The Kollmans’ Olympic Adventure

By HANNAH SOUERS
WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
An entire year of preparing and packing recently led up to two hours at the men’s 10K biathlon sprint and another three hours at the men’s luge.
Lindy and Matt Kollman of Yakima spent their Valentine’s Day rooting for the American team at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
“My sister is an Olympic fanatic,” says 32-year-old Lindy Kollman. “She got online updates on tickets sales and got us the tickets in February of 2009.”

The year in between getting the tickets and actually going to the Olympics was spent getting all the essentials needed for the experience. This included getting passports as well as finding a hotel, which turned out to be a nearly impossible task.
“We looked for a hotel in Vancouver about a month after we got the tickets,” Lindy says. “There weren’t any that were less than $700. Thankfully, my mom knew someone, who knew someone in Burnaby. We got to stay in their basement. God was giving us a hand.”
The house happened to be right across the street from the bus stop that would take the couple to the events.
While they were out of town at the Olympics, Lindy’s mom, 58-year-old Marcella Johnson, watched their kids.
On that Valentine’s Day, while their parents were in Canada, Anabelle and Maisy Kollman went for a walk with their grandmother.
“I closed the door and forgot it was locked,” Johnson says. “The spare set of keys were in the house. For some reason, I had my car keys. I ended up going to a family member’s house to get another set.”
At the same time, the Kollmans were having their own unforgettable experience. The day started off at the biathlon. Sitting around them were people from Sweden, France, Canada, Australia, Poland and the Czech Republic.
And their seats were in the perfect spot. They had a clear view of the race course, shooting range and finish line.
It turned out to be Matt’s favorite.
“I enjoyed the biathlon the most because there was shooting and downhill skiing,” the 35-year-old says.
The luge had been rescheduled for two hours earlier, and by the time the Kollmans arrived the first heat already took place.
Still, both enjoyed the experience, which they say was worth the wait and effort.
“The luge was my favorite because you could get so close,” Lindy says. “You could touch the track!”
Olympic events were spaced out throughout the city. But the couple managed to also catch the award ceremony for women’s snowboarding.
The Kollmans make a conscious decision to watch the Olympics. Their favorite events  to watch in the winter games are speed skating and curling.
But after attending the recent Winter Games, they’ve added a couple of events to their list.
“Now, the luge and bobsled also,” says Lindy, because I was there!”