PARK CITY — Mary Bocock will make her Olympic debut in Cortina, Italy.
She has qualified to ski on behalf of Team USA at the Winter Games in Italy's Dolomite Mountains. But make no mistake, she credits the mountains of Utah for helping her reach that dream.
"I'm from Salt Lake City," Bocock said during an interview last fall. When told that made her "one of us," she replied, "Exactly."
She grew up in the heart of Salt Lake City and is a graduate of Rowland Hall.
How does it feel competing on behalf of the United States while being from Salt Lake City?
"It's awesome, especially now knowing that the 2034 Olympics are going to be here. That was hugely exciting. It would be awesome to make it there, because … I'm the local," she said, laughing.
Yes, Bocock has Utah pride to spare, knowing the Winter Games are coming back. She'd be 30 then, so if you do the math — no, she wasn't around for Utah's last Olympics.
"My brother was actually born on the opening day, so they saw the fireworks from the hospital room in 2002," she said.
Still, growing up where the Games had made a mark.
"Sometimes we'd have races at Snowbasin and we'd go to the start of the Olympic speed races," she said. "It was so fun having competitions of, like, who could tuck down the hill the fastest."
Fastest, indeed.
Alpine skiers fly down the mountain at freeway speeds — 60, 70, even 80 mph.
Asked if it's scary, she replied, "I get scared."
"Some people say they don't. But I still do," she added with a laugh.
Bocock joins an Alpine skiing team that includes legends like Lindsay Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin.
