EDITION OF OUR SERIES "WHERE ARE THEY NOW?"
THEY NOW?"
>> WERE CATCHING UP WITH OUR ATHLETES THAT CAPTURED OURUR
ATHLETES THAT CAPTURED OUR HEARTS.
HEARTS.
>> WERE STARTING WITH DAN
JANSEN.
HIS STORY IS ABOUT SO MUCH MORE
THAN A QUEST FOR GOLD.
HIS LEGENDARY MOMENT SHOWED THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE OLYMPICD THE
TRUE SPIRIT OF THE OLYMPIC
GAMES. DO YOU THINK YOU KNEW SOMEWHERE
IN YOU THAT YOU HAD A GOLD
MEDAL?
>> I KNEW I WAS CAPABLE OF THAT
GOLD MEDAL.
>> Reporter: DAN JANSENS JOURNEY TO GOLD SPANNED FOUR
OLYMPICS AND MANY
DISAPPOINTMENTS.
HE FINALLY FULFILLED HIS QUEST FOR GOLD IN THE LAST RACE OF HIS
OLYMPIC CAREER, 1994, IN THE
GAMES IN LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY.
24 YEARS SINCE YOU WON GOLD.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT MUCH TIME
HAS PASSED?
HAS PASSED?
>> I CANT.
>> BUT WE ALL REMEMBER IT.
WE REMEMBER THAT MOMENT.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT FELT
LIKE TO BE IN THAT MOMENT?
>> I DO.
THE EMOTIONS I FELT WHEN I
CROSSED THE FINISH LINE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS NOT AN EASY
ROAD TO THE FINISH LINE.
HE FAILED TO MEDAL IN HIS LAST
THREE OLYMPICS.
1988, ON THE EVE OF HIS EVENT IN CALGARY, HIS SISTER, JANE, DIEDN
CALGARY, HIS SISTER, JANE, DIED OF LEUKEMIA.
OF LEUKEMIA. >> I SAID, I WAS GOING TO WIN
FOR YOU.
FOR YOU. OBVIOUSLY, I DIDNT.
I WON FOR HER EVENTUALLY.
I WAS READY AND PHYSICALLY
THERE.
BUT MENTALLY, I WASNT.
>> IT WAS SUCH A HARD DAY.
YOU KNOW, MY SISTERS DEATH AND EVERYTHING IN THE SAME DAY.AND
EVERYTHING IN THE SAME DAY. >> Reporter: FOUR YEARS LATER,
IN ALBERTVILLE, FRANCE, ONCE
AGAIN, DETERMINED TO WIN FOR HIS
SISTER, DAN STUMBLED IN BOTH
RACES AND FAILED TO MEDAL.
>> THERES A LITTLE
EMBARRASSMENT AS AN ATHLETE.
IT HURTS WHEN THINGS DONT GO
THE WAY THEY SHOULD.
IT STOPPED BEING ABOUT A GOLD
MEDAL.
MEDAL.
I REALLY WANT TO GET THERE AND SORT OF PROVE TO MYSELF THAT I
CAN DO THIS.
>> Reporter: ALL EYES WERE ON
JANSEN IN LILLEHAMMER.
HE WAS THE FASTEST MAN IN THE
WORLD ON SKATES.
BUT SLIPPED IN THE 500-METER
RACE.
RACE. >> I HAVE NEVER GIVEN UP BEFORE.
IM NOT ABOUT TO DO IT NOW.
I STILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE.
>> Reporter: HIS PERSEVERANCE
PAID OFF.
PAID OFF.
FOUR DAYS LATER, HE FINALLY CLINCHED GOLD IN THE 1,000Y
CLINCHED GOLD IN THE 1,000 METERS.
METERS. >> I REMEMBER IT PHYSICALLY
INSIDE.
INSIDE.
I CAN ALMOST FEEL IT, HOW GOOD
IT FELT, CROSSING THE LINE. >> Reporter: PROGRAMS THE MOST
EMOTIONAL VICTORY OF THE GAMES
IN 1994.
IN 1994. THEY SAY YOUR NAME.
AND YOU CLIMB THAT PODIUM.
AND THAT LOOK YOU HAVE LIKE,
HEY, IM FINALLY HERE.
>> FINALLY IS RIGHT.
TO THIS DAY, I DONT THINK IVE
EVER FELT SO PATRIOTIC.
I WAS SO HAPPY FOR MY FAMILY
THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
CELEBRATE.
CELEBRATE.
TO JANE, I LOOKED UP AND I GAVE HER A LITTLE SALUTE. AND I GAVE
HER A LITTLE SALUTE. >> Reporter: A SALUTE TO HIS
BELOVED SISTER, WHO HE CONTINUES
TO HONOR WITH THE DAN JANSEN
FOUNDATION.
FOUNDATION.
AND HIS ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF EVENT, HELPING FAMILIES AFFECTED
BY CANCER.
BY CANCER. YOUR SISTER, JANE, IS AS MUCH A
PART OF THIS STORY IN A LOT OF
WAYS AS YOU ARE.
>> WHEN PEOPLE SAY, YOUR STORY
AND SO MUCH COURAGE.
IM THINKING, THATS NOTHING
COMPARED TO WHAT SHE HAD.
>> Reporter: DANS ELDEST
DAUGHTER IS NAMED JANE AFTER THE
SISTER HE LOST, WHO HE PROUDLY CARRIED IN AN UNFORGETTABLEDLY
CARRIED IN AN UNFORGETTABLE VICTORY LAP IN LILLEHAMMER.
>> TOTALLY UNPLANNED.
BUT IT BEGAN WITH SISTER JANE
AND ENDING WITH DAUGHTER JANE.
AMAZING MEMORIES.
AMAZING MEMORIES. >> I LOVED CHATTING WITH HIM.
I LOVED RELIVING THOSE MOMENTS
AND WHAT AN OLYMPIC SPIRIT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE TRYING FOUR
TIMES.
TIMES.
SAYING, ILL DO IT AGAIN.