"I have always felt if I ever do something big like this I want to be able to give something back. I love what I do; it's great fun, but honestly, it's a pretty ridiculous thing, I skate around in tights. If you keep it in perspective, I've trained my whole life for this but it's not that big a deal.
But because I skated well I have a few seconds of microphone time. And I know how news cycles work. Tomorrow there will be another gold medalist. So I can either gush how wonderful I feel or use it for something.
So I am donating the entire (winning) sum the USOC gives me ($25,000) to an organization, 'Right to Play,' that Johan Olav Koss (the Norwegian icon who won three gold medals in 1994 in Lillehammer) either started or gave to in 1994. It helps refugees in Chad, where there are over 60,000 persons displaced from their homes. I am going to be asking all of the Olympic sponsors if they will match my donation.
In Sudan, there have been tens of thousands of people killed. My government has labeled it genocide. Hopefully, if we can stabilize the region, with U.N. or U.S. pressure, we can go in and start programs for refugees there.
Johan has lived his life in a manner I hope to live my life. I can only hope to fit in his large shoes."
But because I skated well I have a few seconds of microphone time. And I know how news cycles work. Tomorrow there will be another gold medalist. So I can either gush how wonderful I feel or use it for something.
So I am donating the entire (winning) sum the USOC gives me ($25,000) to an organization, 'Right to Play,' that Johan Olav Koss (the Norwegian icon who won three gold medals in 1994 in Lillehammer) either started or gave to in 1994. It helps refugees in Chad, where there are over 60,000 persons displaced from their homes. I am going to be asking all of the Olympic sponsors if they will match my donation.
In Sudan, there have been tens of thousands of people killed. My government has labeled it genocide. Hopefully, if we can stabilize the region, with U.N. or U.S. pressure, we can go in and start programs for refugees there.
Johan has lived his life in a manner I hope to live my life. I can only hope to fit in his large shoes."
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