Olympians serve as reminder of the positive in competing

SALT LAKE CITY — Ten years ago this month, the world watched as athletes who are often overlooked in favor of the NBA, NFL and MLB took center stage in the world of sports.

And they grabbed the spotlight in a place that was not only relatively unknown, but also often misunderstood.

But it wasn't just that they are speedskaters and cross country skiers, competing in a place many world champions had never heard of, the 2002 Olympics were special because they came just five months after a terrorist attack threatened the kind of freedom that really defines this country.

The athletes, this community and this country infused with games with compassion, affection, determination and grace that doesn't always accompany athletic competition. In reliving some of the brightest moments of the 2002 Games, the athletes, whether they won or lost, illustrated some important life lessons.

In no particular order, here are some of my favorites:

Enjoy the ride.

For four years, Billy Demong and his Nordic combined teammates focused on one thing — winning a medal at the 2002 games. So imagine the bitter disappointment when they finished fourth. It was the highest finish of any Nordic skiers in U.S. history, but their focus on a medal made it feel like a failure.

"The unfortunate part of my experience is that we had these amazing Olympics in our home country and we didn't take the time to really experience them," said Demong, who ended up winning a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010. "We were so focused on results that we didn't take time to enjoy that fact. It was a little bit unhealthy."

Trust your instincts.

Aerial skier Eric Bergoust had the skill to win a medal in 2002, but he didn't have the mindset.

"One of the best things I learned was to trust my instincts," said Bergoust, who is now a coach with the U.S. team. "I was also looking for that extra edge, always fine tuning, getting closer to perfection. Sometimes there is just no more that you can do, no more information you can gather. You've got to say it's good enough and go with the information you've got."

Pressure can be a thief.

Bergoust still feels that had he relaxed and just did what he knew how to do, he'd have landed on the podium.