Demong Leads U.S. in Closing
VANCOUVER, BC – The 2010 Winter Olympics closed with a bang on Sunday night, concluding one of the most memorable Games for the U.S. Olympic Ski and Snowboarding Team. Leading the festivities for the U.S. Olympic Team – which won a record 37 medals overall – was nordic combined gold medalist Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY). Demong was given the honor of carrying the flag into a ring with the other nations' flag bearers, as 60,000 looked on at BC Place Stadium.
"It's pretty awesome being in the lineup with all the other nations, to know you've been chosen by all the other athletes, especially in a country like the United States," Demong said.
"I grew up at the training center at Lake Placid, so I think I knew 70 percent of that Team. Everyone was stopping on their way by and taking pictures."
Demong's honor as flagbearer - chosen by his athlete peers - put him onto a prestigious list of Olympic greats including Phil Mahre, Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden. It also brought back memories of his first Olympics in 1998 when he and teammate Johnny Spillane (Steamboat Springs, CO) formally accompanied the official Olympic flag from Nagano in 1998 back to Salt Lake City to set the stage for the four-year leadup to the 2002 Olympics.
The incredible experience capped a week in which Demong won team silver and large hill gold, then proposed to longtime girlfriend Katie Koczynski. She said yes.
"It's a little more low-key than the Opening Ceremonies," Demong said. "It's a time to reflect on what you've accomplished."
While it might be tough to top Demong's experience, the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Team will go home with plenty of warm thoughts to reflect on. The Team scored 21 medals from 18 athletes, and featured six gold medalists.
Among the gold winners, two-time defending snowboardcross champion Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME) said the Closing Ceremonies were a perfect finish to his Games.
"I couldn't have had a better time in Vancouver and the Ceremonies are a good way to say goodbye to another Games where I was able to bring home a gold medal for the USA," he said.
The Olympic flag was lowered and given to Anatoly Pakhomov, the mayor of Sochi, Russia, in a symbolic handover to the 2014 hosts.
Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, ID), riding high after soaring high to land his Hurricane and aerials silver, said it was a night he'll never forget.
"The night was a lot of fun and an awesome way to leave the 2010 Games," he said.
