Pat Graham, Author at Valley News

United States' Mikaela Shiffrin competes in an alpine ski, women's slalom in Levi, Finland, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)

As Shiffrin returns to Vermont, beloved grandmother is in her thoughts

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterNovember 27, 2019

Mikaela Shiffrin doesn’t lose often. Rarer still, she doesn’t lose to the same person over and over.Growing up, the two-time Olympic gold medalist just couldn’t beat a certain someone in Scrabble, Boggle or the card game UNO.Grandma always won. She…

Roberta Groner, of the United States, pours water on herself during the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

IAAF track competitors helping with heat study

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterOctober 4, 2019

FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2019, file photo, Allyson Felix of the U.S, left, competes during a women's 400-meter run in the Match Europe against USA at Dinamo stadium in Minsk, Belarus. A rebellion led by some of track and field's top athletes, like Felix, had led to changes in sponsorship contracts that are altering what could best be described as the sport's 'pregnancy penalty.' For decades, the message to women in track and field was crystal clear: get pregnant, lose sponsorship money. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File)

Felix, others fight track’s penchant for penalizing pregnancy

by Eddie Pells AP Sports Writers, and Pat Graham AP Sports WritersSeptember 26, 2019

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, looks to shoot over Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

Nuggets’ Jokic not your typical big man

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterMay 7, 2019

CORRECTS TO PARTS OF HIS PELVIS, AND NOT PELVIS AS ORIGINALLY SENT - In this February 2014 photo provided by Kathleen Walsh, Thomas Walsh and Mikaela Shiffrin pose in Sochi, Russia. Ten years ago, ski racer Thomas Walsh was diagnosed with cancer that ended up taking parts of his pelvis. By his side that day was Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin. She remains one of his biggest fans as Walsh rises through the ranks as a Paralympian. (Kathleen Walsh via AP)

Skiing bonds Shiffrin, Paralympian who overcame cancer

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterMarch 30, 2019

Lindsey Vonn of the United States celebrates with the dog Lucy after the flower ceremony of the women downhill race at the 2019 FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships in Are, Sweden Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

Appreciation: Vonn much more than just a skier

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterFebruary 10, 2019

FILE - In this Dec. 6, 2015, file photo, Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, skis her way to victory during the women's World Cup super-G skiing event in Lake Louise, Alberta. Vonn is planning to come back for one more series of speed races at Lake Louise, Alberta, next season. On her new YouTube channel Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, Vonn said she would regret it for the "rest of my life" if she didn't push out of the starting gate one final time at Lake Louise. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Vonn’s Retirement Going on Hold

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterDecember 1, 2018

FILE - In this March 27, 2017, file photo, Foreste Peterson carves a turn on her first run at the women's giant slalom ski race at the U.S. Alpine Ski Championships at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley, Maine. Peterson thought her ski racing career was over as she finished her senior season at Dartmouth last winter. Out of the blue, the former U.S. ski team member received an offer almost too good to be true: Free housing, travel and coaching to keep her on the slopes. She's a member of Team X, an all-female development ski team based in Park City, Utah. The team currently backs four athletes from four different countries including Peterson, who recently earned a spot in a World Cup giant slalom race this weekend in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

X Marks the Spot for Former Big Green Ski Racer

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterNovember 28, 2018

FILE- In this Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, file photo United States' Mikaela Shiffrin competes during the first run of an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland. Shiffrin is bracing for another hectic season as she tries to win her third straight overall World Cup title. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti, File)

A Whirlwind Journey for Shiffrin

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterNovember 24, 2018

FILE- In this March 14, 2018, file photo, United States' Lindsey Vonn reacts in the finish area completing a women's downhill at the alpine ski World Cup finals in Are, Sweden. Vonn will begin her season and her quest to become the all-time winningest ski racer in a few weeks in Lake Louise, Alberta, where she's won so many times. She's trying to enjoy the moment and not think too much about breaking Ingemar Stenmark's hallowed mark of 86 World Cup wins.(AP Photo/Marco Trovati, File)

Vonn Nears Finish Line

by Pat Graham AP Sports WriterNovember 9, 2018