PORTLAND – There was a time when Tracy and Lanny Barnes had to choose between soccer and the biathlon.
The two Colorado natives were nearing college age and had to determine what best suited their futures.
“We kind of compared the two,” said Lanny. “We decided that soccer had already made a name for itself in the United States and the world. I think in biathlon there are quite a few unsung heroes out there, but we thought we had good opportunities to make a name.”
The Barnes twins decided the biathlon had a greater upside and greater potential for making an impact, not only for themselves but for the sport. Wednesday, that career choice showed significant dividends. The Barnes sisters were part of nine athletes named to the U.S. Biathlon team that will compete at the Olympics in Turino, Italy next month. “Another thing was that it was difficult,” said Tracy. “It was one of the hardest things we were going to have to face at that point, and we liked the challenge. Soccer came pretty naturally to us, and we enjoyed it and had a lot of fun doing it, but biathlon was difficult. That challenge and trying to improve on it made it worthwhile.”
The Barnes twins are part of a young and promising group of biathletes trained at the Maine Winter Sports Center by Farmington native James Upham. Only two of the nine members of the Olympic team did not train at the facility in Fort Kent. Also on the women’s roster are Rachel Steer (Anchorage, Alaska), Carolyn Treacy (St. Paul, Minn.) and Sarah Konrad (Laramie, Wyo.). The men’s roster includes Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, N.Y.), Jeremy Teela (Anchorage, Alaska), Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, N.Y.) and Brian Olsen (Minneapolis, Minn.).
“We look to have the best performances we’ve ever had at these Olympics,” said Upham, the USBA Development Coach, “but really, we’re looking four to eight years down the road before we start saying the M’ word for this group.”
The U.S. squad may not be talking about medals, but the best Olympic finish in the event was 13th. There’s high hopes to challenge that. After appearing at the Boston Celtics game Wednesday evening, the team was to fly to Europe on Thursday. It has two World Cup events and a training camp before the Olympics in February.
“I think we can really look forward to putting these guys as high up on the results page as we can in Turino and in the next two World Cups,” said Upham. “That’s my focus now, how we get these guys going really fast?”
Like Upham, much of the Olympic team are newcomers to the Olympics. Teela and Steer are the most veteran members. It makes Wednesday’s announcement, following the four-day TD Banknorth Festival in Fort Kent last weekend, that much more special.
“Both Tim and I grew up together training at Lake Placid,” said Bailey. “We were surrounded by Olympic athletes training there on a regular basis. I know from watching those various Olympians come through Lake Placid that the dream was in my mind at a very young age. To be part of that now is an incredible feeling.”
Burke and Bailey have been competing together since they were youths and had often shared their Olympic aspirations with each other.
“I can remember when we were on the Junior Team and watching the Olympic Trials and both talking about trying to get there,” said Burke. “To both make the same Olympic team is pretty special for both of us.”
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