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Shannon Bahrke's eye-catching hairstyles matched her excellence on the ski slopes, including a 2002 silver medal for moguls. Now, Bahrke has opened a coffee shop in the same city where she celebrated on the platform 10 years ago.
Related:
Olympian Derek Parra shares thoughts on 2002 Games
Derek Parra represents Utah's Olympic Legacy that continues to assist future athletes. In 2002, won gold and silver speed skating medals, the first Olympic medals ever for a Mexican-American."Winning a metal in your hometown — where I've lived — seeing your flag raise, with so many friends and family and community and country, was just amazing," Bahrke said.
Though Bahrke isn't a Utah native, she says the Beehive State has always felt like home. She moved here from Tahoe City, Calif., right after high school to train with the U.S. Ski Team.
"I just love it here. It is my home," she said.
Now Bahrke's put down roots. She got married in 2010, and won a bronze medal in Vancouver Olympic Games the same year.
After the Vancouver games, Bahrke retired from competing and now marvels at how the sport she loves has evolved.
"Winter sports have changed drastically. I was 14, I was doing the spread eagle in the mogul field, and now kids are doing back flips and double back flips," Bahrke said.
