[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 43 (Thursday, March 10, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MEGAN NICK

 Mr. SANDERS. Madam President, I join with Vermonters across 
our State to give a huge congratulations to Megan Nick for her 
incredible achievement in winning a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics 
in Beijing in women's aerials. Megan is an inspiration to so many 
Vermonters, and we are tremendously proud of her. Megan credits her 
parents, Jeff and Colleen Nick, for instilling in her the value of hard 
work, which certainly showed all throughout the 2022 Olympic Games.
  Growing up in Shelburne, Megan was a competitive gymnast and spent 
more than 10 years training at the Green Mountain Training Center in 
Williston. The similarities between the two sports, along with her 
drive for perfection, drew Megan to skiing. Then ahead of her senior 
year at Champlain Valley Union High School, Megan was challenged to try 
aerial skiing and found a new passion. In talking about the transition 
to becoming an aerial skier, Megan gives credit to her gymnastics 
coach, Stefan Hruska, for teaching her the spatial awareness required 
to be successful in the sport.
  While she learned key skills in the gym, it was at Cochran's Ski 
Area--a small, family-operated, nonprofit ski area in Richmond, VT, and 
home to another Beijing Olympian--that Megan learned to ski. That is 
what our small State is all about: communities coming together to help 
young people achieve their goals in a supportive, encouraging 
environment.
  Like many Vermonters, Megan grew up loving the outdoors. As she said 
herself in a recent interview following her Olympic medal, her Vermont 
upbringing taught her ``the importance of sustainability and the role 
that we can play in helping our environment while also being able to 
play in it,'' something that she finds particularly important as an 
aerial skier.
  This was Megan's first Olympic Games, and she took bronze in her 
first event. Megan showed everyone that with courage and hard work 
there is nothing you can't accomplish. I heartily applaud Megan for the 
positive impact she has had not only on Vermonters, but on young people 
all over the country who have a dream. Megan is an inspiration to us 
all and is a true testament of hard work leading to success.
  Megan's level of commitment and accomplishments deserve all of our 
sincere admiration. Vermont is remarkably proud of Megan, and we know 
she is going to continue to be among our brightest hopes for a better 
tomorrow--both on and off the slopes.

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