During the 2014 Winter Olympics, Utah's own
Noelle Pikus-Pace was one of the Games' heroes as she competed and won a Silver Medal for the U.S. in the Skeleton event. Her story about how she arrived at the Olympics after facing physical and emotional challenges, and how her family stood by her side and supported her along the way, is inspiring to us all.
In an interview shortly after the Olympics, Pikus-Pace said, “Honestly, getting hit by the
bobsled, people look back and say, 'Oh, man, that's horrible. Taking fourth in
the Olympics, people say, 'Ah, too bad, that stinks.' And then I had a
miscarriage at 18 weeks and many tears were shed, but if I hadn't gone through
every one of those things I would not be here today, and this is right where I
want to be and to have my family is beyond words. I am beyond words."
Her positive encouragement is admirable as she has endured and overcome many personal and family trials in her life. Despite the hardship and tears that adversity can bring, these moments can be used to mold us and our loved ones, and help us to become better individuals day by day. I think Pikus-Pace put it best when she said, "the moments in life that [are] worth living for . . . come after the hard times, long days, and determined work."
