Deseret News | Reader comments: Up to Parra: Olympic medalist fills in as U.S. speedskating coach

Reader comments
Parra fills in as speedskating coach

swiftouch | 4:42 a.m. July 10, 2009

people spend decades of their lives training for what? a worthless piece of metal. I say stop wasting time and do something productive. This isn't it. The olympics are all full of druggies and cheaters anyway. if you can't beat'em join'em and in cycling, in football, baseball, every other sport. it's not if but when, and if you get caught.

sports can't be sports unless you have honest trainers and honest competitors. I'm sure they are few and far between.

Speedskater | 10:34 a.m. July 10, 2009

Until you have fought a long corner going 30 MPH on ice, you really have no room to talk. These are world class athletes, who also have a passion for cycling, running, etc. in addition to the ice. Since the beginnings of ice skating as a way to cross frozen northern lakes and rivers (instead of walking miles around) there have been competitions to see who is best. It's just a natural progression. These athletes don't need the drugs, they are not all a bunch of cheats. Go down to the Oval any time and watch...you will be blown away by your ignorance to the sport. PS Derek Parra is as legit a trainer and athlete as any. Go US Speedskating!

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3 photos

Jason Olson, Deseret News

New national coach Derek Parra watches Rebekah Bradford as he works with speedskating athletes at the Utah Olympic Oval this week. He is in for a challenge with the 2010 Olympics being less than a year away.

Gallery (3 photos)