WASHINGTON, D.C.—In a statement on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins praised Russell Currier, of Stockholm, who is participating in the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Senator Collins, who grew up in Caribou, described how proud everyone in the County – indeed all Mainers – are of Currier’s accomplishment.
Following is the full text of Senator Collins’ speech:
“The world’s best athletes have come together in Sochi, Russia, for the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. Among them is Russell Currier from the small Northern Maine town of Stockholm, in Aroostook County. I rise today to celebrate the determination, hard work, and community spirit that got him there.
“Russell competes in the biathlon, that demanding and increasingly popular sport that combines cross-country skiing with sharpshooting. He secured his place on America’s team by winning three out of four qualifying races in January at the U.S. Biathlon Olympic Trials.
“But Russell’s snow-covered trail to Sochi began long before. Fourteen years ago, as a seventh-grader, he joined the local Nordic skiing program. A former coach described him as a quiet youngster with no particular interest in the sport.
“That quickly changed. The next year, Russell won a county-wide middle-school championship. The year after that, he won third place at the junior nationals. Caring coaches and encouraging teammates lit a fire that burns so brightly today.
“On his personal profile on the U.S. Olympic Team web site, Russell wrote that his favorite quote is, “Less talking, more doing.” He has embraced that motto with all of his strength, and his perseverance has turned his Olympic dream into a goal he has achieved.
“I have a particular rooting interest in Russell’s success. He and his parents, Debbie and Chris, are graduates of Caribou High School, as am I. I have known this wonderful family for many years and am delighted for them. While the world watches the Winter Olympics, the entire population of Aroostook County will be riveted to the Biathlon competition.
“As the name suggests, the town of Stockholm, Maine, was settled by Swedish immigrants. When the first 21 families came to Aroostook County in the 1870s, they brought with them an unsurpassed work ethic, a strong sense of community, and a love of skiing. In fact, the entire ski industry in Maine, both Nordic and Alpine, can be traced to those hardy, outdoors-loving newcomers.
“Nearly a century and a half later, the work ethic and love of skiing remain strong, and the sense of community is more powerful than ever. When Russell won his place on the U.S. team, friends and neighbors held a fundraiser, serving up more than 300 spaghetti dinners, so that Debbie and Chris could make the long and expensive trip to Sochi to cheer on their son. The local newspaper, The Aroostook Republican, published an excellent story on the community support behind the Currier family, and I am pleased to insert it into the Record.
“Russell’s dedication and his community’s spirit have a strong ally in this remarkable story – the Maine Winter Sports Center. The Center was founded in 1999 with the purpose of rekindling Aroostook County’s skiing heritage, spurring economic development in that rural region, bringing families together in wholesome recreation, and countering the sedentary lifestyle that leads to so many health problems among children and adults. The Center’s world-class facilities in Fort Kent and Presque Isle have hosted national and international cross-country and biathlon competitions. For the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, 13 members of the U.S. Biathlon Team trained at the Maine Winter Sports Center, but Russell is the first Olympian to come up entirely through the Center’s program.
“Russell Currier demonstrates that growing up in a community that works hard and works together can be a great advantage when combined with individual desire and determination. The success Russell Currier has achieved in realizing his Olympic dream and the support he has received along the way are inspiring proof, and I wish Russell and his teammates all the best in Sochi.”