Bishop makes each second count
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
In events such as speed skating, the Olympic trials are among the most defining moments for an athlete. After training for years, nothing is supposed to come between the skater and the time, especially not a clock that is malfunctioning.
That's where Doral Vance, bishop of the Olympic Park 2nd Ward, Kearns Utah Stake, comes in. He has been volunteering as a manual timer for speed skating at the Utah Olympic Oval for about six years.
Manual timers are used at speed-skating events in case the computerized timer fails, such as happened during the 10,000-meter race during this year's Olympic trials.
"The computer had the wrong lap and wrong time," he said. "They [the referees] used our times."
He said this is not a common occurrence and might not happen during the Olympics. "But, he added, "if it happens you better be right."
He said he was trained for this volunteer position because precision is absolutely necessary. The timers must start the watches exactly when they see the flash of the starter's gun and finish when the skater's blade crosses the finish line.
"We can actually get pretty accurate," he said.
The accuracy he speaks of is his ability to consistently come within two-tenths a second when compared with the electronic time.
Watching the speed skaters has been the most exciting part of the Olympics for Bishop Vance. In them, he sees what his son, Parker, may become.
The Vance family lives three doors down from the Olympic Oval. Parker, 15, became interested in speed skating about six years ago because of their proximity to the skating arena. Parker's goal is to compete in speed skating during the 2006 Olympics.
His father thinks Parker would be among good company.
"Just seeing those athletes, they work hard, they're good kids," he said.
Bishop Vance said it is a joy to be so involved with the Olympics. The rest of his family agree because they are each participating in their own way. Parker will be watching the speed skaters very carefully. Kerry, Bishop Vance's wife, teaches baton twirling to students who will be performing at the Olympic Village and their daughter, Shannon, will be a Brigham Young University dancer during the opening ceremonies.
E-mail: ngrubbs@desnews.com
