Lauren's Olympic Experience

APR 12, 2010: ROCK HILL, SC -- It's not everyday someone from South Carolina competes in the Olympics, let alone the Winter Olympics.

As you've been watching here on CN2 News, York County native Lauren Cholewinski was on the women's speed skating team during this year's Olympic games in Vancouver.

You could say Lauren got her need for speed right here in Rock Hill. She was in town recently to visit family and friends for the first time since the Olympics.

CN2's James Lamberts caught up with Lauren during her visit and talks with her about what it means to be called an Olympian.

"When hearing just the roar of the crowd when they announce your name, for your competition. That's something I'll never forget. I was shaking and smiling all at the same time and just all the pride you feel to see all the American flags waving around. It was surreal," says Olympian Lauren Cholewinski. "It was just one of the best moments I've ever had in my life and that is something I will never ever forget."

To get there she started at Kate's Skate on Celanese Road. Lauren's track coach at Sullivan Middle School and her in-line speed skating coach at Kate's both remember what kind of competitor she was.

"She was tough. Fast. Ruged. Wasn't scared to get in there and throw a pass and hope she didn't fall. A lot of kids would hold back on a pass, she wouldn't," said Coach Donnie Allen.

"You could see greatness in the 8th grade and she's just fulfilled what her legacy was going to be," Track Coach Tim Warner added.

That legacy was for Lauren to be a speed skater in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic games.

"I definitely want to make sure, now that I am an Olympian. I'm someone that's worthy of looking up to. Because I have people coming up to me and shaking my hand and telling me how proud they are of me. I want to make sure that I'm a person that they can be proud of too," Lauren says.

"She's gone a long way and hopefully next Olympics, she get that Gold that she deserves," Donnie said.

"It's just been a pleasure to know her and to watch her grow and I expect great things in 2014 and maybe some golden things in 2018," Tim Warner added.

"That is overwhelming knowing that I have all these people behind me and supporting me and it was a true honor to compete for them," Lauren said.

Lauren says she is already training for the 2014 winter games. She says she wants to work on her endurance for those game in Russia.

If you never got a chance to see Lauren race during the Vancouver Winter Olympics you aren't alone. NBC never showed her races on television back in February. Thanks to Lauren, she provided us with a copy of her races when up in Vancouver.

You can see that on our home page at www.cn2.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• winter olympics
• speed skating
• rock hill
• south carolina

[Angieera]

GO LAUREN!!!