Remembering a sad Olympic scene | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Watching the USA-Sweden women's hockey game, I'm having flashbacks to the teams' semifinal meeting in 2006 in Turin. The heavily favored Americans lost 3-2 in a shootout, marking the only time in Olympic history (starting in 1998) that the USA and Canada did not play for the gold medal. What ensued was the saddest Olympic scene I've ever witnessed. U.S. goalie Chanda Gunn was the first player off the ice, walking briskly through the mixed-zone interview area with her mask in place. A few minutes later, she returned to answer questions, as tears rolled down her cheeks. It was truly a heartbreaking moment.I actually had to look up her name from my story of that day, but I'll never forget the way she stood and fielded those questions in a highly emotional situation. Gunn was an inspirational person, dealing with epilepsy and playing in the Olympics. I hope she's having a great life, eight years later.