olympians from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team,” Reutter said. “Team for Tomorrow brings us together as Team USA. This is my second Team for Tomorrow activity, and every time I do something with the United States Olympic Committee, and with my fellow teammates, Team USA really turns into a family.”

Reutter, Team for Tomorrow Athlete Ambassador Stephani Victor (Paralympic alpine skiing) and some of their teammates visited Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City last December to bring gifts and holiday cheer to the children undergoing treatment.

Team for Tomorrow is an ongoing humanitarian relief fund of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams that provides a vehicle through which athletes can offer their assistance and support to those in need around the world, as well as a means to continue spreading the Olympic Ideals of solidarity, compassion and peace.

Saturday’s build was the third with Habitat for Humanity, with others taking place in Colorado Springs, Colo., in the fall of 2008, and in Washington, D.C, in the spring of 2010. The builds provide a rewarding opportunity for Team USA athletes to give back to their local communities.

In Salt Lake City, many athletes involved their family and friends in the build, including U.S. Paralympic alpine skier Danelle Umstead and her husband and guide, Rob Umstead. Danelle, who is blind, has always appreciated the support and encouragement of others throughout her career. She sees Team for Tomorrow as a way to do the same for others.

“I’m here today to give back,” she said. “People have helped me along my journey and it feels right to give back to others. Giving back is one of the most important parts of being an elite athlete. You have the opportunity to make a difference for other people.”

Nyman also expressed his appreciation for the Team for Tomorrow program: “We’ve been given the opportunity to travel the world and compete and represent our country and be the best we can be. Team for Tomorrow gives us the opportunity to toss the rope back and help others rise to a higher level.”

Other Olympians lending a helping hand Saturday included speedskater Alyson Dudek, alpine skier Ted Ligety, mogulist Heather McPhie, snowboarder Graham Watanbe and mogulist Bryon Wilson.

In addition to the three “Olympic and Paralympic Build Days with Habitat for Humanity,” 2008 Olympic gymnastics champion Nastia Liukin headed up a build in Sherman, Texas, in early May as a part of National Women Build Week. More than 25 women came out to volunteer with her on a local family’s new home. The build was one of 200 women-only builds that occurred across the country May 1-9.

"I am so honored to get the chance to work with Habitat for Humanity,” Liukin said. “It is always a thrill for me to give back to the community, and I am especially excited to be a part of something that is so hands on."

Today’s Olympians and Paralympians have a deep interest in humanitarianism and in finding for ways to make a difference in the world. Opportunities like Saturday’s Habitat build empowers America’s athletes to join the team within the team, showcasing how the Olympic Movement is much bigger than sport alone.