The Skype connection from Northern California to a training facility somewhere in the mountains of Italy was terribly weak. Reporter and Team USA biathlete Sean Doherty continued to get cut off every two or three minutes.
Five times, in fact.
Sean Doherty celebrates after taking one of
three medals at IBU Junior World Championships.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Biathlon
Each time, Doherty calmly found a new spot around the grounds, the final time in a clear, remote spot in the basement.
The connection over the next 20 minutes was crystal clear, as was the reason how an 18-year-old kid who just graduated from
Kennett (Conway, N.H.) could reach the pinnacle of a sport dominated by athletes in their 30s, becoming the youngest member ever to make the USA Biathlon team.
"It's really an incredibly mental sport," he said. "You have to remain really calm and focused. You can't easily rattle. You can't tense up under pressure. There's really an incredible mix of skills you need. I think that's why I like it so much. There's a lot to work on."
Indeed. Aspiring skiers from New England like Doherty rarely dream of combining cross country skiing and rifle shooting. Who does? Carrying a .22 caliber, 3.7 kilogram, $2,000 weapon on one's back while gliding through the scenic snow seems counterintuitive.
Like most, Doherty loved the speed and serenity of the sport and dreamed of being an alpine skier. That was until his mom and dad, Mary and Dan, novice skiers themselves, pushed him toward the nordic track by age 10.
"Alpine skiing can get pretty pricey," said Doherty.
Doherty took the nordic route without a hitch and actually excelled at it. He's fit when it comes to cardiovascular health, he has a strong build (he's now 5-foot-11, 160 pounds) and he's disciplined. It was apparent Doherty would be a solid cross country competitor at a school that has won two straight state ski-team titles in a town largely funded by tourism.
But at age 12, a friend — one who has wished to stay anonymous all these years — suggested that Doherty give biathlon a whirl. Without any shooting experience, the pre-teen hesitated slightly, but once he tried it, he was pretty much hooked.
"He just said ‘Hey you want to try it?' He sort of gently pushed me into it and helped me get my first rifle," Doherty said of the friend. "I don't come from a gun family, but I really enjoyed it.
"I'll say this. It's a long learning curve. It takes a long time to get very good at it. I took a lot of lumps."
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Both a cross country runner and skier at Kennett, the same school that claims 2005 graduate and current Olympic downhiller Leanne Smith, Doherty was a solid contributor to the school's ski program until the middle of his sophomore season.
By that time, the competitive biathlon world had consumed his life and there were only so many hours in a day. Kennett Athletic Director Kerry Brady said it was pretty obvious Doherty was on the fast track to biathlon stardom. It never changed his nature, she said.
"He was always a very respectful, well-rounded nice kid while he was here," she said. "But you could see he was going to be a very good athlete. He had a lot of passion and focus in his training. Whatever goal he set, he achieved."
Sean Doherty
Photo courtesy of U.S. Biathlon
During his senior year in high school, Doherty had a breakout season on the U.S. Junior National Team, winning a gold and two silver medals in the IBU Junior World Championships.
He was the first U.S. Biathlon athlete to reach the podium three times at any World Championship event.
"That was an amazing week and sort of put me on the map," he said. "Everything came together just at the right time."
He had similar success the year before, earning a bronze medal in the biathlon mixed relay at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria. Doherty's third leg – the fastest of the four – pushed the U.S. team from ninth to second place and gave America its first medal in an Olympic biathlon event.
"All those successes have definitely helped with my confidence at big venues," Doherty said.
But Doherty isn't counting on any medals in Sochi, the solar system of all competitive settings.
"I'm not expecting medals as an 18-year-old," he said. "The first time is a learning experience. This is a chance to experience the highest level, learn and improve."
That doesn't mean Doherty is intimidated by the moment or the competition. Even though gents like Lowell Bailey, 32, Tim Burke, 32, and Lanny Barnes, 31, will be making their third Olympic appearances each, and that the next youngest U/S. male biathlete is eight years older than he, Doherty is confident he can contribute.
"I'm not scared of the age difference," he said. "It is what it is. There's nothing I can do about it."
He couldn't control earning one of the two final spots either, which were announced Jan. 13. Doherty, who is in his first season on the senior national team, got the news while in a team meeting in Italy.
"To be honest, it still hasn't all set in that I made it," Doherty said on Jan. 23. "It's such a big thing for me. It's been a long-time dream of mine. It's still hard to believe it's real. … To be the youngest picked is really cool. I'm really proud of myself for making it happen. It's a really great accomplishment. I'm kind of surprised to make the standards as such a youngster, but I'm going with it."
He said after celebrating the announcement with teammates, he called his family and close friends from Conway.
"I've received just great support from the entire community," he said. "They've just been real happy for me and that makes me happy."
