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Gaines, Squaw honor Tahoe-area Olympians

Staff report
From left, Squaw Valley athletes Nate Holland, Julia Mancuso, Travis Ganong and Marco Sullivan were honored by State Sen. Ted Gaines (middle) and others on Friday. All four competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where Mancuso earned a bronze medal (which she wore to Friday's celebration).
Courtesy Matt Palmer |

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — State politicians, ski officials and the Tahoe community honored Squaw Valley’s four 2014 Winter Olympic athletes during a special ceremony Friday evening at the famed resort.

The evening kicked off with a vibrant athlete parade through the village, the national anthem sung by Sara Mancuso, and a welcome from Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.

California Sen. Ted Gaines presented Julia Mancuso, Travis Ganong, Marco Sullivan and Nate Holland with a special resolution by the California Legislature, applauding them for their “personal strength and determination, remarkable talent, and for the inspiration that (they have) provided for those individuals who aspire to excellence.”



The Squaw-based athletes were among 15 with ties to the Tahoe/Truckee region who competed at the 2014 Games in February in Sochi, Russia, four of whom medaled, including Mancuso. Her bronze in the super combined was her fourth career Olympic medal, which is a U.S. record for women’s skiing and snowboarding.

Friday’s celebration also featured a Q-and-A with Mancuso, Ganong, Sullivan and Holland, along with Olympic medalists Mikaela Shiffrin and Andrew Weibrecht, and Paralympic gold medalist Evan Strong from Nevada City.



Following the Q-and-A, Squaw surprised Mancuso with a special Funitel cabin to honor her bronze medal. Guests will be able to ride in the congratulatory cabin at Squaw for the rest of the season.

Squaw also invited all the 1960 and 1964 Olympic winter athletes on stage for an athlete Q-and-A and to pay tribute to the region’s rich Olympic history.

— Information for this report was provided by Squaw Valley.


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