One of the torchbearers from the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, came to Clinton Community College, to talk with college students about being part of the Olympic History in the Adirondacks. North Country native Carol Arnold was one of the members of the relay team that ran from Virginia to Lake Placid to light the torch to kick-off the 1980 Winter Games.
Arnold, who grew up in Keeseville, was living in, and represented, the state of Delaware. She described her memories of the torch run and opening ceremonies and told students how the experience was the honor of a lifetime. Those in the crowd got to hold and take pictures of the actual torch that Carol carried along the relay route.
The games, that included Eric Heiden’s 5-gold medals & the U-S Olympic Team pulling off the “Miracle on Ice” kicked off in Lake Placid 45 years ago on February 13th, 1980.