By Kirk Deeter

What I love most about the Olympic Games are the feel-good human interest stories.  Here's one that should make any Stars-n-Stripes-waving fly fisher feel really, really good.

Johnny Spillane of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, took home the silver medal yesterday in the Nordic combined 10K normal hill competition in Vancouver, and in doing so earned the first ever American podium finish in the history of this demanding competition.  Spillane finished less than half a second behind gold medalist Jason Lamy Chappuis of France with a tremendously inspiring performance that's sure to be remembered in an historic context among the most impressive of these Games.

Nordic combined matches the grace and skill of ski jumping (perhaps the original winter "extreme" sport), with the gut-wrenching stamina of cross-country skiing.  A medal finish in Nordic combined had, through 20 Winter Olympics, remained one of the last unfilled achievements in our nation's vaunted Olympic tradition. And unlike in other sports where high-dollar endorsement deals and relaxed rules on professional participation (e.g. hockey), Nordic combined athletes have to scratch and claw by various means to support their training. In Johnny's case, that included working as a fly fishing guide on the Yampa River and other waters in northern Colorado. Taught to fish by his father, Jim, Johnny (29) lists fly fishing among his favorite summertime pursuits, and he is an aficionado and collector of fly rods. Apparently, now he is into collecting Olympic hardware also.

Way to go, Johnny.  The fly fishing nation--along with all Americans--salutes you.

Stay tuned into the large hill nordic combined event in the coming days.  I get the feeling Johnny has another cast at Olympic glory tucked up his sleeve.  Any positive mojo you might send in his direction is well-deserved.

Deeter

Comments (8)

from MLH wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

That was a great race. Been a long time coming. He has to be pumped for the next race.

One magazine, can't remember which one, rated Steamboat Springs as one of the 10 most beautiful in the U.S. Seems several world class skiers are from there - hopefully, he's introducing them to flyfishing.

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from Jerry A. wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Congraulations, Johnny Spillane and good luck in future races.

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from hengst wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

I hope he can collect some more "Olympic hardware" keep up the great work..It is very impressive to see someone that can find the time to flyfish, guide and win olympic medals with gold in his future...very impressive

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from buckhunter wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Congrats to Johnny. I wonder if his clients have trouble keeping up with him?

Steamboat Springs has my vote as one of the most beautiful places on earth. My wifes great uncle was lucky enough to die there on an elk hunt many many years ago. I hope when I die I'm in a place as beautiful as Steamboat Springs or getting shot by a jealous husband when I'm 95 years old wouldn't be a bad way to go either.

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from kirkdeeter wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Yes Steamboat is a very cool place. I am biased, because my sister-in-law and her family lives there... that means I get to fish the Yampa often, and it's an awesome river. But the best thing about "Ski Town USA" is the lifestyle and the people... they get it... all seasons, all sports. Summer rodeos, and a ski jump downtown. It's an Olympic cradle... and a "real deal" kind of place... no la-la reality shows based there. A very solid community, and a place worth checking out.

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from deneki wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

As a former nordic skier now in the fly fishing industry, I was all kinds of fired up to see how well Johnny and the rest of the team did.

One guy, three medals, nordic skiing...USA? Are you kidding me? Awesome work, Johnny.

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from danway35 wrote 1 year 28 weeks ago

thanks

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from asdfq123 wrote 1 year 15 weeks ago

I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people.
Tony Lama Boots

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from kirkdeeter wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Yes Steamboat is a very cool place. I am biased, because my sister-in-law and her family lives there... that means I get to fish the Yampa often, and it's an awesome river. But the best thing about "Ski Town USA" is the lifestyle and the people... they get it... all seasons, all sports. Summer rodeos, and a ski jump downtown. It's an Olympic cradle... and a "real deal" kind of place... no la-la reality shows based there. A very solid community, and a place worth checking out.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from MLH wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

That was a great race. Been a long time coming. He has to be pumped for the next race.

One magazine, can't remember which one, rated Steamboat Springs as one of the 10 most beautiful in the U.S. Seems several world class skiers are from there - hopefully, he's introducing them to flyfishing.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jerry A. wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Congraulations, Johnny Spillane and good luck in future races.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from hengst wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

I hope he can collect some more "Olympic hardware" keep up the great work..It is very impressive to see someone that can find the time to flyfish, guide and win olympic medals with gold in his future...very impressive

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 1 year 51 weeks ago

Congrats to Johnny. I wonder if his clients have trouble keeping up with him?

Steamboat Springs has my vote as one of the most beautiful places on earth. My wifes great uncle was lucky enough to die there on an elk hunt many many years ago. I hope when I die I'm in a place as beautiful as Steamboat Springs or getting shot by a jealous husband when I'm 95 years old wouldn't be a bad way to go either.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from deneki wrote 1 year 48 weeks ago

As a former nordic skier now in the fly fishing industry, I was all kinds of fired up to see how well Johnny and the rest of the team did.

One guy, three medals, nordic skiing...USA? Are you kidding me? Awesome work, Johnny.

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from danway35 wrote 1 year 28 weeks ago

thanks

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from asdfq123 wrote 1 year 15 weeks ago

I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people.
Tony Lama Boots

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All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.