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Show SPORTS The Park Record. Editor: Ryan Kostecka sports@parkrecord.com 435.649.9014 ex.15704 Twitter: @ParkRecSports FITNESS WELLNESS FAIR UNDERWAY Basin Recreation’s annual Fitness Wellness Fair will take place on Saturday, Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at The Fieldhouse with free fitness classes and community vendors present, as well as a 20% discount on all memberships and punch passes. Learn more at basinrecreation.org. WINTER JUNIOR TENNIS CLINICS SWINGS AWAY Winter Junior Tennis Clinics, where children will learn the fundamentals and improve their game with tennis professionals, will begin on Monday, Jan. 6 at the PC MARC. Clinics are open to ages 4-17 and all levels are welcome. For more information or to register, visit parkcityrecreation.org or call 435-615-5401. FUN OVER FIFTY NORDIC SKI CLINIC BEGINS Basin Recreation’s Fun Over Fifty Nordic Ski Clinic is for those just starting out or wanting to improve their skills in both classic and skate skiing. Clinic runs Tuesday, Jan. 7 at Willow Creek Park and Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Basin Rec 5k from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Skiers must bring their own equipment. Cost is $25. Learn more and register at basinrecreation.org. OPENING FOR COACHES AT PARK CITY HIGH SCHOOL Park City High School is looking for coaches for the following sports during the upcoming spring season: head coach for softball, assistant boys soccer coach and an assistant coach for boys lacrosse. Anyone interested should contact athletic director Jamie Sheetz at jsheetz@pcschools.us Please see Sports briefs, B-6 LIGETY GOES DOWN IN THE SEMIFINALS, B-2 www.parkrecord.com MINERS DOMINATE ALLSTATE NOMINATIONS, B-3 B-1 SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, JANUARY 4-7, 2020 Moment of fate changes Parkite’s path Koplin aiming for 2022 Winter Olympics with USA Bobsled RYAN KOSTECKA The Park Record It was a moment of fate that completely changed the life of Parkite Kristi Koplin. A lifelong athlete, Koplin was resigned to the notion that her athletic career was over following the conclusion of the 2010 NCAA West Regionals in the discuss and hammer throw. With that in mind, she was set to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for nursing in July and take the next step forward in her life. “It was a really weird time in my life because I had just graduated college and then underperformed in my last competition — just having that deep feeling of that’s how my athletic career was going to end,” Koplin said. “I know I didn’t feel done as an athlete but I was set to just focus on work as a nurse in the military. I understand that was the next step in my life. … But then I got that message and everything changed.” That “message” came in the form of a Facebook message from 2010 Olympic bobsled bronze medalist Elana Meyers Taylor. Meyers, who reached out to Koplin to gauge her interest in the sport of bobsled, is the sole reason why Koplin is standing where she is right now as one of the top ten pilots in the world looking to make the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “I was close to making the national team in 2018 but didn’t quite get it done, which is perfectly fine looking back on it now,” Koplin said. “Now to be in this position, with the chance to make the national team and compete at the upcoming Olympics, everything since that email has led me here. It’s really kind of cool to think that I may have the chance to go to the Olympics and win a medal.” PHOTO BY MOLLY CHOMA/TEAM USA Parkite Kristi Koplin’s life has changed, now leading her on a path towards the 2022 Winter Olympics — but not before she has been selected as a member of the 2019 USA national bobsled team as a pilot. Before talking about her success at this point her career, it must be pointed out that although Koplin received the Get 53% Off the newstand price when you subscribe! For an in-county rate of only $56 a year, you can save 53% from the newstand and receive: • Home Delivery • Park Record E-edition • Real Estate Monthly • All Park Record Magazines • Free Sunday Salt Lake Tribune Call 435-649-9014 to get your subsctiption today! Select option 3 when prompted Save even more with a 2 year subscription! email, she still needed to act on it. So she attended the combine in Park City and got great feedback from Val Flem- ing, a silver medalist in the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, who encouraged to keep moving forward with the sport. Koplin’s next stop was a recruitment camp in Lake Placid, New York, where she officially took on the sport in Oct. 2010 following team selections. Four years later and she was chosen as an alternate breakman for the 2014 Winter Olympics — but another decision she made following those games have set her on a new path. “I had no clue what I was doing that first time, literally just jumping in and going down a hill really fast,” Koplin said. “It’s been a long journey learning it since that first run. … But then I decided to become a pilot and I couldn’t be happier. This is the position I’m supposed to be doing, and by far the one I’ve felt the most confident in.” Over the span of the next four years, Koplin has competed on the North American Cup, while gaining the necessary experience needed to make this 2022 run. She’s off to a good start so far this season, having won three races with teammate Jasmine Jones at the Park City NAC three weeks ago. Despite the wins, the fact that Koplin got to not only perform, but win, in Park City in front of her family and friends meant more. “I lived in Park City on and off since 2012, and with having family in Lehi, they were able to come out and watch,” Koplin said. “For me it’s special because I get to share my passion with the people that I love the most. … And then to win while having them physically out there with me, it was pretty cool.” The reason having her family out to watch and support her meant so much was because there was a point last season when Koplin was unsure of what here athletic future held. A concussion and neck injury forced her to miss most of the season, making the once dynamic athlete was tough to be around because she “wasn’t her best self.” “No one ever shares the low points Please see Forever, B-6 |