Three-time Olympian Andrea Mead Lawrence was honored in many ways at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.
She won the 2001 Havoline Star Award in recognition of her many contributions to the environment and the Eastern Sierra community.
Andrea Mead Lawrence carrying Olympic torch. |
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She was also honored as the Greatest Winter Olympian of all time by sports filmmaker Bud Greenspan in partnership with General Motors.
In addition, Andrea carried the olympic torch along with her daughter, Deirdre ("Didi") Lawrence, on its journey to the Games in Salt Lake City.
She also skiied with the flame into the stadium at the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley - the first woman to carry the torch into the lighting ceremony.
The Havoline Star Award recognizes U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team alumni who have given back to their communities in meaningful ways by employing the same passion and energy they used to become a national team member.
Bud Greenspan and the General Motors Award recognize her athletic and post-Games contributions.
At the Oslo Games in 1952, Andrea became the first U.S. Alpine skier and first woman in the world to win two Gold medals in one Winter Games. She is still the only American double-gold medalist in alpine skiing. The 2002 Winter Games marked the 50th anniversary of her amazing accomplishment.
"Your life doesn't stop by winning medals. It's only the beginning. And if you have the true Olympic spirit, you have to put it back into the world in meaningful ways."
Since the end of her racing career, Andrea has focused on protecting the environment, primarily in the Eastern Sierra, where she has lived since 1968. Lawrence has been an active member of the Eastern Sierra community, helping to found the Friends of Mammoth, and serving on the Mono County Board of Supervisors for 16 years. Just recently Andrea was also the recipient of the Sierra Business Council’s Vision 20/20 Lifetime Achievement Award for her extraordinary efforts to secure the economic and environmental health of the Sierra Nevada for this and future generations. Andrea has been a longtime advocate for Mono Lake’s protection, and is on the Mono Lake Committee Board of Directors.
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