Olympic medalist Shannon Bahrke inspires young Incline students

As Incline elementary students filtered single file into the gymnasium for an assembly featuring Olympian and Tahoe native Shannon Bahrke - one of the premiere freestyle skiers in the world - one student whispered, "Her hair is still pink."

Bahrke's distinctive and emblematic hair style, symbolic of her effusive free spirit and wild approach to her sport, was on display as she took a moment out of her busy schedule to speak Wednesday afternoon to Incline Elementary students about aspirations, work ethic and achievement.

"I was just a little girl growing up in Tahoe City and I accomplished my dreams of winning an Olympic medal," Bahrke told the gathered crowd of youngsters. "With hard work you can accomplish your dreams too."

Bahrke earned a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City while competing in the freestyle ski event and notched a bronze medal in the same event at the recent 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She was World Cup champion in 2003.

She recounted the many obstacles she encountered on her path to Olympic glory, including a broken jaw, two knee surgeries - and a plethora of naysayers.

"When they put that Olympic medal around my neck, I couldn't breathe from the excitement," said Bahrke of her February bronze in Vancouver. "It was one of the best moments of my entire life."

While Bahrke's talk focused on the diligence required to achieve success, the event was not void of humor.

When one young student asked if Bahrke had ever met Shaun White, the superlative gold medal winning snowboarder, she quipped, "Shaun White met me," eliciting enormous laughter from students, parents and teachers.

Bahrke - whose infectious enthusiastic personality played well to the gathering of elementary students - fielded questions from the boys and the girls in the crowd and signed autographs after the event.

"It's great to be back in Tahoe," she said while signing autographs for the children. "It was a great place to grow up, and I like to come back whenever I can."

Bahrke currently lives in Salt Lake City, where she still trains despite retiring after the Vancouver games.

Some of the students said they were elated with hearing Bahrke dispense advice.

"I loved it," said Jack Morrison.

"I'm a huge fan," said student McKenna Hoff. "I wanted to dye my hair pink just like her, but my mother told me I couldn't. She said 'if you win a bronze and a silver medal, you can dye your hair whatever color you want.'"