Athletes Feel Love on Valentine's Day

VANCOUVER, BC – Though the cauldron was lit and the Olympic spirit is all around in Vancouver, another flame will burn, if only for a day, on Sunday as Olympic athletes make plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day during the Games.

”The best thing about Greg is that he finds joy in all the small things,” said halfpipe athlete Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA) of her teammate and boyfriend Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA).

The two appeared on NBC’s Today Show on Feb.ruary 13, on the day before the big V Day, to discuss, among other things, how dating and being on the same team helps them support each other and, more importantly, what the two will be doing to celebrate for Valentine's.

“I might have something special up my sleeve,” Bretz alluded to the one of the show’s hosts.

Meanwhile, up in Whistler, alpine power couple Lindsey and Thomas Vonn say that they will spend the special day together.

For other athletes, however, celebrating Valentine’s won’t be a simple task with final training and a race to compete in the day after the holiday.

“I have to take Valentine’s Day off this year because I have to focus on my race the next day,” said snowboardcross athlete Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA) whose girlfriend will be in town for the weekend and to watch him compete.

But, Holland did want to note that, “The Olympics is once every four years, but love is forever.”

And, while the love in the air might be tangible for those in couples, it is just as poignant for teammates who plan to spend the day together as friends.