Cochran family sends another athlete to the Winter Olympics
Now the family has 6 Olympians
Updated: 6:30 PM EST Jan 24, 2018
Jennifer Harriger
WEBVTT NBC 5'S JENNIFER SHEAHEN HASTHEIR STORY TONIGHT.>> THE OLDER SISTER MARILYN,MYSELF, BARBARA AND, MY BROTHERBOB, MY SISTER LINDY, ANDBOBBY'S SON JIMMY, AND NOW MYSON RYAN.JENNIFER: NO, THAT'S NOT THEGUEST LIST TO THE FAMILYBARBECUE, BUT EVERY COCHRAN THATHAS BECOME AN OLYMPIAN.>> WE ALL STARTED SKIING WHEN WEWERE REALLY YOUNG.I DON'T MEMBER EVER NOT SKIING.JENNIFER: BARBARA ANN'S FATHERHAD A DREAM FOR HIS YOUNG FAMILYSOME 60 YEARS AGO.>> HE WOULD LOOK OVER AT THESEHILLS AND SAY THAT WOULD MAKE ANICE SKI AREA.JENNIFER: THE SKI AREA WAS WHERETHE FAMILY TRAINED ALMOST EVERYDAY, LEARNING HOW TO BECOME SKILEGENDS FROM THEIR PARENTS.>> BOTH MOM AND DAD WERE GOODNATURAL ATHLETES.JENNIFER: IN 1972, BARBARA ANNWON THE GOLD METAL IN THESAPPORO, JAPAN OLYMPIC GAMES.>> TO RECEIVE THE OLYMPIC GOLDMEDAL, IT IS REALLY TOUCHING TOBE STANDING ON THE PODIUM,ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN FIRSTAND YOU GET TO SEE YOUR FLAG ISRAISED A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THEOTHER TWO, AND TO HEAR THENATIONAL ANTHEM IS JUSTINCREDIBLE.JENNIFER: IT WAS AN ATHLETICFEAT THAT WOULD CARRY ON FORGENERATION>> WHEN THEY STARTED US SKIINGAND RACING, THEY NEVER DREAMTTHAT WE WOULD BE NATIONALCALIBER RACERS.JENNIFER: BARBARA ANN'S SON RYANIS NOW HEADED TO PYEONGCHANG TOCARRY ON THE OLYMPIC LEGACY.>> I AM SO PROUD.JENNIFER: DO YOU THINK YOUR DADWOULD BE PROUD?>> ABSOLUTELY.JENNIFER: THE FAMILY SAYS HARDWORK AND DEDICATION IS PART OFTHEIR SUCCESS, BUT ONE VALUE ISKEY TO BEING A CHAMPION.>> I WOULD SAY WILL NUMBER ONEIS TO HAVE FUN.THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.I THINK NO ONE WHO IS IN MYSITUATION WHO HAS GONE HEREDESPITE HATING IT.YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOVE FOR THESPORT.JENNIFER: THE COCHRANS' LOVE FORSKIING NOW TOUCHES HUNDREDS OFCHILDREN EACH WINTER SEASON,PASSING THE TORCH TO YOUNGOLYMPIC HOPEFULS.IN RICHMOND, JENNIFER SHEAHEN,
"My older sister Marilyn, myself Barbara Ann, my brother Bob, my sister Lindy, Bobby's son Jimmy, and now my son Ryan," Barbara Ann Cochran listed off names not for a family barbecue, but of every Cochran that has become an Olympian."We all started skiing when we were really young. I don't remember ever not skiing," Barbara Ann said. Cochran's father had a dream for his young family some 60 years ago. "He'd look over at these hills and he'd say, 'Oh, that would make a nice little ski area,'" Barbara said. The ski area in Richmond was where the family trained almost every day. Learning how to become ski legends from their parents. "Both mom and dad were good natural athletes," Barbara said. In 1972 Barbara Ann won the gold medal in the Sapporo, Japan, Olympic Games. "To receive the Olympic gold medal, it's really touching to be standing on the podium and especially when you are in 1st and you get to see your flag is raised just a little higher than the other two and to hear the national anthem is just incredible."It was an athletic feat that would carry on for generations. "When they started us skiing and racing they never dreamt that we would be national caliber racers, never to say the least of becoming the best in the world," she said. Barbara Ann's son, Ryan Cochran, is now headed to PyeongChang to carry on the Olympic legacy."I'm so proud," Barbara said. The family said hard work and dedication is part of their success, but one value is key to being a champion. "I would say rule No. 1 is just to have fun! That's the bottom line. No one who is in my situation has got here by just by hating it. You have to have a love for the sport," Ryan Cochran said. The Cochrans' love for skiing now touches hundreds of children each winter season, passing the torch to young Olympic hopefuls.
RICHMOND, Vt. —
"My older sister Marilyn, myself Barbara Ann, my brother Bob, my sister Lindy, Bobby's son Jimmy, and now my son Ryan," Barbara Ann Cochran listed off names not for a family barbecue, but of every Cochran that has become an Olympian.
"We all started skiing when we were really young. I don't remember ever not skiing," Barbara Ann said.
Cochran's father had a dream for his young family some 60 years ago.
"He'd look over at these hills and he'd say, 'Oh, that would make a nice little ski area,'" Barbara said.
The ski area in Richmond was where the family trained almost every day. Learning how to become ski legends from their parents.
"Both mom and dad were good natural athletes," Barbara said. In 1972 Barbara Ann won the gold medal in the Sapporo, Japan, Olympic Games. "To receive the Olympic gold medal, it's really touching to be standing on the podium and especially when you are in 1st and you get to see your flag is raised just a little higher than the other two and to hear the national anthem is just incredible."
It was an athletic feat that would carry on for generations.
"When they started us skiing and racing they never dreamt that we would be national caliber racers, never to say the least of becoming the best in the world," she said.
Barbara Ann's son, Ryan Cochran, is now headed to PyeongChang to carry on the Olympic legacy.
"I'm so proud," Barbara said.
The family said hard work and dedication is part of their success, but one value is key to being a champion.
"I would say rule No. 1 is just to have fun! That's the bottom line. No one who is in my situation has got here by just by hating it. You have to have a love for the sport," Ryan Cochran said.
The Cochrans' love for skiing now touches hundreds of children each winter season, passing the torch to young Olympic hopefuls.