Saturday, February 15, 2014

Here is an Olympic Story of Suffering Endured in the Grand Old Style

I thank Leah Garchik of the Chronicle for calling this one to my attention. It's not an example of manufactured conflict. For a writer to ignore it would be irresponsible.

  SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Emily Scott's dad made it through strange airports in far-flung countries to  watch her skate in short track at the Winter Olympics. Her mom, if she's lucky, may get to watch her on TV in prison.

 The 24-year-old former inline skater from Springfield, Mo., got to Sochi thanks to emotional support from her father and financial help from a crowd-funding website while her mom is serving a 12-year sentence for drug trafficking.


 Scott was forced to apply for food stamps after her monthly stipend from U.S. Speedskating was cut from $1,950 to $600. Enough strangers touched by her story responded and she raised more than $48,000.




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