By CHRIS SULLIVAN
KIRO Radio

Ice skaters, downhill skiers, and hockey players attract most of the publicity in the Olympics, but it's the cross-country skiers who might be in the best shape.

Torin Koos didn't start out in cross country. "On the ski trails, I did everything from ski jumping to alpine skiing to cross country skiing, but cross-country skiing was always my favorite. It's just been a progression, just like a kid grows up riding the bike and dreams of being Lance Armstrong. That was me," said Koos.

The 29-year-old from Leavenworth, known as "The Cowboy," is the son of an Olympian who is donning the red, white, and blue in his third Olympics.

"I just had these big dreams and was always really inspired by the Olympics and watching Bonnie Blair skating and watching Phil Mahre ski. That's always been a driving force of mine, to want to be faster, higher, stronger."

Koos may have been attracted to the sexy ski events, but cross-country is where his heart lies.

"It's not just all about endurance. There's a lot of power involved and there's an incredible amount of technique. It's a sport that I've always felt challenged by. I've never felt like I've conquered the sport or I don't have anything else to learn. It's always new and exciting to me," said Koos.

While long runs in the Methow Valley provide some quiet time, Koos says cross country isn't all about zen and introspection. "There are other times when you just start turning on the kick ass rock-and-roll and it's time to race. I like both sides of the sport, for sure."

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