USA Cheers to Johnny Spillane

Steamboat Springs native Johnny Spillane won the first ever Olympic medal for an USA Nordic Combined team member today. Spillane’s second place finish brings home a silver medal to Ski Town USA while competing in his fourth Olympics.

As with many Steamboat children Spillane started skiing as a toddler at age two. The family lived just two blocks from Howelsen Hill where he started serious ski jumping when he was eleven-years-old. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club has been a major influence for the community’s youth for 97 years with more Olympians coming out of the program than any other in the country.

Today’s event was the Men’s Normal Hill Individual combining one ski jump and a 10-kilometer cross-country ski race. Steamboat’s Todd Lodwick placed fourth in today’s competition. Hopes are high for the USA team to bring home more medals from Vancouver in Nordic Combine events.

Meanwhile Steamboat’s trademarked Champagne Powder is falling and skiers of all levels are celebrating great skiing and Spillane’s silver medal.