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Shelley Osterloh ReportingThe 2006 Paralympic Games are under way in Torino, Italy, and one of the first to win a gold medal is a Utahn.
Salt Laker Steve Cook won a gold medal in the 5 Kilometer standing men's cross country race. Cook is remarkable athlete; in addition to being a gold medal cross country skier, he is also a world class bike racer. He runs the service department at Contender Bikes here in Salt Lake.
A tractor accident took his right leg below the knee in 1988. Four years ago in the Salt Lake City games, he won four silver medals and has always hoped more people with disabilities would be inspired to get out and ski.
Steve Cook, Paralympic Gold Medallist: "We are having a hard time getting recruits that want to cross country ski because it is a hard sport and it takes time to be good at it. Hopefully it helps us out and we can get some young people"
In addition to Steve Cook, Utah has quite a few paralympians competing in Torino, like Chris Klebl of Heber and Mike Crenshaw of Salt Lake, and Alpine skier Eric Bayindirli of Deer Valley
One legged skier Monte Meier of Park City finished 17th today in the standing Super-G. And watch out for Mono Skiers Stephani Victor and Lacey Heward.
Lacey finished just off the podium in fourth in the Downhill.
The 2006 U.S. Paralympic Team consists of 56 athletes. The 2006 Paralympics continue until Sunday March 19th. You can watch coverage online, just follow the link at the top right of this story.
