California skier Keely Cashman aims for second Olympic team from her small hometown
Keely Cashman, an Olympic skier from California, is defying stereotypes as she prepares for her second Olympic team, with her hometown rallying behind her.
"Everyone knows everyone where I'm from," Cashman said. "It's a very small town."
"It's called Strawberry. The population, according to the last census, is 86 people," Cashman said.
Most of the year, the town's favorite barista at the Serene Bean trades espresso for powder. Cashman is a 2022 Olympic alpine skier and an eight-year member of the defying gravity and expectations.
"I try to be someone who can show the kids that you don't have to come from a fancy academy to make it to the Olympics," she said.
She started skiing at Dodge Ridge, where the team room is now named after her.
"By 12, I went to Tahoe to ski," Cashman said. Palisades Tahoe launched her ski career as a teen, and it's where she trains in the offseason. "Ski racing is obviously a very expensive sport. I come from a very blue-collar area," Cashman said. "My brothers and I were able to ski race because my dad was a coach, and that covered some of the costs."
The rest of the bill is fueled by caffeine in a family business her parents have run for 28 years.
"She definitely loves her coffee, for sure. And she's fast at making it," her father said. "Just like she's fast at skiing. She does everything pretty fast. We don't even like to drive with her."
"Watching my parents work there and build a successful business has shown me what hard work can do," Cashman said. When asked how badly she wants to represent in the Olympics this year, Cashman said, "Pretty badly. Since the last Olympics was in COVID, we didn't have friends and family there. And that was tough."
"Growing up, I always had that image of crossing the finish line and seeing your parents or family in the crowd. And having that this year would be huge, and I'm going to try my best to make it there," Cashman said.
With hopefully enough time for the family to grab a cup of Italian espresso, Cashman is on the road to Milan-Cortina.