VOA标准英语2010年-Demong Wins Gold, Proposes, Carries US

American Nordic Combined skier¹ Billy DeMong has been chosen to carry the flag in the closing ceremonies for the U.S. Team Sunday at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  The honor is just one of the amazing memories Demong will bring home from these Games.

It is certain that Billy Demong of the United States will never forget the Vancouver games.  Not only did he and his teammates win the silver medal in the Nordic combined relay event, but he made history by becoming the first American to capture gold in the men's large hill event Thursday in Whistler. 

Demong said winning the gold with teammate Johnny Spillane taking the silver was the achievement of a long-time goal. "Going out there, getting on the podium and then watching two American flags go up while the national anthem² was playing, and then to turn and there was like - it seemed like two or three seconds, but it was probably two-10ths where Johnny and I made eye contact - it was like 'We did it,'" he said.

Shortly after winning his gold medal, the 29-year-old Demong surprised his girlfriend Katie Koczynski by proposing at the post-race celebration.  Demong says he had the ring for a while, but thought Thursday was the right time to ask.

"Just kind of uh, just stepped off the cliff and said 'okay where's that microphone.' Made a short couple of comments and then put the mic down and dropped down on one knee and...  I didn't really hear her answer, but she put it on willingly enough, so I took that as a yes," he said.

Katie Koczynski - a former U.S. skeleton competitor -  said Friday that she had an idea that Demong might pop the question, but when it happened she was really surprised. "I was in line for the bathroom," she said. "He was like 'come over here' and I was like 'I gotta go!' You're a girl you think 'oh wouldn't that be romantic?' but then I was like 'he would never do that.' I thought we would be alone somewhere. I was in like total shock. I felt kind of ridiculous I couldn't even be emotional because I was in such shock."

As if winning medals and proposing were not enough, Demong - a four-time Olympian - was also named by his teammates to carry the U.S. flag in Sunday's Closing Ceremonies. Demong says that he looks forward to joining a roster³ that includes former Olympic champions Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen.

"You know winning a gold medal on the field of play is one thing that speaks to your hard work and your dedication⁴ to being an elite⁵ athlete. But to be chosen by your peers, especially someone like me who has been to four Olympics, who grew up in Lake Placid⁶ , it's pretty special to be recognized in that capacity," he said.

Demong says that he has put aside any plans to retire.  The skier says he wants to work with younger team members to ensure the U.S. program continues to achieve Olympic success.

 

1 skier   

n.滑雪运动员

参考例句：

• She is a skier who is unafraid of danger.她是一名敢于冒险的滑雪者。
• The skier skimmed across the snow.滑雪者飞快地滑过雪地。

2 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

3 roster   

n.值勤表，花名册

参考例句：

• The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
• The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。

4 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

5 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

6 placid   

adj.安静的，平和的

参考例句：

• He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
• You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。