| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Parents Behind the Athletes
Kathy Aiken
KSL-TV
Kip Carpenter began speedskating at age six. His parents drove their car into the ground driving him to all his races.
"My mom and dad have sacrificed so much for me to get where I am, packing up the van every single weekend for me and my brother to skate, and skate poorly at that, never winning everything, falling down," the 2002 bronze medalist says.
Falling down for seven years, Kip said, until he finally won at age 13. His parents never gave up. They did, however, give up many luxuries along the way.
The same goes for gold medalist Casey Fitzrandolph.
"Especially in a sport like speedskating, it's not a convenient sport to grow up in. So if you don't have the support of family, you won't get far with it," he says.
Because of their support, Jeff and Ruth Fitzrandolph recently won the Campbell's Souper parents silver medal, an award, Casey says, that was well deserved.
"And everybody cheers Casey Fitzrandolph on. But actually it's a Jeff and Ruthie Fitzrandolph effort as well."
For bronze medalist Joey Cheek, his parents funded his career up until just two years ago.
"Obviously without them it never could have happened. They were the ones who gave up furniture so I could get to skate meets and get the equipment that I needed. They never once complained or had a negative word to say about my traveling. It's been incredible. Without them I wouldn't be here," he says.
Getting here not only takes family, but also the supplemental support of the USOC and US speedskating. However just 20 skaters have commercial sponsorship while only about 10 have a cash tie.
For Nick Pearson, he honors his original sponsors-- mom and dad.
"And even now that we're getting financial support, they're there emotionally. It's incredible how much they support," he says.
And it's even better when the parents see their child's hard work eventually pay off.
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February 23, 2002
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