Valarie Allman stood larger than life Monday afternoon, the American flag draped around her shoulders following another Olympic gold medal in women’s discus. But Allman’s first throws coach still saw the accomplished ninth-grade dancer she helped welcome to the sport 14 years ago.
Her moves have remained flawless all these years later in Paris.
“Goosebumps, a little bit of tears,” Shamaine Knechtel, 54, said as she watched Allman celebrate inside the Stade de France 4,864 miles away. “It’s amazing to know we have someone who put Longmont on the map. And she’s done it twice now.”