We’re one week into the Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina. To help focus on Pacific Northwest athletes participating this year, we looked around the station for the person who seemed the most hyped up about the games. And the winner is KUOW host, newscaster, reporter, and diehard sports fan Paige Browning. She talked to ATC host Kim Malcolm about the games so far.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Kim Malcolm: Who were some of the Olympians you already had your eye on before the games even started?
Well, I could name several here, but among the ones I was eager to see are cross country skier Novie McCabe from Winthrop. She’s here for her second games. And our trio of speed skaters from the Seattle area, Corinne Stoddard, Eunice Lee and Cooper McLeod. And then Kim, of course, Team USA women’s hockey, because that team is chock full of Seattle Torrent players.
How about some of the moments that you’ve seen so far? Which ones have stood out to you?
Well, the big name coming out of the Northwest these games, and really nationwide, is Breezy Johnson. She went to Western Washington University, and she’s from Victor, Idaho. She absolutely bombed down the women’s downhill race, winning the gold.
She then had the fastest time again in the women’s team event, proving her strength. Her team did not end up medaling there. But I think Johnson really got the celebration people were ready to give to her teammate Lindsey Vonn, who was injured in a dramatic downhill crash.
How about other big moments?
The U.S. women’s hockey team has just been crushing the competition, led by the Seattle Torrent’s Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter, Team USA’s captain [and alternate captain respectively]. The Torrent’s Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes are also on the team. As of this taping [on Friday], Team USA has scored 20 goals to their opponent’s one in these Olympics so far. Even as we speak, they’re adding to that number.
No medals in speed skating yet from our Northwest crew. Corinne Stoddard had an unfortunate crash out in her 500-meter race. I’ll add, I saw several crashes and skaters running into each other throughout these games. Also, no medals for Novie McCabe in cross country skiing, or any of our other Nordic [skiing] athletes. So, I’ll be waiting for her to come back in 2030.
Outside of the athletic competitions, what have the Olympic Games been like for our local athletes that you can tell?
It’s just always so surreal for athletes to actually make it to that stage. It was sort of a family reunion for Kirkland skater Cooper McLeod. Twenty-eight family members showed up to watch him. I got to speak with him. He told me this about what it took him just to get to Italy: “You need to be willing to suck. I think that’s the same for a lot of things, but it’s a very technical sport. It takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of learning. Be willing to struggle, because that’s what makes you better.”
What’s coming up that you do not want to miss?
Tomorrow [Saturday] morning, McLeod’s back on the rink. Federal Way’s Corinne Stoddard gets another chance at a medal in the 3000-meter relay. Monday, the Women’s Hockey semifinals. Next Thursday, UW graduate Anna Gibson is racing in ski mountaineering. And then there’s a whole bunch of curling, and Team USA has two sliders from Seattle.
Listen to the interview by clicking the play button above.
