Alex Cabrero is an Emmy award-winning journalist and reporter for KSL since 2004. He covers various topics and events but particularly enjoys sharing stories that show what's good in the world.
KEARNS — The Utah Olympic Oval has seen plenty of speed through the years, as well as a lot of dreams chasing Olympic gold.But Thursday, the laps felt different.It was the final home-ice practice for the U.
S. longtrack speedskating team before heading to Europe for World Cup races and then on to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan."How can you not be happy, really?" said Mia Manganello with a smile.For Manganello, Milan will be her third Olympic Games.And her last."No, I'm not taking it for granted," she said. "My only thought is to be present and enjoy the moment."Manganello won a bronze medal during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and admits there is still pressure with the upcoming Milan Games.She admits the pressure this time around feels lighter, perhaps because she knows it marks the end of a successful career."Each one has its own feelings," she said. "I think the first one, you're just excited to make it. I had quite a journey making that one. Luckily came out with a medal, which was amazing. The second one, I thought that was going to be my last one, so I was enjoying it; a little bit less pressure. And this one is just a free for all. I'm there to have fun."Ironically, Manganello says she may be skating into Milan in one of the best positions of her career to medal again, but she feels results aren't the only thing that matters anymore."Honestly, win or lose, I'm just excited to be there," she said.More than anything, she says this team is what will make the final chapter special."This is the best team going to the Olympics that I've been with," said Manganello. "We're not only great teammates, but we're also just like family. It's really going to make it a really special way to end the career." Mia Manganello at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns, Thursday. Manganello is retiring following the 2026 Winter Olympics, saying she's not taking it for granted. That sense of family is especially clear with the men's team pursuit group, Emery Lehman, Casey Dawson, and Ethan Cepuran.The three have trained together for nearly eight years and won a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the team pursuit race.They'll reunite again in Milan."We spend 11 months out of the year training together, so we're very close," said Lehman. "We kind of know a lot about each other, what makes each other tick, what pisses each other off, and al
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