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Flame brings flavor of Games to South Sound

Former Olympic skier hopes to inspire others by taking torch

MICHAEL BURNHAM, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Wednesday, January 23, 2002

OLYMPIA -- Bill Johnson won gold and glory by gliding down mountains at more than 55 mph. Today he will be happy to merely jog through the streets of South Sound.

Johnson, a former Olym-pic downhill skiing champion, will join 51 other people who embody the Olympic spirit to carry the torch of the 2002 Winter Games through Tum-water, Olympia and Lacey.

The relay began Dec. 18 in Olympia, Greece, and will conclude Feb. 8 in Salt Lake City in time for opening ceremonies.

"Hopefully, people will be inspired to race with me," said Johnson, who was nominated to carry the torch by friend Peter Kakes, a Mount Hood ski instructor.

Johnson's racing career peaked during the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, part of Yugoslavia at the time. But a terrible crash ended his comeback bid in 2000.

Johnson, a brash 23-year-old during the 1984 Games, became the first American to win a gold medal in downhill skiing.

Johnson won three World Cup races that same year, but he failed to qualify for the 1988 Olympics in Calgary.

The 41-year-old then attempted to make the 2002 U.S. Olympic team.

The comeback bid ended during a March 2000 training run at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Whitefish, Mont. He barreled headfirst into the snow and was in a coma for more than three weeks.

The Olympic champion is now focused on retraining his physical and mental skills.

After recuperating at a California clinic, Johnson moved to his mother's house near Portland.

"I forgot a lot and can't think very well," said Johnson, whose speech is slightly slurred but hasn't lost its competitive tone.

Johnson walks three days a week, and he has skied a dozen times since the accident.

"I still have the desire to compete," said Johnson, who dreams of making the 2006 downhill Olympics team.

Some might call Johnson a longshot again, but he prefers another definition.

"Being an inspiration to some people is very good," he said.

Torch route

A vehicle carrying the flame will travel along Interstate 5, entering Tumwater from the south about 10:30 a.m. The vehicle will then wind east on Airdustrial Way, north on Linderson Way and east on Israel Road.

The first local torchbearer will grab the icicle-shaped staff and flame at Tumwater City Hall and jog north on Capitol Boulevard.

The torch will enter Olympia along Capitol Boulevard at 11:10 a.m. Runners will make a short detour to the steps of the Capitol Dome, where Gov. Gary Locke is scheduled to speak at 11:20 a.m.

"He's going to welcome the torch to Olympia and talk about the spirit of the torch and sportsmanship," Locke spokesman Lyle Canceko said.

Runners will enter the Olympia Farmers Market at about 11:40 a.m. Torchbearer Bryan Hoddle, a volunteer coach for Paralympic amputee sprinters, will light an Olympic cauldron.

A 30-minute celebration will follow, but spectators can arrive at the market for festivities that begin at 10 a.m.

Following the market celebration, runners will carry the flame south along Capitol Way and turn east on Fourth Avenue.

Torchbearers will continue along Pacific Avenue and enter Lacey about 12:50 p.m.

Ten minutes later, torchbearers will head north along College Street before stopping at Lacey City Hall.

A final torchbearer will light the cauldron, and the flame will travel by vehicle toward Tacoma.

Seattle residents will mark the torch's arrival with an evening celebration.

Michael Burnham covers Olympia for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-704-6869.

TORCH The Torch: Odds and ends

- The eBay Web site listed the selling price of a torch from the 2002 Winter Olympic Games at $1,575 as of 3 p.m. Tuesday.

- Salt Lake Organizing Committee officials say the 11,500 torchbearers who carry the icicle-shaped torches across the United States may purchase their torches for $335.

- Torchbearers are given a running outfit that consists of a hat, gloves, T-shirt and windbreaker with the Olympic logo.

- All torchbearers will be followed by a runner with an enclosed lantern that bears a flame lit originally in Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 19. If the torch goes out, the lantern-holder rekindles the flame. When torchbearers finish running through select regions of the country, the torch is used to light a cauldron that is transported long distances.

- After leaving Seattle, the flame will be taken to Alaska. It will arrive in Salt Lake City on Feb. 8.

- For more information about the torch relay, visit the Salt Lake City Olympics Web site at www.saltlake2002.com.

On the Web:

Salt Lake 2002: Official Site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games

Relay celebration

The Olympic torch relay celebration begins at 10 a.m. today at Olympia Farmers Market, 700 Capitol Way N. Local school and dance groups will perform patriotic songs. A torchbearer will light an Olympic cauldron at 11:42 a.m., and market entertainment will continue until noon. For more information, call 360-753-8361.

On the Web:

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