From Students to Sochi: Lanny, Tracy Barnes formed bond in soccer, well before biathlon gesture

Before they captured the hearts of a nation with an act of uncommon selflessness, even before they were Olympic biathletes competing on the biggest stages in the world, the Barnes sisters were all-state caliber soccer forwards playing for Durango (Colo.).

And before that they were best friends, twin sisters born five minutes apart who grew up supporting and pushing one another to be the best they could be.

As the world continues to celebrate the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, one of the most compelling stories coming out of the United States is that of the Barnes sisters – twins Lanny and Tracy who were battling to make the U.S. biathlon team. The sisters had qualified together for the 2006 Olympics; Lanny, who is five minutes older, also qualified for the Games in 2010.

This year they were both battling for one of five spots on the team, with the competition neck and neck heading into the final week of selection races in Italy last month. Lanny fell ill and missed three of the final four races and fell one spot short of making the Olympic squad.

The person in that final spot – Tracy Barnes.

That's when the story gets really interesting. Tracy thought long and hard about it, and decided to decline her spot on the team, allowing Lanny to go to her third-consecutive Olympics. Lanny protested, but after many tears and hugs, she accepted her sister's sacrifice and started preparing for Sochi with extra motivation to do her best.

Reaction was swift and overwhelmingly positive, as the sisters were anointed the feel-good story of the games, and an example of what the Olympic spirit really means.

"I am very surprised by all the attention Tracy's decision has gotten," Lanny said. "Something that was such a private moment touched so many people and I am proud of my sister, that she has been able to inspire so many people.

"She is my hero and a truly amazing and selfless person."

See the MaxPreps "From Students to Sochi" homepage, with links to more Olympics content

Tracy said she didn't anticipate the reaction to her decision, and has been surprised by all the support the two have received. And she said that if it inspires someone else to do something selfless, that's even better.

"I hope that somehow it'll be able to inspire people to do something good to help out a family member, neighbor, teammate or even a stranger," Tracy said. "It's a good thing when we give of ourselves to help others. There are a lot of people who already do this daily and I think that they can relate to what I've done."

Lanny will compete in the 15-km individual race Friday, which begins at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.

As twins, Lanny and Tracy share a bond that most normal siblings can't understand. And that bond has helped them support one another from their earliest days, whether just in everyday life or in athletic endeavors.

"I couldn't imagine not having Tracy there to share all the ups and downs in my life with," Lanny said. "I think having a twin has made a huge difference for us in our athletic careers. Having your toughest competition training next to you every day pushes you to that next level."

That bond was apparent on the pitch in high school, where the sisters had an innate ability to know where the other one was going to be on the field. Along with their older sister Christie, Lanny and Tracy were part of a Durango squad that won five consecutive Southern League titles and the twins earned all-state honors for their play for the Demons.

"We're definitely better together than apart," Tracy said. "We were better soccer players when we played with each other because of your connections as twins. I could pass the ball to an open area and I knew Lanny would be there without having to look to see where she was."

Both sisters agree that those days playing soccer for their high school helped shape them into the world class athletes they are today.

"Soccer is a team sport and the more you work together, the better you'll play," Lanny said. "I think this is also true in life. The better you work well with others, the more productive you'll be. Tracy and I used these ideas even when we transferred to an individual sport. We looked at it as still a team event and not only did we have support from others, but many family, friends and sponsors that helped us be successful."

Tracy also said there are benefits to a team outlook when training for an individual sport.

"Biathlon is an individual sport, but we always treated it like a team sport," Tracy said. "We competed with each other instead of against each other. We also competed for Durango, for Colorado and for the U.S. That was important to us. And I was lucky enough to have my greatest competitor training with me on a daily basis. We really helped to push each other to make us better."

And although they've competed under the bright lights of the Olympic Games, both admit some of their fondest athletic memories occurred playing for their high school soccer team.

"I'm still good friends with a lot of my teammates and we'll probably be friends until we are old and gray," Tracy said. "We shared a lot on the field … blood, sweat, tears and joy, so we have a special friendship. I will always cherish the memories I have of playing ball in high school. It's really where I developed a passion for sports."

Lanny agreed, and fondly remembers the team dinners her parents would host the day before the game, complete with her mom's famous lasagna and the traditional attempt to fit 18 girls into the family hot tub.

"The Olympics are by far the greatest experience, but training to get there wasn't always easy and fun," Lanny said. "Playing soccer in high school wasn't always easy either, but it was always fun."

No matter what happens during the biathlon competition, the Barnes sisters have already left their mark on the Sochi Games. And they hope their story will continue to inspire people well after the Games have ended.

"Never let anyone tell you that you aren't good enough, or that you shouldn't pursue a dream you have," Lanny said. "If you have a dream, follow it and work hard at it no matter how many people say you can't. When we started biathlon, so many people told us we were in the wrong sport and that we'd never make it. But we worked hard and now we are Olympians."